Jeff Olson

Special for USA TODAY Sports

The Verizon IndyCar Series will return to Brazil in March with a road-course race in Brasilia, series officials announced Thursday.

The event will be held March 8 at Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet, a 3.403-mile, 12-turn permanent road course.

"This event is an instrumental step in the growth of INDYCAR as we continue to execute our strategy of adding race markets and events that drive us forward," Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Company, the parent company that oversees the series, said in a statement.

"IndyCar fans throughout the world are unbelievably enthusiastic about our sport, and we're excited to showcase another thrilling event next season."



The series held a street race in São Paulo from 2010 to 2013. CART raced in Rio de Janeiro from 1996 to 2000 on an oval track also named in honor of Piquet.

Piquet, 62, is a former racer from Rio de Janiero who won 23 Formula One races and three championships in 14 seasons in the 1970s, '80s and '90s.

His son, Nelson Piquet Jr., has competed in NASCAR Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series races and one Sprint Cup Series race. He currently competes in Global Rallycross.

The Rio track named in his honor held 10 F1-sanctioned Brazilian grands prix. It was demolished in 2012 to make room for venues for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The Brasilia track was originally named Autodromo de Brasilia. It held a non-championship F1 race in 1974.

Brazilians Tony Kanaan and Helio Castroneves applauded the addition of the Brasilia race.

"It's awesome news that we're going back to Brazil next year," said Kanaan, the 2004 IndyCar Series champion and 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner. "The fans there love IndyCar and support the race and we also have Brazilian sponsors involved in our sport, so racing in my home country is a no-brainer. I raced at the Brasília track a very long time ago, in the beginning of the 90s, but I remember it being very cool."

Castroneves, the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner who recently finished second in the Verizon IndyCar Series championship behind his teammate Will Power, echoed Kanaan's sentiments.

"We are living in great times for Brazil," Castroneves said. "The World Cup was there a few months ago. The Olympics are coming to Rio de Janeiro in 2016. In between we will see the return of the Verizon IndyCar Series beginning in 2015. Brazilians are very proud of their sports heritage, including motor sports.

"I know it will be a great event at a new venue for us in the capital of Brasilia, the Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet, named after one of our greatest drivers. I love racing in my native country and I hope to be the winner next year."

Brasília joins NOLA Motorsports Park as the second new venue added to the IndyCar calendar for next season. Series officials are finalizing the 2015 schedule, which is expected to be announced within the next few weeks.

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