IndyCar series introduces triple-crown bonus of $1 million

• If a driver wins all three major oval races, they will pocket $1 million
• Race at Providence, R.I., still a possible add to schedule
• Series moves to more road and street courses

The Izod IndyCar Series will include a triple-crown series for its three races on big ovals in 2013.

IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard unveiled the schedule Sunday night. As reported Friday by USA TODAY Sports, it will feature 19 races at 16 venues, with the possibility of a 20th race at Providence, R.I.

The schedule features three doubleheader events, with two races in one weekend at street courses in Detroit, Toronto and Houston.

The surprise in Sunday's announcement was a triple-crown award for the top competitor in three races on the largest ovals – the Indianapolis 500 on May 26, a 400-mile race at Pocono Raceway on July 7 and the 500-mile season finale Oct. 19 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. If a driver wins all three races at those tracks, he or she will receive a $1 million bonus. Two victories are worth a $250,000 bonus.

Only one race from this year's 15-race schedule -- Edmonton -- won't return, and two new venues -- Pocono and Houston -- will be added. A street race in Providence could be added to the schedule soon, Bernard said, bringing the totals to 20 races at 17 venues.

Bernard also said he expects to implement standing starts in one of the doubleheader races each weekend -- June 1-2 at Detroit, July 13-14 at Toronto and Oct. 5-6 at Houston.

"It's so important for us to show how versatile our drivers are," Bernard said. "We want to make sure we're giving that little bit of extra for our fans. We'll have a standing start on one day and a rolling start on the other day. We think it's another way of showing that versatility."

The 2013 schedule increases the ratio of road and street races over those on ovals, continuing IndyCar's shift from ovals and toward street races in recent years. Even if Providence doesn't make the cut, the 2013 schedule has 13 road-street races and six oval races. Last year, the ratio was 10 to five.

The bulk of the first half of the schedule will remain unchanged from 2012. The series will open in late March with a street race in St. Petersburg, Fla., followed by Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., the Long Beach Grand Prix, and a street race in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

If signed, Providence is expected to be scheduled Aug. 11, between Mid-Ohio and Sonoma.

The season is set to conclude at Auto Club Speedway on Oct.19. The 2012 season ended Sept. 15 at Fontana with Ryan Hunter-Reay winning the championship.

"All the fans after (the Fontana) race was over loved the fact that IndyCar ended the series on an oval," Bernard said. "We think it's important for us to continue that."

2013 IZOD INDYCAR SERIES SCHEDULE

March 24—St. Petersburg, Fla. (street race)

April 7—Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala. (road course)

April 21—Long Beach, Calif. (street race)

May 5—Sao Paulo, Brazil (street race)

May 26—Indianapolis 500 (oval)

June 1-2—Detroit doubleheader (street race)

June 8—Texas Motor Speedway (oval)

June 15—Milwaukee (oval)

June 23—Iowa Speedway (oval)

July 7—Pocono (Pa.) Raceway (oval)

July 14—Toronto doubleheader (street race)

Aug. 4—Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (road course)

Aug. 25—Sonoma (Calif.) doubleheader (road course)

Sept. 1—Baltimore (street race)

Oct. 5-6—Houston (street race)

Oct. 19—Fontana, Calif. (oval)