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IndyCar seals return to Watkins Glen as Boston replacement

IndyCar has secured Watkins Glen as a replacement for Boston just two weeks after the street race's cancellation

The series will return to the famed Watkins Glen 'long course' on Labor Day weekend, September 1-4.

IndyCar president of competition and operations Jay Frye said the series had moved fast when Boston fell through.

"We got the phone call from Boston at 5pm on Friday two weeks ago saying that race was being cancelled," said Frye.

"At 5:01 I was on the telephone with [track president] Michael Printup at Watkins Glen."

Printup immediately expressed interest in bringing IndyCar back to his track for the first time since July 2010 and negotiations began that night.

The contract was signed on Friday afternoon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and announced one hour later.

"It's great to have the Verizon IndyCar Series return to Watkins Glen," Frye said.

"A tremendous amount of thanks goes to track president Michael Printup and his entire staff for their efforts in helping make this a reality in such a short time frame."

Watkins Glen becomes the third historic venue to return to the IndyCar calendar in 2016, joining Phoenix International Raceway and Road America/

"The fact that we could put this deal together so quickly shows how motivated each party was to make this happen for the fans and the competitors," Printup added.

"I know our team has the capability to make this a premier event for IndyCar, and I believe the drivers are really going to love the new asphalt and that translates into an exciting weekend for the fans. It's truly a win-win for everyone."

Watkins Glen has hosted nine past Indycar races, from 1979-81 and again from 2005-10.

The first two events were run on the 2.4-mile short course and were both won by Bobby Unser.

The race moved to the 3.4-mile long course in 1981 when another Indycar legend, Rick Mears, drove to victory.

It was then absent from the major American single-seater schedules until what was then the Indy Racing League arrived for 2005.

Scott Dixon won the first three series events at the Glen, which was also the venue for Dale Coyne Racing's first ever victory with the late Justin Wilson in 2009.

Ryan Hunter-Reay and Will Power are IndyCar's other past Watkins Glen winners.

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