LONG POND -- A day after the checkered flag, you can still see the IndyCar sign at the entrance to Pocono Raceway. However, after a decline in ticket sales, there are questions about the future of the race.
President and CEO of Pocono Raceway, Brandon Igdalsky, sent a statement to Newswatch 16 saying in part, "We will be talking to our fans and stakeholders as well as looking at all the final data and numbers from the weekend. We want to make IndyCar a part of Pocono's exciting future and growth strategy."
Newswatch 16 visited several businesses near the track that attract race fans. Residents of the area and workers said that they believe the race would be more successful if it was not held during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
"I love the race, and I think it was a bad weekend for the race. I think a lot of people made plans for the 4th of July to celebrate the birth of America. Even though people were interested, they had other things to do," said Jerry Gerson of Pocono Lake.
Customers at Robert Christians restaurant in Blakeslee suggested that since the Poconos are typically busy around Independence Day, having the race at a different time would benefit the local economy.
Chris Eno, a cook at the restaurant said, "You had a four-day weekend. We sold more higher price items, but was that because of Fourth of July revelers or was that because there is more money with that race? We don't know."