Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, was built to Formula One (F1) specifications to host the United States Grand Prix starting in 2012.

[1] At the same time, COTA chairman and CEO Bobby Epstein emphasized the track's desire to be fully prepared for hosting a new event after previously concentrating on its F1 and MotoGP races.

[4][5] At the time of the negotiations in August 2018, Jim Ayello of The Indianapolis Star speculated that the new deal between the series and TMS would allow IndyCar to run at either COTA or a new street circuit in San Antonio.

[3][8] COTA was joined on the 2019 schedule by a revived Grand Prix of Monterey on September 22, the season finale and the first IndyCar race at Laguna Seca in 15 years.

[3][6][10] The placement of the Austin race, as well as the forward shift of the Grand Prix of Alabama that followed it, reduced the number of long gaps in the early portion of the season.

[10] In September 2018, COTA was considering modifying its track layout for the IndyCar Classic, similarly to what it had previously done for the Australian-based V8 Supercars Austin 400 race, but Epstein did not speculate about what modifications might be made.