CEO Randy Bernard shakes tree at IndyCar Series

One IndyCar Series executive has been fired and another one demoted, according to SpeedTV.

SpeedTV reported late Tuesday night that Terry Angstadt, president of the series’ commercial division, has been fired, and Brian Barnhart is being relieved of his duties as chief steward and director of racing.

IndyCar officials did not return calls seeking comment, but late this morning series officials released a statement confirming Angstadt's departure and Barnhart's change of duties.

IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard has been hinting for weeks that big changes were coming after another season of marginal business growth and controversial on-track officiating.

Angstadt and Barnhart were the last major links to Tony George’s tenure with the series. Before Bernard was hired, Angstadt had lobbied Hulman-George family members and Speedway CEO Jeff Belskus to let him replace Tony George.

Angstadt, who has been in his position since 2007, will be replaced by Marc Koretzky, who served as director of business development for IndyCar this past season. Koretzky was in charge of many of the promotional activities in the week leading up the Las Vegas race. Before joining IndyCar, Koretzky worked with the NFL as director of operations for Super Bowl committees in Atlanta, Houston and Detroit.

AutoWeek reported that Angstadt resigned, but sources within the series told IBJ his departure was not voluntary.

"I want absolutely nothing but long-term growth for IndyCar," Angstadt told Autoweek.

Barnhart will remain with the series as president of operations, handling some aspects of operations and logistics, according to series officials, but will not have anything to do with officiating races for the open-wheel series.

According to SpeedTV, the possible candidates to replace Barnhart are former CART driver Scott Pruett, American Le Mans Series chief steward Beaux Barfield and longtime CART team owner Steve Horne, who has maintained all along he’s not interested in a full-time job.