According to reports, it looks as though the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series calendar will have fewer ovals than never before due in great part to a lack of sponsorship.
We already know that the return of Kentucky or New Hampshire is still up in the air and that the Milwaukee round as well as the race in Japan won’t be back on the schedule.
"We need title sponsors to make these things work," said Randy Bernard, the INDYCAR CEO. "The ovals are important to our fan base and to our series because we need to keep a balance in order to remain the most diverse series in the world."
In 2011, there are seven oval tracks and if things do not work out in the near future, there could be only be 5 next year – Indianapolis, Texas, Iowa, Vegas and returnee Fontana.
Officially, there are two new races at old venues. The street race at Belle Isle in Detroit will follow the Indianapolis 500 on June 3 and Auto Club Speedway in Fontana will be back on the schedule.
Non-Official 2012 IndyCar Series 2012 schedule
March 25 - St. Petersburg, FL - street course
April 1 - Birmingham, AL - road course
April 15 - Long Beach, CA - street course
April 29 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - street course
May 27 - Indianapolis, IN - oval track
June 3 - Detroit, MI - street course
June 9 - Ft. Worth, TX - oval track (Saturday night doubleheader)
June 24 - Newton, IA - oval track (Saturday night race)
July 8 - Toronto, Canada - street course
July 22 - Edmonton, Canada - street course
August 5 - Lexington, OH - road course
Aug. 26 – Sonoma, California - road course
September 2 - Baltimore, MD - street course
September 15 - Fontana, CA - oval track (Sat Night Race)
September 23 – Qingdao, China (street course) *TBC
October 13-14 - Las Vegas, NV - oval track
* To Be Confirmed
We already know that the return of Kentucky or New Hampshire is still up in the air and that the Milwaukee round as well as the race in Japan won’t be back on the schedule.
"We need title sponsors to make these things work," said Randy Bernard, the INDYCAR CEO. "The ovals are important to our fan base and to our series because we need to keep a balance in order to remain the most diverse series in the world."
In 2011, there are seven oval tracks and if things do not work out in the near future, there could be only be 5 next year – Indianapolis, Texas, Iowa, Vegas and returnee Fontana.
Officially, there are two new races at old venues. The street race at Belle Isle in Detroit will follow the Indianapolis 500 on June 3 and Auto Club Speedway in Fontana will be back on the schedule.
Non-Official 2012 IndyCar Series 2012 schedule
March 25 - St. Petersburg, FL - street course
April 1 - Birmingham, AL - road course
April 15 - Long Beach, CA - street course
April 29 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - street course
May 27 - Indianapolis, IN - oval track
June 3 - Detroit, MI - street course
June 9 - Ft. Worth, TX - oval track (Saturday night doubleheader)
June 24 - Newton, IA - oval track (Saturday night race)
July 8 - Toronto, Canada - street course
July 22 - Edmonton, Canada - street course
August 5 - Lexington, OH - road course
Aug. 26 – Sonoma, California - road course
September 2 - Baltimore, MD - street course
September 15 - Fontana, CA - oval track (Sat Night Race)
September 23 – Qingdao, China (street course) *TBC
October 13-14 - Las Vegas, NV - oval track
* To Be Confirmed