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IndyCar
INDYCAR: 2012 Schedule Revealed
Unless Randy Bernard and Bruton Smith can find a couple of title sponsors, the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR schedule is going to be hurting for ovals.
With three new auto manufacturers ready to battle in 2012, a return to the streets of Belle Isle--run in the shadows of Detroit's auto industry--is on the cards. (LAT)
Unless Randy Bernard and Bruton Smith can find a couple of title sponsors, the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR schedule is going to be hurting for ovals.
Because without some major funding there will be no races at Kentucky or Loudon, N.H., Milwaukee has already thrown in the towel and Motegi, Japan is gone.
Smith, whose SMI tracks at Texas, Sonoma, Las Vegas, Loudon and Kentucky comprise almost a third of this year’s schedule, met with Bernard here Saturday afternoon trying to find a way to keep Kentucky Speedway and New Hampshire International Speedway on the 2012 card.
“We need title sponsors to make these things work,’’ said Bernard, the INDYCAR CEO who is promoting the season finale at Smith’s Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 16.
“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.
“I’m concerned but what can we do? It’s a tough deal right now getting promoters for ovals.’’
This year’s schedule has seven oval tracks (comprising 8 of the 17 races) and, without Loudon and Kentucky, there may only be five ovals in 2012 – Indianapolis, Texas, Iowa, Vegas and Fontana, Calif.
There had been talk of returning to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. but no deal could be reached and after Milwaukee’s new promoters lost over $1 million last June, the oldest circuit in INDYCAR has been dropped.
Tony George’s original Indy Racing League featured all ovals from 1996-2004 before beginning to add street and road courses but ovals have steadily become endangered species.
Phoenix, Michigan and Milwaukee were CART strongholds prior to The Split but all three became financial losers and were eventually dropped.
Milwaukee tried hosting both Champ Car and IRL without any success before going dark in 2010 and this summer’s return to the state fairgrounds mile drew a poor crowd – just like Loudon, which was back on the INDYCAR schedule for the first time since 1998.
Unless something changes, there would only be six of 17 races on ovals next season (Texas stages a doubleheader).
China, expected to replace Motegi, Japan was thought to be a done deal for a street show at Qingdao but still hasn’t been finalized.
“It's not signed yet and we should know within three weeks,'' said Bernard. “I'm always optimistic but there's always a 'but' in these motorsports deals. We thought we had a deal for a second race in Brazil (Porto Alegre) but it fell through at the last minute.
“I think we’ll be at 17 races next year.’’
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 Sept. 15 after a seven-year absence.
Because without some major funding there will be no races at Kentucky or Loudon, N.H., Milwaukee has already thrown in the towel and Motegi, Japan is gone.
Smith, whose SMI tracks at Texas, Sonoma, Las Vegas, Loudon and Kentucky comprise almost a third of this year’s schedule, met with Bernard here Saturday afternoon trying to find a way to keep Kentucky Speedway and New Hampshire International Speedway on the 2012 card.
“We need title sponsors to make these things work,’’ said Bernard, the INDYCAR CEO who is promoting the season finale at Smith’s Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 16.
“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.
“I’m concerned but what can we do? It’s a tough deal right now getting promoters for ovals.’’
This year’s schedule has seven oval tracks (comprising 8 of the 17 races) and, without Loudon and Kentucky, there may only be five ovals in 2012 – Indianapolis, Texas, Iowa, Vegas and Fontana, Calif.
There had been talk of returning to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. but no deal could be reached and after Milwaukee’s new promoters lost over $1 million last June, the oldest circuit in INDYCAR has been dropped.
Tony George’s original Indy Racing League featured all ovals from 1996-2004 before beginning to add street and road courses but ovals have steadily become endangered species.
Phoenix, Michigan and Milwaukee were CART strongholds prior to The Split but all three became financial losers and were eventually dropped.
Milwaukee tried hosting both Champ Car and IRL without any success before going dark in 2010 and this summer’s return to the state fairgrounds mile drew a poor crowd – just like Loudon, which was back on the INDYCAR schedule for the first time since 1998.
Unless something changes, there would only be six of 17 races on ovals next season (Texas stages a doubleheader).
China, expected to replace Motegi, Japan was thought to be a done deal for a street show at Qingdao but still hasn’t been finalized.
“It's not signed yet and we should know within three weeks,'' said Bernard. “I'm always optimistic but there's always a 'but' in these motorsports deals. We thought we had a deal for a second race in Brazil (Porto Alegre) but it fell through at the last minute.
“I think we’ll be at 17 races next year.’’
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 Sept. 15 after a seven-year absence.
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