Music: {allcanada} INDYCAR: 14 Calendar Dates Confirmed So Far For 2012

Friday, December 2, 2011

{allcanada} INDYCAR: 14 Calendar Dates Confirmed So Far For 2012

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As it was first reported by SPEED's Robin Miller two weeks prior to the Las Vegas season finale, IndyCar's proposed 2012 schedule had 16 rounds/17 races on the calendar, with fairly significant changes to the championship's structure.

SPEED.com has learned that 14 of those 16 races and race dates are now confirmed, while the two oval dates intended for Speedway Motorsports Inc.'s Texas and Las Vegas properties are still under review by INDYCAR, sanctioning body for the IZOD IndyCar Series, in the wake of the multi-car accident that claimed Dan Wheldon on October 16th.

Coming off the 2011 season where the mix of 7 oval/4 road course/6 street course events left oval fans displeased with the championship balance, the 2012 schedule still appears to be headed towards a greater reduction in ovals, a slight drop in road courses and an increase in street events.

As it stands, the 14 confirmed dates would see a move to 3 oval/3 road/8 street events, while the possible inclusion of SMI's pair of ovals (or replacements oval venues) would tip the balance back to 5 oval/3 road/8 street races.

The only question mark amongst the 14 confirmed dates is the Baltimore Grand Prix, as reports of financial problems continue to cast doubts over IndyCar's second visit to Charm City.

With an ongoing investigation by INDYCAR to trace the causes of the Las Vegas crash, the need to find preventative measures to lower the likelihood of it happening again, and ongoing discussions on how to eliminate "pack racing," IndyCar's overall strategy pertaining to ovals remains undefined.

The general consensus from most IndyCar drivers and team owners has been to avoid 1.5-mile tracks like Texas and Las Vegas, but SMI owner Bruton Smith, known for his high energy (and at times, contentious) approach to negotiating, is doing his best to push Bernard's buttons with the goal of getting the series to honor those contracts.

With Wheldon's death intrinsically linked to the LVMS oval, and despite any safety or rule changes that would make 1.5-mile ovals more suitable for open-wheel racing, Bernard surely knows a return to the track would be a PR disaster.

A return to Texas and its large crowds would appear to be an easier sell to drivers and teams, but it's hard to imagine Smith would be amenable to breaking the Las Vegas contract while going forward with the Texas event.

Bernard has made it known he wants to keep five ovals and 17 races on the 2012 calendar, but whether the two SMI dates in question stay with Smith, go to other ovals or get moved to the road/street course side of the equation is still unclear.

Confirmed Races/Dates
1. March 25 - St. Petersburg, FL - street course
2. April 1 - Birmingham, AL - road course
3. April 15 - Long Beach, CA - street course
4. April 29 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - street course
5. May 27 - Indianapolis, IN - oval track
6. June 3 - Detroit, MI – street course
7. June 24 - Newton, IA - oval track (Saturday night race)
8. July 8 - Toronto, Canada - street course
9. July 22 - Edmonton, Canada - street course
10. August 5 - Lexington, OH - road course
11. August 19 - Qingdao, China (street course)
12. Aug. 26 - Sonoma, Calif. road course
13. September 2 - Baltimore, MD - street course
14. September 15 - Fontana, CA - oval track

Previously Known Events That Are Unconfirmed
15. June 9 - Ft. Worth, TX - oval track (Saturday night doubleheader)
16. October 13-14 - Las Vegas, NV - oval track