Thread: 11-5: The 2012 schedule

Bernard had discussed having a doubleheader at Iowa on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

“The promoters at Iowa loved the idea but our car owners didn't like it,"' he explained. “I don't understand it, it would have saved the teams a lot of money.''

Geez.

If they could get one more oval for next year, that would be perfect IMO......

Ditch China and replace with Homestead/Phoenix/Michigan/Loudon/Chicago/Kentucky....

Well, at least it appears to be the "real deal" instead of putting races on the schedule that are not going to happen....

It does appear as though Indycar needs to grow some relative to dealing with the car owners - While I am not sure a two day double header makes much sense, if Randy wants to give it a try he should - the owners might have had a valid point about the aero kits - but this is just nit-picking and posturing for power.....

Not a bad schedule but I would like a couple more ovals.

Originally Posted by jwhite9185

Ditch China and replace with Homestead/Phoenix/Michigan/Loudon/Chicago/Kentucky....

Did you read the article in the opening post? Let's go by those tracks one by one.

Homestead: Year after year, no crowds showed up at that track. I don't understand the thought process that if we go back, the crowds will come this time. Go back and it will be in front of rows of aluminum again.

Michigan: Another track that was once great for open wheel, the crowds stopped showing up. ISC track, so they are not going to pay and promote the race. It will need a sponsor to have a chance at coming back.

London, Kentucky, and Chicago. All need a title sponsor to come back. Crowds have ranged recently from mediocre to lousy. Tough sell.

Saved Phoenix for last as it was my home track. I grew up there and attended at least 12 or more IndyCar races there during the CART years. The last good crowd there for an IndyCar race was '95. After the split, the crowds left in droves and was a ghost town for the IRL. It's now NASCAR country and, from what I've heard, they have changed the track for next year to better suit NASCAR. If IndyCar goes there, I think they will get the same kind of turnout that Milwaukee and Loudon got. Or what Fontana will get next year. The spring date that CART used to use is for Nascar now. And they also have a fall date. Summer dates are out, so when you add it all up, this track is a loser for IndyCar. Or IndyCar is a loser for this track, depends on how you look at it.

Worst schedule I've ever seen. Bring back Charlotte, Chicagoland and Kentucky and it's perfect.

Originally Posted by DBell

Did you read the article in the opening post? Let's go by those tracks one by one.

Homestead: Year after year, no crowds showed up at that track. I don't understand the thought process that if we go back, the crowds will come this time. Go back and it will be in front of rows of aluminum again.

Michigan: Another track that was once great for open wheel, the crowds stopped showing up. ISC track, so they are not going to pay and promote the race. It will need a sponsor to have a chance at coming back.

London, Kentucky, and Chicago. All need a title sponsor to come back. Crowds have ranged recently from mediocre to lousy. Tough sell.

Saved Phoenix for last as it was my home track. I grew up there and attended at least 12 or more IndyCar races there during the CART years. The last good crowd there for an IndyCar race was '95. After the split, the crowds left in droves and was a ghost town for the IRL. It's now NASCAR country and, from what I've heard, they have changed the track for next year to better suit NASCAR. If IndyCar goes there, I think they will get the same kind of turnout that Milwaukee and Loudon got. Or what Fontana will get next year. The spring date that CART used to use is for Nascar now. And they also have a fall date. Summer dates are out, so when you add it all up, this track is a loser for IndyCar. Or IndyCar is a loser for this track, depends on how you look at it.

Yeah i know it won't happen - should of stated, that it was just personal choice.

This is the first year since I started following Indycar where Im not even the least bit excited or anticipating the next year's schedule. Way too many road courses, not enough ovals, and lastly but no Danica in the series.

I agree with you DanicaFan, the series was actually made for ovals.... But it became CCWS. Shame.... But if this is the only way IndyCar can survive, then I've nothing against it. I like road courses, but please keep the balance between ovals and road courses. Even this year the schedule was already out of balance, don't make it even worser. Last year we had the perfect schedule imho.

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.

So who cares if the fans have spoken with the free market? We want more ovals!!!!

Am I the only one who sees a few big "if's" on the 2012 schedule?

Well, actually No. If I really look at it without thinking about Bernard's words I like this schedule as well. But don't use the word "Balanced schedule" ever again Randy! Too many ovals is out of balance, but this is exactly vice-versa.

Shu180..

I wasn't asking if you liked the schedule.... I'm asking if you ( or anyone else) sees more than one race on that schedule that might not happen in 2012

Just looking at it, I'd have to say that China is iffy. It hasn't been finalized from what I gather. Vegas is being promoted by IndyCar and probably depends on how it does this year. Given the crowd history of Vegas and the epic fail of the 5 million dollar gimmick, I wouldn't put money on this race being back. Fontana's future in 2013 is probably iffy as I don't think they will get much of a crowd next year.

Not to mention to Toronto has been a ghost town and been govt subsidized

And I expect Baltimore will be run ....'but it was reported that without a title sponsor it wouldn't be back in 2012

Belle isle has come and gone how many times now?


And I agree with Dbel 100%.... China is iffy and Vegas is shaping up to be a huge financial blOodbath.....

Originally Posted by SarahFan

Shu180..

I wasn't asking if you liked the schedule.... I'm asking if you ( or anyone else) sees more than one race on that schedule that might not happen in 2012

And THIS is just because I'm Dutch. My English is good, but not perfect.

I think Detroit and China won't happen, and that Kentucky will be added on the schedule.

Come on....frustrating looking at this schedule. Where is Road America? Watkins Glen? Cleveland? How about asking the drivers where they like to race?

I think there's been quite a lot of good news stories this season - with all of the arbitrary penalties aside (and the tracks with visible seats looking quite empty, especially last night) - car count is well up on what I expected, and most of the additional cars aren't just Duno-esque drivers, they're actual good drivers trying to get a full time shot in the series. But I can't really take this schedule as anything other than bad news. It's too short and, even for someone who prefers road courses in most cases, there aren't enough ovals. I'm just wondering what the overall finances of IndyCar are like for them to announce a season like this. Ignoring F1 and its feeders, all open-wheel series have had a bad time in the last few years...