AUTO RACING - INDYCAR: 2012 Schedule Revealed
Printable View
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.
Did you read the article in the opening post? Let's go by those tracks one by one.Quote:
Originally Posted by jwhite9185
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.
Yeah i know it won't happen - should of stated, that it was just personal choice.Quote:
Originally Posted by DBell
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.
So who cares if the fans have spoken with the free market? We want more ovals!!!!Quote:
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.
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.....
And THIS is just because I'm Dutch. My English is good, but not perfect. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by SarahFan
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...
Wow, very disappointing. Danica definitely made the right choice.
I suspect Indycar is like many other businesses - alarmingly close to the edge with little to no cash reserves to fall back on..... On the bright side, that situation tends to sharpen ones management skills. On the minus side, it is nearly impossible to move forward without a good amount of plain old good luck (or perhaps more importantly, without BAD luck).....Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikki Katz
From what I've heard, many of the tracks, particularly ovals are having a hard time finding sponsors to pay the sanctioning fee. Street races have a better chance of finding presenting sponsors just because they are right in the middle of urban areas and populations that want to party no matter who's racing. Road courses are in the same boat. I think RA told IC to take a hike unless they made the sanctioning fee more palatable (and RA is scrambling to find a sponsor for the NASCAR Nationwide too after Bucyrus sold to CAT). Randy has even been mumbling about making the IC company into it's own promoter like he did with PBR. With that model he never had to argue with promoters, because he WAS the promoter. It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.
Booger is right on IMO....
Which is why Vegas scares the he'll put me... If they pull a small crowd 2012 might be a very very rOugh year
The people at the Vegas track didn't have a problem getting a sponsor to pay the sanctioning fee....because they didn't have to pay any. Vegas is a Track rental with the ICS in charge of promotion and marketing.Quote:
Originally Posted by SarahFan
Please keep in mind this schedule is not confirmed. This is speculation based on RM's conversations with Randy Bernard. While most of it is accurate, the 2012 schedule will be released over the Las Vegas weekend.
I expect Kentucky and New Hampshire to stay honestly. If that happens, then I like the schedule.
Charlotte is not happening. Not after those spectators died.Quote:
Originally Posted by schumacher180
Atlanta and Rockingham, NC would be more likely.
I agree with you but why don't the say the same about Michigan? Michigan had races after the three fans were killed in 1998.Quote:
Originally Posted by call_me_andrew
The awaited schedule announcement didn't happen yesterday. Some say it is because Chicagoland is back in play, and Tsingtao is only 90 percent. Kentucky and New Hampshire announced their 2012 schedules yesterday, and both tracks explicitily stated no IndyCar in 2012. The following 15 dates have been confirmed by press releases, news conferences or the track's website.
Mar 25 Streets of St. Petersburg
Apr 1 Barber Motorsports Park
Apr 15 Streets of Long Beach
Apr 29 Streets of Sao Paulo
May 27 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Jun 3 The Raceway on Belle Isle
Jun 9 Texas Motor Speedway
Jun 23 Iowa Speedway
Jul 8 Streets of Toronto
Jul 22 Edmonton City Centre Airport
Aug 5 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Aug 26 Infineon Raceway
Sep 2 Streets of Baltimore
Sep 15 Auto Club Speedway
Oct 14 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Any news on the 2012 schedule?
There are doubts about Baltimore (financial issues) and Las Vegas (safety issues). Randy Bernard is thought to be working on a Vegas street race to replace LVMS. He might also have reached out to ISC for more ovals. No word on China. The schedule is in a flux...Quote:
Originally Posted by NY2IA
Indycool once told me series couldn't survive if it hadn't solidified it's schedule by the end of august ... Teams could prepare a budget for the upcoming season.... And that corporate dollars were no longer available for sponsorship at this late date
He wad right .... Twice
15 races with 2 ovals and one rectangle.
CART had 17 races 5 ovals and 1 rectangle when someone decided to fix everything
texas isn't signed and probably won't be.
Schedule update 10/11/11
Mar 25 Streets of St. Petersburg Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Apr 1 Barber Motorsports Park Home | Barber Motorsports Park
Apr 15 Streets of Long Beach Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Street Racing, Concerts, Festival, Family Entertainment
Apr 29 Streets of Sao Paulo http://www.band.com.br/esporte/veloc...d=100000458386
May 27 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Jun 3 The Raceway on Belle Isle Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix
Jun 9 Texas Motor Speedway* NASCAR and IndyCar Season Tickets
Jun 23 Iowa Speedway Iowa Speedway: IZOD IndyCar Series: Iowa Entertainment, Events, Racing, Concerts
Jul 8 Streets of Toronto Honda Indy Toronto - Honda Indy Toronto
Jul 22 Edmonton City Centre Airport Edmonton Indy
Aug 5 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course**
Aug 19 Streets of Qingdao Ni hao, Qingdao - IndyCar.com
Aug 26 Infineon Raceway* Indy® Grand Prix of Sonoma | Tickets | Infineon Raceway
Sep 2 Streets of Baltimore*** Baltimore Grand Prix
Sep 15 Auto Club Speedway INDYCAR Weekend - Auto Club Speedway
Oct 14 Las Vegas Motor Speedway**** 2012 Truck IndyCar Wknd | Speedway | Las Vegas Motor Speedway
* Tickets on sale, no official confirmation on 2012 sanctioning agreement.
** ALMS date announced, no official confirmation on IndyCar agreement.
*** Pending financial issues.
**** Agreement through 2014, pending safety investigation.
It's going to be hell for the teams to go from China to Sonoma and to Baltimore in three consecutive weeks. I don't understand why they don't have the China race scheduled for September 30th. I figure that they're leaving that gap from Fontana to Las Vegas open for a "rent-a-track" race (Kentucky, Phoenix, etc.) to be placed there, but they could've easily put the China race in the September 30th slot and put the "rent-a-track" race in August before Sonoma (Kentucky/Phoenix could be a night race).Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Krogshöj
Maybe it's because f1 is in Asia the same weekend (Singapore) and they don't want to be in f1's shadow when they race there!Quote:
Originally Posted by ICWS
CART used to schedule West Coast races back-to-back with Pacific Rim dates. Long Beach used to follow Motegi while Fontana used to be on the weekend after Surfers Paradise. I guess they'll fly from China straight to California, where the trucks will be waiting for them, and then they'll cross the country to Baltimore, if that event happens.Quote:
Originally Posted by ICWS
Formula 1Quote:
Originally Posted by Spiderman
The 2012 F1 calendar as of now has the Singapore Grand Prix scheduled for September 23rd. I was suggesting that IndyCar have their China race on September 30th. I understand what you're saying in regards to IndyCar not wanting to be in F1's shadow when they make their trip to China, but I think it makes a lot more sense logistically for IndyCar to have the China race on September 30th rather than August 19th, a week before going to Sonoma and then going to Baltimore the week after. For the August to October stretch of the calendar, I would recommend for IndyCar to do this:
August 5 - Lexington, Ohio
August 19 - Sonoma, California
September 2 - Baltimore, Maryland
September 15 - Fontana, California
September 30 - Qingdao, China
October 14 - Las Vegas, Nevada
Maybe they don't expect Baltimore to make it in 2012?