National Speed Sport News talks of IRL sched changes....

[Mark in Oshawa]

http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/node.php?id=5125

The story talks about moving Chicagoland because of changes to the NASCAR schedule coming.

THey also talk about dumping Homestead for the year ender..

Randy has some good ideas he is voicing in the article. SMI will be a big part of the IRL since Bruton Smith is taking a hand's on role in ensuring better dates and helping Randy and the IRL. IN short, they want to help the IRL, not kneecap it....and Randy is talking of a goal of 22 to 24 events spread equally around ovals, streets and road courses.....

Couple that with Honda reupping with a new engine program, and you realize that change is starting to be in the right direction....

[Easy Drifter]

One thing they have to be careful about is trying to move the dates of street races. As an example Toronto has so many major events going on during the summer changing the date there could be very difficult. The event needs to be in the July or very early Aug. when traffic is lighter due to holidays. Late Aug. is out because of the CNE, as are a couple of weeks before it for set up.
Caribana and Pride Week are both huge and make their weekends unavailable. Both probably bring more income/business into TO than the Indy does.
There are several other street events that shut down roads but most of them are small enough their dates could be moved.
But even going up against events like Barrie's huge Kempenfest or Collingwood's Elvis Festival or Wakestock would hurt attendance.

[anthonyvop]

http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/node.php?id=5125

The story talks about moving Chicagoland because of changes to the NASCAR schedule coming.

THey also talk about dumping Homestead for the year ender..

Randy has some good ideas he is voicing in the article. SMI will be a big part of the IRL since Bruton Smith is taking a hand's on role in ensuring better dates and helping Randy and the IRL. IN short, they want to help the IRL, not kneecap it....and Randy is talking of a goal of 22 to 24 events spread equally around ovals, streets and road courses.....

Couple that with Honda reupping with a new engine program, and you realize that change is starting to be in the right direction....

I do know that the meeting with ISC is in a little over 2 weeks.
Actually they should move the Homestead date as it is really close to the NASCAR Season finale and it is still quite warm here in early October. I am sure the teams would appreciate it if it was at the beginning of the season close to the St. Pete and Sao Paulo dates.

I would be happy with 16-18 strong events instead of 22-24 events with only a few being successful.

[Dr. Krogshöj]

There is no mention of Las Vegas or Fontana in that article but the series needs a U.S. finale if Homestead gets dopped or rescheduled. With Fontana loosing its fall NASCAR date, could it once again host the grand finale of a major open wheel series?


Bernard said there would be a minimum of 17 races on the 2011 schedule although in the ultimate world he would like to see 18 races with an even nine and nine split between those on oval tracks and those on street and road courses.

I could live with that.


Could it be the first NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader?

“Wait and see,” Bernard said.

No, please.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Dr K, I don't want a double header either....I think it wouldn't work if NASCAR insisted on treating the IRL as a minor partner (and they would be deserving that) because the IRL has to avoid any situation where NASCAR basically is pushing them around on the same weekend.

Go where they aint is a good theory, and if Fontana lost their fall date with NASCAR, it would be a good reason to go back....

[Mark in Oshawa]

I do know that the meeting with ISC is in a little over 2 weeks.
Actually they should move the Homestead date as it is really close to the NASCAR Season finale and it is still quite warm here in early October. I am sure the teams would appreciate it if it was at the beginning of the season close to the St. Pete and Sao Paulo dates.

I would be happy with 16-18 strong events instead of 22-24 events with only a few being successful.

I would agree with both points Tony.

Just as long as the Homestead date doesn't kill attendance across in St. Pete's or vice versa.

That said, I think a 20 date minimum in the end has to be the goal. I think the main reason NASCAR is so popular is that they give you a "fix" every weekend. Even when Cup is not playing, they always have a Nationwide date that gets top billing .....

Too many dead spots occur in the IRL sched....although it is a lot better now than it was 5 or 6 years ago where you had 4 and 5 week stretches with no races...

[NaBUru38]

It seems that the Texas IndyCar race will move to early May (7th?), and their Cup spring race will move to Atlanta's lost March date. With Chicagoland getting Nascar in September, the IndyCar race could move from late August to June or July.


if Fontana lost their fall date with NASCAR, it would be a good reason to go back....
It's Fontana who need a second major race. It's them who will call IndyCar.


I think a 20 date minimum in the end has to be the goal. I think the main reason NASCAR is so popular is that they give you a "fix" every weekend. Even when Cup is not playing, they always have a Nationwide date that gets top billing .....

Too many dead spots occur in the IRL sched....although it is a lot better now than it was 5 or 6 years ago where you had 4 and 5 week stretches with no races...
I disagree. Top IndyCar drivers should be doing ALMS, Grand-Am Rolex, Nascar roadies or whatever in free weekends.

[Mark in Oshawa]

It seems that the Texas IndyCar race will move to early May (7th?), and their Cup spring race will move to Atlanta's lost March date. With Chicagoland getting Nascar in September, the IndyCar race could move from late August to June or July.

July in Texas doesn't sound great. I would hope June would be the latest. It gets real hot down there in mid summer....too hot really.



It's Fontana who need a second major race. It's them who will call IndyCar.

They wont call and why should the IRL wait for the phone call? Randy Bernard is trying to turn a ship around that is aiming for the rocks. You don't do that by being passive.



I disagree. Top IndyCar drivers should be doing ALMS, Grand-Am Rolex, Nascar roadies or whatever in free weekends.

They should, but you miss the point entirely. That sort of ride hopping is something that isn't done much any more due to sponsor conflicts. Furthermore, the point I was making is that if we have 2 or 3 weeks straight of Indy car racing, I am now in the habit of watching and now I look at 3 weeks with no racing, you think I am not going to watch something else?

Indy car guys are not going to run Daytona Prototypes except for the odd one off, NASCAR teams worth driving for aren't picking these guys up, and ALMS teams might take one or two, but in all series, you have to commit to a series basically if you want the good ride. Dario or Tony Kanaan for example are not going to get rides in any other series. There will be NO cross promotion...so if the IRL wants us to be in the habit of seeing their stars, they best not let the marquee go dark for 3 weeks at at time.

[MDS]

As I understand it California is losing its Chase date and the Spring race is moving to May. The most likely scenario is that the season is going to end at California with either a 400 mile or 500 mile race, the top teams would stay in California, hopefully doing some press, and then have the year end banquet at a venue in Cali.

We'll know when the schedule is announced on Tuesday, but it it looks like Las Vegas is keeping its March date, at least, and so with it getting a second date it doesn't look good for the ICS because Vegas would be a great place to kick off the season

[Scotty G.]

WAG at 2011 Indy Car Schedule (some of this is speculation and some of this looks to be fact):


3-13 St. Petersburg (off Cup week)
3-20 Phoenix
4-10 Barber
4-24 Long Beach (off Cup week)
5-1 Brazil
5-29 Indianapolis
6-4 Texas (twin 200's)*
6-11 Kentucky*
6-25 Iowa*
7-3 Chicago
7-16 Loudon (run on Saturday with Cup on Sunday)
7-24 Toronto (off Cup week)
7-31 Edmonton
8-7 Mid Ohio
8-21 Sonoma
9-4 Baltimore
9-17 Motegi
9-31 Fontana*

*night race

-18 races

-9 ovals and 9 road/streets

-Lose Homestead, Kansas and Watkins Glen (all ISC tracks)

-Pick up Phoenix and Fontana (2 ISC tracks). Phoenix opens up, because of their Cup date change and because Indy Car needs an oval race before Indy.

-Fontana opens up, because they lost a Cup date and it is a replacement for ISC (with Indy Car dropping 3 ISC tracks)

-Not sure how the Twin races at Texas will work, points wise.

-Las Vegas, Milwaukee almost make cut and could be back in 2012.

-Elkhart Lake also in mix for 2012

-Not crazy about the doubleheader idea with Cup, but I think Randy and SMI want to try this at Loudon. At least for 2011. Not sure they can pull it off on the same day as Cup.

[Easy Drifter]

Toronto date puts it into Caribana time frame and just one week before the main events of Caribana.
Caribana is a heck of a lot bigger than the IC race so I doubt if the City would approve that date.

[gm99]

WAG at 2011 Indy Car Schedule (some of this is speculation and some of this looks to be fact):
9-31 Fontana


I would love to see that become a fact - alongside a February 30 kick-off at Vegas, maybe?

[Easy Drifter]

Another thing that does not make sense is the Toronto, Edmonton, Mid Ohio on 3 successive weekends.
Toronto and Edmonton back to back makes sense as it eliminates extra border crossings.
Edmonton is a a long haul from TO somewhere around 40 to 55 hours driving time. Then you have to get back to Mid Ohio in the same general geographic area as Toronto but even further from Edmonton with a border crossing thrown in.
Talk about worn out cars and mechanics!

[MDS]

I don't see Phoenix making the the schedule this year. There's been very little talk of them and just today they announced two cup dates, the first one on Feb. 27, just three weeks before the proposed ICS date. Maybe that's part of the plan, but I doubt it.

From what I hear California is almost a lock now, they put out a press release saying, "Speedway officials also continue to work in earnest to add events to the Speedway’s race schedule in an effort to diversify on-track activity for the 2011 year." While yes California could host Motocross and does have a sports car course the only other potentially major ticket it could host is the ICS. From what I heard they are trying to lock in a multi-year contract to be the final race of the season.

It's also been announced that Homestead is going to continue to be the Cup finale, so that might mean Vegas is still in the running for the ICS finale. I know the league, and a lot of fans, would like to have Vegas before Indy, but with the Cup date sitting there in March I don't know how likely it is.

[Scotty G.]

1. I don't see Phoenix making the the schedule this year.

2. From what I hear California is almost a lock now.

3. That might mean Vegas is still in the running for the ICS finale.



1. You very well might be right. But I know Bernard has been quoted as wanting a few more short ovals and only adding Loudon (to Iowa) would not exactly be much of a "build" on short ovals on the schedule.

I just think Phoenix's Cup date moving from mid April to late February, opens up prime spots in late March to late April for Indy Car to race at Phoenix. Indy Car wants a oval before Indy (if possible) and Indy Car needs to be at Phoenix.

2. I think part of the deal for Indy Car to keep Chicago (which they have to do) is to take on Fontana. And Fontana losing a Cup date, opens up the end of the season for Indy Car to race there again.

3. You again, could be correct. Again, the end of the season is wide open for Vegas for Indy Cars. And the SMI connection is of course a big one.

Maybe if Phoenix isn't added, then Las Vegas gets that 18th spot. A Fontana to Las Vegas finale might just work for the final 2 races of 2011.

[Scotty G.]

Another thing that does not make sense is the Toronto, Edmonton, Mid Ohio on 3 successive weekends.



Could Toronto work on July 10th 2011?


Then they'd could go from Iowa to Chicago to Toronto to Loudon on successive weekends. They'd get a week off and then head west to Edmonton and then back to the midwest for Mid Ohio.

That flows better, doesn't it?

[Easy Drifter]

July 10 is more or less the traditional Toronto date. 4 weeks in a row is really tough on the crews though plus conversions from oval to road set ups and back again.
Can you tell I was a mechanic?
Also that involves more times across the border which can be a hassle these days, especialy if you hit a grouchy inspector on either side!

[ykiki]

WAG at 2011 Indy Car Schedule (some of this is speculation and some of this looks to be fact):


3-13 St. Petersburg (off Cup week)
3-20 Phoenix
4-10 Barber
4-24 Long Beach (off Cup week)
5-1 Brazil
5-29 Indianapolis
...

I like your WAG, but travel would be a killer. Start in the East, then cross country a week later, then back east to Barber, then west again to LB, down to Brazil, then all the way back up to Indy. Too much criss-cross, but if it could be streamlined, it would be great.

[anthonyvop]

I am surprised that NSSN is still in Business.

[call_me_andrew]

Double header can't happen for two reasons:

1. NASCAR knows it deserves top billing.
2. IndyCar isn't ready to admit that NASCAR deserves top billing.

[mlittle]

Taking a page from Scotty G.'s version of next year's IndyCar schedule could/might look like, here's another version of what the 2011 IndyCar schedule could/might look like.................... :eek:


Rd.1--March 6, Sao Paulo
Rd.2--March 20, St. Petersburg
Rd.3--March 27, Barber
Rd.4--April 3, Infineon
Rd.5--April 17, Long Beach
Rd.6--May 1, Phoenix(night race)
Rd.7--May 29, Indianapolis
Rd.8--June 4-5, Texas(twin 225's/night race)
Rd.9--June 19, Chicagoland(night race)
Rd.10--July 3, Mid-Ohio
Rd.11--July 17, Toronto
Rd.12--July 24, Edmonton
Rd.13--August 7, New Hampshire
Rd.14--August 14, Iowa
Rd.15--August 28, Baltimore
Rd.16--Sept. 4, Kentucky(night race)
Rd.17--Sept. 18, Motegi
Rd.18--Sept. 25, Fontana(night race)

---18 race schedule
---even split of races: 9 ovals(Phoenix, Indy, Texas, Chicagoland, New Hampshire, Iowa, Kentucky, Motegi, Fontana) and 9 road/street circuits(Sao Paulo, St. Pete., Barber, Infineon, Long Beach, Mid-Ohio, Toronto, Edmonton, Baltimore)
---5 night races(Phoenix, Texas, Chicagoland, Kentucky, Fontana)
---instead of a 550k race at Texas, that weekend would have 2 225-mile(150-lap races)
---assumes Watkins Glen, Kansas and Homestead exit the calendar & Phoenix, Baltimore and Fontana enter/return to the calendar
---several groups of races on the calendar...............
a)Sao Paulo, St. Pete, Barber
b)Infineon, Long Beach, Phoenix
c)Toronto & Edmonton
---several races swap positions on the calendar.........
a)Infineon moves from late August to mid-April to begin a 3-race Western swing of races
b)Chicagoland follows Texas instead of being run in late August/early September
c)Iowa moves from mid-season to the latter third of the schedule following New Hampshire

IIRC, the NSSN article stated that Bernard's long-term goal was to have 22-24 races on the schedule w/in five years. I'm probably guessing, but I could see Milwaukee, Las Vegas, Road America get first shot at places on the schedule. That gives you 21 races(11 oval/10 road-street). If Vancouver ever returns to the calendar, that makes it 22 events.

After 22 events, though............where would you go next to get up to 24 races?
---Watkins Glen?
---Mexico City?
---Michigan?
---Belle Isle?
---a second race at Milwaukee?
---Gateway?
---a return to Nashville?
---maybe two European rounds?(possible venues...........Rockingham, Brands Hatch, EuroSpeedway, Zolder, etc.)

[Scotty G.]

Good effort milittle. At this point, there is a lot of conjecture and guessing going on.

I like many of the things about your schedule. Some of it though, I don't think will work.

-I like the western swing idea. Problem is, you have weeks off between each race. So you would go all the way out to Sears Point, come all the way back to Indianapolis, then head all the way back out to Long Beach. It would make more sense to have back-to-back weekends on the coast, to cut down on the travel.

-Moving Iowa to mid August, puts it in direct competition with the biggest sprint car race in the country (Knoxville Nationals). Unless they worked together, I don't think this would help either entity. With 2 Nationwide races now at Iowa Speedway (May and late July), they either have to keep their current IRL date in June or move it to late August. I think it has to stay in late June.

-Bruce Martin was quoted in his article that Kentucky could move to June (likely after Texas). With a July Cup date at KY, I think Indy Car could move to roughly where KY's old Nationwide date was. And that was in June. Plus Baltimore looks to be moving to Labor Day weekend (this year's KY date).

-We are on the same page with Phoenix. I think Bernard needs to make this work, for many different reasons. Maybe they get 1 or 2 years to show they want to support Indy Cars. ISC still needs race dates, to help make up for losing 3 IRL dates. Going to Fontana and Phoenix (likely to keep Chicago on the schedule) might help. But both would be on the clock immedately.

-Everything I have heard has Brazil moving to the race before Indy.

-I don't see Indy Car running at Loudon 2 or 3 weeks after the Cup race. Maybe they do. But Bernard has hinted at a "NASCAR/Indy Car" doubleheader weekend. I think if it happens, it happens at Loudon.

[NaBUru38]

It seems that the Texas IndyCar race will move to early May (7th?), and their Cup spring race will move to Atlanta's lost March date. With Chicagoland getting Nascar in September, the IndyCar race could move from late August to June or July.

July in Texas doesn't sound great. I would hope June would be the latest.
It's Chicagoland which could move to June-July, not Texas.

The Cup will race at Phoenix on February 27 (IndyCar might go there after Long Beach), Fontana on March 27, Kansas on June 5.

[Scotty G.]

Time for a big revision....

Here is my schedule now:



3-13 St. Petersburg (off Cup week)
3-27 Barber
4-10 or 4-17 (whichever is the Cup date) Texas (twin 200's)*
4-24 Long Beach (off Cup week)
5-1 Brazil
5-29 Indianapolis
6-5 Milwaukee
6-11 Kentucky*
6-25 Iowa*
7-3 Chicago
7-10 Toronto
7-24 Mid Ohio
7-31 Edmonton
8-14 Loudon
8-21 Sonoma
9-4 Baltimore
9-17 Motegi
9-31 Fontana*

*night race

[NickFalzone]

Double header can't happen for two reasons:

1. NASCAR knows it deserves top billing.
2. IndyCar isn't ready to admit that NASCAR deserves top billing.

Oh, I don't know if that is true at all. IndyCar would like to play second-fiddle to Cup events. The reality is that it would be asked to play second-fiddle to Nwide and (worst case) Truck events. IndyCar getting a runner-up slot on a Cup weekend in place of NWide would be a huge win for the series (that I do NOT see happening any time soon).

[NickFalzone]

IndyCar needs to ADD ovals, drop roads, and add streets. It needs to be a street and oval series imo. The road courses are an abomination that simply need to be eliminated from the schedule.

[nigelred5]

IndyCar needs to ADD ovals, drop roads, and add streets. It needs to be a street and oval series imo. The road courses are an abomination that simply need to be eliminated from the schedule.

Well, we'll make sure to eliminate ANY future consideration of NJMSP if that's ok with you. Too bad, it's a pretty nice track.



I've read several different sources saying Labor Day weekend for Baltimore, but I agree Starter, that's NOT a good weekend for Baltimore IMHO. Way too many people have longstanding Labor Day Traditions around here. The week before Labor Day would be better.

[nigelred5]

Time for a big revision....

Here is my schedule now:



3-13 St. Petersburg (off Cup week)
3-27 Barber
4-10 or 4-17 (whichever is the Cup date) Texas (twin 200's)*
4-24 Long Beach (off Cup week)
5-1 Brazil
5-29 Indianapolis
6-5 Milwaukee
6-11 Kentucky*
6-25 Iowa*
7-3 Chicago
7-10 Toronto
7-24 Mid Ohio
7-31 Edmonton
8-14 Loudon
8-21 Sonoma
9-4 Baltimore
9-17 Motegi
9-31 Fontana*

*night race

It would make FAR more sense swapping Baltimore and Sonoma in that schedule. That essentially criss crossing north america 4 consecutive weeks, then flying to Japan, then back to California.

[champcarray]

It's official: the New Hampshire race will be held on August 14.

http://www.nhms.com/media/news/577116.html

[SUBARUTEAM]

WAG at 2011 Indy Car Schedule (some of this is speculation and some of this looks to be fact):


3-13 St. Petersburg (off Cup week)
3-20 Phoenix
4-10 Barber
4-24 Long Beach (off Cup week)
5-1 Brazil
5-29 Indianapolis
6-4 Texas (twin 200's)*
6-11 Kentucky*
6-25 Iowa*
7-3 Chicago
7-16 Loudon (run on Saturday with Cup on Sunday)
7-24 Toronto (off Cup week)
7-31 Edmonton
8-7 Mid Ohio
8-21 Sonoma
9-4 Baltimore
9-17 Motegi
9-31 Fontana*

*night race

-18 races

-9 ovals and 9 road/streets

-Lose Homestead, Kansas and Watkins Glen (all ISC tracks)

-Pick up Phoenix and Fontana (2 ISC tracks). Phoenix opens up, because of their Cup date change and because Indy Car needs an oval race before Indy.

-Fontana opens up, because they lost a Cup date and it is a replacement for ISC (with Indy Car dropping 3 ISC tracks)

-Not sure how the Twin races at Texas will work, points wise.

-Las Vegas, Milwaukee almost make cut and could be back in 2012.

-Elkhart Lake also in mix for 2012

-Not crazy about the doubleheader idea with Cup, but I think Randy and SMI want to try this at Loudon. At least for 2011. Not sure they can pull it off on the same day as Cup.

I'm no expert on the domestic schedule so I will leave it to you guys to discuss that, however I find that the indycar off season is way too long. based on the above schedule, that is almost 6 months of no racing. Is there any reason why we can't start the season early/mid February in say Phoenix?

perhaps have phoenix and brazil before St. Pete, then slot Road America (or Homestead if its too cold at RA) into late March?

[SUBARUTEAM]

IndyCar needs to ADD ovals, drop roads, and add streets. It needs to be a street and oval series imo. The road courses are an abomination that simply need to be eliminated from the schedule.

if you could get PAYING customers to ovals, that may be true but..............

[SUBARUTEAM]

And it would still be cool to get the indy cars to the gold coast for a one off non championship race October 21 (that would also shorten up the off season)

[call_me_andrew]

I'm no expert on the domestic schedule so I will leave it to you guys to discuss that, however I find that the indycar off season is way too long. based on the above schedule, that is almost 6 months of no racing. Is there any reason why we can't start the season early/mid February in say Phoenix?

perhaps have phoenix and brazil before St. Pete, then slot Road America (or Homestead if its too cold at RA) into late March?

There is a reason, we call it NASCAR.

I think we could try starting in mid-January, but we'd have to be careful to not conflict with the NFL Playoffs.