15 Races in 2012; Count on 18 Races in 2013

[SEVista]

Phoenix, the Michigan 500, and Road America plus the fifteen in place for 2012.

RB handled the situation very well. You may be upset that we will have one less race this year, but why throw in what is essentially your second Milwaukee for this year: a race planned and executed in less than four months?

Nope and I can't bash the guy and I applaud his effort to get the California race up to 500 miles.

Randy would hit a home run to me if he were to nail down a natural triple crown for 500-milers and keep moving the ball down the field when it comes to being in the best, most supportive markets (no matter what type of race it is).

[Hitokiri]

I believe Phoenix and Road America but Michigan 500? I know you're an insider SEVista but how sure are you on the Michigan deal?

[buzz]

More is better

[catchme@241]

Milwaukee has a non-compete clause through 2013. Michael allowed Bernard to contact Road America only because of the situation.

[WillMazeo]

Milwaukee has a non-compete clause through 2013. Michael allowed Bernard to contact Road America only because of the situation.

But I think I did read somewhere that Michael was ok for RA in 2013. I might be mistaken.

[spanny]

My guess for 2013 RA, Phoenix, MIS and possibly Chicagoland. I would expect no less than 18 for next year.

[catchme@241]

But I think I did read somewhere that Michael was ok for RA in 2013. I might be mistaken.

He may have. My guess is he has to give his blessing.

[ClubWago19]

Don't forget about Houston

[diftw]

Phoenix, the Michigan 500, and Road America plus the fifteen in place for 2012.

RB handled the situation very well. You may be upset that we will have one less race this year, but why throw in what is essentially your second Milwaukee for this year: a race planned and executed in less than four months?

Nope and I can't bash the guy and I applaud his effort to get the California race up to 500 miles.

Randy would hit a home run to me if he were to nail down a natural triple crown for 500-milers and keep moving the ball down the field when it comes to being in the best, most supportive markets (no matter what type of race it is).

I hope you are correct but my wallet is not......

[THE BEAR]

This is Indy Car.

Don't believe anything you hear, and only half of what you see.

If they announce a press conference to make a "major announcement", then you know for sure that it isn't going to materialize.

[WillMazeo]

Don't forget about Houston

I think he is counting Houston in, Edmonton out.

[dlm1953]

Don't forget about Houston

No offense, but just what we need, another street race

It's supposedly signed and sealed (so was China), but at some point in the VERY near future we at least get back to a balanced schedule consisting primarily of oval and road courses with a very few street races.

[3Paige14]

As long as it's more than 15.

Hope Texas is back on the schedule. Would love to go to two - TMS and Houston.

[dlm1953]

After this year's scheduling disaster, I wouldn't count anything Randall does or says as definite until after it occurs.

[ttturner68]

After this year's scheduling disaster, I wouldn't count anything Randall does or says as definite until after it occurs.

What? Randy didn't have the pulse on the out come of the elections in Qingdao therefore this year was a scheduling disaster?

Doing business in China is difficult, defining schedule as disaster is a bit harsh.

[millrace]

People understand not wanting to "rush to find a replacement". People don't understand why it happened in the first place. Had the same cautious advice been followed a year ago, the China fiasco would not have happened.

[rocketride]

As far as I know Sonoma won't be on the schedule next year and you could see a race added in Ft. Lauderdale.

[red5champ]

As much as I would love to see Michigan, the lake my birth-place, and Phoenix, where I got married is there any thing out there backing this up?

[Vasserfan]

As long as it's more than 15.

Hope Texas is back on the schedule. Would love to go to two - TMS and Houston.

We need the 4th largest city on the schedule. Houston and TMS can coexist on the same schedule.

Love MIS 500, RA, and Phoenix. Man, an 18 race schedule would be great. But lets get it to 20 or 22 and have it 10-11 ovals and 10-11 Roads and streets.

[Z28]

People can wish and act like they're 'in the loop' somehow on what's going to happen but to quote Sam Spade in the Maltese Falcon, "I won't play the sap for you." I have reached the point where Randy Bernard simply 'talks' too much about what might be and seems to think that when nothing comes of that 'talk' we should just believe it might take another year. I gave up 25 years years ago on the Chicago Cubs constantly saying, wait until next year and I have no intention of hearing it in this case and falling for it like I was a kid.

RA, Phoenix and MIS, throw in Chicagoland, Richmond, Watkins Glen and Kansas if you like, all need one of two things; a greatly reduced sanctioning fee or a title sponsor. If anyone cares to explain how Randy Bernard is going to come up with a new way to set the sanctioning fee or is willing to charge any combination of these tracks less let's hear it. Any of them could have been on the 2011 or 2012 schedule if the fee INDYCAR expects to get had been less. Show me what changed from the INDYCAR perspective because every one of those tracks has said they want an IICS race back but not at the old price.


The way I see it Chicagoland is the most likely to be able to find a title sponsor from the major corporations based in Chicago. They also, as the NASCAR schedule is constructed, have the smallest window available to have an Indycar race. The June iICS schedule is full they have NASCAR in July and September so the window is August and nothing else. MIS has the possibility of Penske bringing a title sponsor as his way of lending support. MIS has two options, July when they had the 500 mile race for many years and September, which would be the second choice possibly going against both U of M in Ann Arbor and Michigan State in Lansing. RA could have been on the 2012 schedule had they been able to find a title sponsor. Anyone who treats the passing of another year as a positive should be explaining who they might have lined up for that August date with ALMS. The TV production was mentioned as an issue this year, as a smokescreen if you ask me. Last winter RA and ALMS said one reason the paring with INDYCAR made sense was the TV production could be shared, ALMS does their own production, because it only needed to be laid around the long course once for both broadcasts.


Until there's evidence that something is changing on the INDYCAR side, and that's spelled $$$ sanctioning fee $$$ there's no reason to believe that 2013 is going to be very much changed from 2012.

[penskefan4ever]

Take out Michigan, put Pocono in as the other 500 miler.

[Captain Spyro]

I'd be happy with 12 races at this point, at least there is something.

[Neshaminy]

What? Randy didn't have the pulse on the out come of the elections in Qingdao therefore this year was a scheduling disaster?

Doing business in China is difficult, defining schedule as disaster is a bit harsh.

You just don't understand what spin is all about.

[aaron5572]

I think he is counting Houston in, Edmonton out.

2013 is Edmonton's final race on its contract.

Like someone said earlier, I'm just glad the 500 mile horse is out of the barn now. The IRL's policy of not having other 500 milers was dumb and this is a very welcomed change. 50 extra laps at Fontana are better than some crappy China race anyway.

[SwissMissile]

I think he is counting Houston in, Edmonton out.

Why no Edmonton?

[ambig88]

What? Randy didn't have the pulse on the out come of the elections in Qingdao therefore this year was a scheduling disaster?

Doing business in China is difficult, defining schedule as disaster is a bit harsh.

It was a disaster before the season started. The schedule was held back for months after the expected release as he was almost begging anyone to take IndyCar for a 16th race. There was doubt over China, Baltimore and Edmonton before the season started, with nobody even available to take the place of the latter of the two options.

[millrace]

Promises promises. 18 races? Yeah sure. No reason to speculate because they aren't going to add three races when they are getting close to zero ratings on ESPNNews, etc.

Based on what I know of the sport of Indycar, A more realistic expectation is the loss of a race and the gain of two, with a net change of zero (16 promised, 15 delivered ---> minus 1 plus 2 equals 16.

[Racing Truth]

Milwaukee has a non-compete clause through 2013. Michael allowed Bernard to contact Road America only because of the situation.

Maybe not:

Andretti said after the race that he did not want to stand in the way of racing in Elkhart Lake if it were good for the series.

[millrace]

I'd be happy with 12 races at this point, at least there is something.

12 or fewer could make for a good series and well promoted event. I don't see why everyone is so dead set on increasing the schedule when Indycar is obviously still declining in popularity. Grow a small number of events and then consider expannding the schedule.

[Chaparral4]

Take out Michigan, put Pocono in as the other 500 miler.

You're the first to mention Pocono in this thread. I got the impression Pocono was more likely than Michigan for next year. Michigan seemed to come into play only after China was out. The indication that Michigan is interested is a plus. I think having both tracks on the schedule would be great. They don't both have to be 500 milers. After all they used to run a 250 miler at Michigan back in the USAC days. Maybe they could come up with an alternate race program like TMS last year or Iowa this year. Maybe run heat races and a shorter main feature in the same day.

What ever the case having 4 large tracks with three of them constituting at Triple crown would add another element. They could have a third trophy, like that of the current Mario Andretti and AJ Foyt trophies. Perhaps a Rick Mears Trophy for the Super Speedway tracks. Just food for thought here.