2010 IndyCar Schedule

[DanicaFan]

Well, here is the 2010 IndyCar schedule. This was announced this weekend at Kentucky. I just want to say I am very disappointed in this schedule. We lose ovals and gain a couple road courses, not to mention one more out of country, Terrible! We have no Richmond, Milwaukee, Michigan, Las Vegas, Phoenix, New Hampshire... And we only get 17 races again. Horrible!

Here is the schedule..

Date / Track (Venue) / Track Type

3-14-10 / Brazil / Road Course TBA
3-28-10 / Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida / 1.8 Mile Street Course
4-11-10 / Barber Motorsports Park / 2.38 Mile Road Course
4-18-10 / Streets of Long Beach, California / 1.968 Mile Street Course
5-1-10 / Kansas Speedway / 1.5 Mile Oval
5-30-10 / Indianapolis Motor Speedway / 2.5 Mile Oval
6-12-10 / Texas Motor Speedway / 1.5 Mile Oval -Night Race
6-20-10 / Iowa Speedway / .875 Mile Oval
7-4-10 / Watkins Glen International / 3.37 Mile Road Course
7-18-10 / Streets of Toronto / 1.721 Mile Street Course
7-25-10 / Edmonton Centre City Airport, Alberta / 1.973 Mile Airport Course
8-8-10 / Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course / 2.258 Mile Road Course
8-22-10 / Infineon Raceway / 2.245 Mile Road Course
8-28-10 / Chicagoland Speedway / 1.5 Mile Oval
9-4-10 or 9-5-10 (Labor Day Weekend) / Kentucky Speedway / 1.5 Mile Oval - Night Race
9-18-10 / Twin Ring Motegi, Japan / 1.5 Mile Oval
10-2-10 / Homstead-Miami Speedway / 1.5 Mile Oval

[Stefvh]

Yep, good balance between ovals(with different shapes), road and street course.

A part of the good ol' Indycar is back.

[JagtechOhio]

That's what I'll call this, and I realize the concept is not a profound one from posts I have read by devotees of U.S. open wheel racing who have been much more attentive during the last 25 years than have I.

I thought the original concept of the IRL's formation was the creation of an oval track series which was more accessable to American drivers, presumably in American built chassis with American built engines. On the grand scale, I don't think that floated too many people's (Billy) Boat.

No need to rehash all of the myriad political, technical and financial upheavals that have occurred in the interim...the face of today's IRL is completely international, and most from the early days are back at the homestead flying a Kite.

If you can sell 100,000 tickets to State Fair attendees, or to fans who make the journey to their local 3/4 mile bullring, then I guess you're on a road to success. That's what potential sponsors and television executives would think, too.

Wait until you see what kind of buzz will be created as the first race on the 2010 schedule approaches. Even without their hometown heroes to cheer for, Brazilians will propell this event onto the world stage with their enthusiasm for motor racing and their day in the sun. I wrenched at a couple of Formula Ford races in Venezuela long ago, you would have thought it was the F1 circus coming to town from the local reaction to the event and the chance to cheer on their loca drivers. Think Ferrari fans at Monza.

So I say, let the Series continue to evolve in the direction it is headed: an international challenge that will likely never supplant F1, but will augment its appeal by the marked differences that will continue to exist between the two series. The huge State Fair that is Indianapolis will always be the centerpiece, and competitive oval racing at appropriate venues will always be welcomed by the American motor racing fan. And the Japanese motor racing fan. And hopefully everyone in between, along with the corporate sponsors who jump at the chance to participate in the international appeal.

I'm no soccer [football] fan, but lately I hear that the U.S. team is generating national and international attention by becoming competitive on the world stage. I don't think their recent success was borne from American kids growing up as they learned to play American style soccer, and waving the flag as they gave those foreigners the what-for. I think they adopted the style of the international game, and coopted some of the world's best talent, to become the emerging force that they now represent. Global market, indeed.

Road course racing is the style that most international fans have grown up on: true in large part for most of the current IRL driver lineup. It is the most demanding test for their skill, as it is for the designers and engineers who take up the challenge.

So long as the expenditures for staging international events does not outstrip the revenue, I say let it grow. There's a lovely little track not too far from Watkins Glen, in the heart of one of North America's most beautiful cities, and steeped in the tradition of world class motor racing. Apparently F1 doesn't consider L'Ille de Notre Dame as a suitable place to set up the circus. I say it's a great road course and a short step to another entance onto the world stage for the IRL. We shall see if Alabama generates the same attention, or draws the same throngs of local fans to support their hometown heroes. I don't think Paul Tracy drinks Mountain Dew...

Whatever you wash it down with, this is not a corn dogs vs. quiche argument. It's about cooking up a menu that feeds the appetite of all motor racing fans: keep giving them a little taste of the kind of racing we saw last night at Kentucky, and they will come to the table. So will the dollars, and the euros, and the yen.

They don't have state sales tax in New Hampshire, but they don't have too many greenbacks to count there either. And I doubt they can make change for a Euro, even if you're just headed to the State Fair to grab a corn dog and watch the pickup truck race.

All-American is great. It's just not for the future of the IRL. Ours is just one of the many flags of competiton to wave: take the racing anywhere there are fans hungry for it, and drop the one we all share. Green.

Andrew Bernstein

[gomick]

Motegi in late September, should've come to the Gold Coast aswell - especially with 2 winning Australians & a New Zealand champion who was born there in the series

[JagtechOhio]

Without question, so long as the dollars would work.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by DanicaFan

Well, here is the 2010 IndyCar schedule. This was announced this weekend at Kentucky. I just want to say I am very disappointed in this schedule. We lose ovals and gain a couple road courses, not to mention one more out of country, Terrible! We have no Richmond, Milwaukee, Michigan, Las Vegas, Phoenix, New Hampshire... And we only get 17 races again. Horrible!

Here is the schedule..

Date / Track (Venue) / Track Type

3-14-10 / Brazil / Road Course TBA
3-28-10 / Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida / 1.8 Mile Street Course
4-11-10 / Barber Motorsports Park / 2.38 Mile Road Course
4-18-10 / Streets of Long Beach, California / 1.968 Mile Street Course
5-1-10 / Kansas Speedway / 1.5 Mile Oval
5-30-10 / Indianapolis Motor Speedway / 2.5 Mile Oval
6-12-10 / Texas Motor Speedway / 1.5 Mile Oval -Night Race
6-20-10 / Iowa Speedway / .875 Mile Oval
7-4-10 / Watkins Glen International / 3.37 Mile Road Course
7-18-10 / Streets of Toronto / 1.721 Mile Street Course
7-25-10 / Edmonton Centre City Airport, Alberta / 1.973 Mile Airport Course
8-8-10 / Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course / 2.258 Mile Road Course
8-22-10 / Infineon Raceway / 2.245 Mile Road Course
8-28-10 / Chicagoland Speedway / 1.5 Mile Oval
9-4-10 or 9-5-10 (Labor Day Weekend) / Kentucky Speedway / 1.5 Mile Oval - Night Race
9-18-10 / Twin Ring Motegi, Japan / 1.5 Mile Oval
10-2-10 / Homstead-Miami Speedway / 1.5 Mile Oval

The only reason you don't like it is because your Queen Danica just has more places to suck at now.

[DanicaFan]

No, you are wrong Matt. First off Danica can race at any track, that has nothing to do with it. I just dont like it. How can anyone like it ? We were first told at least 18 races, now again, you only have 17 and you lose 2 great ovals and pick up another out of country race. This is not good.

[Matt]

I'd like to know why it's not good.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by Matt

I'd like to know why it's not good.

For me, too many good tracks are missing (Loudon, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Road America, Portland, Cleveland, Laguna Seca) and a few that adds little or shouldn't be on there (Sonoma, Texas, Barber). Brazil may or may not work, depending on where they go. Interlagos would work, but there's already F1 there so I don't see what IndyCar have to offer. Too bad they tore up Jaceparagua...

[gttouring]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Magnusson

For me, too many good tracks are missing (Loudon, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Road America, Portland, Cleveland, Laguna Seca)..

these are great FIXTURES of Indy Car since the days of board track racing a place has been in every one of these locales... what was wrong with Rio for a roval (why demolished?)- racing was always good, and really no Phoenix or Milwaukee- with the new chassis and rule tweaks the good tracks can provide excellent stuff-
if you can time the races with fairs or something better but as usual the IRL management and promoters are bozos.

[DanicaFan]

Originally Posted by Matt

I'd like to know why it's not good.

Ive already explained why its not good twice... What is hard to understand ??

[Matt]

Originally Posted by DanicaFan

Ive already explained why its not good twice... What is hard to understand ??

Your massive bias.

Last I remember, NHIS sucked for the IRL.

I also see nothing wrong with going out of the country. The old Indycar did it, so why can't the new one?

[ozrevhead]

Its too far away to go to Surfers and not too far to go to Japan - Go figure!

:censor:

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by Matt

Your massive bias.

Last I remember, NHIS sucked for the IRL.

I also see nothing wrong with going out of the country. The old Indycar did it, so why can't the new one?

From what old CART races I've seen NH looked pretty good. But then I've always been a sucker for short ovals. The reasons for going to Brazil is entirely valid, I only questioned how much it will interest me. Kind of like F1 at the Nürburgring. Good enough, but doesn't really add anything. Surfers Paradise, however, did.

[icemachine]

Its not a great schedule, too many 1.5 mile ovals IMO. They really need to put either the Milwaukee Mile or Road America back on and MIS. Not sure why Surfer's couldn't be accomodated either, once you're on a fly away leg, the costs wouldn't increase all that much to add a second stop, especially for what has been such a popular race

[JagtechOhio]

Hey Jimmy,

Agreed on Phoenix, Road America, Cleveland and Laguna. The IRL and Brazil will make Brazil work, they will find a good way to go.

[Peat]

Surfers couldnt be accomodated because the IRL tried to tell the Gold Coast when they were gonna hosting it. GC told them to stuff off and have got A1GP instead now.

[gomick]

I think V8 Supercar had something big to do with that Gold Coast decision aswell...

[Teretonga]

Surfers was all about dates...
It meant it would have been the final round and the agreement was with Chicagoland or Miami...
So it didn't fit.
Silly really.

[AndrewF31]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

Surfers was all about dates...
It meant it would have been the final round and the agreement was with Chicagoland or Miami...
So it didn't fit.
Silly really.

Surfers wanted to be the final round? Why?!

I've never seen Barber's race course but who runs there? Why would they choose it over Road America?

Going to Brazil has as much meaning as going to Australia. Brazilians are racing fanatics and as long as Helio, Matos, Kanaan, Moraes and Meira stick around, there's more than enough reasons for Brazilians to show up. Heck, if Junqueira finds a ride and if, heaven forbid (hope they don't leave ALMS), Gil de Ferran goes back to single seaters, there's plenty reasons for Brazilians to show up.

Aren't Sonoma and Texas traditional NASCAR courses? Even Watkins Glen was normally a NASCAR course, although, from what I've seen from the course, it ain't that bad a place.

[JagtechOhio]

That's another for the "wasted opportunity" column. With the Down Under boys having so much to say about the championship, I would imagine that the local support would be fanatic. Just how it should be....

[Alwaysfirst]

I'm really not keen on the schedule. IMO its too short & too many good tracks are missing leaving important markets untapped.

I always thought that if Surfers was a no no due to the conflicting dates then the series should have moved to Adelaide. A great track, twin it with the V8s & you have a huge crowd of several hundred thousand over the weekend with a good late March date. Have it as part of the fly away races with Motegi & then have Brazil later in the season with a race in Mexico. That way the season shouldn't start or finish abroad & you'd still be visiting the same places.

Also Indycar seems to have missed its oppertunity to get into the Montreal market whilst F1 is away. Bernie has said that they're going back there next year...bad decision IMO.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Jonerz

I tend to prefer races like Michigan 2000, and 1999, and 1998... well, you get the idea. It's one thing to get the IRL cars at 650bhp 675kilos to race side-by-side (or race su-i-cide if you will) but proper passes like those classic CART hanford races are safer and more exciting in my eyes.

Originally Posted by Purist

For the ovals, and in general really, the cars need more power with less drag. You need that sort of set-up for the passing to work at Michigan like it did for CART.

First of all, Indy engines should be turbocharged and much more powerful, but four- to six-cylinders. Handford-like aerodynamics may work in superspeedways and high-banked ovals (Homestead, Chicagoland, Las Vegas, etc). However, that would be insane in road and temporary circuits. Besides, low-banked ovals should force drivers to actually brake before corners. That could only happen with little downforce and the extra horsepower. Btw, Jonerz, Handford-induced overtakes were sickening indeed, but never "proper". Purist, how do you call Handford devices "less drag"?

That said, the IndyCar Series lacks several track types:
o- Road America and Laguna Seca: no explanation. Sears Point seems to fall apart in comparison to the latter.
o- Cleveland, streets of Miami and Las Vegas - not sure.
o- At least one West Coast oval race - the Nascar Cup has about seven (I lost count). I'd go for Las Vegas, but only when Sin City recovers its bubble-generated health.
o- More short ovals, be it Michigan, Richmond, Phoenix, New Hampshire and/or Nashville.

Originally Posted by Jonerz

Of course, they haven't been at Michigan and Fontana in ages, and those tracks in my mind must be a part of the triple crown of 500 milers.

Originally Posted by johntt

17. Michigan - 500 miles. Labour Day Weekend. Done.
21. Fontana - 500 mile finale, end of season awards banquet in Hollywood the next day.

o- There's only room in Indy for one 500-mile race. So let's race 400 miles at any of those two places (or both), as they did before.

- o -

Originally Posted by Alwaysfirst

Indycar seems to have missed its oppertunity to get into the Montreal market whilst F1 is away. Bernie has said that they're going back there next year...bad decision IMO.

The F1 was much worse this year with no North American date. IndyCar already has Toronto and Edmonton - not that two is enough, of course.

[johntt]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

o- There's only room in Indy for one 500-mile race. So let's race 400 miles at any of those two places (or both), as they did before.

For years they had a triple crown of 500 milers consisting of Indy, Michigan and Fontana.

[Hazza]

Originally Posted by johntt

For years they had a triple crown of 500 milers consisting of Indy, Michigan and Fontana.

Pre-TG right? Not quite the "Jewel in the crown" of the series.

Having said that that would be fantastic if it did happen. In a fantasy world. Where I could fly. And I'd also have my own unicorn.