2007 IndyCar schedule news/rumours

[Hazza]

In my defense I didn't specify that it'd be on the oval.

I'd asume they'd run the Sports Car course, as the Bike track is a bit micky mouse imho.

[Fish_Flake]

Originally Posted by luke

I read somewhere that open wheel racing was banned from using the oval since the '50s after a tragic accident. (Daytona)

Marshall Teague, who drove the "Fabulous Hudson Hornet" to several victories at the Daytona 500's predecessor on the beach course in the early 1950s, had a falling out with Bill France some years before the Speedway's opening, and went off to race on the AAA/USAC Championship Trail for the rest of the decade. Teague and France eventually patched up their relationship, and the former volunteered to drive extensive tire tests at the latter's new track during its development. As a publicity stunt for the opening ceremonies of the Daytona International Speedway, France arranged for Teague to make an attempt to break the closed course speed record in his Indy streamliner. During the run, a tire failed, and Teague didn't stand a chance.

A few weeks later, during the first proper USAC race at the Speedway, George Amick, Indy 500 runner-up the year before (in his rookie race), was killed at the track, and Indy/Champ Cars have not been back since.

[luke]

Confirmed rounds thus far ::

April 1 St. Petersburg
April 29 Kansas Speedway
May 27 Indianapolis 500
June 3 The Milwaukee Mile
June 9 Texas Motor Speedway
June 24 Iowa Speedway
July 8 Watkins Glen International
July 14 Nashville Superspeedway
August 11 Kentucky Speedway

[Snips1]

Originally Posted by luke

Confirmed rounds thus far ::

April 1 St. Petersburg
April 29 Kansas Speedway
May 27 Indianapolis 500
June 3 The Milwaukee Mile
June 9 Texas Motor Speedway
June 24 Iowa Speedway
July 8 Watkins Glen International
July 14 Nashville Superspeedway
August 11 Kentucky Speedway

And Chicago was comfirmed today

[Tim Northcutt]

Richmond was confirmed yesterday...June 30...making three "short track" events (Milwaukee, Iowa & Richmond) during the month of June.

[Tim Northcutt]

Homestead was confirmed for March 24 at night on the IRL site today

Motegi was confirmed two days ago for April 21.

People who have bought tickets to Michigan got a notice in the mail saying next year's race would be July 22

Thus, here is what we seem to have thus far:

March 24 - Homestead
April 1 - St. Petersburg
April 21 - Motegi, Japan
April 29 - Kansas Speedway
May 27 - Indianapolis 500
June 3 - The Milwaukee Mile
June 9 - Texas Motor Speedway
June 24 -Iowa Speedway
June 30 - Richmond International Raceway
July 8 - Watkins Glen International
July 14 - Nashville Superspeedway
July 22 - Michigan International Speedway
August 5 - ????? (Brian Barnhart said there would be a race on this date)
August 11 - Kentucky Speedway
September 9 - Chicagoland

That is 15 dates and 14 venues.

Belle Island???

Montreal???

Infineon (Sears Point)????

Mid-Ohio????

They are supposed to release the schedule later this week

[luke]

I'll tell you what, the NASCAR night Homestead races were a spectacle the same will be for the IRL.

[Rich D]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/54674

More rumours supporting Montreal for that date (which makes sense to me..)

[drewdawg727]

Weren't they taking out MIS?

[paul-collins]

ALMS has just announced Belle Isle as part of the IRL weekend; they also announced Mid Ohio moving to July and have taken the Saturday, which suggests that IRL is joining them.

[Snips1]

Originally Posted by drewdawg727

Weren't they taking out MIS?

I sure don't hope so

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by paul-collins

ALMS has just announced Belle Isle as part of the IRL weekend; they also announced Mid Ohio moving to July and have taken the Saturday, which suggests that IRL is joining them.

Interesting, I sure wouldn't mind seeing open-wheelers return to Mid-Ohio

[jonesi]

Originally Posted by paul-collins

ALMS has just announced Belle Isle as part of the IRL weekend; they also announced Mid Ohio moving to July and have taken the Saturday, which suggests that IRL is joining them.

Mid Ohio will be broadcast by CBS, it may be the Saturday race was necessary to get the coverage.
BTW the 10/20 date at Laguna is a Saturday too, as well as this year's race, for no apperent reason.

[jhansen]

Originally Posted by jonesi

Mid Ohio will be broadcast by CBS, it may be the Saturday race was necessary to get the coverage.
BTW the 10/20 date at Laguna is a Saturday too, as well as this year's race, for no apperent reason.

The ALMS Laguna race is on Saturday, as it is a four hour race that finishes in darkness. The past two years Speed World Touring and Speed GT have raced on Sunday.

[paul-collins]

jhansen has covered the reason for the Saturday date at Laguna Seca. I suppose it's possible that Mid Ohio will be similar, but I've heard from inside sources that the IRL will join Mid Ohio - once they know what to do about Michigan. (If MIS allows their date to be moved, or if IRL decides that Mid Ohio plus Belle Isle is enough for the Detroit area, for example...)

As for the broadcast, Mid Ohio did the compressed network broadcast last year while running on Sunday. I don't see, yet, the need for a full day delay. Unless the Series' broadcast partner gets better at editing, but needs the time.

[Fogelhund]

Mid Ohio announcement expected tomorrow.