2012 Indycar Schedule

racephoto1 · 12/22/11, 8:15 PM

We've beat this to death, but until you put talent in Indycar people know, Indycar won't draw. Bryan Clauson isn't Jesus, and he alone can't help Indycar.

The most enthusiasm for the IRL was before engine lease programs and the local racer had a chance to run. Remember guys like , Kinser, Hewitt, Brian Tyler, and even Tyce Carlson ran Indycars. The local guy actually had a chance.

Now present day, engine programs, deep foreign pockets, and no local guy with a realistic chance to run Indycar. Add a predominantly road racing schedule,bye-bye fan base.

A better name for this deal would be CART.

Vertigo · 12/22/11, 9:38 PM

I drove down from Indiana for the twin races at Texas Speedway this June. I loved the format but I see they've gone back to one race for 2012.

Boo! Count me out.

And I guess I won't be going to Kentucky again to see Ed defend his title.

Boo!

BrentTFunk · 12/22/11, 9:39 PM

I went to the Indy 500 when Hewitt, Kinser, Yeley, all ran I never paid more than $10 for a ticket and the place was deserted. Wish it wasn't that way. Heck open wheel fans can't even sell out silver crown races let alone super speedways.

Gregg · 12/23/11, 5:00 AM

1. Does the IndyCar street parades really pack in the crowds or is this just a myth? Is much of this crowd coming for the race or other entertainment, or the beer and good food, or checking out the chicks in bikinis? Do the people who live in downtown condos and townhouses count as attendance?

2. I attended IRL races at Kentucky Speedway for years. Then they brought in the F1 test drivers and mostly road course specialists to race the ovals. To me it is like the NHL bringing in a bunch of male figure skaters to play hockey; athletes that can skate for sure but hockey players? I wished I would have seen Carpenter win this year but he was one of the bright spots in a snoozer of driver lineups driving spec cars with rental engines. I finally quit the, now, IndyCar races at Kentucky and took my entertainment dollars to the Indiana short tracks where I'm almost certain to enjoy my evenings. Vote with my pocketbook, you bet I did. I did not leave Indy Car racing, Indy Car racing left me.

3. You want the bulk of IOW to attend IndyCar oval races then give us a product worth watching like Clauson, Larson, Wilson (Jacob) and Levi, and on a "real" race track, not the "streets of..." This schedule looks a lot like the race schedule that spurred the suckcess for CART and CCWS a few years back. Whatever happened to them?

openwheelKT · 12/23/11, 8:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miledirt

What race are you talking about during the IRL days? Texas, for example, had its highest non NASCAR attendance back when there was American short track talent in Indy Car.

Also, how do you know that people who complain about the state of IndyCar are people who don't attend races. I went to three last year and I think the state of IndyCar totally blows

Talking about all races, but Texas. That's the one (other than Indy) that has done well since day one. The rest were poorly attended and are gone. Thus the reason ovals are down. That's the only one left from the original IRL. I think most of that is due to Eddie Gossage, good promoter.

I'm talking about many of the fans that I know. They complain about ovals. I then ask, how many did you attend? The answer is one or none at all. I obviously don't know every person that attends. I'm not talking about every single person that is unhappy. I'm unhappy and I attend. Not trying to get into an argument

I attend and I think the schedule is terrible. Point is there are factors and Randy is trying hard. He's done more for USAC than anybody since the orginal IRL faded. He needs time, Vegas hurt that timetable.

mikew · 12/23/11, 10:37 AM

Texas will be a double header again in 2012 with the same race distances. They will pay full points for both races instead of half points like 2011. They will also do something different for the start order of the second race instead of a blind draw. Unfortunately, attendance has been down at Texas for the last few years. They still draw well but not like in the early days.

Randy Bernard says that there are potentially 2 additional events that they may announce at a later time to add to the already announced 15 event schedule. Baltimore is still under threat since the promoter has multiple bills from 2011 that have yet to be paid.

As for American drivers...

Graham Rahal at Chip Gannassi's satellite team
Charlie Kimball at Chip Gannassi's satellite team
JR Hildebrand at Panther
Ryan Hunter-Reay at Andretti
Marco Andretti at Andretti
Ed Carpenter at .... Ed Carpenter Racing
Josef Newgarden at Sarah Fisher

and if you don't mind the odd Canadian, James Hinchcliffe is an excellent driver who will probably be shoeing the Go Daddy car at Andretti next year.

Clauson has made it known that he will try to use his scholarship money to run the 500 this year.

If you don't like road/street courses, then unfortunately IndyCar is not the series for you anymore. Street courses tend to get subsidized by local government since they can have a measurable tax revenue impact. Granted, Belle Isle and Long Beach are parades with little chance of passing, but Sao Paulo, St. Pete, Toronto, Edmonton and Baltimore have pretty good layouts that make for passing opportunities.

If you haven't had a chance to make it out to Mid Ohio, I would highly recommend it. IndyCar, ALMS, World Challenge, USF2000, Indy Lights, Star Mazda. Park your car in the infield, set up a canopy next to the track, get out the lawn chairs, turn on the radio, open the cooler and enjoy the weekend.

All that said, I went to 4 IndyCar races last year. 2 of those will not be returning in 2012 (Ky and Milwaukee), so I guess I will be spending more time at the short track.

The most entertaining race I saw last year was that 2nd SCCA World Challenge race.

sp6967 · 12/23/11, 4:44 PM

i think this schedule is fine for the 2012 who really cares about wing races anyway.

Ian_M · 6/20/12, 6:35 AM

Some are disappointed about the cancellation of the event. According to the report that I have read, an October 7 race at the Texas Motor Speedway is one option being considered. Despite preexisting contracts, the new administration has been pressuring the promoters to consider a different date or location for the event. Here's a report: China IndyCar race canceled for beer fest.

12/23/11, 10:37 AM	#16 Re: 2012 Indycar Schedule
mikew Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 59	Texas will be a double header again in 2012 with the same race distances. They will pay full points for both races instead of half points like 2011. They will also do something different for the start order of the second race instead of a blind draw. Unfortunately, attendance has been down at Texas for the last few years. They still draw well but not like in the early days. Randy Bernard says that there are potentially 2 additional events that they may announce at a later time to add to the already announced 15 event schedule. Baltimore is still under threat since the promoter has multiple bills from 2011 that have yet to be paid. As for American drivers... Graham Rahal at Chip Gannassi's satellite team Charlie Kimball at Chip Gannassi's satellite team JR Hildebrand at Panther Ryan Hunter-Reay at Andretti Marco Andretti at Andretti Ed Carpenter at .... Ed Carpenter Racing Josef Newgarden at Sarah Fisher and if you don't mind the odd Canadian, James Hinchcliffe is an excellent driver who will probably be shoeing the Go Daddy car at Andretti next year. Clauson has made it known that he will try to use his scholarship money to run the 500 this year. If you don't like road/street courses, then unfortunately IndyCar is not the series for you anymore. Street courses tend to get subsidized by local government since they can have a measurable tax revenue impact. Granted, Belle Isle and Long Beach are parades with little chance of passing, but Sao Paulo, St. Pete, Toronto, Edmonton and Baltimore have pretty good layouts that make for passing opportunities. If you haven't had a chance to make it out to Mid Ohio, I would highly recommend it. IndyCar, ALMS, World Challenge, USF2000, Indy Lights, Star Mazda. Park your car in the infield, set up a canopy next to the track, get out the lawn chairs, turn on the radio, open the cooler and enjoy the weekend. All that said, I went to 4 IndyCar races last year. 2 of those will not be returning in 2012 (Ky and Milwaukee), so I guess I will be spending more time at the short track. The most entertaining race I saw last year was that 2nd SCCA World Challenge race. _________________________________________________ Last edited by mikew; 12/23/11 at 10:40 AM. Reason: oops

12/23/11, 4:44 PM	#17 Re: 2012 Indycar Schedule
sp6967 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 892	i think this schedule is fine for the 2012 who really cares about wing races anyway. __________________ "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help." President Ronald Reagan

12/22/11, 9:38 PM	#12 Re: 2012 Indycar Schedule
Vertigo Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 114	I drove down from Indiana for the twin races at Texas Speedway this June. I loved the format but I see they've gone back to one race for 2012. Boo! Count me out. And I guess I won't be going to Kentucky again to see Ed defend his title. Boo!

6/20/12, 6:35 AM	#18 Re: 2012 Indycar Schedule
Ian_M Inactive Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 1	Some are disappointed about the cancellation of the event. According to the report that I have read, an October 7 race at the Texas Motor Speedway is one option being considered. Despite preexisting contracts, the new administration has been pressuring the promoters to consider a different date or location for the event. Here's a report: China IndyCar race canceled for beer fest.