The ’15 Verizon IndyCar Series today formally unveiled its '15 schedule, a "17-race slate with two new venues,” according to Tony DiZinno of NBCSPORTS.com. The schedule “drops from 18 races in 2014." The number of doubleheader races also “has dropped and the second half of the schedule sees most races switch dates” from this year. New events “are the two previously announced races in Brazil and New Orleans,” while the Houston doubleheader and one of the two Toronto races are “gone.” Detroit’s Belle Isle “marks the lone doubleheader weekend May 30-31.” A "mooted second international race in Dubai is not listed on the schedule" (NBCSPORTS.com, 10/30). In Indianapolis, Curt Cavin notes the series will end its '15 season "on a road course," Sonoma Raceway. The Champ Car World Series in its last year of existence in '07 "finished its year on such a circuit," but IndyCar, since its founding in '96, "never has." Some people will "question the decision to stage a championship-quality race on a circuit that doesn't race as well as others, but everything else about this decision makes sense." Sonoma President Steve Page and his staff "will make this a celebration in the Sonoma Valley one to remember" (INDYSTAR.com, 10/30).
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'15 VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES SCHEDULE
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DATE
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VENUE |
NETWORK
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3/8
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Autodromo Internacional Nelson Piquet (Brasilia) |
NBCSN
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3/29
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Streets of St. Petersburg |
ABC
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4/12
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NOLA Motorsports Park (New Orleans) |
NBCSN
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4/19
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Streets of Long Beach |
NBCSN
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4/26
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Barber Motorsports Park (Birmingham) |
NBCSN
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5/9
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Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course) |
ABC
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5/24
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Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Indy 500) |
ABC
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5/30
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Streets of Belle Isle (Detroit) |
ABC
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5/31
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Streets of Belle Isle (Detroit) |
ABC
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6/6
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Texas Motor Speedway |
NBCSN
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6/14
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Streets of Toronto |
NBCSN
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6/27
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Auto Club Speedway (Fontana) |
NBCSN
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7/12
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The Milwaukee Mile |
NBCSN
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7/18
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Iowa Speedway |
NBCSN
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8/2
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Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course |
NBCSN
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8/23
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Pocono Raceway |
NBCSN
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8/30
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Sonoma Raceway |
NBCSN
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SCHEDULE NOTES: In California, Louis Brewster reports the date for Long Beach "has been known for some time," and event President & CEO Jim Michaelian is "pleased his event ... kept its position" on the schedule. The race last year "boasted an increase in attendance." Meanwhile, the MavTV 500 at Auto Club Speedway will see its "fourth different date for the series at Fontana in four years." The event was held during Labor Day weekend this year, and ACS President Gillian Zucker had previously "made it clear that without a date change, ACS would not host a race." Zucker: "IndyCar has been a tremendous partner, they understood that date (Labor Day Saturday) it was not the best date for fans or this market. They are really committed to seeing the series thrive here" (
Inland Valley DAILY BULLETIN, 10/30). In Milwaukee, Dave Kallmann notes this will be the "third different date in three years" for the Milwaukee IndyFest (
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 10/30). Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Bill Fleischman notes IndyCar returns to Pocono Raceway for the third straight year, despite track President & CEO Brandon Igdalsky prior to last July's race warning that if attendance "didn't pick up the series may not return" (
PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 10/30).
A.J. DOUBLES DOWN: IndyCar team owner A.J. Foyt yesterday announced that he has hired Jack Hawksworth and Takuma Sato "as full-time drivers" in '15, making the upcoming campaign "the first time in 13 seasons that Foyt's team will have two full-time cars." The AP's Michael Marot noted a "commitment from ABC Supply Company to sponsor both cars" in '15 and '16 is "what made it possible this year" (
AP, 10/29).
