SMI Chair & CEO Bruton Smith yesterday said that he "expects the IndyCar Series to honor its contract with Las Vegas Motor Speedway and return to the track in 2012," according to the AP. Smith "has two years remaining on his contract to hold the IndyCar season finale at Las Vegas." IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard "has yet to announce the 2012 schedule, and is awaiting the results of the investigation into Dan Wheldon's fatal accident at Las Vegas to decide if the series can continue to run on high-banked ovals." Smith also said that he "wants IndyCar back at Texas Motor Speedway." He "was critical of Bernard's indecision and called on the CEO to honor his agreements" with SMI. Smith: "I like Randy a lot, but he listens to too many people. He's listening to people who don't know a damn thing about speedways and there's no reason in the world he should not be back at Las Vegas and Texas next year." He added, "There's never been a problem at Texas. Never, ever, ever. I have no idea why all of a sudden Texas would be considered not suitable for IndyCar" (AP, 11/30).
