Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
March 27-29
Race: March 29, 3pm ET
TV: ABC
The welcome return of racing in the warmth of Florida after another long, hard winter takes place as it has since 2005 with beautiful Tampa Bay in the background. This year’s race brings the added intrigue of the first competitive outing for the new Chevrolet and Honda aero kits. A beautiful place to forget about the long offseason.
April 10-12
Race: April 12, 3pm ET
TV: NBCSN
IndyCar brings the #IndyRivals battle to the Bayou for the first time with a trip to NOLA Motorsports Park. NOLA has been open for several years, but will host its first major event thanks to a major infusion of cash and the Andretti Sports Marketing team promoting the event. The circuit, a flat, natural-terrain course, has drawn comparisons to the Burke Lakefront Airport course in Cleveland—sightlines for fans give them a view of the entire course and the track offers fast, sweeping corners.
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
April 17-19
Race: April 19, 4pm ET
TV: NBCSN
I believe very little needs to be said about Long Beach. The crown jewel of North American street circuits, the Monaco to the North American open-wheel racing scene. Look for another thrilling race in Southern California underneath the trademark beautiful, sunny skies.
Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
April 24-26
Race: April 26, 3pm ET
TV: NBCSN
Despite being described as a motorcycle circuit when Barber Motorsports Park first came onto the calendar, the picturesque locale in Alabama has consistently provided tremendous racing. With aero kits providing added downforce, this is one track that should see some pretty substantial gains in lap time.
May 7-9
Race: May 9, 3:30pm ET
TV: ABC
While many may have questioned the logic in running a road course race at the hallowed grounds of IMS to kickoff the month of May, it turned out to be a relatively wise decision. A decent crowd for the event combined with a revised infield layout that promoted good racing gave IMS a reason to bring the race back. With new sponsorship, expect to see the GP of Indy a fixture on the schedule for years to come.
Indianapolis 500
May 24, 12pm ET
TV: ABC
The biggest race of all the big races, the Indy 500 will mark the first race for the oval versions of Honda and Chevy’s aero kits. The introduction of the DW12 put the “race” back in oval racing and this will be our first chance to see what the alterations to the Dallara bodywork will do to oval racing for the foreseeable future.
Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit
May 29-31
Race 1: May 30, 3:30pm ET
Race 2: May 31, 3:30pm ET
TV: ABC
After a three-year experimentation with doubleheaders, Detroit becomes the sole doubleheader event left on the schedule. Recent improvements to the circuit, the return the old layout on Belle Isle increasing the raciness of the track, and corporate support developed by Roger Penske’s team has meant that Detroit has been a success once again.
Firestone 600
June 5-6
Race: June 6, 8pm ET
TV: CNBC (Note: Not on NBCSN)
A race that was for some time rumored to be off the schedule, IndyCar returns to their biggest non-Indy oval race for another year at the Eddie Gossage’s Texas Motor Speedway. Dwindling attendance and competition in the Texas market from Circuit of the Americas meant that Texas almost went from two to zero races in one year. However, the race returns once again. While the racing hasn’t been the side-by-side affair that was popular yet dangerous, the series continues to work on the product to provide safe entertainment.
Honda Indy Toronto
June 12-14
Race: June 14, 3pm, ET
TV: NBCSN
Another race that was under threat due to the Pan-American Games taking place in Toronto this summer, a suitable date was finally found and the Honda Indy Toronto will once again be the series’ sole stop north of the border. Shifting back to a single-race format is the only other change that will greet Canadian fans this summer.
MAVTV 500
June 26-27
Race: June 27, 4pm ET
TV: NBCSN
Many of the later season races shifted dates, none more prominently than Auto Club Speedway’s 500 miler. After having hosted the season-finale for the past three seasons, ACS requested their date be moved after the condensed-season format left their race taking place on the final weekend in August. The MAVTV 500 also moves from a night race back a 1pm local start time.
July 11-12
Race: July 12, 5pm ET
TV: NBCSN
When it seemed no one wanted the season-finale, Milwaukee appeared as a surprise contender for the final race. However, Milwaukee’s date instead moves up several weeks to comprise a three-race oval swing. The Andretti Sports Marketing team is still trying to find the right date to bring the fans back to the historic flat one-mile oval.
Iowa Corn 300
July 17-18
Race: July 18, 8pm ET
TV: NBCSN
Iowa’s date shifted back a few weeks, but most everything else stays the same for the short oval. Night race, 300 miles, tight competition, wild finishes. Oh and corn. Lots of corn.
Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio
July 31-August 2
Race: August 2, 1:30pm ET
TV: CNBC (Note: Not NBCSN)
One race to retain the same date is Mid-Ohio. Another track that could see big lap time gains with the help of aero kits, this will be one place that will test the ability of the new package to race well on a narrow, twisty circuit with some tight, difficult passing zones. The Midwest fans, though, will return to the heart of Ohio to see IndyCar in their backyard.
Pocono INDYCAR 500
August 22-23
Race: August 23, 2pm ET
TV: NBCSN
Pocono was another oval race that appeared under threat but ultimately made a triumphant return to the schedule. Unhappy with their July 4th weekend date, Pocono now shifts to a later date away from the track’s two NASCAR events. The Tricky Triangle has provided some intriguing racing the past two years for two very different reasons, so it will be interesting to see what year three brings to the Pocono Mountains.
August 28-30
Race: August 30, 4pm ET
TV: NBCSN
If the glitz and glamour of Fontana didn’t make you all excited for the final race of the season, perhaps a trip to wine country will. Sonoma Raceway will play host to this year’s season finale, the first time the IndyCar season will end on a road course. The circuit has been a gracious host to IndyCar, even offering up widely varying solutions to improve the racing. Now they get the honor of concluding what will hopefully be another compelling IndyCar campaign.
IMS
