IndyCar published a 15-round schedule for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season on Thursday, with the likelihood of adding a 16th race and a possibility of a 17th. While Texas Motor Speedway – which had reportedly been the hold-up in finalizing the calendar – remains on the schedule, the Kentucky, Las Vegas and New Hampshire ovals are all omitted from the schedule, which is currently set to end in September at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana Calif.
As previously announced, the Belle Isle circuit in Detroit that hosted IndyCar in 2007-'08 and Champ Car during the 1990s, makes a return to the series on the weekend after Indy, while a street race at Qingdao in China gets an Aug. 19 date.
IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said that although the initial calendar drops the number of rounds from 17 in 2011 to 15 next year, there was a chance that further races will be added before the start of the 2012 season.
"IndyCar is excited about the confirmed races announced today," said Bernard. "With the new car and engine manufacturer competition, we believe they will be tremendous events that will help IndyCar grow.
"We are exploring adding additional events to the 2012 schedule. We're in the process of confirming a 16th event, while also considering adding a 17th race to the calendar."
The Indianapolis 500 takes place on May 27, with Pole Day a week earlier on May 19.
2012 IZOD IndyCar Series
March 25 St Petersburg, Fla.
April 1 Barber Park, Ala.
April 15 Long Beach, Calif.
April 29 Sao Paulo (Brazil)
May 27 Indianapolis 500
June 3 Detroit, Mich.
June 9 Fort Worth, Texas
June 23 Newton, Iowa
July 8 Toronto, Ont.
July 22 Edmonton, Alb.
August 5 Mid-Ohio
August 19 Qingdao, China
August 26 Sonoma, Calif.
September 2 Baltimore, Md.
September 15 Fontana, Calif.