St Petersburg ALMS start 2009The American Le Mans Series unveiled next year's calendar at Road Atlanta today. It follows the pattern of recent seasons except for the departure of St. Petersburg's temporary circuit, previously a double-header with the IndyCar Series. The St. Pete event was not replaced. There was also a date change for  Laguna Seca's Mazda Raceway.

The Monterey, Calif., venue has held the championship finale since 2004, but it now moves to mid-May, occupying the date previously held by Miller Motorsports Park, which instead joins Lime Rock as a July round. Laguna also becomes a six- rather than four-hour event. The change means that the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta will be the season closer for the first time since 2003.

St. Petersburg's departure leaves the series with a nine-round calendar. The Florida street circuit had hosted the ALMS in a double-header event with the IndyCar Series for the past three years, and the latter championship will continue to run at the venue.

                    
Date     Track                         Duration
Mar 20   Sebring                       12 Hours
Apr 17   Long Beach                    1 hour 40 minutes
May 22   Laguna Seca                   6 Hours
July 10  Miller Motorsports Park       2 hours 45 minutes
July 24  Lime Rock                     2 hours 45 minutes
Aug 7    Mid-Ohio                      2 hours 45 minutes
Aug 22   Road America                  2 hours 45 minutes
Aug 29   Mosport                       2 hours 45 minutes
Oct 2    Road Atlanta (Petit Le Mans)  10 hours