2012 is an important year for the IndyCar Series. Many positive things progressed, the new car, Versus becoming NBC Sports Network. However, the circumstances of the how the 2011 season ended still cast a big cloud, ultimately resulting in today's ESPN news, that the Las Vegas will not host a race in 2012. This makes the return of Texas doubtfull as well. Still no sign of the calendar. Moreover, the Dallara DW12 has problems as well and one of the most prestigious teams of North American motor racing shut down due to the economic stituation and the third engine manufactor still hasn't tested their engine.

As there is no official schedule out yet, there are many dates not confirmed.

25.03.2012 - St. Petersberg
01.04.2012 - Barber Motorsports Park
15.04.2012 - Long Beach
29.04.2012 - Streets of Sao Paulo (Brazil)
27.05.2012 - Indy500*
03.06.2012 - Detroit Belle Isle
09.06.2012 - Texas*
23.06.2012 - Iowa*
08.07.2012 - Toronto (Canada)
22.07.2012 - Edmonton (Canada)
19.08.2012 - Qingdao (China)
26.08.2012 - Infineon Raceway
02.09.2012 - Baltimore
15.09.2012 - Fontana*

*=Ovals

This schedule features 14 races. However, IndyCar is targeting to have a 17/18 race calendar, although nothing indicates such a trend so far. Also since the split, it would be the season with the fewest number of oval rounds as IndyCar cannot find sponsors to back these races.

Some drivers are already confirmed, A short look over the teams and drivers:

Honda:
Chip Genassi Racing / 4 cars: Dixon, Franchitti, Rahal, Kimbal
Sam Schmidt Motorsports / 1* car: Pagenaud
Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan Racing / 1* car: TBA
AJ Foyt Racing / 1* car: TBA

Chevy:
Penske Racing / 3 cars: Castroneves, Briscoe, Power
Andretti Autosport / 3* cars: Andretti, Hunter-Reay, TBA
KV Racing / 2* cars: Kanaan, Viso (tbc)
Panther Racing / 1* car: Hildebrandt

Lotus:
HVM Racing / 2 cars: de Silvestro, Alesi (part-time, tbc)
Bryan Hertha Autosport / 1 car: TBA
Dryer & Reinbold Racing / 1*car: TBA
Michael Shank Racing / 1 car: TBA

no engine supplier yet:
Sarah Fisher Racing / 1 car: Newgarden
Ed Carpenter Racing / 1 car: Carpenter
Dale Coyne Racing / 1* car: TBA

* teams that may enter one additional car.


(December 2011)

Alesi, as in Jean Alesi, the famous DTM driver? (See what I did there? :razz

Quote from Yuri Laszlo :

Alesi, as in Jean Alesi, the famous DTM driver? (See what I did there? :razz

and the former F1 driver... Yes, that Jean Alesi. He will at least race the Indy500 as representant of Lotus Cars. So he was put to HVM.

A large article with the whole line-up and all the silly rumours - not totally up to date though: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com ... n-continues-to-take-shape

A lot of free agents around(Servia, Wilson, Hinch, Bourdais, etc), here's where they could go: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com ... driver-market-heating-up/

Quote from TFalke55 :

Some drivers are already confirmed, A short look over the teams and drivers:

I don't think Viso and Alesi have been confirmed yet.

Pagenaud has been confirmed yesterday.

Quote from 'GreyBull [CHA :

I don't think Viso and Alesi have been confirmed yet.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96336

Alesi is very likely to race for HVM because it becomes the team with the backing of Lotus Cars, Viso is very likely to return as he will be sponsored with venezuelan money again.

Anyways thanks to pointing out, changed it to tbc in the OP

I hope bourdais takes danicas seat, I think he could help Andretti get back to the top.

Quote from TFalke55 :

and the former F1 driver... Yes, that Jean Alesi. He will at least race the Indy500 as representant of Lotus Cars. So he was put to HVM.

Seabass is likely to go to Pug in ILMC this year however, so he's out, As much as I want PT to get a seat,

Didn't I read somewhere Shank were entering Allmendinger?

Quote from Yuri Laszlo :

image

the latter seams to be right

Quote from DieKolkrabe :

Seabass is likely to go to Pug in ILMC this year however, so he's out, As much as I want PT to get a seat,

Didn't I read somewhere Shank were entering Allmendinger?

Sato and PT are both Honda sponsored. So they will end up with a Honda, if they get a seat. Bourdais wants to return full time, but only if the right decision are made concerning oval racing. Good that ILMC folded Anyways I also see him at max on a part-time run like this past season.

Quote from Yuri Laszlo :

:huepfenic:up:

bad news from Baltimore. no not about the Raven's play-off chances The organisors of the Baltimore Grand Prix made 12m $ loss. Though IndyCar and the city of Baltimore want to hold another one but the discussion who needs to deliver which support...

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sp ... -20111208,0,7944162.story

Quote from DieKolkrabe :

Didn't I read somewhere Shank were entering Allmendinger?

Yea, but only as a staff member. He's carrying on with NASCAR as a driver.

http://espn.go.com/racing/indy ... eaving-ovals-hurt-indycar

Hmmm interesting perspective...

Quote from lizardfolk :

http://espn.go.com/racing/indy ... eaving-ovals-hurt-indycar

Hmmm interesting perspective...

anyways, LV is still on the schedule for 2013. Phoenix is reported being interested in a return for 2013 as well.

Quote :

IndyCar has yet to announce its 2012 schedule, but as it stands now, IndyCar would close out the season at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. ACS is a 2-mile oval where the cars go flat-out all the way around the track and often bunch together, similar to Texas or Vegas.

So why is it OK to cancel Vegas and not ACS?

Agreed, what makes Fontana any safer than Texas and Las Vegas?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1CMmEOE3Zo

It's not about the speed, or "flat out" etc. It's the banking and the ability of constant 2-3 wide racing. Fontana doesn't create that as it is a much flatter track.

Yep good point, turns out I overestimated Fontana's banking, only 14° max according to Wikipedia, against 24° for Texas.

on the lighter side: Lotus switchs not only the teams but also from green and yellow to black and gold

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96726

Meh, on one hand it's a tad disappointing to see the Green and Gold livery gone from IndyCar considering its history at the speedway(although perhaps HVM could still wear a sort of hybrid livery, including Lotus' gold stripe?).

But on the other it's good to see that Proton and Fernandez sorted that issue for good, it was quite retarded to have both Lotus ART and Team AirAsia with the exact same livery in GP2, for example.

Found this sheet at trackforum.com, and figured out that some here could be interrested.



http://www.trackforum.com/foru ... -2012-IZOD-IndyCar-Series

Dale Coyne is still recovering from a leg injury but will announce his drivers soon: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com ... -in-on-2012-driver-lineup Seabass-Jakes seems to be the safest bet. Still a question mark over Seabass' IndyCar+Endurance program, 2 dates at least seem to be clashing.

Apparently Katherine Legge is set to return to open wheel racing, team still TBA, but it should be a 2 years deal, with an option for a 3rd year: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111212/IRL/111219993

Quote from https://www.facebook.com/The.Indianapolis.500 :

Randy Bernard announces that the 2012 INDYCAR schedule will be released tomorrow.

.

Quote from TFalke55 :

.

Should be the provisonal schedule, plus a TBA finale that will be revealed in early February.

http://www.1070thefan.com/jmv/podcast.aspx

Quote from GreyBull [CHA] :

Should be the provisonal schedule, plus a TBA finale that will be revealed in early February.

http://www.1070thefan.com/jmv/podcast.aspx

Quote from indycar.com :

2012 schedule

March 25: Streets of St. Petersburg (1.8-mile street course)
April 1: Barber Motorsports Park (2.3-mile road course)
April 15: Streets of Long Beach (1.968-mile street course)
April 29: Streets of Sao Paulo (2.536-mile street course)
May 27: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
June 3: Raceway at Belle Isle Park (2.1-mile street course)
June 9: Texas Motor Speedway* (1.5-mile oval)
June 23: Iowa Speedway (.875-mile oval)
July 8: Streets of Toronto (1.755-mile street course)
July 22: Edmonton City Centre Airport (1.973-mile airport course)
Aug. 5: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (2.258-mile road course)
Aug. 19: Streets of Qingdao, China (3.87-mile street course)
Aug. 26: Infineon Raceway (2.303-mile road course)
Sept. 2: Streets of Baltimore (2-mile street course)
Sept. 15: Auto Club Speedway (2-mile oval)


*Denotes two full-points races Schedule subject to change

Quote from INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard :

"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."

http://indycar.com/news/show/5 ... -highlight-2012-schedule/

Hmm, two full points race at Texas... Hope that means full distance aswell!

nah it'll be like last year except with a reversed grid (probably) rather than that ****ing draw thing they did last year

Pretty good calender though, race in china probably wont happen and there isnt enough ovals but considering that the new car is total dog shit on ovals it might be for the best this year