It Doesn't Get Any Easier, Does It?

As of now, IndyCar will be heading to Canada once in 2013. Edmonton is off the schedule after years of speculation. Octane is backing out of there contract with the city of Edmonton, and the city isn't looking for another one. This won't be another Baltimore with Michael Andretti saving the day. This race can join the list of failed temporary circuit with the likes of San Jose and Denver.

However the search for a nineteen race season just became much harder. With it appearing the other fourteen races on the 2012 schedule to be returning, the additions of Houston and unconfirmed Pocono,  IndyCar is still three away from the magic number. Providence is interested in a street race which would be seventeen. The report of doubleheaders would make it possible for IndyCar to reach nineteen but that would not solve the problem of country wide summers. Between July and August, IndyCar is scheduled to have only three races in that time frame. With Fontana looking to move to October, September could become just as open.

The question is can these gaps be filled? We can all list race after race that we want on the schedule but that does not mean it is going to happen. However, with Edmonton's vacancy, that opens the old date of the Michigan CART date. Michigan expressed interest in being the 16th race for this season and was talked about for 2013 but it appeared that was off the table during the summer. Road America is in the same boat, with sanctioning fee being the sticking issue. Richmond has been talked about but a race in July would probably be a Saturday night, however no talk has been serious. What else is possible? Maybe IndyCar can work something with NASCAR to make a double or triple header with the Nationwide and Truck Series at Chicagoland possible but that would be very difficult.

We can list dream race after dream race until we are blue in the face, but the business has to make sense. But IndyCar may have to make something to work. I am sure no one is for six races over a four month stretch. Austin and New Orleans have been mentioned but both have been rumored to be early in the season, not the summer.

For IndyCar, the board and Randy Bernard, it doesn't get any easier. As usual.