In a release on Monday, the NTT IndyCar Series confirmed further changes to the 2020 schedule due to concerns amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Races set to take place at Portland International Raceway and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca have now joined the long list of events that have been cancelled this year.
The state of Oregon still has restrictions in place on outside gatherings of more than 250 people, which poses a problem for IndyCar which requires more than double that amount to even function at a race weekend.
Due to the spike of coronavirus cases, the double-header at Laguna Seca has also been dropped from the schedule as the circuit has struggled to recruit enough volunteers to help run major events at the circuit with such a short lead time for the event.
IndyCar has remained committed to completing its intention on running a minimum of 14 races, leading to a double-header event being put into place at the next round at Mid-Ohio. The second race on the weekend of August 9 acts as a replacement.
Teams are set to get little rest over the month of August with the revised schedule, after the Mid-Ohio double-header will be the build-up to the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 on August 23.
Following the Indy 500, Worldwide Technology Raceway at Gateway will also now host a double-header event on August 29 and 30.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway will also host a third event in 2020, the Harvest GP has been turned into a double-header as well on the weekend of October 2 and 3.
The 2020 season finale is still set to take place in St.Petersburg, Florida, usually the venue for the opening round of the championship on October 25.
“Our race fans have loved the exciting doubleheader action of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES this year at Road America and Iowa Speedway,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President & CEO Mark Miles said.
“We look forward to giving them even more world-class entertainment this season at three of the most exciting racetracks on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar.”
Race # | Event | Location | Track Type | Date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Genesys 300 | Texas Motor Speedway | Oval | 6 June | |
2 | GMR Grand Prix | IMS Road Course | Road Course | 4 July | |
3 | Grand Prix at Road America Race 1 | Road America | Road Course | 11 July | |
4 | Grand Prix at Road America Race 2 | Road America | Road Course | 12 July | |
5 | Iowa IndyCar 250s Race 1 | Iowa Speedway | Oval | 17 July | |
6 | Iowa IndyCar 250s Race 2 | Iowa Speedway | Oval | 18 July | |
7 | 104th Indianapolis 500 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Oval | 23 August | |
8 | Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Race 1 | WWT Raceway at Gateway | Oval | 29 August | |
9 | Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Race 2 | WWT Raceway at Gateway | Oval | 30 August | |
10 | Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Race 1 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | Road Course | 12 September | |
11 | Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Race 2 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | Road Course | 13 September | |
12 | IndyCar Harvest GP Race 1 | IMS Road Course | Road Course | 2 October | |
13 | IndyCar Harvest GP Race 2 | IMS Road Course | Road Course | 3 October | |
14 | Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg | St. Petersburg | Street | 25 October |