(Photo: Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar). The summer months kick off with the Detroit doubleheader moving to the second weekend in June, Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13, while the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will host INDYCAR during the July 4 holiday weekend. For the first time, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will race at the Texas Motor Speedway in the month of May during a doubleheader weekend Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2. Making his fourth Indianapolis 500 start on Sunday, Jack Harvey will be making an appearance with an all new helmet design which pays homage to close friend and mentor, Pat Kennedy who sadly passed away in April due to, Fan and family favorites carrying special signage in 104th Running of 500The 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is a special event for Meyer Shank Racing on many levels. It’s a big schedule release week for American motorsport, and while IndyCar’s 2021 schedule was overshadowed by NASCAR’s, it’s still out—and there are some significant changes. The 2021 season-opener on Sunday, March 7 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida is the first of nine races on NBC network television – a schedule that also includes the historic Grand Prix of Long Beach in April. The third race of the year at IMS will run in conjunction with NASCAR’s Brickyard weekend, with the Cup Series on the track’s road course for the first time ever. Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden (1) heads through turn three during the 104th Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020. Miles and IMS president Doug Boles have been adamant this year, even with the addition of a third and fourth race at IMS, that the track still wanted and needed the road course race as a lead-up to the 500, and that will stay the status quo next year. “It’ll help raise the bar – not just for great racing – but for a great festival around INDYCAR.”. And already, we know some crucial pieces to a slate Penske Entertainment Corp. president and CEO Mark Miles has said consistently in recent weeks will look “very similar” to what was planned for 2020 before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. In total, we have 12 races accounted for, meaning five yet to pinpoint. Changes Ahead For Dodge City Raceway Park, Las Vegas Adds Downtown Area To NASCAR Hauler Parade, Kemmit Overcomes Bad Luck in the Battle of the Fenders II. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Announces 17-Race Schedule for 2021 Season NBC expands network coverage of NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship beginning with season opener March 7 in St. Petersburg INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 1, 2020) – INDYCAR officials announced a 17-race schedule for the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES, including expanded network TV coverage, two thrilling high-speed races at Texas … Additionally, as a marquee event of our Championship Season, we’ll also provide wall-to-wall coverage of the Indy 500 on NBC, an international sporting spectacle filled with speed and exceptional drama.”. Motor sports insider Nathan Brown breaks down the breaking news of NASCAR moving cup race to IMS road course. General Manager of WWT Raceway Chris Blair told IndyStar last week that IndyCar’s third confirmed oval track for 2021 will return to a night race under the lights after its afternoon doubleheader slate in 2020. Several traditional races return in 2021. INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 1, 2020) – INDYCAR officials announced a 17-race schedule for the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES, including expanded network TV coverage, two thrilling high-speed races at Texas Motor Speedway prior to the Indianapolis 500 and a return to its other pillar events. (Photo: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports). INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 1, 2020) – INDYCAR officials announced a 17-race schedule for the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES, including expanded network TV coverage, two thrilling high-speed races at Texas Motor Speedway prior to the Indianapolis 500 and a return to its other pillar events. The schedule will also include just two doubleheaders (Texas Motor Speedway and Belle Isle) after the pandemic made them a necessity this year just to get to 14 races. IndyCar bumps hybrid to 2023, reaches multi-year extensions with Honda, Chevy 5 things to know about the 2021 IndyCar schedule Formula E champ Antonio Felix … The race bops around a little in April, depending on how Easter falls, but Gene Hallman, the president and CEO of the Bruno Event Team that runs the IndyCar race told IndyStar last week that next year’s race will fall the second weekend of April as the series’ second race of the year. Hopefully, INDYCAR will see a return of the Last Row Shootout in 2021 with more than 33 cars vying for entry into the Indy 500 to make this an even more action-packed weekend than it … It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban. Indianapolis Star. IMSA released its 2021 schedule for the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, which will be contested over 12 rounds next season.. © 2020 www.indystar.com. The summer months kick off with the Detroit doubleheader moving to the second weekend in June, Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13, while the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will host INDYCAR during the July 4 holiday weekend. On Wednesday, Miles told IndyStar that schedule will contain 17 races, the same mark INDYCAR has eyed the past several years, and will include just one new track, which we know to be the Nashville street course.   “To have not just one oval race, but two, before racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May is strategically very important to the growth of the event, as well.”. 2021 event start times will be announced at a later date. Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only. The three-day international festival of speed and sound will be staged on a temporary grand prix circuit in downtown Nashville and around the Nissan Stadium campus – home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. The 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season champion will be crowned Sunday, Sept. 19 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, wrapping up the season on NBC. The 2021 season will begin Sunday, March 7 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, marking the 10th consecutive year that St. Petersburg will host the launch of a new season. “After the proof of concept this year,” said Miles, “we look forward to having an INDYCAR Grand Prix during the Brickyard weekend – and inviting fans be a part of it. Here’s a look at the potential full-season slate with dates. March 7, St. Petersburg streets, NBCApril 11, Barber Motorsports Park, NBCSNApril 18, Long Beach streets, NBCMay 1, Texas Motor Speedway, NBCSNMay 2, Texas Motor Speedway, NBCSNMay 15, Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, NBCMay 22-23, Indy 500 qualifyingMay 30, 105th running of the Indianapolis 500, NBCJune 12, Belle Isle streets, Detroit, NBCJune 13, Belle Isle streets, Detroit, NBCJune 20, Road America, NBCSNJuly 4, Mid-Ohio SportsCar Course, NBCJuly 11, Toronto streets, NBCSNAugust 8, Nashville streets, NBCSNAugust 14, Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, NBCSNAugust 21, World Wide Technology Raceway, NBCSNSeptember 12, Portland International Raceway, NBCSeptember 19, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, NBC, “Business limitations” keep Honda out of NASCAR for now, IndyCar’s St. Pete finale open to 20,000 fans. With two spots left on the calendar for 2021 and five tracks in the running, I believe things boil down to this quote from Roger Penske to IndyStar back in July: “We want promoters that are healthy and that care.”. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda to new speeds on “Fast Friday” as the turbochargers were turned up for the annual day of speed in preparation, 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500Practice 3 Fast FridayFriday, August 14th 2020 The three-day international festival of speed and sound will be staged on a temporary grand prix circuit in downtown Nashville and around the Nissan Stadium campus – home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. The event mark, Celebrating 75th Anniversary at Indianapolis by partnering with three entries Despite being staged under vastly different circumstances, Sunday’s 104th Runni, Front-row qualifying sweep for Honda sets stage for exciting "500"    Honda lineup includes four former winners; 11 of 12 fastest qualifiers    Victory on Sunday would be the 13th for Honda since 2003, Marco Andretti claims Honda’s 11th ‘500’ pole in Fast Nine final qualifying    Scott Dixon and Takuma Sato complete Honda front-row lockout    Honda takes 11 of the top 12 qualifying spots in dominant show of speed    104th Indianapolis 500 takes place on Sunday, A. Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.   INDYCAR’s lone new track addition has picked up a load of hype over the past month and has fans and paddock members supremely excited for what’s being billed as the biggest schedule addition in quite some time. (Photo: Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar). Back in 2018, the series landed an extension on the twin-bill weekend through 2021 that always immediately follows the Indy 500. As per yesterday’s announcement, the NTT IndyCar Series will hold a second race on the IMS road course, joining NASCAR for the Brickyard weekend on Saturday, Aug. 14. You do not need a Facebook profile to participate. The 2021 season will begin Sunday, March 7 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, marking the 10th consecutive year that St. Petersburg will host the launch of a new season. They've also had St. Pete initially slashed 48 hours before the green flag before finding a time to perform a second track build, all to host a race with a limited number of fans. The Indycar race attendance wasn't amazing in it's debut, but just like F1 at COTA, you have to build on it over years while having it every year. “To have not just one oval race, but two, before racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May is strategically very important to the growth of the event, as well.”. We know the strong Midwest affinity for INDYCAR racing and the love for INDYCAR drivers will help that weekend reach new levels.”. Over half of the events on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule have been on the calendar for 16 or more years, with Long Beach and Mid-Ohio (36 years) leading legendary visits to Detroit, Road America, Toronto and Portland International Raceway. COTA, which landed a Cup Series race next year and also hosts Formula 1, has long been described in paddock circles as a track that struggles to make money, and with IndyCar wanting a backloaded schedule next year and already five races set before we reach IMS the first time around, it appears COTA was pinched out. 1 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet to a statement victory in the stretch run of the, This weekend, Meyer Shank Racing driver Jack Harvey will return to the site of his first NTT INDYCAR Series podium as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) will host the Harvest Grand Prix. If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them. Between Toronto, Mid-Ohio, Circuit of the Americas, Richmond and Iowa, two rise above the rest in that sense – the first two, both run by Green Savoree Racing Promotions, the shop that also leads St. Pete and Portland. IndyCar officials have announced a 17-race schedule for the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series that does not include Iowa Speedway nor Richmond Raceway but an improved TV package. Please be polite. Fernando Alonso is competing in the Indianapolis 500 this year for one reason: To become the second driver, after Graham Hill, to ever win motorsports ‘Triple Crown.’ The Triple Crown consists of winning the Monaco Grand Prix, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Indianapolis 500. The latest INDYCAR news: IndyCar bumps hybrid to 2023, reaches multi-year extensions with Honda, Chevy; 5 things to know about the 2021 IndyCar schedule… Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden (2) of United States drives through turn one during the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Fla.) auto race Sunday, March 10, 2019, in St Petersburg, Fla. (Photo: Jason Behnken, AP). “The changes in Texas are important and exciting,” Miles said. The 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season champion will be crowned Sunday, Sept. 19 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, wrapping up the season on NBC. Will Power (12) of Australia leads the pack during the start of the IndyCar Series auto race, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, in Lexington, Ohio. In August, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES enters an important stretch, with consecutive races on a street course, road course and an oval highlighting the audacious athleticism required to win a championship.