It is being reported that the IndyCar officials are now looking at Michigan International Speedway to be the new season finale for the series. Though those in charge of the track indicated a willingness to discuss details, it is far from a sure thing. It does appear, however, to be a better response than when the series asked Texas Motor Speedway to host the season finale. After a rocky relationship with track officials, it was clear that there was no chance the track would host on such short notice.
This potential season finale at Michigan could present a couple of problems. Not even considering the fact that the race track would only have two or three months to promote the race and get everything together, the issues may be insurmountable. There is a large NASCAR weekend planned in late August at Michigan but if the track really wanted to host the season finale for IndyCar, organizers could probably handle it. The biggest problem is financial. Some IndyCar races have lost a significant amount of money and, especially given the short notice for the race, it seems unlikely that Michigan would see anything remotely close to a profit.
The problems all happened earlier in June when the newly elected local officials in China decided that it would be better for the city if the Indy Qingdao 600 did not coincide with the annual beer festival. Though there were initial efforts to reschedule the race, it did not pan out. Unfortunately, IndyCar cannot just sit by and let a race fall off the calendar. Due to the series' contract with title sponsor IZOD, there has to be 16 or more races held each year. The loss of China's race put the series at 15 races on the 2012 calendar.
I would guess that IZOD paid, and continued to pay, a lot of money in order to be the title sponsor. I would also guess that the company would be unhappy, to say the least, with the series being short one race. IndyCar has been having some significant problems recently, with the death of a popular driver, controversial engine manufacturer problems and now a last minute scramble to find a replacement race. As a fan, I hope that the series can straighten out their problems. Lately it seems like the problems are overshadowing the racing.
Kristin Watt has been a fan of motorsports since she was a young girl and she watched NASCAR races with her mother. That love of NASCAR quickly evolved into a great enjoyment of many different motorsports including everything from local dirt track action to the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans to the adrenaline rush of the extreme motocross events. She has been following motorsports for many years.
