* - night race
Schedule subject to change.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

07/29: Open-Wheel Racing to Return to Toronto
The Indy Racing League is expected to confirm the return of racing to Toronto's Exhibition Place next summer when it unveils its 2009 schedule today.

It is thought the 2009 IRL race calendar will have 18 dates, with Canadian stops in Edmonton and Toronto in July. The Canadian races will be two of eight road or street races on the calendar, with the remaining 10 on oval tracks.

"I have not seen the schedule, but it would not be strange to assume the Toronto race would return for its usual early July date," IRL boss Tony George said during his series' Canadian debut at Saturday's Rexall Edmonton Indy. (globesports.com)

- IRL Won't Race at Nashville Speedway in 2009
Middle Tennessee again is without a premier-level auto race after the Indy Racing League confirmed Monday that it would not return to Nashville Superspeedway in 2009.

The last time this happened was when NASCAR decided not to bring Winston Cup races back to the Music City Motorplex after the 1984 season.

The IRL began holding yearly races at the superspeedway in 2001 and is the top American-based, open-wheel series in the nation. It has brought racing personalities such as Helio Castroneves, Danica Patrick and Williamson County's Dario Franchitti to the track in past seasons. (tennessean.com)

- Toronto May Get IRL Race
Toronto appears one step closer to an open-wheel race next summer.

Reports out of Edmonton during this past week's Indy Racing League stop in the Alberta capital for the Rexall Edmonton Indy suggested that Toronto would replace Nashville on the schedule.

It was confirmed on Monday that after eight years the IRL will not return to Nashville for next season, and it's expected Toronto will be given the nod when the new schedule is released as early as this week. (canada.com)
_____________________________________________

07/06: Kanaan Hurts Wrist in Warm-up Crash
Tony Kanaan sustained an injury to his left wrist during a crash in this morning's warm-up at Watkins Glen, but he has been cleared to race.

The right rear wishbone snapped on his Andretti Green Racing Dallara-Honda, sending the car tail-first into a barrier at Turn 6. Kanaan was checked by IRL medical personnel, who said x-rays showed no broken bones.

However, earlier in the day Kanaan and AGR officials said he had sustained a hairline break in an outer bone in the wrist. (autosport.com)
_________________________________________________________

07/01: IRL may go to Vegas in '09
NCRL-
There is speculation that the IRL may run a race in Las Vegas in 2009.  The question is would it be an added race or will they drop one, and if they do which one.

Some say that that race may well be Chicagoland.  But, that track is one of the better draws for the IRL so it is doubtful that they would dump that for Vegas. 

If they should add Vegas it would likely be an addition rather than a switch. 
___________________________________________________________________

06/12: City Officials, IRL Discuss Race's Return
In a quiet yet high-powered round of meetings Wednesday, Indy Racing League officials heard from Cleveland political and civic leaders about the importance of putting the Grand Prix of Cleveland back on the 2009 racing calendar.

Since the IRL and Champ Car merged in February, Cleveland and other races were bumped off the schedule to create one open-wheel series instead of two. But the IRL also said 2009 will offer a chance for several events to get back on the slate.

Cleveland is among a number of cities -- including Toronto; Portland, Ore.; Houston; and Mexico City -- trying to make the cut. (cleveland.com)
___________________________________________________

05/13: Crewman Buckman out of Hospital
NCRL-
63 year old Charles Buckman who was knocked down by Danica Patrick Friday has been released from the hospital. 
___________________________________

05/09: Patrick Hits Pit Crewman
NCRL
A crewmember from Dale Coyne Racing was knocked to the ground when he was hit by the front wing of Danica Patrick's car as she drove into her pit.

Charles Buckman was transported to the hospital with a concussion and cuts to his face and scalp.  Buckman 63, was reported to be unconscious for about a minute.  Dale Coyne has also absolved Patrick of any blame for the incident. 
_________________________________________________

05/07: Lloyd Climbs To Head Of Indy Rookie Class At 223
There's a daily evolution of the 2.5 miles of asphalt racing ribbon that can be a driver's friend or foe. Find yourself betwixt, and there is uncertainty at best. Experience in the form of laps logged on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the tonic.


That's what the 10 hours of the Rookie Orientation Program/refresher program - incorporated into the Month of May track time - are partly designed to do. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com)
___________________________________________________

04/21: 'Dreams do come true'
TOKYO - Thank you, Bryan Herta.

A few hours and 4,500 miles (flying "AirTranica") after becoming the first female to win a major closed-course auto race, Danica Patrick was recalling to a media horde at the Long Beach street race a conversation with her Andretti Green Racing teammate last July at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course as being particularly insightful. Now, it's also relevant.

"I was on the front row for the first time on a road course, which was great, and he said, 'You know, when you win your first race you're going to go, 'I wasn't doing anything different that day, it just happened.' I wasn't doing anything that different (at Twin Ring Motegi), it just happened. He was right." (IndyRacing.com)
_________________________________________________________

04/16: Indy 500: 39 Entries for 92nd Race
The Indianapolis 500 field is rounding into shape with the annual rookie-orientation program just a few weeks away (May 4-5). There are 39 official entries, exactly the number Indy Racing League chief steward Brian Barnhart told Honda officials to expect.

One of the most interesting entries is Penske Racing's No. 77 car, the same number used by 2006 Indy winner Sam Hornish Jr. in NASCAR. Penske officials didn't list a driver and haven't ruled out Hornish, but it appears that this car is his option if they choose to attempt the double-header with the Sprint Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway on the same day.

Thirty-two cars have drivers assigned, including Alex Lloyd, who won last year's Indy Lights title. Lloyd will be on loan from Ganassi Racing in the No. 16 car of Rahal Letterman Racing. Including Lloyd, there are 12 rookies; if they all make the race, it would be the most rookies for the event since 13 first-timers competed in 1997. (AutoWeek.com)
__________________________________________________

03/11: Tagliani's IRL Move on Hold
Alex Tagliani says the recent unification of open-wheel racing has put his 2008 plans on hold.

Tagliani says prior to the merger announcement, he was ready to sign a deal with PKV Racing. But everything changed on February 21st. (tsn.ca)

- Walker Racing Won't be Making Switch from Champ Car to IndyCar Series
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Walker Racing won't be making the switch from Champ Car to IndyCar after all.

Walker Racing said in a statement Sunday that it had been unable to find new sponsorship partners and would not field an IndyCar team due to a lack of funding. The program officially closed Friday, the statement said.

"It's a great pity that the team has had to abandon our IndyCar program,'' owner Derrick Walker said in the statement. (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)
_________________________________________________________

03/05: Rubicon Race Team sign Papis for Indy 500
Max Papis to pilot Rubicon Indy 500 entry

INDIANAPOLIS (March 4, 2008) -- Driver Max Papis has been tabbed to pilot the Rubicon Race Team entry and attempt to qualify for the 92nd Indianapolis 500 on May 25.

Papis, widely regarded as one of the most versatile race car drivers in the world, will attempt to make his third start in the famed "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" in a Dallara/Honda/Firestone car owned by Jim Freudenberg and Jason Priestley and prepared by Sam Schmidt Motorsports. Traveling to the brickyard with Papis will be his personal sponsor GEICO. GEICO will be prominently displayed on the rear wing of the car, as well as the top of the sidepods, top of the nosecone and the tire ramp, along with Max's drivers suit and the pit crew uniforms. (motorsport.com)
______________________________________________________________________-

03/04: Aussies Look to Seal Gold Coast IndyCar Race for 2008
My normal testing recap will be posted a bit later than usual tonight, since I have some non-racing business to attend to. However, before I take off for a while, I wanted to pass along that the leaders of the Gold Coast Indy 300 in Surfer’s Paradise, Australia are now en route to Indianapolis to nail down a deal with the Indy Racing League to stick their event on the 2008 IndyCar Series schedule.

In this press release that was put out today, officials from the Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton (Alberta, Canada) will also be joining the Aussies and the IndyCar officials in a forthcoming meeting that should finalize their races’ participation in this season’s campaign. (mvn.com)

- Grand Prix of Houston Canceled
Less than two weeks after losing its marquee race, the Grand Prix of Houston has canceled its race weekend for 2008.

The event took a hit Feb. 22 when the Indy Racing League and the Champ Car World Series merged to unify American open-wheel racing.

After scrambling to save the April 25-27 event, Grand Prix of Houston owner Michael Lanigan decided to cancel the entire race weekend, citing cost effectiveness. (chron.com)
__________________________________________________________

02/22: George, Series Owners Sign Unification Agreement
Indy Racing League founder and CEO Tony George and owners of the Champ Car World Series have completed an agreement in principle that will unify the sport for 2008.

Gerald Forsythe, co-owner of Champ Car, signed an agreement in principle Feb. 22 in Chicago, joining his partner, Kevin Kalkhoven. George signed the agreement Feb. 21.

Details of a news conference about the agreement will be forthcoming. When scheduled, the news conference will be shown live on indycar.com. (IndyRacing.com)
_____________________________________________________________

01/24: IRL Expands Qualifying Procedure to Four Laps at All Oval Races
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indy Racing League will use a four-lap qualifying procedure similar to the Indianapolis 500 at all its oval-track races this season.

The pole winner and lineup at those events will be determined by the overall times for all four laps, rather than the fastest of two qualifying laps as in the past. The format for road and street courses will remain unchanged, with single-lap qualifying for all cars followed by a 10-minute group session with the six fastest qualifiers to determine the pole position. (USAToday.com)

- Priestley to Return to Racetrack as Indy Team Co-owner
Jason Priestley can't stay away from auto racing.

The former Beverly Hills 90210 heartthrob, seriously injured in a racing accident in 2002, is co-owner of a new race team that plans to enter a car in the Indianapolis 500 in May.

"Dude, this is going to be so fun," Priestley said Monday. (chron.com)
_________________________________________________________________

12/05: Mutoh, Briscoe Get in Extended Track Time With New Teams
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Hideki Mutoh lingered in the garage during the lunch break at Homestead-Miami Speedway, chatting up almost every Andretti Green Racing team member in sight. An IndyCar Series rookie for the 2008 season, Mutoh didn't wish to miss opportunities to strike up relationships.

"It's really exciting and I'm really pleased to join with this team," said Mutoh, who was joined at the speedway by team co-owners Michael Andretti and Kim Green. "People are very kind and it will take time to get used to everything. That will come. I'm very comfortable in the car. I'm following the program." (IndyRacing.com)