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IndyCar to skip Las Vegas in 2012
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Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Cars are collected in a 15-vehicle pileup at the IndyCar World Championships at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 16. Dan Wheldon, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, was killed in the accident, which is under investigation. The series won't return to LVMS in 2012. » Buy this photo
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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The IndyCar Series will not return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway next season, and its future at the track depends in part on what it learns from the investigation into Dan Wheldon's fatal accident.
Wheldon, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, was killed on the opening laps of the Oct. 16 season finale at LVMS. The investigation into the 15-car fatal accident is ongoing, and IndyCar has postponed releasing its 2012 schedule until it determines if the series can continue racing on high-banked ovals such as Las Vegas.
Speedway Motorsports Inc. owner Bruton Smith was adamant he wanted IndyCar to honor the three-year lease deal it has with Las Vegas, but IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard had been reluctant to return to the speedway.
Smith said Thursday that SMI agreed to a buyout of 2012, and the final season of the contract will be reviewed later. Bernard confirmed he'd come to an agreement with SMI.
"We're not guaranteeing we'll be back," Bernard said. "But we'll test there, and we'll see what we can learn."
No matter the results, concerns remain about the emotional issues the series would face upon returning to Las Vegas.
Wheldon was killed 12 laps into the season finale in a fiery 15-car accident. Critics have pointed to everything from the 34-car field, the size and speed of the track, the speedway's high banking and the varying experience level of the drivers as reasons for the accident.
Wheldon was entered as part of a promotion that would have paid him $5 million if he could have driven from the back of the field to Victory Lane. It all was part of a season-ending spectacular aimed to boost TV ratings and send IndyCar into 2012 with momentum. Instead, it turned terribly wrong minutes into the race, and IndyCar has been struggling with difficult decisions and a tumultuous offseason in the six weeks since.
With Las Vegas settled, for now, attention turns to Texas Motor Speedway.
The high-banked oval is one of the series' most popular venues and has hosted IndyCar every year since 1997. But no sanctioning agreement was in place before Wheldon's accident, and Bernard has been hesitant to complete a deal until the investigation is complete.
The uncertainty has TMS president Eddie Gossage frustrated, but he said Thursday recent conversations with Bernard had been productive.
"We don't have a deal yet, but that's not to say we aren't going to get one done," Gossage said. "Certainly we'd like to get this wrapped up, and I believe we'll be able to find a way to do just that."
Smith has been more outspoken, questioning why IndyCar now is concerned about one of its strongest venues. Although he was pleased to have Las Vegas resolved, Smith urged Bernard to make a decision on Texas soon.
"We're good to go on Las Vegas, and we'll still race the road course at (SMI-owned) Infineon, but I don't know what he's done with Eddie," Smith said. "Eddie is getting frustrated and wants this resolved."
Texas last year hosted a highly trumpeted twin bill by splitting its 500-mile race into two 250-milers. Gossage has indicated he'd like another twin bill, perhaps with tweaks over length of the races or points awarded.
Not including Texas, the schedule has 14 events that previously have been announced by the tracks or the series. There's concern over the Labor Day weekend event at Baltimore because the promoters are saddled in debt and probably will have to give up control of the event for it to continue
IndyCar has not indicated when it will announce its 2012 schedule or if it will replace Las Vegas. Should Bernard not find something to slot in as a new season finale, the season would end in early September at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.
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Just blame the track. How many people have died at Indy? The people running open wheel racing have been completely incompetent for years. I have attended three open wheel races in the time I have lived in Las Vegas and they have all been hideous. I went to one a few years ago that was a doubleheader with a truck race. I never saw any racing and don't remember anyone getting passed. I then went to that terrible race they had on the streets of downtown. My most recent race was 10 minutes of racing, one hour of cleanup and then a funeral procession. Three strikes your out. I can't imagine me buying another ticket for this. Maybe they should spend some time fixing their sport instead of blaming everything in sight for their problems. I have had a great time at NASCAR and the NHRA. Indycars problems are all of their own doing.
Another waste of time. Hardly a sport. Last I checked the car is doing the major work. Cars going round couldn't be more boring. Zzzzzz... Some sicko-s go for the hopes of a crash. Now, that makes sense huh? Go sit out on the freeway, you'll see plenty in a day, and hey, it's free and just as dangerous.