The 2009 Indycar schedule got released earlier this month (I think...it could have been late July I suppose) and includes ten ovals and eight road courses (three permanent and five temporary/street courses).

- Sunday April 5: Streets of St. Petersburg - 1.8-mile street course
- Sunday April 19: Streets of Long Beach - 1.9-mile street course
- Sunday April 28: Kansas Speedway - 1.5-mile oval
- Sunday May 24: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (The Indy 500) - 2.5-mile oval
- Sunday May 31: The Milwaukee Mile - 1-mile oval
- Saturday June 6: Texas Motor Speedway - 1.5-mile oval
- Sunday June 21: Iowa Speedway - 0.875-mile oval
- Saturday June 27: Richmond International Raceway - 0.75-mile oval
- Sunday July 5: Watkins Glen International - 3.4-mile road course
- Sunday July 12: Streets of Toronto - 1.721-mile street course
- Sunday July 26: Edmonton City Centre Airport - 1.973-mile airport course
- Saturday August 1: Kentucky Speedway - 1.5-mile oval
- Sunday August 9: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course - 2.258-mile road course
- Saturday August 23 Infineon Raceway - 2.245-mile road course
- Saturday August 29: Chicagoland Speedway - 1.5-mile oval
- Sunday September 6: The Raceway at Belle Isle Park - 2.096-mile street course
- Saturday September 19: Twin Ring Motegi - 1.5-mile oval
- Sunday October 11: Homestead-Miami Speedway - 1.5-mile oval

Now, those familiar with the CCWS and/or the IRL series will notice that the season ending race isn't where it usually is and there are a few glaring omissions in the schedule (no Road America or Vegas for example). Some people are disappointed with the increase in road course proportion while I am disappointed that the Gold Coast has lost its spot on the schedule.

Yes, Australia is a long way to come for a single weekend out of a season. Yes, for the past decade that race has always been late October and so doesn't fit the new schedule's timing...and it seems that I'm not alone in being disappointed.

The V8 Supercars host a round of their series on the streets of Surfers Paradise the same weekend as the Indycars. I speak from experience that while watching the V8's are wonderful, the reason everyone goes to the race is the watch the Indycars since that's the only time any of the races have a good timezone for that part of the world.

This was the race track that effectively launched Marcos Ambrose's stock car career. You may have heard of him? I think he did an OK job at Watkins Glen over the weekend. Anyway, he raced an exhibition race in 2000 and won...not bad for his first time in a race car that had a roof over him.

I found an open letter that the boss of the V8 Supercars, Tony Cochrane, put on the V8 website;


"Dear Sir,

I have read with interest the many comments and considerable garbage written concerning the proposed date problem associated with the Gold Coast Indy Event for 2009 and beyond.  Much of this angst is aimed at the Queensland Government and the GCMEC Board. In my opinion unfairly. Both the Government and the GCMEC have bent over backwards in trying to accommodate the new IRL's interests in working out a suitable date for 2008/2009.  Following are some facts regarding the matter which may help correct the record:-

* The Government and the GCMEC have supported Indy/Champ Cars now for many years, including some very ordinary periods in their somewhat chequered history.  In any business relationship you would hope that this counts for something?

* Despite the Event being held in late October for nearly ten years suddenly the IRL, incredulously, offer two dates well outside this traditional period?

* The Event gets its TV production and Telecast partner (the 7 Network) from V8 Supercars Australia (our Championship goes to 110 countries, many of them live).  Like all sporting events the telecast partner is paramount to the financial success of the Event, so their scheduling is critical.

* The IRL offer two dates - one in March which clashes with a major Australian Motorsport event which involves both V8 Supercars and the 7 Network, and another which not only clashes with the AFL and NRL final series but would be in the middle of the September school holidays!

* Are Gold Coast tourism operators suggesting that moving Indy to a time when they are already fully booked due to the school holidays is a smart move to preserve the IRL?  Additionally, we would have no telecast partner for the Event.

* Late October was originally picked because it coincides with a natural downturn and quiet period for Gold Coast tourism. (i.e. the $60m injection comes in handy).

* V8 Supercars recognizes the Event requires both V8's and an International Series to make this unique Event work.  If the IRL cannot see fit to honour a long standing agreement on the date then there are many other world class International Series of Motorsports that would readily fit the bill.

Our Championship employs nearly 800 people in S.E Queensland so this “home event” for us is an important part of our landscape, and for our part, we will work with the Government and GCMEC in any reasonable way.  At the end of the day, I hope common sense prevails and the Event continues as a joint round of V8 Supercars and the IRL.  However, I don't subscribe to the Event being held ransom to a date that will bankrupt GCMEC, and neither should the Gold Coast community, especially when we have viable alternatives! Our American friends owe both the community and the Event more than that, given the support the Event has given them.

Yours Sincerely,
Tony Cochrane
Chairman
V8 Supercars Australia"


'So what?', you may say. As I said earlier, the current dates don't coincide with the new schedule and Australia is a long way from Miami...but consider this; Nigel Mansell, the 1993 Indycar Champion, said on his first visit to the track in 1993 that the Gold Coast did such a great job with the track and it was easily the best setup he'd seen for a temporary street track. The same Nigel Mansell who in 1992 won the F1 title and had therefore raced on the hallowed tarmac of Monte Carlo as well as the streets of Las Vegas (or was it Phoenix? I can't remember now, but I do know there was a street race in the USA in the late 80's early 90's) and that if anyone wanted to setup a new street track, they would be wise to use the Gold Coast as a template.

Will 2008 be the last time anyone sees this sight on the streets of Surfers Paradise?

The drivers love coming downunder since it allows them to escape the spotlight they usually get in the States and the relaxed atmosphere is exactly what some teams need as the season draws to a close...and now they can it? Maybe I am blinded by nationalistic pride and all that but it seems silly to cut a race that everyone enjoys. In fact, many motorsport fans rate the Gold Coast race as one of the top ten motorsport events around the world.

Now, before the switch to October, the race was held in March (like the letter says is an option)...which doesn't fit the schedule either since I'd doubt it would be accepted to start the season anywhere else but the USA. I believe the reason that got switched was it was too close to the Australian Grand Prix (after it moved from Adelaide in November to Melbourne in March in 1996) and, as we all know, having two major international sporting events held back-to-back decreases the overall profit making ability so it made sense to move the Gold Coast race.

What about that other date the letter suggested...the one that clashes with this 'AFL' and 'NRL' finals, surely they can't be as big as Tony says and the fact that it's school holidays would mean that families would be able to go to the race anyway.

Wrong.

While Australia does embrace any international sporting event, when given the choice, we much prefer to stick to our own sports. Remember that we don't want to have a Saturday night F1 race as that clashes with the grand final of the AFL's preseason Cup...the PRESEASON Cup, not even the 'real' thing!

Even suggesting hosting the race when the finals are on would be akin to going "hey, let's host the Indy 500 in early February!" It's the same thing here; September has always been, and will always be, 'finals footy' time in Australia. The only way I can see where the Gold Coast would fit in the schedule wold be to start the season earlier and put our race after Long Beach (allowing a week off either side for travel and preparation) but that will only happen if they are serious about keeping Surfers Paradise as a venue. However, I get the impression that the honeymoon, which lasted since 1991 (and only has one repeat winner in its history), is over.

And, like Tony says, if they don't want us, there are plenty of other series that would jump at the opportunity...your loss, Indycar *shrugs*