Question marks surround 2012 IndyCar calendar

UPDATE The schedule was published here, but now it has been removed and the page blank.

12/16/11 Late Thursday IndyCar released its provisional 2012 schedule on its website, with 15 race weekends posted and similar to what AR1.com has been rumoring for months. However there are still some serious question marks.

The season is set to open with the first round on the streets of St. Petersburg March 25,

There's been a question as to whether Texas Motor Speedway would continue on the schedule given the debate over 1.5-mile, high-banked ovals in the aftermath of Wheldon's accident at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

As it stands, IndyCar lists a June 9 date at Texas – but no further details listed and no signed contract according to Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage as recently as last week because there still wasn't a final agreement on price. as to whether it will be a single race or doubleheader round counted as two races, as it was in 2011. There has been no official confirmation from either the series or Texas Motor Speedway regarding the return, but track president Eddie Gossage has stated he hoped the race would remain.

The series' first ever trip to Qingdao, China on a yet-to-be-revealed 3.8-mile street circuit on August 19 still has had no major announcement in China where in Qingdao the people have almost no clue there is to be a race, which indicates the city is not 100% behind the event. Races at Infineon Raceway and the streets of Baltimore are scheduled for the next two weeks thereafter. Baltimore's race is in doubt however, after the first race was in the hole $12M and if the money owned to the city isn't paid the Mayor has said there will be no 2012 event.

And there is no mention of a possible street race in Las Vegas to end the season. Instead IndyCar will end the season in Fontana with embarrassing near empty grandstands as their season finale.

Provisional 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series Schedule:
March 25 St. Petersburg, Fla. (street course)
April 1 Birmingham, Ala. (road course)
April 15 Long Beach, Calif. (street course)
April 29 Sao Paulo, Brazil (street course)
May 27 Indianapolis 500, In. (oval)
June 3 Detroit, Mich. (street course)
June 9 Fort Worth, Texas (oval)
June 23 Newton, Iowa (oval)
July 8 Toronto, Ontario (street course)
July 22 Edmonton, Alberta (airport course)
Aug. 5 Lexington, Ohio (road course)
Aug. 19 Qingdao, China (street course)
Aug. 26 Sonoma, Calif. (road course)
Sept. 2 Baltimore, Md. (street course)
Sept. 15 Fontana, Calif. (oval)