Milwaukee added to 2012 IndyCar schedule after Andretti saves it
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| Last year's race suffered from poor attendance. Hopefully Andretti can make it a success |
The race will be on Friday and Saturday the 15th and 16th, not Saturday and Sunday the 16th and 17th. Our race schedule page has been updated.
Michael Andretti has always had a love affair with the Milwaukee Mile and the former Indy car star is making sure the storied oval stays on the IZOD IndyCar schedule for 2012.
Andretti, five times a winner during his CART career at Milwaukee, will be the promoter of the June 16th race – a Saturday show – which gives INDYCAR its 16th race, its fifth oval and keeps the tradition of its oldest venue alive.
After having no race in 2010, INDYCAR returned to State Fair Park last Father’s Day but had a dismal turnout and the new promoter lost his behind so it appeared the racy oval the drivers love was gone forever.
But Michael began negotiating with the city, state and fair board three months ago and a massive press conference was planned for later this month before the announcement was posted Friday on the Milwaukee Mile website.
INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard was hoping to make it public for the first time at Monday’s State of the Series address in Indianapolis.
Initially, Andretti wanted to hold practice, qualifying and the race all on June 16 but ABC needed an early afternoon time slot so practice and qualifying will be held on Friday, June 15th.
And the hope is that the day before Father’s Day is more appealing to fans. Speedtv.com
A reader writes, Dear AR1.com, I know that IndyCar and Milwaukee were probably limited as far as dates available but, if June 16-17, 2012 is any indication as far as dates go, here is what they will be up against from an attendance/TV number standpoint:
June 17: Father's Day
June 14-17: US Open Golf tournament at The Olympic Club in San Francisco broadcasted on NBC, most likely in primetime since it's on the west coast (this was the case in 2008 at Torrey Pines in San Diego, CA and 2010 at Pebble Beach in Monterey, CA). If Tiger Woods is in the hunt, for sure nobody will tune into IndyCar’s at Milwaukee.
June 17: Nascar at Michigan (same geographic region)
June 16: Nationwide Series at Michigan (same geographic region)
Other notables are whether the NBA Finals will be on during this time period since the lockout delayed the season. Last years finals played well into June. NHL and Stanley Cup playoffs goes into mid-June. Baseball is in full force, NFL training camps just around the corner. I know that Andretti has done a great job with the St. Pete race and Toronto seems like it is improving each year but, is this another disaster waiting to happen? Brandon Stevens
02/10/12 The Milwaukee Mile will be back on the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series calendar, as the track website has listed a June 16-17 date. IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard has said in previous interviews he'll reveal a 16th race at Monday's State of IndyCar presentation to the media in Indianapolis.
On its website, the track posted: “Find out who will be immortalized in the Milwaukee Mile record book this year."