Breaking news
IndyCar
Portland IndyCar canceled, Mid-Ohio becomes double-header
The NTT IndyCar Series’ next race event, to be held at Mid-Ohio SportsCar Course in two weeks, will be a double-header, with the extra round effectively replacing this year's Grand Prix of Portland.
David Malsher-Lopez
Edited: Jul 27, 2020, 9:18 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Teams were informed on Thursday of the decision to cancel the 2020 race at Portland International Raceway, and the public confirmation is currently expected tomorrow (Monday).
Oregon’s state-wide crowd-gathering restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic – originally set at a maximum of 250 people – was always going to make it difficult for Portland International Raceway to host a race, even without fans present, given the number of IndyCar and team personnel necessary in the paddock.
However, earlier this week, Oregon’s Gov. Kate Brown further cut this maximum to 100 people, as the state’s number of active coronavirus cases continues to rise.
Read Also:
- Frye on new IndyCar engine supplier: “At some point it’ll happen”
- Indy 500 to run at 25 percent crowd capacity
This is particularly unfortunate for Portland which only returned to a top-line U.S. open-wheel racing schedule in 2018 after an 11 years hiatus, and proved a hit with fans and teams alike.
The event’s promoters, Green Savoree Racing Promotions, have at least been able to add a second race at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. GSRP has worked through some tough times during this pandemic, with its traditional season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg halted at the last minute and currently scheduled as the season-closer in October, and the Honda Indy Toronto canceled for this year.
Mid-Ohio, which on the original 2020 IndyCar schedule was set to host the 14th round of the season on Aug. 16, will instead host the seventh and eighth rounds on Aug. 8 and Aug. 9.
Thus IndyCar will see its third straight double-header event of the season after those at Road America and Iowa Speedway, and the weekend format will be similar to that at Road America.
Although the timetable has not yet been revealed, Motorsport.com understands there will be a long practice session on Saturday morning, followed by two-group qualifying and then the race. On Sunday, there will again be two-group qualifying followed by the race.
However, the cars will be impounded in parc ferme conditions between qualifying and the race.
Further changes probable
Should the double-header set for WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sept. 19-20 also be deleted – for reasons of pandemic-caused restrictions, budget or organizational issues – IndyCar is most likely to turn the events at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway and the Harvest Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course into double-headers.
WWTR president and CEO Curtis Francois has earned huge kudos for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500’s successful attraction of spectators to the Madilson, IL venue since IndyCar’s return in 2017, and fitting two IndyCar races and the NASCAR Truck race across the weekend of Aug. 29/30 should not cause major issues.
Social distancing requirements will necessarily restrict the number of fans allowed in the grandstands, but in terms of getting on-track activities completed, only the presence of Indy Pro 2000 will make the on-track scheduling any more complicated than at Iowa Speedway’s IndyCar double-header and ARCA event last weekend.
Meanwhile the Harvest Grand Prix on the IMS road course, should it also increase to two races, will mean the 2.439-mile course will have hosted three IndyCar races by season’s end.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Frye on new IndyCar engine supplier: “At some point it’ll happen”
Next article IndyCar confirms cancelation of Portland, Laguna Seca races
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
David Malsher-Lopez
Alex Zanardi: The man whose name is a synonym for “hero”
IndyCar
IndyCar
Alex Zanardi: The man whose name is a synonym for “hero”
Remembering Michele Alboreto: F1 ace, Le Mans winner and a good man
Formula 1
Formula 1
Remembering Michele Alboreto: F1 ace, Le Mans winner and a good man
IMSA Laguna Seca: Ganassi Cadillac holds off Porsche for victory
IMSA
IMSA
Laguna Seca
IMSA Laguna Seca: Ganassi Cadillac holds off Porsche for victory
Latest news
Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign
Indy NXT
IndL Indy NXT 1 h
Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign
GT World Challenge Portimao: All you need to know about season finale featuring Max Verstappen
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 1 h
GT World Challenge Portimao: All you need to know about season finale featuring Max Verstappen
13 Autosport retains unchanged lineup for 2027 IMSA campaign, eyes global expansion
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 2 h
13 Autosport retains unchanged lineup for 2027 IMSA campaign, eyes global expansion
Bourdais, Moss headline second batch of Sebring's 75 all-time greatest drivers
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 2 h
Bourdais, Moss headline second batch of Sebring's 75 all-time greatest drivers
Feature
Discover prime content
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
Feature
IndyCar
Feature
IndyCar
By Joey Barnes
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
IndyCar
By Joey Barnes
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe