Dream IZOD IndyCar Series Schedule (Part One)

Talk of the 2013 IndyCar series schedule - and tweaking the 2012 schedule, for that matter - over the last few weeks had gotten me thinking, and this is the end result: my dream IZOD IndyCar Series calendar. In a perfect world - in my perfect world with no sponsorship issues, political considerations, scheduling commitments or anything else to preclude a race from being held - this is the schedule 23-round schedule that the IndyCar Series would race, delivered in two installments:

1. Streets of St Petersburg (1.8-mile temporary street circuit; St Petersburg, Florida) Now the traditional season starter, and a good circuit with a few nice passing zones built in. Always one of the more entertaining street races of the year, and solidly attended. Shots of the marina and waterfront look attractive on TV.

2. Phoenix International Raceway (1.0-mile short oval; Avondale, Arizona): A bastion of open-wheel racing, drawing giant crowds before The Split, when it drew mediocre numbers for the old IRL, this is a track almost tailor-made for IndyCar racing, with the awesome back-stretch dogleg. It's a shame that no Indy-style racing's been there since 2005. The IndyCar Series should race, at minimum, a 200-mile event.

3. Grand Prix Of Long Beach (1.968-mile temporary street circuit; Long Beach, California): The Indianapolis 500 of American road racing. Traditional, fan-friendly, a wonderful race track and a staple of open-wheel racing. A no-brainer. Should be run as a double-header weekend with the ALMS. Long Beach deserves the best of sports cars and open-wheel.

4. Iowa Speedway (0.875-mile short oval; Newton, Iowa): Best new addition to the IndyCar Series in years, purpose-built with progressive banking that promotes brilliantly competitive racing without the danger of larger tracks. Massive crowds, too. IndyCars belong on tracks like this, a 200-lap event.

5. Streets of Sao Paulo (2.535-mile temporary street circuit; Sao Paulo, Brazil): Another easy choice, thanks in part to the number of talented Brazilian drivers in the series, and certainly not the worst street circuit that's ever been invented. 

6. Fundidora Park (2.104-mile Permanent Road Course; Monterrey, Mexico): An old favourite of mine, popular when there were Mexicans in the series, but could still be successful. Mexico is an un-tapped market that should be reconsidered by the Powers That Be.

7. Texas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile speedway; Fort Worth, Texas): The only intermediate on the schedule, simply because it's the only one that draws a crowd. Aero changes prove that there can be exciting racing on the high banks without the death match that races there seemed to have become. Diversity is important: short ovals, intermediate ovals, super speedways, road circuits, street circuits and airport circuits. A 400-mile race here would hopefully appease Eddie Gossage.

8. Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2.5-mile super speedway; Speedway, Indiana): The Indianapolis 500 is greatest race of them all, the greatest prize in North American racing, no matter what they might say in Daytona Beach, Florida . It all began here. Race One of a Triple Crown of super speedways.

9. The Milwaukee Mile (1.0-mile short oval; West Allis, Wisconsin): Another no-brainer. The classic bullring should always be run the weekend after the Indianapolis 500. A real driver's circuit that is tough to get around and tougher to master and win. It should be 225-mile twilight race on the track where so many of IndyCar's greatest drivers have celebrated in Victory Lane.

10. Belle Isle Park, Detroit (2.346-mile temporary street circuit; Detroit, Michigan): An important race for the automotive industry, especially with Chevrolet in the series, and another chance to capitalise on the Midwest's fascination with IndyCar racing. Another chance for an IndyCar/ALMS double.

11. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (2.4-mile permanent road course; Lexington, Ohio): Another traditional venue, admittedly tough to pass on, but the ebb and flow of this circuit makes it a challenge for drivers.

12. Road America (4.048-mile permanent road course; Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin): Another no brainer, as popular with drivers as it is with fans. Easily the greatest road course in North America - and one of the best anywhere in the world - there's nothing not to like about this four-mile blast through the Wisconsin woods draws a large and knowledgeable fan base who deserve to see the zippy IndyCars rather than the lumbering NASCAR taxicabs. Another ALMS double opportunity.