Road America in Lieu of Baltimore?

Following quote from the Group IndyCar Series Schedule, from the discussion Hearsay/Rumor/Word re 2012 Schedule.

Quote - Gary Lee Cox, March 25, 2011: Re the IndyCar Series adding Road America to their 2012 schedule. Hearsay/rumor/word is the ICS wants/would like to join up with the American Le Man Series on their traditional weekend next year. The American Le Man Series is officially scheduled for a four hour Saturday race at RA on August 20 this year. In 2012 the date for the American Le Mans Series at RA will most likely/probably be Saturday August 18. Thus making Sunday August 19 available for the IndyCars.

It is my understanding that officials of the American Le Mans Series met with officials of the ICS event at Long Beach last year to begin/initiate talks re reaching a agreement re the matter of a ALMS/IICS incorporated event/weekend at RA. A agreement was not reached for 2011. End quote.

http://www.indycargarage.com/group/indycarseriesschedule/forum/topi...

I believe China being added to the 2012 IndyCar Series schedule is the reason why there is no American Le Mans/IndyCar Series incorporated weekend, event/race scheduled for Road America in 2012. The American Le Mans Series is scheduled to race at Road America on Saturday, August 18, 2012. The IndyCar Series is scheduled to race at Qingdao, China , on Sunday, August 19, 2012.

IndyCar looks iffy, at best, for Road America in 2012 - Sept. 22, 2011

It's not for a lack of interest or for lack of a title sponsor but because of the difficulty finding a date that would work.

"Mr. Bernard is working on some foreign events, maybe two Brazil races, and he doesn’t know the dates of those," Bruggenthies said Wednesday, referring to IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard. "That’s part of his business plan because those races pay for a lot of the rest of the schedule and help us. So it was more the date than the money. Absolutely.

"We wanted to put them [IICS] on the Sunday [August 19th] following American Le Mans, which I think we were the first promoter to have that double-header. That’s why we expanded the paddock (for 2007), where we literally had American Le Mans Saturday and then Champ Car on Sunday [August 12, 2007]. And I think our fans would like that. That was kind of my plan, but August was really kind of busy for Randy. That’s really the way it went."

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/130355908.html

The last major league open-wheel race on the 14 turn 4.048 mile Road America permanent purpose built road course (CCWS - August 12, 2007) was won by Sébastien Bourdais, with a average speed of 127.481mph.

Attendance at the 2007 Generac Grand Prix (Champ Car World Series) was over 100,000 people during the 4 day race weekend. Race coordinators were pleased with this result as this was the highest attendance the race had garnered since the heyday of CART racing in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

ChampCar 2007 Elkhart Lake - Voxdale partnership

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT4eTBWBtXI&feature=related

Road America - Elkhart Lake - Bruno Junqueira - Dale Coyne R

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duNKaCRm89c&feature=player_detai...

I believe there may be a small ray of hope that a ALMS/ICS incorporated weekend, event/race at Road America could still be added to the 2012 IndyCar Series schedule. That ray of hope is the cancellation of the 2012 Baltimore ALMS/ICS incorporated weekend, event/race scheduled for Labor Day weekend (hearsay, gossip, rumor, talk is Baltimore may very well be a one and done). The ALMS is currently scheduled to race at Baltimore on Saturday, September 01, 2012. The ICS on Sunday, September 02.

If the Baltimore event is actually cancelled, a ALMS/ICS incorporated weekend, event/race over the 2012 Labor Day weekend at Road America could be realized. The action required would be for the ALMS to change/move their date at Road America presently scheduled for August 18, 2012 back two weeks to September 01. The IndyCar Series adds Road America to their 2012 schedule on Sunday, September 02, replacing Baltimore.

My preference between Baltimore and Road America...Road America.