Chinese Indy Qingdao 600 Cancelled

The proposed IndyCar race around the Chinese port city of Qingdao has been cancelled, after complications between the city officials and IndyCar lead to the race running out of time to be planned. This was to be the first time IndyCar had ventured into China, with most races run in either Canada or America.

The event was scheduled to take place on August 19th, however race promoters in China cancelled the event. This means the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series calendar is now a race short, with IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard currently investigating the possibility of a replacement event which would keep the Series at 16 events.

“We wanted to give the China race every opportunity to move forward and be successful, but IndyCar has been notified by the promoter that the event is cancelled for 2012,” explained Randy Bernard. “We were informed that the promoter was trying to move the event to a different date and location. After ongoing discussions regarding alternative dates, as well as doing our due diligence in exploring alternate venues in China, the promoter cancelled the event. A decision had to be made to allow IndyCar and its participants to plan accordingly for the second half of the season.

“We are working with our promoters that host events in the second half of our calendar to keep them apprised of how the date of a potential new race could impact our current schedule,” continued IndyCar’s CEO.

After the loss of the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi last season, and the cancellation of the Indy Qingdao 600 in China, the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series will only visit three different nations this season in Brazil, Canada and America. However, IndyCar officials are not “closing the door” on a future race in China in years to come.

The next race on the IZOD IndyCar schedule is this weekend, at Milwaukee for the Milwaukee IndyFest. Will Power currently leads the Drivers’ Championship, ahead of his nearest rivals Scott Dixon and James Hinchcliffe.

Picture Copyright © Chris Jones/IndyCar