The NTT IndyCar Series revealed a 17-race calendar for the 2022 season which gets underway as reported by Paddock Eye earlier this weekend at the end of February with the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg.
Following the race in St Petersburg on February 27, the series heads to Texas Motor Speedway on March 20 before the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach returns to its traditional April date on Sunday, April 10. The Month of May kicks off with Barber Motorsports Park on May 1 before heading to the Indianapolis road course for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis on Saturday, May 14th.
The 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge takes place on Sunday, May 29th. Penske Entertainment Corporation President and CEO ark Miles said:
“This schedule continues to build on the growth and momentum the NTT INDYCAR SERIES has achieved, especially in 2021. “Our terrific partnership with NBC Sports has led to a fantastic opportunity to place an unparalleled 14 events on broadcast television while completing the rest of the schedule with USA Network and Peacock.
The series heads to the Raceway Belle Isle on June 5 for just one race in Detroit, a break from the traditional doubleheader weekend in the Motor City before heading to Road America on June 12. Miles went on to say:
“Our drivers and teams will give the fans a strong, earlier start with six consecutive races on NBC, building even more anticipation for the crown jewel of the Indianapolis 500 in May. Our summer schedule also is full of action, with no extended breaks in the calendar, leading into the crowning of a champion on the West Coast with our last two races also on NBC.”
The Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course plays host to IndyCar on July 3rd before they head back to the Streets of Toronto on July 17 before heading back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on July 17. Mike Perman, VP, Programming, NBC Sports said:
“We’re incredibly excited about our 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule, highlighted by the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 and a record 14 INDYCAR races on the NBC broadcast network that will bring added exposure to the series. “With more races than ever on NBC, plus comprehensive live coverage of every minute of the 2022 season on Peacock with practices, qualifying and race simulstreams, we look forward to continuing to grow the sport and super-serve INDYCAR fans across the country.”
The NTT IndyCar Series returns to Iowa Speedway for a doubleheader in association with HyVee from July 23/24 and speaking about the return of Iowa, IndyCar Series President Jay Frye said:
“Iowa Speedway has traditionally produced some of most intense racing the NTT INDYCAR SERIES has to offer. “It is great to see that this short oval, where we’ve seen up to 955 on-track passes in a single race, is back on the schedule. Combined with the rest of the calendar and a growing paddock, which has produced as many as 28 entries at non-Indy 500 events this year, the 2022 season will be as compelling and competitive as ever.”
The NTT IndyCar Series returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on July 30. August sees IndyCar head to the Streets of Nashville for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on August 7 before heading to World Wide Technology Raceway on August 20.
The Portland Grand Prix takes place on September 4 while the season concludes with the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday, September 11.
Mark Miles concluded saying:
“This is an excellent schedule for the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship. “This calendar provides a level of balance between temporary street circuits, road courses and ovals, and that variety and required versatility from our drivers are important, distinguishing attributes of NTT INDYCAR SERIES racing.