Michigan completes 2007 schedule

The high-banked Michigan track has been part of the IRL calendar since 2002, but faced the possibility of being dropped in favour of a race on the Montreal road course next season.

Autosport revealed that the IRL's attempt to join the NASCAR Busch Series and Grand-Am double-header at the Canadian Grand Prix venue on 5th August looked set to fail, and the Michigan race has now been announced for the same date.

"Michigan International Speedway showcases the high-speed excitement and drama of the IndyCar Series, so we look forward to our return in 2007," said IRL president Brian Barnhart.

The early August date is not ideal for either party, as it falls just two weeks before Michigan's NASCAR Nextel Cup event, and four weeks before the IndyCar race on the nearby Detroit street track.

Michigan president Roger Curtis acknowledged that a compromise had been necessary.

"While we had originally planned to hold the IndyCar Series race during what has been a traditional July date for us, we want to do our part to help the IndyCar Series grow and hope the race fans will, too," he said.

"This is a one-time only scenario for us and we truly appreciate the support that race fans give us and motorsports year-round."

"Roger Curtis and his staff have been great partners during the scheduling process, and their flexibility allowed us to put together the most diverse schedule in all of motorsports," Barnhart added.

The full 2007 IRL schedule, which has been announced one event at a time over recent months, features all 14 tracks used this season, plus races at the new Iowa Speedway, and former Champ Car World Series venues Detroit and Lexington.

The line-up features nine ovals, two street tracks and three road courses.

2007 IRL calendar:

 1.  March 24  Homestead         (1.5-mile oval)*
 2.  April 1   St. Petersburg    (1.8-mile street course)
 3.  April 21  Motegi            (1.5-mile oval)
 4.  April 29  Kansas            (1.5-mile oval)
 5.  May 27    Indianapolis 500  (2.5-mile oval)
 6.  June 3    Milwaukee         (1-mile oval)
 7.  June 9    Texas             (1.5-mile oval)*
 8.  June 24   Iowa              (0.875-mile oval)
 9.  June 30   Richmond          (0.75-mile oval)*
10.  July 8    Watkins Glen      (3.37-mile road course)
11.  July 14   Nashville         (1.33-mile oval)*
12.  July 22   Mid-Ohio          (2.258-mile road course)
13.  Aug. 5    Michigan          (2-mile oval)
14.  Aug. 11   Kentucky          (1.5-mile oval)*
15.  Aug. 26   Sears Point       (2.4-mile road course)
16.  Sept. 2   Detroit           (2.096-mile street course)
17.  Sept. 9   Chicagoland       (1.5-mile oval)

* Night race