Phoenix Set to be Dropped

Although an official 2006 calendar has yet to be released, it is expected that the IRL will condense its usual eight-month calendar into a six-month schedule from April to September for marketing reasons.

And Phoenix, having had an IRL race in each season of the categories' ten-year history, is expected to be dropped.

An insider is quoted a saying IRL haved offered Phoenix a race date for April, but it was rejected because NASCAR had their extra race there in April. Climate conditions are a major stumbling block in running a meeting during the summer months.

John Griffin, vice president of public relations for the IRL said: "In the case of Phoenix, we have to work with ISC, the parent company, so we can sort through the eight or so races that they host overall.

"We will indeed condense our schedule in 2006 with approximately the same number of events in a shorter period of time. So that means we will have to take events in the early and late part of our current schedule and fit them in."

Mike Prusinski, Phoenix's manager of communications, said that while the calendar remains unpublished, a race at Phoenix could yet happen.

Prusinski said: "Every day that goes by makes it appear that the IRL won't be on the schedule. There are things that complicate our schedule and there are things that complicate the IRL's schedule. Until the announcement comes out, it's not a done deal."