2018 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule drops Watkins Glen, adds Portland

The 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule has removed Watkins Glen and added Portland in a shorter calendar. Take a look at the full schedule here.

Thursday saw the release of the 2018 IndyCar schedule, and it seems like the more things stay the same, the more they change.

Next year’s calendar will be back down to 16 races from the 17 events that happened in 2017, and there have been more venue shifts, too.

Most notably, Watkins Glen International has been dropped from the IndyCar schedule after two years. The Grand Prix at the Glen proved to be a great event, but reportedly Watkins Glen and the league couldn’t find an acceptable date to bring the race back next year.

Replacing Watkins Glen in early September is a new event at Portland International Raceway in Oregon, which returns to the open-wheel schedule for the first time since 2007.

Another revived track, Gateway Motorsports Park outside of St. Louis, will keep its spot on the IndyCar schedule after being added back last year.

The rest of the schedule largely remains the same, but losing one race off the calendar and then losing Watkins Glen as a venue are two disappointments going into the new season.

The Grand Prix at the Glen is the second great race to drop off the schedule in recent years, following the decision to axe the annual race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana due to another scheduling snafu. Will adding Portland back be able to make up for it?

2018 will be a busy year for the Verizon IndyCar Series, because not only is it making schedule changes, but it will be the first year racing with the new universal aero kit for all drivers. If you’re a fan, the 2018 IndyCar season will be one to pay close attention to.

Below is the complete 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule:

March 11 – St. Petersburg
April 07 – Phoenix
April 15 – Long Beach
April 22 – Barber
May 12 – Grand Prix of Indianapolis
May 27 – 102nd Indianapolis 500
June 02 – Dual in Detroit Race 1
June 03 – Dual in Detroit Race 2
June 09 – Texas
June 24 – Road America
July 08 – Iowa
July 15 – Toronto
July 29 – Mid-Ohio
Aug. 19 – Pocono
Aug. 25 – Gateway
Sept. 02 – Portland
Sept. 16 – Sonoma

Next: Helio Castroneves to only race Indy 500 in 2018

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