Consistency Key In 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series Schedule

By having consistency in the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule, the league is fixing a major problem for the series and its fans.

The 2017 IndyCar schedule was released on Thursday morning, and in making the announcement Mark Miles stressed one word: consistency.

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“The release of the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule continues to build upon the success IndyCar has experienced the last three years and establishes continuity and consistency in our event calendar,” Miles said in a league statement.

“As a series we are working diligently to create long-term relationships with our promoters to establish date equity,” he continued, “and to provide them with the opportunity to initiate ticket renewals and event promotions earlier, which is pivotal to continuing the increase in attendance at our events.”

In retaining all 16 tracks from the 2016 season in 2017, IndyCar is starting a consistency that the series desperately needs.

The last few years have been fraught with changes, whether it’s been the venues, the number of races, or the dates of those races. This was particularly true last season as the league axed several tracks, added replacements, pushed the end of the season and had to deal with the debacle that was the Grand Prix of Boston.

And while that caused headaches for everyone involved the biggest losers have been the fans.

Whether it’s seeing favorite venues dropped off the calendar, or races changing dates making it hard to attend (or both, if you’re Auto Club Speedway in Fontana), it hasn’t always been easy for IndyCar fans to watch the sport in person.

Unless you were in Indianapolis you were never quite sure when your local race would land on the calendar. That makes it difficult to renew tickets, which in turn makes it difficult for venues to build and retain an audience. The best way for IndyCar to stabilize its fan base is to stabilize its schedule.

Now the 2017 schedule isn’t totally the same; it shuffles Long Beach, Alabama and Phoenix, but at least all three races are within the same month as they were in 2016. And the short break between Pocono and Gateway is probably ill-advised. But for the most part, IndyCar got it right for next year.

The schedule is going to bring racing back to the same venues, including the fantastic Road America and what should be the fantastic Watkins Glen.

It’s not being too ambitious and trying to launch more races after the failures of Boston and Brazil; Gateway is the only new addition, and that was in the cards since the place became a testing venue in 2015.

It’s sticking with the solid lineup that the league already has and giving it the best possible chance to succeed by not monkeying too much. It’s the best scenario for the league and for the fans, and let’s hope that future seasons maintain that same consistency.

What do you think of the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule?