IndyCar: ISM Raceway not returning to the schedule in 2019

For the first season since the 2015 season, ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona is not set to host an IndyCar race in the 2019 season.

The four-turn, 1.022-mile (1.6447-kilometer) ISM Raceway oval in Avondale, Arizona hosted the second race of the 2018 IndyCar season, the Desert Diamond West Valley Casino Phoenix Grand Prix, back in early April on the first Saturday night of the month.

However, ISM Raceway is not set to return to the schedule in the 2019 season. The most recent IndyCar season during which the track did not host a race was the 2015 season, which was the 10th season in a row of the track not hosting an IndyCar race.

ISM Raceway returned as the host of an IndyCar race in the 2016 season. At that time, the track had not hosted an IndyCar race since the 2005 season. However, the series return to the track ended up being short-lived given the recent news about the track’s departure from the IndyCar schedule.

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Following IndyCar races at the track in the 2016 season, the 2017 season and the 2018 season, which were won by Scott Dixon, Simon Pagenaud and Josef Newgarden, respectively, there will be no IndyCar race winner at the track in the 2019 season.

Like it did in the 2018 season, the series visit to ISM Raceway in the 2016 season also took place on the first Saturday night of April. It was also the second race of the 2016 season. Last year, Phoenix hosted the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four on the first Saturday night in April, so the race could not be held on that weekend.

The 2017 IndyCar race at ISM Raceway ended up being the fourth race of the season, and it ended up being held on the final Saturday night in April.

Here is what an IndyCar statement regarding the fact that the series will not be returning to the track in the 2019 season said, according to Motorsport.com.

"“IndyCar has enjoyed its time racing at ISM Raceway, but attendance in the past three years has been disappointing despite considerable investment from both sides.“Track president Bryan Sperber and his team have been terrific partners and are developing a beautiful facility, and IndyCar will reconnect with them when conditions are right for both parties.“Meanwhile, IndyCar is moving forward with building a terrific schedule for the 2019 season.”"

Here is what ISM Raceway track president Bryan Sperber had to say about the matter, according to Motorsport.com.

"“We have enjoyed having IndyCar at our venue for the full three years of our agreement. The series officials and teams have been tremendous partners.“IndyCar will not be on our schedule in 2019; we’re currently taking a pause to review schedule options for the future.“IndyCar is currently discussing with International Speedway Corporation (ISC) other potential venues and opportunities. We’d like IndyCar to be on our calendar in the coming years, and we will work with IndyCar to find a date that will help deliver a successful event.”"

Considering the fact that the attendance was pretty low for each of the three IndyCar races held at ISM Raceway from the 2016 season to the 2018 season and the races at the track in the 2016 and 2017 seasons were relatively dull, this move is not all that surprising. However, for the future of the series on oval tracks, it is somewhat alarming.

With the elimination of ISM Raceway from the IndyCar schedule, just five oval tracks remain on it. Those tracks are Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Gateway Motorsports Park. Will all five of those oval tracks return to the schedule in the 2019 season? Will another oval track be added?

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Are you disappointed to hear that the IndyCar race at ISM Raceway will not be returning in the 2019 season after it was held in each of the last three seasons going back to the 2016 season, which is the season during which it returned for the first time since the 2005 season?