IndyCar: 3 tracks that got absolutely screwed by the pandemic

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Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, IndyCar, Pocono Raceway – Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports /

IndyCar tracks that got screwed: Pocono Raceway

This track wasn’t directly screwed by the pandemic considering the fact that it wasn’t even on the 2020 schedule, but it is listed here as a byproduct of Richmond Raceway landing a 2020 date. And of course, Richmond Raceway never actually got to host a race in 2020 — and it won’t in 2021.

Back in 2019, the rumors were that if Richmond Raceway was added to the schedule for 2020, Pocono Raceway would be off the schedule. Yes, that’s how it happened, but that wasn’t necessarily true.

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Pocono Raceway wanted to have IndyCar back in 2020, but the ball was in IndyCar’s court as they negotiated with Richmond Raceway. However, as we found out afterward, there was still a window of opportunity for IndyCar to end up at the Tricky Triangle even with Richmond Raceway added.

But based on what was said in the days after the 2020 schedule was announced in September 2019, Pocono Raceway had reportedly been under the assumption that IndyCar didn’t want it back following the addition of Richmond Raceway. Again, that wasn’t completely true, but by then, it didn’t matter.

The sad thing is that Pocono Raceway may actually have hosted a race in 2020, had it been on the schedule, even if delayed, considering the fact that NASCAR’s race weekend there went off without a hitch as originally scheduled in late June, albeit without fans in the stands.

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The Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama Presented by AmFirst is scheduled to get the 2021 IndyCar season underway on Sunday, April 18 at Barber Motorsports Park, which had hosted a race for 10 consecutive seasons until last year. The race, which was initially scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 11, is set to be broadcast live on NBC beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET.