IndyCar Returns to Texas Motor Speedway in 2012

INDYCAR announced its on Thursday their 2012 schedule and the IndyCar Series will return to Texas Motor Speedway for a 16th consecutive season and a traditional race format on Saturday, June 9, with the Firestone 550.

The Firestone 550 will return to a 228-lap format which go 342 miles in a race that will carry full championship points and purse.

Texas Motor Speedway played host to the Firestone Twin 275s, a pair of 114-lap, 275-kilometer full-field races that carried half the points and purse per race. It marked the first time that the format was run in the IndyCar Series and just the 18th time overall for the sport.

"I've said all along that we would be able to work out our business deal with INDYCAR and am glad to report that our deal is done," Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said.  "The race will return to its original format of 228 laps and 550 kilometers. We ran twin races this year, but it required more than an hour break between races to allow teams the ability to change engines and make other necessary changes to the cars. In listening to the fans, that hour break was simply too long. We're glad we tried the unique format, but we always listen to the fans' input to hopefully enhance their experience in the future."

Tickets for the Firestone 550, beginning as low as $35 for frontstretch seating, are available by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com or by calling the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500. The Firestone 550 also is part of the Texas Motor Speedway season ticket package that begins as low as $270.