IndyCar Not to Return to Las Vegas Speedway in 2012 after Wheldon’s Death

December 9, 2011

IndyCar have announced that the IZOD IndyCar Series will not return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2012 following the death of British driver Dan Wheldon which has marred the track.

Wheldon died of multiple injuries in a 15-vehicle crash on October 16.  

The series was scheduled to close its 2012 season at the speedway on Oct. 14, here but IndyCar and speedway officials said considerable testing with the new car is needed prior to returning to the facility.

Randy Bernard, CEO, IndyCar, said: “We feel we need to give our technical team ample time to conduct thorough testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, once we complete our ongoing investigation into the 15-car accident during the Oct. 16 race at the track.”

The 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season opens March 25 with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The complete schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.