Richmond Raceway's return completes 17-race 2020 IndyCar calendar

Richmond Raceway’s return and Pocono Raceway’s departure completes a 17-race calendar for the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series season.

The calendar features seven permanent road courses, five street circuits and four ovals with Richmond completing the lineup. Eight races will be televised on NBC while NBC Sports Network picks up the remaining nine races.

The series will race at the .75-mile oval in Richmond, Virginia for the first time since 2009 on Saturday night on June 27 with a to-be-determined distance. The race slots between the rounds at Road America and Toronto rounds.

“We are pleased to return to the Mid-Atlantic region, one we know to be full of INDYCAR fans,” INDYCAR CEO Mark Miles said. “We’re also excited to return to historic Richmond Raceway, which was recently reimagined with a $30 million redevelopment project that modernized the infield for a better fan experience.”

The short track hosted Indy car races from 2001-09 with five-time series champ Scott Dixon winning the final race. The track has since undergone a $30 million renovation improving fan exposure and garage infrastructure.

“Richmond Raceway’s history in motorsports dates back to 1946 when the track hosted two AAA Championship Car events,” Richmond Raceway President Dennis Bickmeier said. “After hosting INDYCAR from 2001-2009, we now look forward to the return of the NTT IndyCar Series for our fans at America’s Premier Short Track as part of a Mid-Atlantic festival of speed on June 26-27, 2020.”

Pocono Raceway’s removal is the lone change to the race lineup. The 2.5-mile superspeedway hosted IndyCar races from 2013-19, with races from 2014 on being 500-mile contests.

The venerable season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will host its 10th season opener on Sunday, March 15. The season finale will take place at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the second consecutive year on September 20. The 2.238-mile road course returned to the calendar this season after a 15-year absence.

The remainder of the schedule features some order changes starting with the IndyCar Classic at the Circuit of the Americas moving to April 26. COTA’s move prevents a date conflict with the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 22.

 The series’ round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course moves from July to Sunday, August 16. The delay is owed to NBC’s coverage of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo during that timeframe.

The final change is shortening the gap between the final two rounds at Portland at Laguna Seca from three weeks to just two.