IndyCar cancels Detroit, adds doubleheaders

Roger Penske has canceled the doubleheader race at Detroit and adjusted the IndyCar schedule Monday as the series remains on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Penske told The Associated Press he had no choice but to cancel the two races at Belle Isle because Michigan is under a stay-at-home order and workers cannot begin constructing the track. Penske is the promoter of that race.

“We’re under lockdown, we can’t do anything,” Penske said. He had previously told AP he could move the event to later in the season if racing remained on hold by May 30.

IndyCar is now tentatively scheduled to start its season June 6 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Penske closed on his purchase of IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

in January but all his plans have been disrupted since the season-opening race was called off 48 hours before the green flag.

To ensure a 15-race schedule, IndyCar will now run doubleheaders at Iowa Speedway, Laguna Speedway in California and return for a second race on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in October. It is the third schedule revision for the series and Penske has already taken the unprecedented step of moving the Indianapolis 500 to August and off Memorial Day weekend for the first time in race history.

“We’re committed to bringing fans as much ontrack action as possible,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “Our updated schedule features additional racing at fan favorite venues and adds to the total number of events on our calendar.”