The Verizon IndyCar Series will not return to Auto Club Speedway in 2016 after a 4-year run.
According to a statement from the series, both sides were close to a deal for the race to return for the series finale, but could not agree on a start time for an east coast television audience.
“There was a tremendous amount of effort put forth to keep Auto Club Speedway on the calendar. In the end, we could not identify a compromise for 2016 that was amicable for both parties,” said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Co., the parent of INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The race was faced with four different dates in four years: September in 2012, October in 2013, Labor Day weekend in 2014 and June in 2015. June’s race featured what many have called one of the greatest IndyCar races of all time but a disappointing crowd.
While the race is off for 2016, whether or not the race returns for 2017 and beyond is still up in the air.
