Baltimore Grand Prix on official 2012 IndyCar schedule

The Baltimore Grand Prix will return to the Inner Harbor on Sept. 2, according to the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule released today.

Despite financial woes, it appears IndyCar remains committed to Baltimore, one of the few East Coast races on the schedule.

Terry Angstadt, president of IndyCar's commercial division, told The Sun two weeks ago that his organization remains supportive of the event, even amid revelations that Baltimore Racing Development faces more than $12 million in debts.

During race week, a source told The Sun that Baltimore is popular with the circuit's top sponsors and that the course around the Inner Harbor was great for television. Despite that, Baltimore Racing Development has been unable to secure a title sponsor for the race.

Highlights of the schedule released today include a first-ever event in China and two venues that return after not holding IndyCar races for several years.

The 2012 season will begin March 25 with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

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IndyCar returns to the Belle Isle park circuit for the recently announced Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix on June 3. IndyCar had competed at the Raceway at Belle Isle in 2007 and '08.

Also returning to the schedule is the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway oval in Fontana, Calif., for a night race on Sept. 15.

IndyCar's biggest race, the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for May 27 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The 2012 schedule:

March 25	Streets of St. Petersburg	1.8-mile street course
April 1	Barber Motorsports Park	2.3-mile road course
April 15	Streets of Long Beach	1.968-mile street course
April 29	Streets of Sao Paulo	2.536-mile street course
May 27	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	2.5-mile oval
June 3	Raceway at Belle Isle Park	2.1-mile street course
June 9	Texas Motor Speedway	1.5-mile oval
June 23	Iowa Speedway	.875-mile oval
July 8	Streets of Toronto	1.755-mile street course
July 22	Edmonton City Centre Airport	1.973-mile airport course
Aug. 5	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course	2.258-mile road course
Aug. 19	Streets of Qingdao, China	3.87-mile street course
Aug. 26	Infineon Raceway	2.303-mile road course
Sept. 2	Streets of Baltimore	2-mile street course
Sept. 15	Auto Club Speedway	2-mile oval

Baltimore Grand Prix on official 2012 IndyCar schedule

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