AR1 2017 IndyCar Schedule Thread (Update)

UPDATE We have updated our 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule thread. There are a few question marks left, but the series is way ahead of its normal pace of locking down events. We expect further confirmations in the coming weeks. See below.

Date	Event	AR1 Rating	Comment
March 10-12, 2017	Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg	Fact	St. Pete is set through 2018.
April 7-9, 2017	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach	Fact	Long Beach is set or 2017. Month gap between 1st two races not ideal, but see Phoenix below.
April 16, 2017	Easter	Fact	IndyCar traditionally does not race Easter Sunday.
April 22-23, 2017	Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama	Fact	Race will be back, Pirelli World Challenge running this weekend
April 28-30, 2017	Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix	Speculation	Race is expected to be back but date is tricky. NASCAR runs Phoenix March 19, 2017, and Final Four is in Phoenix weekend before Long Beach.
May 12-14, 2017	Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis	Fact	GP of Indy set for 2017
May 28, 2017	Indianapolis 500	Fact	Indy 500 set for Memorial Day Sunday, 2017.
June 2-4, 2017	Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix	Fact	Doubleheader set again for week after Indy in 2017.
June 9-10, 2017	Firestone Texas 600	Strong	We expect Texas to return despite dwindling attendance.
June 23-25, 2017	Kohler Grand Prix of Road America	Fact	Track President George Bruggenthies confirmed IndyCar would return in 2017.
July 8-9, 2017	Iowa Corn 300	Fact	Iowa is set through 2018.
July 14-16, 2017	Honda Indy Toronto	Fact	Toronto will be back its traditional date in 2017.
July 28-30, 2017	Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio	Fact	Pirelli World Challenge is scheduled for this weekend
August 19-20, 2017	Pocono/Gateway	Speculation	Will Gateway replace Pocono? Or perhaps find another spot on the schedule?
September 1-3, 2017	Watkins Glen	Speculation	Will The Glen be more than a one-off? We should find out during the race weekend.
September 15-17, 2017	GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma	Fact	Sonoma will again host the series finale.

07/11/16 Below, is AR1's preliminary 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series Schedule. We'll update this as we receive announcements and confirmations.

Date	Event	AR1 Rating	Comment
March 10-12, 2017	Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg	Fact	St. Pete is set through 2018.
April 7-9, 2017	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach	Fact	Long Beach is set or 2017.
April 16, 2017	Easter	Fact	IndyCar traditionally does not race Easter Sunday.
April 22-23, 2017	Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix	Strong	Race is expected to be back but date is a question mark. NASCAR runs Phoenix March 19, 2017, and Final Four is in Phoenix weekend before Long Beach.
April 28-30, 2017	Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama	Fact	Race will be back, no date confirmation as yet.
May 12-14, 2017	Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis	Fact	GP of Indy set for 2017
May 28, 2017	Indianapolis 500	Fact	Indy 500 set for Memorial Day Sunday, 2017.
June 2-4, 2017	Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix	Fact	Doubleheader set for week after Indy in 2017.
June 9-10, 2017	Firestone Texas 600	Speculation	Will Texas return despite dwindling attendance?
June 23-25, 2017	Kohler Grand Prix of Road America	Fact	Track President George Bruggenthies confirmed IndyCar would return in 2017.
July 8-9, 2017	Iowa Corn 300	Fact	Iowa is set through 2018.
July 14-16, 2017	Honda Indy Toronto	Strong	Toronto expected to fall on its traditional date in 2017.
August 4-6, 2017	Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio	Strong	No official word on Mid-Ohio, although we imagine it will be back.
August 19-20, 2017	Pocono/Gateway	Speculation	Will Gateway replace Pocono? Or perhaps find another spot on the schedule?
September 1-3, 2017	Watkins Glen	Speculation	Will The Glen be more than a one-off?
September 15-17, 2017	GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma	Strong	It is expected Sonoma will again host the series finale.