The Indy Lights Series will be canceling its 2020 season, citing the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the IndyCar schedule modifications that resulted in multiple races being scrubbed.
The series announced in a release that “competition will be deferred” until the 2021 season.
The news initially was reported Sunday by the Trackside Online site.
The first two rungs in the Road to Indy ladder system -- the Indy Pro 2000 Championship and the Cooper Tires USF2000 -- will continue their 2020 seasons in schedules that also were announced Monday:
Revised 2020 Indy Pro 2000/USF2000 Schedule
| July 9-10 | Road America | Doubleheader Rounds |
| July 29-30 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | Tripleheader Rounds |
| Aug. 7-9 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | Doubleheader Rounds* |
| Aug. 21 | Lucas Oil Raceway | Single Race Event |
| Aug. 28-29 | World Wide Technology Raceway | Single Race Event Indy Pro 2000 |
| Sept. 3-4 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course) | Tripleheader Rounds |
| Sept. 11-13 | Portland International Raceway | Doubleheader Rounds |
| Sept. 18-20 | WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca | Doubleheader Rounds |
| Oct. 23-25 | Streets of St. Petersburg | Doubleheader Rounds |
Here’s the release on the Indy Lights news:
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind./PALMETTO, Fla. (June 1, 2020) – INDYCAR and Andersen Promotions today announced that Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires competition will be deferred until 2021 following a joint meeting over the weekend to address several variables affecting the 2020 calendar. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and modifications to the INDYCAR race calendar as a result, multiple companion events were canceled for the series, rendering the 2020 season no longer viable.
“The effects of the global pandemic on businesses, including racing, have been severe,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “The changes to our overall calendar of races as well as each event weekend’s scheduling and the ability for some of our drivers to compete has impacted the Indy Lights series far more harshly than our other two championships. With less of a cushion to begin with, it became increasingly apparent that the 2020 season was in jeopardy and the best plan was to take a pause, reconstitute for 2021, and do our best to enhance the Indy Lights championship for next season.
“After discussions with INDYCAR and understanding of their firm commitment to Indy Lights going forward, we, together, decided to suspend the 2020 Indy Lights season. We recognize that this will cause some hardships, but we hope all participants will realize the necessity of this decision and we look ahead to 2021 with a promise of better things to come.”
Indy Lights has a long history as the essential ladder series of INDYCAR with 23 of the 33 starters in the 2019 Indianapolis 500 as Road to Indy graduates, including nine Indy Lights champions. Dating back to 1986, more than 150 drivers have made the step from Indy Lights to INDYCAR. Reigning Indy Lights champion Oliver Askew and vice-champion Rinus VeeKay will become the latest to make that progression when they make their INDYCAR debuts at Texas Motor Speedway this Saturday with Arrow McLaren SP and Ed Carpenter Racing, respectively.
”The Road to Indy is extremely important to INDYCAR,” said Jay Frye, President of INDYCAR. “This was a difficult decision, knowing the impact it would have on the competitors and how disappointing it would be for the fans. However, it became clear, that we needed to focus our collective efforts on preparing for a strong 2021 Indy Lights season.”
The two junior levels of the Road to Indy – the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship – will continue with a full season of competition in 2020. Complete details will be finalized shortly.