IndyCar to drop Japanese race after 2011

IndyCar will not return to Japan to race at Twin Ring Motegi after this September, the

US-based racing series announced Wednesday, ending 14 years of open-wheel races at the Honda facility.

This year's event will be staged September 18 at the 1.5-mile oval north of Tokyo as the 15th of 16 races on the 2011 IndyCar schedule, a late-season spot that IndyCar officials said was an issue in the decision to drop the race.

"As IndyCar and the IndyCar Series continue to evaluate their long term plans, we must look to build the sport and its viewership," IndyCar commercial president Terry Angstadt said.

"We believe it is important that the final few events on our schedule give us the opportunity to be broadcast live during times that maximize our (US) viewing audience as we build up to the championship.

"We will continue to meet with promoters domestically and internationally that want to pursue an IndyCar Series event."

The Japan race's departure will leave the Sao Paulo Indy 300 in Brazil, staged in May, as IndyCar's lone race outside North America.

"We've enjoyed a great run at Twin Ring Motegi," said Angstadt. "While our businesses move in different directions, we will keep the door open for future events at the track."

Twin Ring Motegi hosted a Champ-Car event from 1998 through 2002 and in 2003 became the first IndyCar race staged beyond US borders.

In 2007, Danica Patrick became the first woman to win a major open-wheel racing series event when she captured the 200-lap race at the Japanese track, her only IndyCar career triumph so far.

Brazil's Helio Castroneves will try to defend his title and capture his third victory at Motegi in September. The three-time Indianapolis 500 winner is a four-time pole sitter in Japan.