Michigan dropped

The two-mile track has hosted a round of the championship since 2002 and produced a different winner each time, meaning a popular venue will disappear.

"Since its inaugural running in 2002, Michigan International Speedway, the state of Michigan, city of Jackson and other local communities made a major commitment to growing the IndyCar Series event," said track president Roger Curtis.

"I had hoped that we'd be able to reach an agreement with the IRL for 2008 given our historical investment in open-wheel racing that dates back four decades."

The cancellation of the IRL race from next year onwards means Michigan's only major event will come from NASCAR, although plans are being mooted about a road course being built on the circuit's infield section.

That could attract series' such as the Grand-Am sportscar series and the AMA Superbike package to run at the track in the future.