The 1996-1997 Indy Racing League season was a result of the league abandoning the concept of ending each season with the Indianapolis 500. Following the races at Loudon and Las Vegas, on October 9, 1996, the Indy Racing League announced that the league would revert to a calendar-based schedule for 1998. The 1996-97 season was originally scheduled to begin at Loudon in August 1996 and end with the Indianapolis 500 in May 1997.