Scheduling
From 2003-2006, the race marked the final IRL race before the Indianapolis 500. The extended travel time required typically found the race held the weekend before or after Easter, leaving one or two weeks of travel and rest time until practice began at Indianapolis in early May. This situation was widely unpopular for fans, and for television, because it would leave a large gap in the schedule, and disrupt continuity leading to the series' premier event. In 2007, the race at Kansas Speedway was moved immediately after Motegi, and would serve as a more popular lead-in to the Indianapolis 500.
In 2008, following the open wheel unification, the race served as part of the unique "doubleheader" weekend with the Long Beach Grand Prix. Existing IRL-regular teams raced at Motegi, and former Champ Car teams raced at Long Beach. For 2009, in an effort to reorganize the IndyCar schedule, the race was moved to September on the Respect-for-the-Aged Day and autumnal equinox public holidays, also kept for 2010.
Following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, it was announced that the 2011 event will be moved to the 2.98 mile road course (used by MotoGP) due to damage to the oval. The 2011 event will be the final running, a decision made before, and unrelated to, the earthquake/tsunami.
Read more about this topic: Indy Japan 300