Indy Racing League event won’t return to Richmond

[Blue_Tires]

After weeks of negotiations, International Speedway Corp. officials announced yesterday that the Indy Racing League event won't return next year to Richmond International Raceway.

Track President Doug Fritz said officials for IRL and ISC, the track's parent company, could not reach an agreement to add the SunTrust Indy Challenge on the 2010 IndyCar Series schedule, which will be announced today.

A study released this year showed the IRL race had a $53 million economic impact locally.

The open-wheel race, which debuted in 2001, received mostly mixed reviews throughout its nine-year run.

Fritz said the economic downturn played a significant role in ISC's decision. In addition, dwindling attendance and an expected loss of major sponsors, including SunTrust Bank, jeopardized the event.

"After reviewing those key factors and due to increases in costs, including IndyCar Series fees to host an event, we have made the decision, in conjunction with ISC, to not host the IndyCar event in 2010," Fritz said.

Fan and industry feedback largely was negative after repeat winner Scott Dixon won the June 27 race by finishing ahead of his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate and pole-sitter Dario Franchitti. During the race, there were long stretches of uninterrupted racing with few lead changes.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/sports/motor_sports/article/INDY31_20090730-220205/283257/

aww man...I happen to like open-wheel racing...I went to the rain-shortened '03 race and the crowd was sparse (Dixon during the press conference after his win also insulted the track which didn't help)...