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)...

[Mopar151]

1. Dumped "up noth" too

The Indy Racing League will not make its return to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2010, rebuffing the track's request of a race for the second straight year, and once again eliciting an impassioned response from officials in Loudon.

"For the second year in a row, I'm extremely disappointed for our fans who continue to hope for the return of IndyCar racing to New Hampshire Motor Speedway," said Jerry Gappens, the track's executive vice president and general manager.

As they did a year ago, officials from NHMS and parent company Speedway Motorsports Inc. negotiated with IRL in hopes of luring open-wheel cars back to the track for the first time since 1998. With NASCAR races in June and September, Gappens and SMI Chairman Bruton Smith angled for a date in early August, and though there was some optimism as recently as a couple of weeks ago, those weekends didn't work out.

After that proposal was turned down, Gappens asked that NHMS be considered for the early June date previously occupied by the financially troubled Milwaukee Mile - but that effort also proved unsuccessful, despite Milwaukee's removal from the 2010 slate.

From the Concord Monitor, link: http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090801/SPORTS/908010352&template=single

Sadly, I think the IRL's "product" still needs work, and their USAC cousins need to kiss and make up with their Silver Crown car owners (when USAC dumped all their pampered, polished, top shelf equipment in favor of a "spec car") Then somebody should show Tony George a supermodified!

[Blue_Tires]

2. yeah, ever since the 'split' back in 1995

NASCAR really took over the spotlight in the booming 90s and hasn't given it back...It became hard even for me to stay interested in IRL after Chevrolet left...

But then again things are hard on racing leagues everywhere due to runaway costs...

[Mopar151]

3. If this were 1968

Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon, Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson would all be in open wheel cars - and the championship would include road courses, high speed paved ovals, and dirt miles - 3 different cars and disciplines of driving.

[Blue_Tires]

4. true, there were much more versatile drivers then

You made your rep on how many different types of machines or different races you could win...In that era, drivers would crossover from F1 to Indianapolis, Le Mans, motorcycles, Daytona, you name it...