The 2009 IndyCar Series schedule:

[xtlm]

hmm, Michigan and Cleveland

but i like it

[Spiderman]

Actually we do know that the IRL dropped Nashville. I might've heard wrong, but I'm pretty sure there weren't even any talks between the IRL and Dover. Why do you think there was so much anti-IRL sentiment in the Nashville press? I don't think they would be mad at the IRL if it was Dover that couldn't put together a good plan. That same press has supported and defended this series for years and in return they get the door slammed on them. Not the best way to make fans. NASCAR will completely take over that market now with no competition in town.

As for Toronto, I don't have anything against the race I think it is one of the better street races, however I don't like the idea of dropping a perfectly good race like Nashville for it. Homestead or Sonoma or Motegi or Belle Isle, etc, fine. But what was wrong with Nashville? It was a well supported race on a decent non-ICS track.

And we have way too many street races already. I think they should've either dropped Edmonton for it, or Belle Isle, or atleast decide not to take the trek halfway around the world to Australia to be a support series. I would hate to see St. Pete dropped as it is my local race, but I wouldn't be completely against it either if it meant more road courses or good ovals instead of another giant street party that happens to have cars driving around during it.

Edmonton may be temporary, bit it is more a road track than a street circuit...

[ShiftingGears]

GMAB. This schedule (put together on the fly pretty much at last minute due to CCWS going BK) is 10x stronger and more diverse than anything CC offered the last 4 or 5 years.

Put that in yer pipe & smoke it.

Is it?

I think they need to get more road courses on the calendar, and make Surfers Paradise a championship event. It's the best street circuit on the calendar, and coupled with the V8 Supercars, its one of the best motorsport events.

[BenRoethig]

Now that I think about it, this schedule does show Tony George's one undeniable trait: Getting fans to gleefully accept mediocrity and aggressively defending it.

He learned it from Bernie and Max.

[MDS]

I wouldn't be completely against it either if it meant more road courses or good ovals instead of another giant street party that happens to have cars driving around during it.

I love the idea that oval fans are there because they love the IRL sooo much, but in reality Chicago and Kansas are showing up because of the NASCAR "season ticket" package where a lot of NASCAR fans try to unload their tickets on the net or give them away to friends. Does Iowa get good crowds? Of course, but that's because its in Iowa. What else is there to do in Iowa on a summer weekend? Watch the corn grow? It's not like they have any A-level professional sport or entertainment of any kind in that state. Homestead is filled with smokers who show up because they get free tickets and can smoke outside

[BenRoethig]

I love the idea that oval fans are there because they love the IRL sooo much, but in reality Chicago and Kansas are showing up because of the NASCAR "season ticket" package where a lot of NASCAR fans try to unload their tickets on the net or give them away to friends. Does Iowa get good crowds? Of course, but that's because its in Iowa. What else is there to do in Iowa on a summer weekend? Watch the corn grow? It's not like they have any A-level professional sport or entertainment of any kind in that state. Homestead is filled with smokers who show up because they get free tickets and can smoke outside

Insult my state like that, its on. For the record I have NEVER been in a corn field or cow pasture. Over half the population lives in cities, have top flight schools and universities, enjoy such things are concerts and our many casinos.

[indycool]

The ex-CC fans on this board should think about the fact that many of the CC venues were supported by CC and/or KK and/or GF. And all three went belly-up on the exercise. The IRL, however, is still standing.

And no matter how you slice it, 30,000 sets of buns on the boards at Iowa is 10,000 more people than 20,000 at Cleveland.

On a ground zero basis, this is the old, long-standing oval preference vs. road course preference argument. Enough has been said about that over the years to fill the bandwidth of six Internets.

[gofastandwynn]

http://www.grandprixofcleveland.com/

Indy Racing League and MJ Promotions Statement Regarding the Grand Prix of Cleveland

CLEVELAND – July 30, 2008: The IndyCar Series will announce its 2009 schedule today but due to previous contractual obligations, the IndyCar Series will not be able to include the Grand Prix of Cleveland for next year. MJ Promotions, owner of the Grand Prix of Cleveland, had organized a proposal for the IndyCar Series with the help of local government and community leaders, and series officials traveled to Cleveland in June for a presentation and site visit. Although scheduling the event for 2009 was not possible, IndyCar Series and MJ Promotions officials confirmed today that discussions are ongoing about bringing the racing series to Cleveland in 2010.

“We were very impressed by the presentation and we recognize that there is a rich history of open-wheel racing in Cleveland,” said Terry Angstadt, president, commercial division, Indy Racing League, the sanctioning body for the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights. “However, due to contractual obligations and our desire to grow the schedule in a way that will work for all involved it was impossible to add all of the races we would have liked for 2009. We are looking forward to continuing to work with Mike Lanigan and MJ Promotions on the possibly of racing at Burke Lakefront Airport in the future.”

Mike Lanigan, CEO of MJ Promotions, added, “We are disappointed that the IRL was not able to include us for next year, but Cleveland is a great city with a proud racing tradition so we are very optimistic for 2010. We are grateful for the continued support of Mayor Jackson and the entire Cleveland community, and our company remains committed to the future of racing on the shores of Lake Erie.”

Ticket Refunds
Fans who have previously purchased tickets for the 2008 Grand Prix of Cleveland will receive a full refund on the ticket price. Fans who paid by credit card will receive their refund automatically, and fans who paid by check will receive a refund in the mail (please allow several weeks for all checks to be processed). Fans who purchased tickets in person at a Ticketmaster location must return to that location in person with their tickets to receive a refund.

If you have any questions, please call 216.619.7223 or email us at [email:2psuqirq]info@grandprixofcleveland.com[/email:2psuqirq].

[indycool]

Maybe a dumb question: Why in the world would anyone have bought tickets at Cleveland for 2008?

[-Helix-]

Just the thing, Helix: WE DON'T KNOW.

Did Dover offer or agree to an acceptable sanctioning fee? Did Dover make enough money on the race to agree to the IRL's demands of a sanctioning fee? Did NASCAR pull strings to handcuff Nashville on an IRL date? Did IRL handcuff itself into a date Nashville couldn't live with?

WE DON'T KNOW why they couldn't strike a bargain.

The point I was trying to make though is that while we don't know what the case really was, it's pretty obvious the IRL had no intentions of even attempting at making it work.