Quote :

The economy has claimed its first major victim in IndyCar. SPEEDTV.com has learned that next year's Detroit Grand Prix has been postponed and there will be an official announcement Friday. Roger Penske had revived the race, held on Belle Isle, in 2007 after getting private donations and sponsorships of an estimated $7 million to upgrade the paddock and temporary road course bordered by the Detroit River.

In addition to getting presenting sponsorship from Firestone and Bosch, Penske reportedly also spent his own money the past two years. But, according to sources in Detroit, the corporate sponsorship for the Sept. 6, 2009 event have "dried up" and the decision has been made to postpone the 16th of 18 races on the '09 Indycar schedule. It's not known whether IndyCar will try to replace Detroit but new venues like Birmingham, Ala. and Utah have expressed interest, as well as a street race in Nashville, Tenn. and the longtime road course in Portland.


"We look at that weekend as a very valuable part of our schedule," said John Griffin, vice president of IRL public relations. "It's a big motorsports weekend. "But what we're going to do, short term or long term, won't be decided quickly."

Dammit I liked Detroit....

Crap track. If they can replace it with Road America, or even better Montreal (although I guess they won't go to Canada on Labor Day) then it could be a good thing.

Quote from Storm_Cloud :

Crap track. If they can replace it with Road America, or even better Montreal (although I guess they won't go to Canada on Labor Day) then it could be a good thing.

Would you think the crisis in American force IndyCar to expand its schedule to a more international ventures?

I actually liked Belle Isle, but I do admit that Road America and Montreal would be a better outing

That's how I see this situation!

I'm starting to think Intrepid is slowly turning intro a Gothic Nostradamus.

ehmm who had the brilliant idea to make a race in motorcity detroit while the big manufactors are fireing all the people... I mean the name motorcity doesn't come from nowhere...

I have to agree with storm cloud. Does anybody know if the second race weekend on the circuit gilles villeneuve is still vacant? As far as I've seen that track in Utha is not that bad either. It was in the 2008 ALMS calendar (right?). And Portland (Vanport Int.) was on the CART and CCWS calendars earlier. There were great races. I wouldn't like see another town course.
Extending on another point of the calendar wouldn't be possible I guess, cause in the contracts they make they guerantee what as what round of the championship the race takes place.

Quote from Mackie The Staggie :

I'm starting to think Intrepid is slowly turning intro a Gothic Nostradamus.

But was a brilliant diagram.

I'd love to see them in Birmingham, I love that track. I don't think they should attempt to go back to Montreal, though, after being booted out of there 2 years ago in favour of NA$TYCAR.