No More IndyCar At Surfers
By Andrew Cutler
November 11 2008
Several Australian news sources are reporting today that the IndyCar Series will NOT be returning to Surfers Paradise, and that the A1GP Series will fill the void. Queensland Sports Minister Judy Spence told The Age.com that local officials were unwilling to move the race to a March or a September date, as per the IRL's preference.
"Moving our race to March as they had requested was not an option due to the clash with the F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne and the Clipsale V8 race in Adelaide. In addition, a March race would have involved track construction right in the middle of January school holidays and we would not tollerate Gold Coast residents being inconvenienced that way."
The A1GP Series will take over the traditional late October event date.
As of yet, there has been no official announcement from the IRL, which was seeking either to make Surfers the season opener or to tie the Surfers Paradise event and the September Motegi, Japan race into one "fly away" package, thereby saving a substantial sum in traveling expenses.
As for the IRL's side of it, there are several other venues closer to home that are looking for a slot on the schedule. Also, if any combination of Porsche/Audi/Alfa Romeo do end up in the series come '11, then I'd have to guess that a trip to Europe - esp. the ovals at Lausitz or Rockingham - become a much better fit for IndyCar.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:11:11:00:54:01 by IndyAndy.
1) The Indycar website is running this story, so I'd call it offical at this point.
2) Sorry - when I first posted this story last night (my time), I didn't note that the Motegi race will be in Sept., not March! Total brain fade on my part!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008:11:11:14:06:20 by IndyAndy.