Crash.Net IndyCar News
Surfers secures six years.
Wednesday, 5th March 2008
Organisers' flight to Indianapolis in the wake of last week's historic merger announcement has paid dividends for the Gold Coast Indy 300, after the Surfers Paradise street race secured at least six years on the new Indy Racing League schedule.
The event was always one that the new-look series hoped to include from the start of its unity with the former Champ Car World Series, but chairman Terry Mackenroth and general manager Greg Hooton took no chances and flew to meet with IRL CEO Tony George as soon as the amalgamation was confirmed at Homestead-Miami Speedway a week ago.
“The Gold Coast Indy 300 has become one of the world's truly great motorsport events and we are delighted that it will be part of the IndyCar Series schedule,” George noted, “I know so many of our teams and drivers, who have been to the event previously hold it in high regard and we are delighted that it will be one of the highlights of the IndyCar season.”
The final piece of the puzzle, which will continue to give the V8 Supercars equal billing with the IndyCar Series, was put in place after positive discussions with V8 series chairman Tony Cochrane this week, although exactly where the Gold Coast race will fit into the final IndyCar schedule remains to be determined. At present, its October date falls sometime after an already-promised finale at Chicagoland Speedway, and it may be that this year's event has to run as a non-points round.
The IndyCar Series will be revising its previously announced 16-race schedule, to possibly include three former Champ Car venues - including Long Beach and Edmonton as well as Australia - in the immediate future, but the final 2008 schedule will still need to be ratified by the FIA.
“We are proud of what we have achieved with the Gold Coast Indy 300 in its first 17 years and I think the unification of open-wheel racing in the US provides an exciting new era for our event,” Mackenroth noted, “Tony George and his team at the IRL welcomed our involvement with tremendous enthusiasm and see the Gold Coast Indy 300 as one of their signature events going forward.
“I also have to thank Tony Cochrane and V8 Supercars Australia for their enthusiasm to get this long-term deal in place and remaining an important part of our event. The new-look IndyCar Series field combined with the V8 Supercars and an always exciting off-track programme means that we are shaping up for a memorable event in 2008 and beyond.”
Already regarded as one of the world's most iconic motorsport events, the Gold Coast Indy 300 will have a place on the schedule through to 2013, with major plans already underway for a massive 20th anniversary celebration in 2010. More importantly, however, this year's event can expect a full contingent of cars with numbers up on recent Champ Car fields.
“The Gold Coast Indy 300 has been a part of the Queensland major event landscape for 18 years, and I am delighted that it will continue to showcase Queensland for many years to come,” Queensland minister for police, corrective services and sport, Judy Spence, who made the announcement, confirmed, “The event has overcome many hurdles in its history, but this latest development probably puts it in its best shape ever.
“It is estimated that the event returns $60 million in economic benefits to the State of Queensland and I am sure that figure will continue to grow as the new-look IndyCar Series and the V8 Supercars continue to attract more national and international attention.
“It will also be fantastic to see two talented young Australian drivers the likes of Will Power and Ryan Briscoe racing wheel-to-wheel on the streets of Surfers Paradise, while the V8 Supercars will continue to bring out the passion for Ford and Holden.”
