Future of Aussie Indy Still in Doubt

[cosworth151]

Compiled from AutoWeek and other sources:

The IndyCar Series' participation in future Surfers events hung in the balance as the Indy Racing League and its teams boarded planes from the United States. League and event officials met several times during the race weekend but failed to find a solution to their date conflict.

CART, the Champ Car World Series and now IndyCar have raced on the beachside circuit annually since 1991, but the IRL made this a nonpoints race because it refuses to conclude its championship on foreign soil, particularly when the race is held in the middle of the night for much of the U.S. television audience.

"The U.S.-based sponsors of IndyCar teams should have little economic stomach for more of these long trips," said Terry Angstadt, president of the IRL's commercial division. "Target, which has stores in the area, is not the same branch of the company found in the States. Honda sells cars in Australia, and there are plenty of 7-Eleven convenience stores and, of course, a plethora of McDonald's, but that's it for the league's big sponsors, except for a few Blockbuster locations.

Certainly, there are no ABC Supply hardware stores or Sonny's Bar-B-Q and the National Guard surely sees no benefit. And a late-night start on ESPN Classic limits the U.S. TV audience."

The date "just doesn't do a lot for us," Angstadt said.

The IRL has not confirmed publicly when it is willing to slot future Australia races, but it seems clear that a compromise could come in the form of a one-year return as an exhibition. But will the Aussies budge on the date after that? Stay tuned. The two sides had agreed to resolve the saga by Nov. 9.

[Scott]

Sorry ROM, it looks like it's off.

From GP.com:

No Indycars at Surfers Paradise


The Indy Racing League has confirmed that Surfers Paradise will not be on its schedule in 2009 as the series was "unable to come to agreement on a long-term scheduling solution" with Australian officials.

The Gold Coast event, along with the Edmonton race, was added to the 2008 IndyCar Series schedule after the unification of North American open-wheel racing was confirmed in February, less then a month prior to the start of the 2008 schedule.

On July 30, the IndyCar Series announced its 2009 schedule featuring 18 races, including two new destinations, expanding the season-long championship by a month.

"We are disappointed that we could not find suitable solutions for both the IndyCar Series and Gold Coast Indy organizers but it was not due to lack of effort," said Terry Angtsadt, president of the commercial division for the Indy Racing League. "We appreciate the efforts and support of the organizers and the government to North American open-wheel racing dating back to its debut at Gold Coast in 1991, but we will move on offering our competitors one of the most diverse and challenging schedules in all of motorsports. The 2009 schedule features 10 oval races, three permanent road courses and five temporary circuits, including the debut of the IndyCar Series at Long Beach and Toronto."

The A1GP Series has done a deal with Surfers and will be racing there for the next five years.

[cosworth151]

The IRL and AutoWeek have confirmed that Surfers Paradise is off the schedule. The league insisted that race organizers move the event, held annually since 1991, from October to March to better fit its schedule. The organizers declined, insisting it would inconvenience city residents even though the event was held in March or early April for the event's first seven years.

[Dare]

This is a real shame,I really enjoyed this track and race

[romephius]

Well... at least I got to see the last Champcar race there... I saw Bourdais win in fine style and I saw lot's of naked women... hahaha.... so I'm happy, now that A1GP has taken up the race... I'll not be watching it anymore... A1 is just too boring... it's far better to watch A1 than take a sleeping tablet.....

Rom