The Indy Racing League won’t be running in Toronto this year, but the Grand Prix of Toronto is apparently far from dead for 2009 and beyond.
Andretti Green Promotions, LLC, has signed a letter of intent to purchase the assets of the Grand Prix Association of Toronto Corporation. The wholly owned subsidiary of Andretti Green Racing has until April 30 to determine if it will proceed to the next step, entering into a purchase agreement with the Grand Prix Association of Toronto.
“Toronto is a place that I have always loved,” said team co-owner and former driving star Michael Andretti. “It’s a great racetrack and a great venue. Racing there was always the highlight of my year and it’s exciting to think that we’re exploring the possibility of owning the event.
“I was fortunate enough to win there seven times as a driver and all of those wins were special. If we were able to put a deal together to own and operate an event in Toronto, I would certainly count that as another win there, for sure.”
Andretti Green Promotions is already the promoter of the IRL race in St. Petersburg, Fla., as well as fielding a four-car team in the IndyCar Series.
Toronto, which has been part of the CART or Champ Car World Series schedule since 1986, lost its 2008 race date in the recent unification of Champ Car and the IRL. This year’s IRL schedule will include only three of the scheduled Champ Car events — Long Beach, Edmonton and Australia. But IRL officials have said they will consider other former Champ Car venues when the 2009 schedule is drawn up.
“The expressed interest by Andretti Green Promotions to own the Grand Prix of Toronto speaks volumes to the stature this event maintains in open-wheel racing in North America,” said Charlie Johnstone, president and CEO of the Grand Prix of Toronto. “We look forward to working with Michael, Kim (Green), Kevin (Savoree) and their team over the course of the next several weeks to pull this off.”
DEALING WITH LOSS: After going through the despair of losing his two young sons in an automobile accident, NHRA star Doug Herbert is trying to keep other families from having to deal with that kind of a loss.
The Top Fuel driver has formed the Brakes with Doug Herbert Foundation, inspired by the death of his sons, Jon, 17, and James, 12. The boys were killed Jan. 26 when the car they were riding in collided with another vehicle in Cornelius, N.C., near their home.
Cornelius police said the Mazda that Herbert’s children were in attempted to pass a third car when it went out of control and collided with a Hummer.
BRAKES (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) is the name chosen by Jon’s senior classmates at Southlake Christian Academy and is dedicated to educating teen drivers on safe driving and ultimately saving lives.
“I want to do something to help other kids learn to drive safe,” Herbert said.
PEAK EXPERIENCE: Officials have announced that PEAK Motor Oil will sponsor the pole award at all 2008 IRL IndyCar Series events.
The PEAK Motor Oil Pole Award will give $10,000 to the fastest qualifier at each race on the schedule except for the Indianapolis 500, where it will award $100,000 for the top qualifier. In addition, PEAK will award $25,000 to the second place Indy qualifier and $10,000 for third.
The award builds on the partnership already in place between the IndyCar Series and PEAK Performance Products, which is the official motor oil of the series. PEAK Antifreeze serves as the primary sponsor of the IndyCar Series’ race at Chicagoland Speedway.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
