Post by Marlins Troll on Jun 22, 2007 15:49:40 GMT -5
Indy mulls hosting motorcycle race
Posted: Thursday June 21, 2007 4:09PM; Updated: Thursday June 21, 2007 4:10PM
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Cars may not be the only vehicles racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway next year.
Track president Joie Chitwood denied a report he had reached a deal to bring motorcycle racing to the track next year, although he acknowledged negotiations have continued with MotoGP officials.
It would mark the first time in decades motorcycles have competed at the famed track.
"I have had some conversations with them this week, and we're working hard to put something on the calendar," Chitwood told The Associated Press on Thursday. "But I have not signed anything."
Speed Channel, a television racing network, reported earlier in the day a deal had already been completed for a fall race in 2008.
Motorcycles were the first vehicles to race at the Speedway, in 1909, two years before the first Indianapolis 500, and Chitwood would like them back for the track's centennial celebration.
But he said the two sides are still trying to work out a date. Chitwood would prefer a summer race, while MotoGP, an international circuit, appears to prefer the fall.
A summer race would create an even more compact schedule for Indy officials, who have run three major races -- the IRL's Indianapolis 500, Formula One's U.S. Grand Prix and NASCAR's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard -- over about a two-month span each year since 2004. It's the world's only track to host all three series, which it has been doing since 2000.
The negotiations with MotoGP come amid more wheeling and dealing with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone to keep America's only F1 race in Indy. Last summer, speedway CEO Tony George and Ecclestone signed a one-year extension to continue racing on Indianapolis' 2.6-mile road course.
Chitwood wants a long-term contract this time.
Last weekend, Ecclestone appeared to be posturing for leverage when he said for the second straight year that it was not essential for F1 to continue racing in America. He made similar comments throughout the weekend despite multiple meetings with George. Ecclestone has also expressed interest in running on the streets of a bigger city, such as Las Vegas or New York.
Still, George appeared confident the two sides could make a deal before a July 12 deadline imposed last weekend by race organizers, and Chitwood said Thursday that a motorcycle race would not interfere with a return of F1.
"They have nothing to do with each other," Chitwood said. "We've been working for 18 months on the motorcycles, so it has nothing to do with F1. It had more to do with our history."
In a pre-race interview last weekend with the AP, Chitwood acknowledged he wanted motorcycles on next year's schedule but was uncertain about the timing. On Thursday, he said time was running out to make it happen in 2008.
As for F1, Chitwood said there have been no meetings since Sunday's race ended although he remains optimistic a deal will be reached.
"I think everyone's just catching their breath now," he said. "My thing with motorcycles is that they were the first thing on the track in 1909 and it has nothing to do with F1."
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: Thursday June 21, 2007 4:09PM; Updated: Thursday June 21, 2007 4:10PM
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Cars may not be the only vehicles racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway next year.
Track president Joie Chitwood denied a report he had reached a deal to bring motorcycle racing to the track next year, although he acknowledged negotiations have continued with MotoGP officials.
It would mark the first time in decades motorcycles have competed at the famed track.
"I have had some conversations with them this week, and we're working hard to put something on the calendar," Chitwood told The Associated Press on Thursday. "But I have not signed anything."
Speed Channel, a television racing network, reported earlier in the day a deal had already been completed for a fall race in 2008.
Motorcycles were the first vehicles to race at the Speedway, in 1909, two years before the first Indianapolis 500, and Chitwood would like them back for the track's centennial celebration.
But he said the two sides are still trying to work out a date. Chitwood would prefer a summer race, while MotoGP, an international circuit, appears to prefer the fall.
A summer race would create an even more compact schedule for Indy officials, who have run three major races -- the IRL's Indianapolis 500, Formula One's U.S. Grand Prix and NASCAR's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard -- over about a two-month span each year since 2004. It's the world's only track to host all three series, which it has been doing since 2000.
The negotiations with MotoGP come amid more wheeling and dealing with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone to keep America's only F1 race in Indy. Last summer, speedway CEO Tony George and Ecclestone signed a one-year extension to continue racing on Indianapolis' 2.6-mile road course.
Chitwood wants a long-term contract this time.
Last weekend, Ecclestone appeared to be posturing for leverage when he said for the second straight year that it was not essential for F1 to continue racing in America. He made similar comments throughout the weekend despite multiple meetings with George. Ecclestone has also expressed interest in running on the streets of a bigger city, such as Las Vegas or New York.
Still, George appeared confident the two sides could make a deal before a July 12 deadline imposed last weekend by race organizers, and Chitwood said Thursday that a motorcycle race would not interfere with a return of F1.
"They have nothing to do with each other," Chitwood said. "We've been working for 18 months on the motorcycles, so it has nothing to do with F1. It had more to do with our history."
In a pre-race interview last weekend with the AP, Chitwood acknowledged he wanted motorcycles on next year's schedule but was uncertain about the timing. On Thursday, he said time was running out to make it happen in 2008.
As for F1, Chitwood said there have been no meetings since Sunday's race ended although he remains optimistic a deal will be reached.
"I think everyone's just catching their breath now," he said. "My thing with motorcycles is that they were the first thing on the track in 1909 and it has nothing to do with F1."
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/racing/06/21/motorcycles.ap/index.html
