Edmonton Indy's officially back on

As predicted, the Honda Indy Edmonton car race has been saved.

Randy Bernard, CEO of IndyCar (formerly the Indy Racing League), is expected to officially announce today in Indianapolis that the race is back on the IZOD IndyCar Series schedule and will be held July 24, two weeks after the Honda Indy Toronto.

It’s believed that the contract between the city of Edmonton and promoters Octane Racing of Montreal was signed late last year but not made public until now because the racing league wanted to be absolutely sure that all the Ts were crossed and Is dotted before officially confirming that the event is back on the schedule.

The contract between Edmonton and Octane, promoters of the Formula One Grand Prix du Canada, is for three years and will run through 2013.

The race had been cancelled last November following a breakdown in negotiations between Octane and the city over $3 million in paving costs that arose because of changes to the circuit at the City Centre Airport.

There was a hue and cry in Edmonton when the race was called off and city council was forced to have a quick change of heart.

Bernard will make the announcement today as part of his “State of IndyCar” address to the media at an Indianapolis hotel.

In addition, Indy insider Robin Miller is reporting that Bernard will reveal that IndyCar race restarts on oval speedways this season will be two abreast (like NASCAR) instead of single-file.

However, road-course restarts will continue to be single-file and I suggest they rethink that one, too.

There is nothing more exciting in the world of sports than watching Paul Tracy go into the first turn at the start of the Honda Indy Toronto and pass about 10 cars in the process.

To see that once is inspiring. To be able to see that more than once would be electrifying.

Double-file restarts on road and street courses: bring ’em on!

 

Comments

[allenparkpete]

Geez, I recall being at the Molson Indy in 1987 and seeing a young FF driver in the post Indy Car race named Paul Tracy go through the first turn toward's the Princes Gate, spin..and get passed by 10 cars. Anyhow, a bigger annoucement is coming out of NASCAR in the next few days. Stay tuned.