Strained economic conditions in Detroit have cost the IndyCar Series a race for the 2009 season.
Roger Penske, the organizer of the Detroit Grand Prix, said Thursday it would not be good business to continue the event with so many area businesses struggling.
Also key was the loss of the factory Porsche and Audi programs in the American LeMans Series, the sports car series that was to have shared the spotlight with the Indy cars in the Sept. 5-6 event at Belle Isle.
The IndyCar Series race, scheduled for Labor Day weekend, has been dropped as the Detroit Three struggle to survive and sponsors become scarcer to find in all forms of racing.
Grand Prix event chairman Bud Denker said on Thursday that following talks with the City of Detroit, the state, sponsors and the race’s sanctioning body, the Indy Racing League, it was decided to cancel next year’s activities at Belle Isle, which had been set for Sept. 4-6. The annual race weekend also included American Le Mans Series and SCCA Speed World Challenge events.
“We’ve been evaluating for the last couple of months whether to cancel,” Denker said. “The Grand Prix is supported by regional and national sponsors, the Big Three, Audi, Porsche. ... We consulted with the city, state and sponsors. Considering the tough times we’re all experiencing, we just couldn’t ask the parties to give and give more.”
Daniel Cherrin, Detroit Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr.‘s spokesman, responded, “We are very disappointed at the news, but considering the economic realities, we completely understand.
“We’ve enjoyed having it here. Roger Penske and his group have done a phenomenal job. It must have been a difficult decision by them. We look forward to having it back one day.”
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