BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Indianapolis Motor Speedway is aiming to host the United States Grand Prix again in 2009, the 100th anniversary for the famous race track that opened in 1909.
Indy was the home of the U.S. F-1 race from 2000 through 2007, but the race is not on this year’s schedule as Tony George and Bernie Ecclestone could not reach an agreement. But George, speaking at the IU Business Conference in Indianapolis on Thursday, said he wants the prestigious event back next year.
Zak Brown, the president of Just Marketing, told the Indianapolis Business Journal that Ecclestone and a number of F-1 team sponsors have a “strong interest” in F-1 returning to Indy.
“I know there’s been talk of having an F-1 race at Las Vegas or Miami, but the Speedway is the only facility in the U.S. that is up to F-1 standards,” Brown said. “Indianapolis is turnkey and ready to go. If the right sponsors can be put into place, I think this can happen in 2009.”
“Tony wants to have F-1 at his track for the rest of his life,” Brown added. “F-1 is a huge global brand, and it fits with Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s history. I think F1 will come back,” Brown said. “At this point, I think it’s a matter of when, not if.”
IMS has hired Just Marketing primarily to help find sponsorship for the IndyCar Series.