INDIANAPOLIS — The Grand Prix of Toronto will be on the IndyCar Series schedule in 2009, according to a release from Andretti Green Racing that also announced Andretti Green's purchase of the assets formerly belonging to the Grand Prix Ass'n of Toronto Corp.

Andretti Green Promotions, the promotional arm of Andretti Green Racing, has formed a wholly-owned Canadian company, Andretti Green Toronto, ULC (AGT), which is already operating out of a Toronto-based office. The promotional arm of the company was founded in 2004 when it announced it would stage the Indy Racing League’s first non-oval event ever on April 3, 2005. Since then, the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has become a cornerstone of the IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and American Le Mans Series schedules.

“To have Indy car racing return to the streets of Toronto is very exciting for the city, the community and our partners," said Charlie Johnstone, vice president and general manager of Andretti Green Toronto. "Michael (Andretti), Kim (Green), Kevin (Savroese) and everyone at Andretti Green share great passion for this event, which will certainly ensure the continuation of an outstanding racing tradition for years to come.  We look forward to once again putting Toronto on the world stage and delivering an epic event.”

The Toronto event was one of the marquis stops on the North American Indy car racing landscape, running under the CART and Champ Car banners from 1986 through 2007. The 2008 event did not fit into IndyCar's impromptu schedule after the IRL unified with Champ Car just prior to the start of the racing season.

“We are very excited to be coming to Toronto. It is a terrific city and a great venue for Andretti Green to host another event," said Andretti. "As a driver, Toronto was always my favorite race of the year and it will be no different as a promoter. The fans are some of the most enthusiastic you’ll ever be around and we’re looking forward to building on the great history of this event.”