Miami Out

Zinger · 28 Dec 2003, 23:28 (Ref:822058)

MIAMI (AP) -- The new owners of the financially strapped CART open-wheel series have eliminated the downtown Miami race.

The race will not be included in the 2004 Champ Car World Series schedule, said Paul Gentilozzi, one of three partners in the Open Wheel Racing Series LLC that is purchasing most of CART's assets and will take over the 25-year-old series.

``I've raced (in Miami) a long, long time,'' Gentilozzi said Wednesday. ``It's a wonderful event, and I love going there. But we made a business decision based on overhead costs of running a race in the center of an urban environment.''

Gentilozzi did not rule out the possibility of returning to South Florida. The race drew 70,000 fans in September, but lost $9 million in its first two years of existence.

On Tuesday, as part of the buyout deal with Open Wheel Racing Series, the publicly owned CART filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Indianapolis.

Open Wheel Racing Series agreed to purchase specific assets, including contracts with promoters, sponsors and teams.

Jay · 29 Dec 2003, 00:09 (Ref:822102)

cool...it was nothing without ALMS anyway.

f1manoz · 29 Dec 2003, 00:20 (Ref:822110)

No problem there. OWRS needs to dump any race that isn't financially viable.

Zinger · 29 Dec 2003, 01:02 (Ref:822134)

Quote:

Originally posted by f1manoz
No problem there. OWRS needs to dump any race that isn't financially viable.

The only problem is that most wern't financialy viable. At present there are rumoured to be about 6 or 7 fiscialy poditive events on the calender. And what about the money loaned to CART by Miami city ???

gttouring · 29 Dec 2003, 01:15 (Ref:822141)

Miami was a crapp race anyway- it may have had a nice backdrop but the circuit was toooo crazy and so much attrition- the poor alms guys too, there must be a better place in Miami for this, that isn't hoemstead.

DNQ · 29 Dec 2003, 01:54 (Ref:822173)

Yeah, Miami is not great loss, and if it helps ensure the series survives, then a thumbs up from me

corkholio · 29 Dec 2003, 02:00 (Ref:822178)

But MotoCRock was such a success there!

Zinger · 29 Dec 2003, 02:36 (Ref:822206)

And the Money CART owed Miami city. Are OWRS ditching Miami to get out of pay the money back for CART.

carsten66 · 29 Dec 2003, 03:21 (Ref:822225)

hmm... okay, the track layout was not the best... but the race was one of CART's best ones... with the thrilling 1-2 of the Herdez cars...

Omega99 · 29 Dec 2003, 20:11 (Ref:822772)

If anything, however, the Miami race was an example of the drivers darting through the narrowest of streets with fearless speeds, over a surface that was certainly less than ideal. There were some portions of the track that I enjoyed watching the cars fly through on TV, and it was fun watching the drivers fight the cars over the bumps. That being said, there was no passing, it was a "car-breaker", and from what I understand, a lousy event to attend live. If Champ Cars ever go back to Miami, and I think they should, they must pick a better venue.

Snrub · 29 Dec 2003, 21:38 (Ref:822842)

There was passing at Miami. In fact it turned out be a pretty good race despite the poor track.

I can't say I'm sad or surprised. We all had to know it was comming. Fingers crossed for Mid-Ohio to be next.

Tim Northcutt · 29 Dec 2003, 21:57 (Ref:822879)

I say good riddance!!!

The Miami circuit was a turd...they had to take grinders to the pavement overninght to take out that hump in one part of the course that was downright dangerous...

and given the issues, court fights, etc., that were all a part of that venue and original promoter from the get-go in 2002, CART is much better off without Miami on the schedule...

zerO · 29 Dec 2003, 23:04 (Ref:822978)

The "Miami is OUT" story is TWO weeks old ?!

Good riddance, btw...

zerO

Brian W Keske · 29 Dec 2003, 23:12 (Ref:822995)

Quote:

Originally posted by Snrub
I can't say I'm sad or surprised. We all had to know it was comming. Fingers crossed for Mid-Ohio to be next.

Mid-Ohio has no open dates for 2004.
IMSA learned last year that Michelle will not kick out a confirmed date taken by a sanctioning body just because it (OWRS) is'bigger'.

There will be no CART/OWRS/or IRL race at Mid-Ohio next year.

Zinger · 30 Dec 2003, 02:05 (Ref:823141)

15 Races maybe a bit of an overestimate they way things are going at the momement. 2004 will be a rebuilding year for OWRS and will plan for a better 2005 all thought they get some of it wrong 2005 could be a disaster.

The Treester · 7 Jan 2004, 23:11 (Ref:831012)

Miami Out, Great!

OWRS needs to pick a new city that will appreciate their presence!

Snrub · 7 Jan 2004, 23:53 (Ref:831054)

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian W Keske
There will be no CART/OWRS/or IRL race at Mid-Ohio next year.

Whoo!

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