Andretti buys rights to Toronto Race

[rush1]

This came out of nowhere, at least for me.

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/347425

[lnin0]

So it looks like Toronto is in for 09

[Stefvh]

We can count on this

[Dutton]

Nice one, should it turn out to run.

I am not keen on North American street circuits for the most part, but Toronto is one of the better offers. It also gives a(nother) Canadian round, which, IMO, is justified and worthwhile.

Now all I need is for them to sort the dates so it is the weekend before or after ALMS@Mosport, and things could be fun.

[CaptainRandom]

Great news! Hopefully they can keep the track where it is.

[Fish_Flake]

Here's to Mikey, master of the Toronto streets, for aiming that the event he won seven times remains an integral part of the IndyCar schedule for years to come!

[JohnSSC]

I hope this works out. Bear in mind that the Andretti's (no offense) never spend their own $$ if they can avoid it. I hope they find a title sponsor quickly...

[BootsOntheSide]

Agreed that Toronto is one of the most valuable ChampCar races, and deserves to return in 2009. I'm sure Michael has checked this from a business perspective - as his team has never raced at Toronto in their current form, he gains no competitive advantage from this, only maybe a sentimental boost.

[gttouring]

nice move...
here's hoping for more good things to come
any hope someone will add Road Atlanta and Road America to the schedule?

[Leighton Irwin]

With the nit wit anti car mayor and his fellow socialist lap dogs Toronto has there could be problems.

[Red Bulldog]

Originally Posted by Leighton Irwin

With the nit wit anti car mayor and his fellow socialist lap dogs Toronto has there could be problems.

Yes, once it's gone - its going to be hard to re-instate.
Although I'm sure Andretti has already considered this, getting the corporate clout of a major brewery would help - its still the "Molson Indy" to most of us afterall.

[Amar7605]

I'm sure that Michael has something up his sleeves. At the very least, the idea of a Toronto race is not dead because sooner or later there will be a new mayor and city council.

[f1manoz]

Hopefully Toronto is put back on the calendar for 2009.

[Amar7605]

Michael Andretti was a great racer and is now a very good businessman. So I am sure that he is going to find a way to not only have Toronto on the schedule sooner or later but also make it a profitable race once again.

[Tim Northcutt]

Before everyone gets too excited, "Andretti Green Promotions" signed a "Letter of Intent" and did not "buy the rights" to the Toronto race.

A "letter of Intent" allows a potential buyer to see the books, look at assets and feasibility, etc., befoer actually negotiating the "buy the rights" part of the event.

I'm not throwing cold water on this announcement...it is a good first step....but until an agreement is reached, it sure isn't a done deal that now belongs to AGP.

FWIW

[mountainstar]

If the andretti green gang or someone else doesn't take it on, then the race is toast.

[Leighton Irwin]

2011 is the next election.

[Amar7605]

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

Before everyone gets too excited, "Andretti Green Promotions" signed a "Letter of Intent" and did not "buy the rights" to the Toronto race.

A "letter of Intent" allows a potential buyer to see the books, look at assets and feasibility, etc., befoer actually negotiating the "buy the rights" part of the event.

I'm not throwing cold water on this announcement...it is a good first step....but until an agreement is reached, it sure isn't a done deal that now belongs to AGP.

FWIW

That's a very good point, Tim. For all we know, maybe Toronto is not feasable to have on schedule. Why throw good money at bad? Well, if Andretti doesn't see it as profitable then unfortunately Toronto may not be worth it right now.

[JohnSSC]

I don't know how encouraging the thought is but if Andretti didn't think profit were a strong possibility, he likely would not be wasting his time. I would put the chances of his pulling this off at greater than 50 - 50 right now.

[Leighton Irwin]

I do tend to agree John. But I do worry about Mayor Miller and his tame left wing anti car socialists.
However, Mosport still lurks in the background. Now less than 20 miles from the GTA and they pull 40,000 plus to the ALMS in Aug. You would lose some of the party time but the track is still awsome!

[Dutton]

Twin with ALMS at Mosport...oh, man...man...that would be quite magestic...

[Tim Northcutt]

No twin weekend needed...Mosport is one of the best ALMS draws of the season, and they would need the paddock space...

Let the IRL run separately, so that there is paddock room, do the Atlantic series and IPL with them, and let North America enjoy one of the five best race courses in this entire hemisphere..

I watched ALMS there in 2005....incredible place where the IRL would have an amazing race....

[paul-collins]

Absolutely, Tim. And the crowd would come.

[Dutton]

I was suggesting twinning from the entirely selfish position that it would mean I would be able to see both in one trip. As much as I would love to be able to go across the country from Calgary to Mosport twice a year, this isn't particularly viable. If I can only go to one, then it has to be ALMS: I have a more inherent interest in open-wheel, but the whole ALMS weekend atmosphere, and all that, is just too immense to miss.

Anyway...

With my head grounded in realities, then, yes, of course, it would be difficult to achieve. ALMS is pushing for space at the best of times, so bringing another large series would make things impossible.

If the IRL could run at Mosport, and I only see them at Edmonton, well, the very fact they would be running at Mosport would, naturally, just be fabulous in itself.

This, of course, all assumes the place is left just as it is.