JULY 1, 2009

Tony George leaves Indianapolis

Tony George has resigned as chief executive of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation after nearly 20 years in charge.

Tony George has resigned as chief executive of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation after nearly 20 years in charge. George, who belongs to the family that own the speedway, will remain on the board of directors. The family seems to have concluded that George was spending too much time on trying to make the IndyCar Series work and running Vision Racing.

"He has decided that with the recent unification of open-wheel racing and the experienced management team IMS has cultivated over the years, now would be the time for him to concentrate on his team ownership of Vision Racing with his family and other personal business interests he and his family share," said Indianapolis chairman Mari Hulman George. The running of Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be taken over by Jeff Belskus, who is currently vice president and chief financial officer. Curt Brighton, executive vice president and chief legal counsel, will be the new chief executive of Hulman and Company.

Under George's management the Indianapolis Motor Speedway expanded to include a NASCAR race, the United States Grand Prix and more recently MotoGP.