NOVEMBER 11, 2008

No Indycars at Surfers Paradise

The Indy Racing League has confirmed that Surfers Paradise will not be on its schedule in 2009 as the series was "unable to come to agreement on a long-term scheduling solution" with Australian officials.

The Gold Coast event, along with the Edmonton race, was added to the 2008 IndyCar Series schedule after the unification of North American open-wheel racing was confirmed in February, less then a month prior to the start of the 2008 schedule.

On July 30, the IndyCar Series announced its 2009 schedule featuring 18 races, including two new destinations, expanding the season-long championship by a month.

"We are disappointed that we could not find suitable solutions for both the IndyCar Series and Gold Coast Indy organizers but it was not due to lack of effort," said Terry Angtsadt, president of the commercial division for the Indy Racing League. "We appreciate the efforts and support of the organizers and the government to North American open-wheel racing dating back to its debut at Gold Coast in 1991, but we will move on offering our competitors one of the most diverse and challenging schedules in all of motorsports. The 2009 schedule features 10 oval races, three permanent road courses and five temporary circuits, including the debut of the IndyCar Series at Long Beach and Toronto."

The A1GP Series has done a deal with Surfers and will be racing there for the next five years.