Will IRL axe borefest Richmond?

UPDATE #2 Indy Car series talks with officials from International Speedway Corp. continue toward renewing races at the five tracks it owns. Only the event at Chicagoland Speedway is signed for 2010. Angstadt also expects the events at Watkins Glen International and Kansas Speedway to return. Watkins Glen officials have asked to move off the July 4 weekend, and Angstadt expects to accommodate that request. (A move to fall has been strongly rumored on these pages.)

ISC officials have not been optimistic about a return to Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. Also to be determined is the future of the event at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The IRL hopes to announce its schedule Aug. 1 at Kentucky Speedway.

06/29/09 IRL officials will meet tomorrow with officials from Richmond International Raceway to discuss plans for next year. Griffin said this is a pre-arranged meeting, and he expects the series to return to Richmond next year.

Brian Barnhart, IRL president of competition and racing operations, has already met with several team officials over the weekend and this morning to discuss on-track issues, Griffin said, adding that Barnhart is considering “a couple things" to improve the racing—especially on ovals.

Griffin said IRL fans could see some changes as early as Kentucky—the series’ next oval race—Aug. 1.

06/28/09 Next year's 18-race IndyCar schedule reportedly will be split evenly between ovals and road/street circuits, meaning one oval on this year's schedule won't be returning.

If IndyCar officials have their way, that track won't be RIR.

Terry Angstadt, the Indy Racing League's commercial division president, said yesterday the league hopes to stage a 10th race at RIR in 2010. "We're hopeful," he said.

"In fact, we have a conference call on Tuesday with the ISC [International Speedway Corporation, owner of RIR] group to talk through specifics of renewing next year. We're optimistic." Richmond Times-Dispatch