SMI Offers IRL Five Track Deal
"They would like to end the season in Las Vegas to go with their [season-ending] banquet while everyone was still in town," Gossage said. "It could be a really big thing for IndyCar racing to wrap up their season that way."
New Hampshire Motor Speedway would be part of the five-race package, along with Texas, Kentucky Speedway and Infineon Raceway — three tracks that already host IndyCar events.
Gossage and SMI chairman Bruton Smith were in New Hampshire on Sunday to attend the first NASCAR weekend at NHMS since SMI purchased the facility last November.
The New Hampshire IndyCar weekend probably would fall between late July and mid-August, placing it between NASCAR races in late June and mid-September.
IndyCar Series officials could not be reached for comment on the proposed schedule changes. League officials are trying to re-work the 2009 schedule to incorporate some Champ Car events that were cancelled this year when the IRL and Champ Car merged.
The IndyCar Series has ended its season at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., since 2005. The season finale this year is Sept. 15 on the 1.5-mile Joliet oval. The IRL raced at the one-mile New Hampshire oval and 1½-mile Las Vegas oval with limited success in the years after the open-wheel series split in 1996.
"You would think [the IRL] would appreciate what we're doing in Texas, Infineon and Kentucky and want to add two major speedways to that," Gossage said. "The league is not served in the Northeast and not served well out West. It's two good markets to deliver to them."
Gossage said the clock is ticking on getting a deal done for next season.
"It has to happen pretty soon," Gossage said. "Vegas [NASCAR] tickets already are on sale for 2009. I'm going on the Kyle Petty Charity ride for about 10 days in July [starting July 12] and I told them I would like to have it done before I leave."
Gossage said his role is to negotiate the best deal possible before presenting it to each track's general manager for consideration. ESPN.com
06/24/08 New Hampshire is said to be part of a five-facility deal SMI is offering the IRL to stage IndyCar Series events next season. The other tracks involved are Texas, Kentucky, the Infineon road course (all of which have IndyCar events now) and Las Vegas. New Hampshire and Vegas have staged IRL events in the past. ESPN.com