| | Associated Press
HAMPTON, Ga. -- Atlanta Motor Speedway would like to play host to another Indy Racing League event. Now, track officials have got to decide if bringing back the open-wheel cars makes financial sense.
Ed Clark, the speedway's president and general manager, is still
awaiting attendance figures and other numbers that will help him
decide what kind of offer to make to the IRL for a potential race
in 2001.
"We've got to structure a deal that works for them and works
for us," he said Monday. "That's the challenge. We'll throw the
first proposal out, then let them work with it."
Clark had preliminary discussions with IRL founder Tony George
on Friday, one day before the Midas 500 Classic. Greg Ray dominated
the race, held before a crowd estimated at 35,000.
The turnout was larger than last year but fell short of the
surprisingly strong showing for the inaugural event in 1998. Every
year, there have been tens of thousands of empty seats at the
speedway, which has a permanent capacity of more than 124,000.
"I was very encouraged with the crowd," Clark insisted.
"There were a lot of first-time attendees. It was a pretty good
event except for Greg Ray lapping the field. He was a rocketship."
The track offered half-priced tickets to women and children.
Afterward, the paddock was opened to all fans, allowing them to
mingle with the drivers shortly after the checkered flag.
"The people I talked to liked going in the garage and liked some other things we did," Clark said. "There were a lot of positives. I was very encouraged."
Atlanta has completed a three-year contract with the IRL and
wasn't placed on the tentative 12-race schedule for next season.
Clark said he hopes to make a proposal by the end of next week and
predicted the negotiations could take at least a month. He likely
will be seeking another three-year deal.
This year, the IRL agreed to a lease arrangement with the
1.54-mile quad-oval south of Atlanta, assuming much of the
financial risk and combining the promotional efforts. The
5-year-old series probably would be reluctant to come back next
year under the same terms.
The speedway, meanwhile, is desperate for more events and seems
unlikely to attract another racing series.
"From an emotional standpoint, there's no question we need to
do this thing," Clark said. "From a business standpoint, all the
numbers have got to work. We'll analyze it and see."
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