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IRL: Indianapolis Motor Speedway boss Tony George resigns

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

Tony George this week resigned as CEO of the former U.S. grand prix venue Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and the IndyCar series.

Last month, rumours that he was on the verge of being ousted was reported as a blow to hopes that formula one could soon return to the crucial North American market.

George is credited with earlier this decade bringing F1 back to the U.S. on a novel road course inside the fabled Indy 500 oval, and until recently was keen to pen a new race promotion deal with Bernie Ecclestone.

A media statement in May however said the venue's priority should be the Indy 500 event, with some commentators questioning George's investments in the road course, press tower and other facilities built for F1.

George will continue to wun his IndyCar team, Vision Racing.

Amid the FOTA-FIA conflict, the rebel teams leaked a theoretical 2010 calendar to the press and it featured both Indianapolis and Montreal, the host of the similarly axed Canadian grand prix.

FOTA chairman Luca di Montezemolo said this week that returning to the American continent is "absolutely crucial" to Ferrari.

"The United States has been our largest market for many, many years and so we will do our best to race there again with formula one," he said.



photo:IndyCar - Ron McQueeney
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada