The CART Detroit Grand Prix "will no longer be run at"
Belle Isle, MI, after 2001, and if another venue "isn't
agreed upon, the race itself might be in jeopardy,"
according to Angelique Chengelis of the DETROIT NEWS, who
noted that CART has raced at the Belle Isle temporary street
course since '92. CART Chair & CEO Andrew Craig said that
"conditions at the park are substandard for a major race,"
but that he "is not opposed to racing in Detroit." Craig:
"We'll look at any sensible alternative. We have a
completely open mind" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/15). Also in
Detroit, Bell & Crowe wrote that "backers of a proposed
racetrack" at the State Fairgrounds "believe that moving the
Grand Prix to their facility would be the only way to save
the race for Detroit." Race promoter IMG Motorsports is
"looking around for alternatives," as attendance at last
year's event "declined for the second straight year" to an
estimated 132,000, down from 146,000 in '98 and 157,000 in
'97 (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/15).
CART SAYS HOLA TO MEXICO: CART announced it "has signed
a five-year deal" to race in Monterrey, Mexico, beginning in
March 2001. CART officials said that the race "will be run
on" a 1.9-mile temporary road circuit (AP, 4/15).
