Phoenix Int'l Raceway President Bryan Sperber yesterday said the facility "would welcome" the IndyCar Series back for future races, but "doesn’t believe those who run the series have much interest in a return," according to Jenna Fryer of the AP. Sperber said that he has been "clear with IndyCar on how the financial arrangement would have to be structured." Sperber: "The ball is in their court. Hopefully the interest in Phoenix International Raceway becomes sufficient enough that they would like to pursue that opportunity. But up to now that doesn’t look like that’s in the cards." The track hosted IndyCar races from '96-'05. Sperber "would have to spend close to" $1M to "market an IndyCar return." Sperber with "no guarantee of a formidable crowd" also cannot "afford to pay IndyCar’s current asking price on a sanctioning fee believed to be" about $1.5M per race (AP, 11/10).
CUP NEWS: Sperber also said that PIR would “jump at the chance” to host the Sprint Cup season finale, but there are “no real plans there” (TWITTER.com, 11/10). USA Today’s Jeff Gluck wrote PIR "needs a facility upgrade before it could host a championship race” (TWITTER.com, 11/10). Quicken Loans yesterday announced it will become the new title sponsor of the Veterans Day weekend NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at PIR. The company also will continue as title sponsor of the June Sprint Cup race at Michigan Int'l Speedway. The race will conclude PIR's 50th anniversary season (Quicken Loans).
