Organizers of the aborted Grand Prix of Boston have been "working feverishly to keep the race alive elsewhere, as officials in Providence embraced the idea and said there’s no hard feelings after the race originally abandoned Rhode Island" for Boston, according to Jack Encarnacao of the BOSTON HERALD. An email sent last night by a Grand Prix official "sought to reassure investors and sponsors that the race is not dead after its scheduled Labor Day run in the Seaport District was abruptly called off Friday." Race officials "have a pre-existing relationship" with officials in Providence, as they were exploring hosting the '16 IndyCar event in that city when they were "lured to Boston" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/3). In Providence, Kevin McNamara reports race officials as of yesterday had made "no contact" with the city of Providence or the state of Rhode Island. Providence Mayoral Communications Dir Evan England said, "We haven't been in touch with IndyCar. We’d be open to seeing if it was right for us but that’s the same as with any event." Rhode Island Sports Commission Exec Dir John Gibbons said, "We had them in for a site visit a few years ago but I haven't heard from anyone. As far as I know, Providence is not in play" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 5/3).
CAUGHT OFF GUARD: Boston Mayor Martin Walsh said he was "kind of surprised" by Friday’s announcement that the race had been canceled. He added that he will "look for answers internally as to what happened." Walsh: "Certainly I was the biggest advocate for IndyCar of anyone in this whole thing. ... I want to see if there was a breakdown on our part. There certainly were some questions unanswered on IndyCar’s part that we were asking for Friday." The BOSTON HERALD's Encarnacao cited sources as saying that race promoters "pulled the plug after city and state officials demanded they come up with promised financial commitments." Other sources close to the Walsh administration have said that promoters were "not telling the truth about reaching agreements with other agencies and landowners to build the course." Walsh "brushed off the suggestion that the meltdown makes the city less attractive for big events" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/2).
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST: RACER.com's Robin Miller wrote the "sad reality" of the Boston race's cancellation is that it is "not really big or surprising news, because we've almost come to expect it during the past two decades." The latest IndyCar race not to happen joins Chicago ('80), Hawaii ('99), South Korea ('05), Denver ('07), Phoenix ('07), China ('12) and Brazil ('15) "on the scrap heap." The race was "destined to be another one-and-done," and at best, it "might have been like Baltimore (2011-13) and hung around like an unwanted relative for a couple of years." It was "obvious early and often that Beantown didn't give a fart about open-wheel racing entering its city limits." But the event's cancellation is "more of a black eye for IndyCar." Miller: "You can't blame IndyCar for wanting to race in Boston." The series "needs a presence in the East." Boston offered a "scenic layout, lots of great places to entertain sponsors and a chance to make some new fans" (RACER.com, 5/2).
