Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles "shut the door" on an IndyCar race in Boston this year after Grand Prix of Boston promoters "made a last-ditch attempt to move the course to Suffolk Downs," according to sources cited by Joe Battenfeld of the BOSTON HERALD. Sources said that Grand Prix of Boston President & CFO John Casey on Thursday spoke to the race track's owners and "flew in" race designer Tony Cotman, but IndyCar "rejected the idea." Walsh and Miles in a joint statement said, "While it is disappointing that IndyCar will not race in Boston this year, we look forward to continuing our work together to bring IndyCar to Boston in the future" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/6). Meanwhile, Battenfeld notes ticket buyers for the canceled race "continued to wait for refunds as new evidence shows the promoters faced a financial crunch just before their surprise move to call off" the race. State officials said that the promoters' finances "were so tight they put a bank 'hold' on a $98,000 rent check to the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority a few weeks ago to prevent it from bouncing." The state agency's comptroller called Grand Prix of Boston execs and the "next day the payment -- the first installment of the $980,000 rent payment -- went through." But the incident "caused concern at the MCCA about the promoters' ability to make its financial commitments, a concern shared by other state agencies and City Hall." Meanwhile, sources said that Casey has been telling associates he is "looking at other venues in New England to keep the Labor Day street race alive." A number of ticket-buyers said that they "have not gotten any promised refunds yet, and are posting on the IndyCar Boston Facebook site to find out when they will be getting their money" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/6). In Indianapolis, Curt Cavin notes any thought of Grand Prix of Boston officials "being involved in deciding IndyCar Series' replacement race -- if there is one -- was squashed Thursday" by Casey. He said, "We will have no efforts, none." Casey "encouraged anyone interested in picking up Boston's IndyCar baton do so immediately because 'they will have delays'" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/6).
