Reports emerged Monday night that a "bevy of suitors," led by F1 CEO Bernie Eccelstone, are "lining up to buy the 39-year-old" Long Beach Grand Prix "despite the fact that its owners, Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe, have not expressed interest in selling it," according to Bob Keisser of the Long Beach PRESS-TELEGRAM. LBGP President & CEO Jim Michaelian said the rumors "don't amount to anything." He added, "This is a story that keeps bouncing around every year or so, despite the fact that the race isn't for sale and there's been no contact between anyone and Kevin about a sale. Nothing is happening." Kalkhaven said, "Gerry and I are not interested in selling Long Beach." Michaelian said that the owners have "every intention of keeping their company." Michaelian: "My reaction is that it's their company, they run it well, and they have every intention of keeping it. Kevin is invested in the IndyCar series with his own team (KV Racing). If he was seriously looking at a sale, he wouldn't be pouring resources into his own team.'' IndyCar currently has a "contract with the city of Long Beach through the 2015 race" (Long Beach PRESS-TELEGRAM, 4/17).
TAKING A LOOK: SPEEDTV.com's Robin Miller reported "at least one group is taking a serious look at making a bid for the longest-running, most successful street race in North America." Every sign "points to" Green-Savoree Racing Promotions co-Owners Kim Green and Kevin Savoree "trying to raise their already robust profile in promoting and track ownership." It also has been "rumored that [ISC Chair] Jim France and the newly formed United SportsCar Racing Championship could be a potential buyer." Gordon Kirby in his latest Motor Sport magazine blog "speculates" that Ecclestone and former CART President & CEO Chris Pook are "interested in re-acquiring the venue that hosted Formula One from 1976-1983" (SPEEDTV.com, 4/15).
