Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has "assembled a Boston Grand Prix committee" and "is in contact" with Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles in a bid to land a Verizon IndyCar Series race, according to Richard Weir of the BOSTON HERALD. Officials from the Walsh administration have "met recently with Mark Perrone, president of the nascent Grand Prix Boston, who is spearheading the drive to bring the open-wheel championship race to town." Perrone did not say where he was looking to hold the event, but an administration official said that the group was "considering the less residential Seaport District." Walsh in June wrote a letter to Miles saying that he had "created the Boston Grand Prix Association, a steering committee comprised of business and civic leaders to help organize the event, and that his administration was working closely with Perrone and his staff." Walsh has said in the past that he "wants to put Boston more on the national sports stage by trying to lure" the NFL Draft, as well as the Final Four and other pro all-star games (BOSTON HERALD, 8/23).
LIKE A FINE WINE: In Indianapolis, Curt Cavin noted IndyCar "still has event contracts to finalize" for '15, including one for Sonoma Raceway. But Sonoma President & GM Steve Page said Friday that he is "'close' on securing a date for next year's event and the contract that goes with it" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 8/23). Meanwhile, track officials said that the 12-turn, 2.385-mile circuit was "not damaged" by the earthquake that hit the Napa Valley region yesterday, allowing yesterday's GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma to begin at 1:40pm PT as scheduled. Page said that the decision to continue with the race "was made after surveying the facilities and learning that all local roads were open." He said that the track's emergency services were "in place" as people arrived at the facility (INDYSTAR.com, 8/25).
