http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA102805.01B.indy_sa.24e7f5c.html
Race exec makes an Alamo City pit stop
Web Posted: 10/28/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Laura Jesse
Express-News Staff Writer
An Indy Racing League-sanctioned street race in San Antonio is a possibility in 2007, but racing enthusiasts shouldn't get their engines revved up just yet.
Tony George, president of the league and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, met with city and county officials and investors Thursday about the prospect of bringing a grand prix here for a five-year term.
"We had a great meeting this morning about some exciting possibilities for San Antonio," George said. "We think that the people who have sort of been putting the thought behind this event here have done a very good job and created at least a very interesting scenario that we believe could work."
Councilman Kevin Wolff said the plans between the league and HollyHills Development, the developer behind the deal, would be worked out over the next 60 days. They would then come back to present those plans to city officials.
"HollyHills would be the group that would pay the sanctioning rights for the race," said T.J. Connolly, a local spokesman for the company.
A potential route presented at the meeting would take the race through the near East Side using the Alamodome as a central point, but the route has not been finalized.
Although Wolff said the plan looks the best of any he has seen from other racing organizations, there are questions to answer and details to iron out.
"Is this a good viable thing for the city?" Wolff said. "What's the cost versus the benefit? If the cost outweighs the benefit, well, it ain't happening."
Wolff said he was pleased to hear George express similar sentiments when he told officials the race won't happen if it's not a good fit for the city or the league.
George said, however, that a San Antonio race would offer his company the prospect for expansion.
"South Texas and the Hispanic market represent the opportunity to grow our business and bring economic impact and vitality to what goes on here," he said.
Mayor Phil Hardberger, who listened in on the meeting by conference call, said the street race idea is very appealing and feasible since it has been done here before.
"I think San Antonio would love it," he said.
George indicated that problems from the past San Antonio Grand Prix, which lasted from 1987 to 1992, would have to be addressed to make this plan work.
The San Antonio Grand Prix was discontinued after five years for various reasons, including the disruption the route and street construction caused, and sponsorship problems.
In 1991, the Alamo Grand Prix Association scurried to secure a major sponsor after it rejected an offer for sponsorship renewal from Nissan Motor Corp., which had been the main sponsor since the first year.
Another contributor to the race's demise was the closing of Builders Square, a major sponsor of the event.
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