Chicago pulls plug on CART race.
Officials of Chicago Motor Speedway have suspended the track's 2002 racing schedule, claiming that the planned events there were not financially viable due to business and economic conditions in the motorsports industry.
The announcement, made by Chicago Motor Speedway chairman Charles Bidwill and president/CART team owner Chip Ganassi, affects both the CART FedEx Series Target Grand Prix and the Sears Craftsman 175 truck event. Horse racing at Sportsman's Park is unaffected, however.
Officials of Chicago Motor Speedway have suspended the track's 2002 racing schedule, claiming that the planned events there were not financially viable due to business and economic conditions in the motorsports industry.
The announcement, made by Chicago Motor Speedway chairman Charles Bidwill and president/CART team owner Chip Ganassi, affects both the CART FedEx Series Target Grand Prix and the Sears Craftsman 175 truck event. Horse racing at Sportsman's Park is unaffected, however.
"The people of Chicago and our sponsors have supported auto racing and other events at the Speedway, and we look forward to providing this region with continued entertainment and sporting events in the future," Bidwill said.
"With the entire industry in a period of widespread change, we know it's the appropriate decision. However, we remain excited about the upcoming horse racing season at Sportsman's Park, the 70th year of thoroughbred racing here. Our energies are fully focused on Sportsman's."
The track will continue to host a variety of events, including concerts, and Sportsman's Park remains an integral part of horseracing in Illinois. The traditional spring season at Sportsman's begins 1 March and concludes on Kentucky Derby day, 4 May.
