The following statement is from Octane Racing Group president Francois Dumontier on the end of the Edmonton Indy. Octane was set to serve as the race’s promoter for the next three seasons but the Indy has instead been cancelled for the 2011 season and appears unlikely to return to Edmonton.
Special thanks to IndyCar’s Amy Konrath for her help in attaining this statement. Here it is:
“We are extremely sad to confirm that our group will not be able to offer to the Western Canada fans, an Indy racing event in Edmonton, in 2011.
We set a deadline for a final answer from the City of Edmonton, concerning the status of the eastern runway and its surroundings grounds at the City Center airport, where we had been asked in late summer to move the event as of 2011. Until the last minute, we hoped that the City would agree with our legitimate request to provide us a site equivalent to the one the previous promoters have worked with and this, without having our group (the tenant) investing in ground works.
The City’s final decision has made impossible for us — as professional and experienced motorsports promoters — to offer an event complying with our high quality standards, able to satisfy the fans and the sanctioning organizations and maintain the quality of the spectacle.
The October 29 deadline was justified by the fact that the City’s decision to have the race relocated and the following negotiations delayed our marketing plan for the 2011 event and already compromised its success. This delay was also conflicting with our July public promise to the fans to be at work in Edmonton, in September 2010.
We have built a good relationship with Indy Racing League and in the next few weeks, we will explore ways to have the 2011 race relocated at another venue, if possible to the benefit of Western Canadian fans. However, Edmonton has been our only scenario until the circumstances explained above led us to today’s announcement.
Our group entered the process of becoming the Edmonton Indy new promoter in good faith. We returned from the last July race with enthusiasm and confidence and until last Friday, had all intentions to promote a spectacular Edmonton Indy for 2011 and many years to come.
We wish to thank all the Western Canadian racing fans and the Edmontonians who warmly welcomed us and offered their support in the last few months.”
