On Friday evening I was talking over dinner about how I thought the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Boston race was doomed for failure, and probably wouldn’t see the schedule in 2017. A few hours later I see news spreading that the promoters of the Grand Prix of Boston had canceled the Labor Day street race.
Then this INDYCAR statement hit my inbox:
INDYCAR was made aware of the news involving the Grand Prix of Boston this evening. We are obviously disappointed with these media reports and are in the process of gathering additional details and will respond accordingly at the appropriate time. At this stage it is premature for INDYCAR to comment further on the situation locally in Boston or the prospect of an alternate event.
From the start the event felt forced to me. Out of place even. Then you ran into local push back from the public in Boston. And to top things off, HubSpot signed a large convention for Labor Day weekend for 2018, and is negotiating several years beyond that. The course circles the convention center. Huge issue.
There’s plenty of blame to go around here. And as initially billed, it was silly to want to end the season in early September anyway (that thought changed, and currently the last race is September 18th in Sonoma). I’d be shocked if we see an additional race on the schedule this season, unless they can somehow swing a “double” somewhere. Or try a “twins” race again. The latter would probably be more feasible, but what would the ramifications be just to have another race winner? If you crash or have a major failure in the first race, you’re pretty much hosed on points for the second if you don’t have a backup and/or parts ready and/or available. We’ll have to wait and see, but I don’t want another race just for the sake of having another race. Getting hasty leads to problems.
As for the 2017 schedule, your guess is as good as mine. But if INDYCAR insists on a street race on Labor Day weekend, why not bring the trifecta to Indianapolis and run a street race either around Monument Circle or through Speedway? I’d be up for that. And you certainly would not have the major push back from the community over it, beyond maybe the old-school Indy 500 crowd who has their opinions on certain races being an abomination.
Thoughts? What would you like to see? Leave us a message on the Buzzline at 317-891-4627.
