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INDYCAR: Andretti Sports Marketing Working On Ft. Lauderdale Street Race
“A final deal with the city is not in place yet but what is in place is a lot of enthusiasm from the corporate community,” said ASM president John Lopes.
Robin Miller  |  Posted November 13, 2012  
With help from 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, ASM could put another street race on the series' schedule in his hometown. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)
Michael Andretti’s promotion group helped rescue Milwaukee and Baltimore in 2012 and now it’s trying to close a deal to bring IndyCar to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in 2013.

Following a Tuesday meeting with the Broward County Commission, Andretti Sports Marketing president John Lopes said it remains a work in progress but he’s encouraged by the show of support.

“We’ve been working on this for a long time and we’re still in the due diligence phase of trying to determine if it’s something we can pull off,” said Lopes, whose company has become the go-to operation for turnkey racing events.

“A final deal with the city is not in place yet but what is in place is a lot of enthusiasm from the corporate community.”

Ryan Hunter-Reay, who captured the 2012 IZOD IndyCar title in dramatic fashion for Andretti Autosport, resides in Fort Lauderdale and it was his idea to bring the series back next to the Atlantic Ocean.

“Absolutely, it all began with Ryan and it’s his vision,” acknowledged Lopes. “It’s a cool layout along highway A1A and if it happens it would be spectacular.

“Kinda like the USA version of Surfer’s Paradise (longtime CART race on Australia’s Gold Coast).”

It would also give IndyCar a 20th race in 2013 and hopefully shore up a big gap in the current schedule where there is no race from Sept. 1 (Baltimore) to Oct. 5 (Houston doubleheader).

The Fort Lauderdale papers speculated that it could be in October to coincide with the popular boat show.

“The boat show is the most important event in Fort Lauderdale and it’s something we wouldn’t interfere with,” said Lopes. “The time frame we’re looking at is either September or October.”

As to a timeline for making a decision? “We could probably go as late as Christmas and still pull off a race next year but any later than that and we’re looking at 2014.”

In the meantime, Lopes and his people will meet with the city and county sectors to determine how much funding could be provided and how much then needed to be raised.

“We’re still digging and we’ve still got a long way to go,” he said. “But today Ryan and our group met with some community and corporate leaders and there were 12-13 people that stood up to speak for the event. That’s encouraging.”

Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
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