Road America sued by CART

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CART sues Wisconsin track over failure to pay

CART has filed a lawsuit against the Road America track in Elkhart Lake, Wis., contending the track failed to make its first of three payments on sanctioning fees for the 2003 event.

CART claims the first installment of $262,500 was due Jan. 1 but had not been received as of Feb. 10, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis. The sanctioning fees are $1.75 million.

CART has raced at Road America since 1982. Road America president George Bruggenthies said he expects this year's race, scheduled for Aug. 3, to continue as planned.

The odd twist is that Carl Haas, a team owner and member of the CART board of directors, also is on the board of directors for Road America.
 
I don't see this being a major problem. Road America probally makes that amount in a days bratwurst sales (by the way, I recommend the double with sauerkraut :) ) Cart lost some good teams, they can't start loosing the tracks. Still deciding if I can, but come Aug 3, I might be there to see these turbo cars in action :)
 
Seems that either Road America or CART did not care over much if this race was held.

CART ELIMINATES RACE: The CART series trimmed its 2003 schedule by one race Monday when it announced it was dropping this year's event at Road America. CART officials said the track, located near Elkhart Lake, Wis., was dropped for failure to pay its sanctioning fee.

Road America, a 4.048-mile track that is generally regarded as the finest road-racing circuit in North America, has played host to a CART event every year since 1982. This year's race was scheduled for Aug. 3.
 
:EEEEK:


Wow! thats a suprise to me, I would have figured every thing would be fine considering carts situation. I guess that makes my decision on going to the race.
 
Surprised me too, was at a Trans Am series race at Road America some 20 years ago and it is a fantastic facility.

And I don't know that tracks are tripping all over each other trying to secure a CART date at the moment.

Would not surprise me if this is not the final word on the deal. Does anyone know if $1.75 Mil is average for sanctioning fees in the world of motorsport? I'm know that F1 fees are allegedly astronomical, but I'm thinking more about series whose draw is more in line with CART.
 
According to the local paper, Road America says it has paid the bill. It is countersuing CART. The track also announced it would refund 30% of the ticket price to those who send back their tickets. Yes, that is correct only 30%. This leaves a 70% processing fee? :eek: <_< :angry:
 
What a PR move!!!

Nothing to get fans all excited about something than to have them think it is gonna be taken away. :eek:
 
That race pumps a lot of money into the local economy. There are a lot of very upset folks in the area this morning. It should be intersting to see how this plays out.
 
I am being told/reading that there is a lot more to this story.

CART: Says that not only was the first installment for this season not paid, but additionally the final one from last season was not paid either. CART also maintains that the Road America race organisers rejected a
reduced and revised financial arrangement that was offered by Champ Car
management as a settlement of the lawsuit.

Road America: Maintains that CART owes them money from 2002 as the agreement is one of if we make money you make money, or something to that effect. Also state that last Friday they wired the 2003 money to CART, but were informed on Monday that the race was canceled and the money would be returned.

None of this sounds very promising for a short term settlement. We shall see.
 
Who runs organizations like CART? I would bet that they are businessmen and not racers. Its too bad that when you get to this level its not a sport, but a business, and all a businees cares about is money. Sports should be sports, let em race. They need Mario running things up there. Road America is my favorite race track. There is not too many places where you can wake up, climb out of your tent and be face to face with turn 9, then hop on your bike, go though the taril in the woods and have a superbike buzz by you at 190.
 
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