Edmonton Indy: Difference between revisions

The inaugural race was held in 2005 and was known as the West Edmonton Mall Grand Prix. It was known in 2006 as the '''West Edmonton Mall Grand Prix Presented by The Brick'''. In 2007, [[Katz Group]], whose holdings includeRexall Drugs, signed with the Grand Prix of Edmonton as the lead sponsor, with that year's race known as the '''Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton''', becoming the '''Rexall Edmonton Indy''' following the merger of Champ Car and Indy Car as of the 2008 season. In 2010, [[Honda Canada Inc.]] was the title sponsor of the race'''Honda Indy Edmonton'''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/honda-named-as-title-sponsor-of-edmonton-indy-1.495905 |title=Honda named as title sponsor of Edmonton Indy |publisher=ctvedmonton.ca |date=2010-03-25 |access-date=2010-03-25 }}</ref> ThereFor 2011 and 2012, there was no title sponsor, inwith 2011the race known simply as the Edmonton Indy.

During the 2010 race weekend, it was announced that Octane Motorsports Events from [[Montreal]], promoter of the [[Formula 1]] [[Canadian Grand Prix]] and the [[NASCAR Nationwide Series|NASCAR Nationwide]] race at [[Circuit Gilles Villeneuve]], was taking over as the new promoter. In November 2010, the City and the promoter not being able to reach an agreement concerning pavement work to be done on the Eastern runway of City Centre Airport, where the race course was to be moved, the 2011 event was initially cancelled. Further negotiations had the race returnedreinstated on the [[2011 IndyCar Series season|2011 IZOD IndyCar Series]] schedule, for July 22–24. On February 8, 2011, the promoter unveiled the new racecourse (13-turn, {{convert|3.579&nbsp;|km)|adj=on}} racecourse.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lewandowski |first=Dave |title=Edmonton Indy launches on new course |url=http://www.indycar.com/news/show/55-izod-indycar-series/41211-edmonton-indy-launches-on-new-course/ |work=IndyCar.com |access-date=12 April 2011 |date=8 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413164437/http://www.indycar.com/news/show/55-izod-indycar-series/41211-edmonton-indy-launches-on-new-course/ |archive-date=13 April 2011 }}</ref> which received rave reviews from several IndyCar drivers.{{citation needed|date=April 2011}}

On September 21, 2012, Octane Motorsports announced that they willwould not stage the 2013 race due to poor attendance and lack of support from local businesses. City officials have saidstated that they dowould not plan to look for a replacement promoter.,<ref>{{cite news |title=Edmonton Indy race crashes and burns, says city |url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/09/21/edmonton-indy-race-crashes-and-burns-says-city |work=Edmonton Sun |publisher=Sun Media |date=September 21, 2012 |access-date=September 21, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Edmonton IndyCar race folds |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/edmonton-indycar-race-folds/article4560571/ |agency=Associated Press |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=September 21, 2012 |access-date=September 21, 2012}}</ref> and the Edmonton Indy has not returned since.

The 2012 Edmonton Indy was the last in Edmonton. The city had spent over $12 million<ref name="Edmonton Indy cancelled">{{cite news|title=Edmonton Indy cancelled|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/edmonton-indy-cancelled/article1241183/|access-date=6 March 2016|agency=The Globe and Mail Inc.|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=23 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="edmjournaindy">{{cite news|last1=Klinkenberg|first1=Marty|last2=Klingbeil|first2=Cailynn|title=End of the line for Edmonton Indy|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/line+Edmonton+Indy/7281165/story.html|access-date=6 March 2016|work=[[Edmonton Journal]]|date=20 September 2012|archive-date=23 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823071623/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/line+edmonton+indy/7281165/story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> over the last three years and a total of $22 million over eight years.<ref name="edmjournaindy"/> Beginning in 2008 the non-profit organization [[Northlands (organization)|Northlands]] ran the Indy for three years, losing $12.5 million.<ref name="Edmonton Indy cancelled"/> There was also drop in attendance for the event over the last few years; the [[INDYCARIndyCar]] company forbids releasing attendancesattendance numbers.<ref name="2012racereview"/><ref name="Edmonton Indy cancelled"/> This also played a part in the decision to cancel.

! colspan=1112|Champ Car World Series history

! colspan=1112|IndyCar Series history

! [[2008 IndyCar Series season|2008]]

! [[2009 IndyCar Series season|2009]]

! [[2010 IndyCar Series season|2010]]

! [[2011 IndyCar Series season|2011]]

! [[2012 IndyCar Series season|2012]]

| [[Trans-Am]] || '''1:17.361'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://us.motorsport.com/transam/news/edmonton-race-notes/1253486/|title=Edmonton:Race notes|date=17 July 2005 |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref> || [[Tomy Drissi]] || [[Jaguar XKR]] || [[2005 Trans-Am Series|2005 Edmonton Trans-Am round]]