Au revoir, Australia

After a single, contractually obligated showing at Surfers Paradise, the IndyCar Series isn't coming back. While it is a nice street course and a good crowd to boot, I'm not sad to see it go. The direction the IndyCar Series needs to be moving in is a series that is North American based - most of the races in the US with a few in Canada and maybe one in Mexico.

In an economy like the one we're in right now to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on one race seems rather stupid. Motegi survives because the IRL's engine supplier foots the bill, whereas organizers only issued part of the bill for Surfers. My guess would be that only Indy is as expensive for the teams as Australia. But the big difference between these two events is that winning an Indy 500 has a lot of clout. Even non-racing fans know of the 500, and if a general sports fan sees one IndyCar race a year it's probably this one. I hazard to think no sponsor gives two hoots if you won Surfers, but tell them you're a 500 champ and it might be a different story.

One thing though to the IndyCar organizers: find another event or negotiate with ISC to move up Homestead now. While ending a season abroad is a bad scenario, having a four week layoff between the penultimate and final race is just as horrible.

On a good front for Surfers Paradise organizers, they've hooked up with A1GP. With a five year contract with the series, it is a good fit. A1GP has an international focus in its venue, but has had such a fluctuating schedule that it does not have a signature race. With Surfers there is a great opportunity to be that race.