After months of negotiation and much pubic criticism IndyCar and Nikon Indy 300 event staff have stated they have not been able to come to an agreement. The future of Nikon Indy 300 (as we know it today) is dead. The Surfers Paradise event has hosted CART/Champ Car races from 1991 to 2007, but could not be accommodated on the IndyCar championship schedule following the US open-wheel merger. IndyCar was insisting that the event be moved to March, which completely negates the existing Australian Grand Prix, a very successful season opening F1 race. In addition to the schedule changes the Goldcoast.com.au is reporting that IndyCar was also looking for another $3 million (AUS) be added to the existing $11.6 million fee to host the event.

Photo Credit: dafydd359

The ripple effect of this decision has already sparked other sad news. KV Racing sponsor Craig Gore of Aussie Vineyards has indicated that he will consider pulling his sponsorship from the team if IndyCar drops the Australian event.

Update
Congrats to the top three Ryan Briscoe (Australia), Scott Dixon (New Zealand) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (USA).

• Final Lap Video
• Results (PDF)

The last weekend of racing for IndyCar has started. Here are a number of resources to help those watching the race.

• Spotters Guide
• Trackside Report (Oct. 26)
• Trackside Report (Oct. 25)
• Trackside Report (Oct. 24)
• Timing & Scoring Reports
• Photos

I’ll keep updating this list over the weekend. Have fun and good luck with the negotiations!

Indy Racing League has released the participant schedule and the complete driver entry list for the upcoming Nikon Indy 300. All major drivers are accounted for. Helio Castroneves, Danica Patrick, Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, and Tony Kannan are all on the list. The only addition that I would like to see is Paul Tracy, but old contracts and no ride continues to haunt him. Anyone else that you think should be there? Sarah Fisher? Tomas Scheckter? Milka Duno? Add your favourite drivers to the comments section below.

I have to commend the organising staff of the Nikon Indy 300. I see a lot of event schedules for IRL and other race events and this group has pulled together one of the most comprehensive event lists. Not only is the list complete, they have any businesses and sponsors participating to make certain the schedule is full. Kudos to everyone involved. Truly you are making an economic impact in the region and proving why you need to be a permanent line item on the schedule.

We have had a number of developments around the 2008 Nikon Indy 300, so let’s get started.

Driver Attendance
As mentioned in a prior post Dario Franchitti will be driving in Australia. Alex Tagliani has a new ride with Conquest Racing and will be added to the field. Unfortunately it looks like Helio Castroneves will not be at this year’s event because he has been charged with tax evasion / tax fraud and subsequently has had his passport pulled. Hopefully he can rectify something in time for the last race of the year. Castroneves talks with the media in this clip posted by TMZ.

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UPDATE (OCT. 14, 2008):

After a breath taking .0033 second Chicagoland photo finish between Brisbane-born Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves the season finale Nikon Indy 300 is next on the schedule. Recent contract developments will put Dixon alongside 2007 IndyCar Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti. Franchitti is returning to IndyCar after an embarrassing 2008 run in NASCAR to drive the number 10 Target Chip Ganassi car.

Credit: Chip Ganassi Racing

Those planning to head to the Nikon Indy 300 here is some pre-race information to help you out.

Tickets
Tickettek is doing a poor job of highlighting easy access for people to the correct Nikon Indy 300 tickets page, so I have included the direct link for you. For the number of people that this event brings and the international attention it will have, I am surprised that it isn’t front and center on the Tickettek site.

Getting To The Track
Ride TRANSlink for free. All pre-purchased Nikon Indy 300 ticket holders will be able to travel on QR services and Surfside Buslines free. For more information visit the Nikon Indy site.

Corporate Hospitality