Speedway may host Le Mans Series race

Monday, Oct. 4, 1999 | 11:04 a.m.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway could host the American Le Mans Series season-ending race next month if the respective parties can agree on suitable times and dates.

Delays in track construction in San Diego caused the San Diego Grand Prix Association and the American Le Mans Series to agree to move the scheduled Nov. 5-7 season finale to Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

It originally was announced that the ALMS Grand Prix of Las Vegas would be held Nov. 5-7 until Speedway officials discovered conflicts in scheduling that weekend with the Richard Petty Driving Experience, Derek Daly Driving Academy and CART 101 Driving Experience.

LVMS general manager Chris Powell said this morning that he and ALMS officials were trying to work around the driving schools' schedules in an attempt to stage the races on the Nov. 5-7 weekend.

The San Diego Grand Prix remains on the ALMS' 2000 schedule, but has been moved from Nov. 5, 2000 to Feb. 27, 2000, becoming the series' season opener.

The American Le Mans Series could become a permanent fixture on the LVMS schedule. The 2000 ALMS schedule, which includes races at three tracks owned by LVMS' parent company, Speedway Motorsports, Inc., has an open date on its schedule next November, which was created when the series moved its San Diego event to February.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway has hosted sports-car racing on its 2.25-mile infield road course in the past, but the Professional Sports Car Racing, Inc., events were poorly attended.

Once a date in Las Vegas is settled upon, fans who have purchased advance tickets to the 1999 San Diego Grand Prix can exchange those tickets for either the Grand Prix of Las Vegas or next February's San Diego Grand Prix.

All accompanying support races, including the Women's Global GT Series, Star Mazda Series and Sports Toyota Championship events, also would shift to Las Vegas if the Speedway can work around its driving schools' schedules.

CNBC is scheduled to provide live television coverage of the Grand Prix of Las Vegas.