Speedway could snag CART race for 2001

Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2000 | 7:34 a.m.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway general manager Chris Powell raised more than a few eyebrows last weekend when he visited Chicago Speedway for the second running of the Target Grand Prix CART race.

Powell's first visit to a CART race -- and his first face-to-face meeting with interim CART president Bobby Rahal -- since taking over as GM at LVMS fueled rumors that Las Vegas still may be in the running for a CART race in 2001.

And Powell's post-Chicago comments aren't exactly dispelling those rumors.

"I think we have positioned ourselves well in the CART community that our speedway is interested in hosting CART races in the future," Powell said Monday. "Bobby was very receptive to everything we had to say and I think we have got a good opportunity to get together in the future."

Could the future include a race next season?

"I think CART and IRL are still possibilities for 2001," Powell said.

CART is expected to release its 22-race schedule for 2001 as soon as Wednesday, but there is speculation that one or more of those races could be in jeopardy.

If one of the scheduled races fails to come off as planned, Las Vegas Motor Speedway is positioning itself to step in and host a race as early as February of next year.

"I think you'll find that (CART) will be announcing their schedule this week and there's a strong likelihood we will not be on any schedule they announce any time soon," Powell said.

"But I have reason to believe there is a possibility that changes could be made to the schedule they announce this week. I have told Bobby that if anything changes, to let us know and that we would certainly want to talk to them about it."

Powell also did not rule out holding an Indy Racing League event next season.

"Without limiting it to CART ... I still have hopes of having an open-wheel race in 2001," Powell said.

The obstacle in scheduling an IRL race, Powell said, continues to be finding a date that is satisfactory to both the IRL and LVMS.

"The challenge right now is to find a suitable date," Powell said. "The dates we have discussed, for one reason or another, are just not suitable for both parties."