The Verizon IndyCar Series will return to New England next year, landing in Boston for the first time ever with a race to be held over the Labor Day holiday, Sept. 2-4, 2016. The Grand Prix of Boston has laid out a proposed 11-turn, 2.25-mile course near the south Boston waterfront around the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The privately-funded event has signed an agreement to host a race through 2020, which might or might not be the season finale. Labor Day has recently held the last race on the calendar, but that could change next year.
After the loss of street circuits in Brazil, Baltimore, and Houston in the past two years, (and assuming things stay the same) then Boston will make for a fifth street circuit, joining those in Long Beach, St. Petersburg, Detroit, and Toronto. IndyCar's only other forays to New England went down on the New Hampshire Motor Speedway from 1992-1998, and again in 2011.
IndyCar Boston is working with the community during its preparations, so it sounds like there could be some tweaks to the course before it's all done. But the city's mayor, Marty Walsh, formed a Boston Grand Prix committee last August, so it's not like they haven't done a lot of homework already. Check out the press release below for more information.
After the loss of street circuits in Brazil, Baltimore, and Houston in the past two years, (and assuming things stay the same) then Boston will make for a fifth street circuit, joining those in Long Beach, St. Petersburg, Detroit, and Toronto. IndyCar's only other forays to New England went down on the New Hampshire Motor Speedway from 1992-1998, and again in 2011.
IndyCar Boston is working with the community during its preparations, so it sounds like there could be some tweaks to the course before it's all done. But the city's mayor, Marty Walsh, formed a Boston Grand Prix committee last August, so it's not like they haven't done a lot of homework already. Check out the press release below for more information.
BOSTON TO HOST INDYCAR GRAND PRIX STREET CIRCUIT EVENT
BOSTON – Today marked the official launch of the Grand Prix of Boston. The inaugural Verizon IndyCar Series event will take place over Labor Day weekend, September 2‐4, 2016, in the South Boston Waterfront area.
The Grand Prix event will offer a series of family‐friendly, community‐oriented attractions throughout the weekend. On‐track activity will include INDYCAR practice, qualifying and race events as well as support series races and pace car rides. In the areas surrounding the track, attendees can enjoy family fun areas, food and drink, and other attractions.
Grand Prix of Boston has proposed the following track design:
• The starting line will be located on the South Boston Bypass Road. Vehicles will then turn onto Congress Street, then turn onto Massport's Haul Road. Vehicles will then cross under Summer Street onto Fargo Street, and then to D Street, circling the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Vehicles will then turn onto Cypher Street, and return to the start of the circuit on South Boston Bypass Road.
All proposed aspects of the track and event footprint will be presented to the public throughout a strong community engagement process, which began in March. To date, the Grand Prix of Boston has engaged in discussions with representatives from groups such as the Friends of Fort Point Channel, the Seaport TMA, the Fort Point Neighborhood Association, St. Vincent's Lower End Neighborhood Association, and others. Individual discussions have also taken place with area business owners and residents. This community engagement process will continue as details of the event are proposed.
"This is an exciting time in Boston and as we explore new ways to grow and attract visitors here, we're engaging in strong dialogue with organizations like the Grand Prix of Boston. This event has great potential to bring an influx of tourism and support our local businesses during what is traditionally a challenging holiday weekend for hospitality. I'm excited to begin this process and hear from our residents and business owners as we move forward," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh.
"We're excited to bring this event to the world‐class City of Boston. From the initial concept, and every step of the way, Mayor Walsh and his leadership have shown an incredible enthusiasm and openness in exploring this new concept, and we're looking forward to continuing this engagement with the community," said Mark Perrone, CEO of the Grand Prix of Boston.
"The level of enthusiasm we have received from the Boston community has been phenomenal and we look forward to showcasing the Verizon IndyCar Series on Labor Day weekend in 2016," said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Company, the parent of INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "There has been a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes from community leaders and Grand Prix of Boston officials and those efforts led to this key addition to our 2016 calendar. We're thankful to Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, Grand Prix of Boston CEO Mark Perrone and many other supporters who were instrumental in making today's announcement possible. Establishing INDYCAR racing in the northeast is an integral part of our strategy for growing our national fan base."
The Verizon IndyCar Series schedule currently includes four other street circuit events: the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (California); the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Florida); Honda Indy Toronto; Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix (Michigan).
BOSTON – Today marked the official launch of the Grand Prix of Boston. The inaugural Verizon IndyCar Series event will take place over Labor Day weekend, September 2‐4, 2016, in the South Boston Waterfront area.
The Grand Prix event will offer a series of family‐friendly, community‐oriented attractions throughout the weekend. On‐track activity will include INDYCAR practice, qualifying and race events as well as support series races and pace car rides. In the areas surrounding the track, attendees can enjoy family fun areas, food and drink, and other attractions.
Grand Prix of Boston has proposed the following track design:
• The starting line will be located on the South Boston Bypass Road. Vehicles will then turn onto Congress Street, then turn onto Massport's Haul Road. Vehicles will then cross under Summer Street onto Fargo Street, and then to D Street, circling the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Vehicles will then turn onto Cypher Street, and return to the start of the circuit on South Boston Bypass Road.
All proposed aspects of the track and event footprint will be presented to the public throughout a strong community engagement process, which began in March. To date, the Grand Prix of Boston has engaged in discussions with representatives from groups such as the Friends of Fort Point Channel, the Seaport TMA, the Fort Point Neighborhood Association, St. Vincent's Lower End Neighborhood Association, and others. Individual discussions have also taken place with area business owners and residents. This community engagement process will continue as details of the event are proposed.
"This is an exciting time in Boston and as we explore new ways to grow and attract visitors here, we're engaging in strong dialogue with organizations like the Grand Prix of Boston. This event has great potential to bring an influx of tourism and support our local businesses during what is traditionally a challenging holiday weekend for hospitality. I'm excited to begin this process and hear from our residents and business owners as we move forward," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh.
"We're excited to bring this event to the world‐class City of Boston. From the initial concept, and every step of the way, Mayor Walsh and his leadership have shown an incredible enthusiasm and openness in exploring this new concept, and we're looking forward to continuing this engagement with the community," said Mark Perrone, CEO of the Grand Prix of Boston.
"The level of enthusiasm we have received from the Boston community has been phenomenal and we look forward to showcasing the Verizon IndyCar Series on Labor Day weekend in 2016," said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Company, the parent of INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "There has been a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes from community leaders and Grand Prix of Boston officials and those efforts led to this key addition to our 2016 calendar. We're thankful to Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, Grand Prix of Boston CEO Mark Perrone and many other supporters who were instrumental in making today's announcement possible. Establishing INDYCAR racing in the northeast is an integral part of our strategy for growing our national fan base."
The Verizon IndyCar Series schedule currently includes four other street circuit events: the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (California); the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Florida); Honda Indy Toronto; Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix (Michigan).
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