Baltimore Grand Prix: A Possibility in 2011

BALTIMORE, Maryland - After four years, Baltimore is one step closer to seeing an IndyCar race. Yesterday, the Board of Estimates agreed to enter into a five-year contract with Baltimore Racing Development Corp. to bring the IZOD IndyCar Series to the Inner Harbor.

“We are pleased with the outcome of the Board of Estimates’ unanimous vote as it is a key step in bringing the Indy Racing League to Baltimore in 2011,” said Terry Angstadt, the Indy Racing League’s commercial development president. “We will be working with the promoter to finalize a sanctioning agreement in the coming weeks and will announce more details regarding the future race at that time.”

If BRD has its way, the three-day event would take place over Labor Day weekend.

The 2.4 mile track would loop the streets surrounding the Inner Harbor, which is downtown Baltimore’s entertainment district, with pit road being located at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. It would join Long Beach, Sao Paulo, St. Petersburg, Toronto and Edmonton as the sixth street circuit on the schedule.

The proposed race could bring as many as 150,000 people to downtown Baltimore from the New York City, Philadelphia, Northern Virginia and Washington, DC markets, providing the IZOD IndyCar Series with a significant mid-Atlantic presence.

Robyn Lynne Schechter