IRL runs over Speedway Motorsports plans

Motorsports President and Chief Operating Officer Marcus Smith says the Texas Motor Speedway and Infineon Raceway will be returning to the lineup of tracks hosting IndyCar Series events in 2009. But he's disappointed "that the Indy Racing League chose not to add dates for Las Vegas Motor Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Those two first-class facilities would have been excellent additions for the league and race fans next year," he says. Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage, who handled negotiations with the Indy Racing League on behalf of Speedway Motorsports, says the Las Vegas oval and infield have been improved to the tune of millions of dollars in investment. Regarding New Hampshire, he said the IRL "made it clear that New Hampshire was not in its business plans moving forward."