As has already occurred several times in recent months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, another event automotive has been erased from this season’s scheduled at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
This time, it’s the Grand Prix of Monterey doubleheader scheduled Sept. 18-20.
The IndyCar Series announced the cancellation July 27 while also conducting further business. Raceway officials are in negotiations to extend the current open-when racing’s contract with series organizers.
Laguna Seca Raceway event calendar shrinks again
IndyCar also canceled the Grand Prix of Portland, scheduled Sept. 11-13 in Oregon. The series will replace its West Coast swing with doubleheaders scheduled at existing events. The most recent event took place July 18-19 at Iowa Speedway.
“INDYCAR loves racing in Monterey County and everyone wishes this year’s circumstances were different,” said Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles in a press release. “The leadership team behind the Grand Prix of Monterey has been a strong partner throughout this process and we’ve appreciated their diligence and commitment to the event and our series. Fans can rest assured we look forward to returning in 2021.”
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved a three-year contract with the IndyCar Series in 2018 for the county-owned WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to host IndyCar races through 2021.
Negotiations are in “serious discussions,” according to a report in the Monterey Herald.
The Herald also noted the County of Monterey paid $1.5 million in sanctioning fees for the canceled 2020 event.
Laguna Seca held IndyCar races from 1983-2004 as part of the CART/Champ Car World Series. Sonoma Raceway began hosting the IndyCar series in 2005. The Champ Car series merged with IndyCar in 2008.
Alex Zanardi overtook Herta on the final lap on in the Corkscrew in 1996. The dramatic maneuver is known as “The Pass.” Mario Andretti drove in his final Indy event at the raceway in 1994.
The Ferrari Challenge Series is now the first event on the raceway’s calendar, Sept. 24-27.
Tickets are on sale for the remainder of the season’s events: The Ferrari Challenger (Sept. 24-27), MotoAmerica Superbike SpeedFest (Oct. 23-25), Monterey Sports Car Championship (Oct. 20-Nov. 1) and Trans Am SpeedFest (Dec. 3-6).
All of the remaining events were originally scheduled at earlier dates.
Article Last Updated: July 27, 2020.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.