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©1998 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. (October 21, 1998) -- CART's chairman Andrew Craig began final negotiations on Monday fora new contract with the organizers of the Surfers Paradise Champ car race and the Queenslandstate government which subsidizes the race. The current five-year contract runs through 2000and both Craig and God Coast Indy chairman Terry Jackman said they expected to soon reachagreement on a new contract through 2005. "We've talked about two, three and five-year deals and we're now moving towards a five-yeardeal," Jackman said. "I think the race has come of age, and believe we can make ti one ofthe major events on the Australian sporting calendar." Craig was equally upbeat about this week's negotiations. "This race looks great, it's wellorganized and we love coming here," Craig said. "Certainly we have many options to race inmany places around the world, but we've been coming here for a number of years and haveappreciated the support from the government and the public." More than 249,000 people passed through the gates over the four days of practice and racingin Surfers Paradise with an official Sunday crowd of 95,901. Queensland's Minister for Sportand Racing, Bob Gibbs, had predicted a Aus $1.5 million loss, due mainly to the devaluationof the Australian dollar. Record attendance turned the event into a Aus $200,000 profit. Source: Marlboro Racing News | ||
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