INDYCARNATION

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EDMONTON, Alberta – Francois Dumontier, president of the Octane Racing Group, says he received suggestions from “everyone I met” during his brief visit to the Honda Indy Edmonton.

They’re duly noted, and many likely will be acted upon over the next three years as Octane Racing Group takes over promotion of the event that features the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights. That announcement was made by Dumontier, Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel and IndyCar commercial division president Terry Angstadt between the races at City Centre Airport.

The three-year-old company, which promoted the Formula One race in Montreal this year, now will be involved in events in Canada’s East and West summer festival cities.

“The city is in position to firm up its position as the motor racing capital of western Canada,” Dumontier said. “Our intention for the coming years is to gather fans from Vancouver to Winnipeg, from Calgary and Saskatoon and why not the USA and eastern Canada. We know the energy is there, let’s now light it up.

“Today we are celebrating a partnership and we are proud to be a part of the Edmonton community.”

Angstadt said business points of a sanctioning agreement with Octane have been agreed upon, and he expects a signed agreement soon. The 2011 race weekend will be “roughly” the same time on the schedule. Edmonton City Council voted last week in favor of entering into negotiations with Octane Racing Group to take over promotion from Northlands. The city will remain a sponsor of the event.

“We certainly wouldn’t be here for this occasion without the support of the mayor, the city council and everyone who helped us continue to race here,” Angstadt said. “We are not successful without world-class promoters, and I know we are in very good hands to take what we think is a great event to a new level.

“We’d also like to thank the Northlands group. They helped establish us here when we unified open-wheel racing, and we thank them for their support.”

Northlands took over the event for 2008 at the city’s request and juggled promotion and management of the race with its 2,000-plus other events – including the province’s annual 10-day Capital Exhibition going on through Aug. 1.

“Our commitment from the onset was three years and we fulfilled that commitment,” Northlands president Ken Knowles said.

Brian Leadbetter, Northlands director of government and community relations, said the 131-year-old company likely would have a role in future IndyCar races in Edmonton.

“It’s great, especially with a new promoter coming in,” Ontario native and IZOD IndyCar Series driver Paul Tracy said. “Northlands has done the best job that they could do here and has secured the race for the city. “Hopefully, with the new promoter coming in, it can make the race safe for another three to five years, which is great.”