Detroit GP dropped

The Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix was dropped from the Indy Racing League (IRL) schedule this week because of the deepening economic crisis in the Motor City.

Following talks with the city of Detroit, the state, sponsors and the race's sanctioning body, the IRL decided to postpone next year's event scheduled for Sept. 4-6, according to the Detroit Free Press.

"We've been evaluating for the last couple of months whether to cancel this race or not," Grand Prix chairman Bud Denker told the paper.

"We're looking to take a pause with the race but we are optimistic we'll get through the speed bumps."

After a six-year absence, Indycar racing returned to Detroit in 2007 and staged two successful events on the island course which each attracted more than 100,000 spectators.

Formula One raced on the downtown streets of the Motor City from 1982 to 1988 before CART moved in in 1989, running races on Belle Isle until 2001.