Is big-time auto racing coming to Baltimore?
It's sure starting to look that way. The city has approved a spending package that in all likelihood will bring an Indy car race to Charm City in August 2011 - and years beyond.
The deal paves the way for a race to be held on the streets near Camden Yards and the Inner Harbor. The sport's governing body - the Indy Racing League - still has to sanction the race, but that's expected to come as early as the end of this month, according to a story in the Washington Business Journal.
According to an economic impact study, the three-day event could draw more than 100,000 people and generate $11 million in direct city tax revenue, create the equivalent of 2,000 full-time jobs and pump $250 million in spending into the local economy,the Journal reported.
There has been some minor griping among neighborhood groups in the area about the noise and the hassle a race would bring, but I think it's fair to say that anyone with the entire city's best interests at heart would have to support the event.
To the extent that the masses in Baltimore are familiar with auto racing at all, I'd suspect they're more knowledgeable about NASCAR that Indy car. I've been to several runnings of the Indianapolis 500 (the same style of open-wheel racing that would come to Baltimore), and despite the fact that I don't consider myself a motor sports fan, the speed and deafening roar of the cars is exhilarating to even non-gearheads.
Let's hope the IRL takes the final step and sanctions the race.
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