IndyCar is suing the defunct Grand Prix of Boston
Fallout continues from the failed Seaport race.
Organizers of the Grand Prix of Boston, which was cancelled on April 29, are now being sued by IndyCar for a breach of contract. In a suit that was filed on May 23, IndyCar is seeking damages from its former partners.
Along with the Grand Prix of Boston itself, CEOs John Casey and Mark Perrone were listed as defendants as well. Specifically, the brief description listed reads “breach of contract and specific performance action.”
Casey could not be reached for comment. Perrone questioned why he was being named.
“I’m not the CEO,” Perrone said Tuesday. “I haven’t been for quite some time. I stepped away.”
After heading Boston’s successful bid to be awarded an IndyCar race, Perrone took a “lesser” role in late 2015, eventually turning up as part of an Oklahoma City group looking into the potential of hosting its own IndyCar race.
According to a report from the Boston Herald, Grand Prix of Boston is on the hook for $1.5 million now that the race won’t happen. Originally, the event was supposed to be held every year from 2016-2020.
Secondary to the cover letter of the suit was a motion to keep the documents sealed for 14 days. Additionally, IndyCar also proposed to “permanently seal specifically designated portions of the complaint.”
The reason given for this is that the information in those sections contains “IndyCar’s trade secrets and sensitive commercial information.”
The Grand Prix of Boston called off its event (scheduled for Labor Day weekend in September) following incessant difficulties in reaching finalized agreements with the city and state agencies. Encountering opposition that had a ring of familiarity following Boston’s abandoned bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh decided it wasn’t worth it to continue pursuing.
“As we continued to work with Boston Grand Prix they were unwilling or unable to meet the necessary requirements to hold an event of this size,” said Boston chief of operations Patrick Brophy in a statement issued shortly after the cancellation. “The mayor feels strongly in protecting the taxpayers and limiting the impact to residents, and we are not shy that we held them to very high standards.”
“The relationship is untenable,” Casey said following the collapse of the Boston race. IndyCar was caught by surprise in the immediate aftermath of the race being called off. The lawsuit appears to be its formal response.
On May 13, IndyCar announced that Watkins Glen International will replace Boston as its Labor Day event.
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