IndyCar heading to Qingdao, China
The info regarding a 2011 street race was posted to Wikpedia The league is exploring a race in Qingdao, China. A 2011 event would be a street race, and move to a proposed 500,000-seat oval for 2012
The 2011 race is also mentioned on Qingdao’s own Wiki page IndyCar Series commercial division president Terry Angstadt has mentioned Qingdao as a possible venue for a second race in Asia after Twin Ring Motegi, Japan. There are plans for a 400,000+ seat purpose-built course to be opened in 2011 or later. Angstadt has suggested that the series may race in a street circuit while the facilities are under construction.
The USAToday quotes IndyCar’s commercial director, Mr. Terry Angstadt, as saying. "The series hopes to have a Chinese driver in that race and has already identified three potential prospects that could soon compete in the developmental Indy Lights series. Under consideration is Qingdao, which hosted the Beijing Olympics sailing."
A street race in Qingdao would be fantastic, but where would they race? Most likely choice would be the suburbs around the Laotian district area, or more possibly a mixture of the downtown area with plenty of elevated roads to race and the upmarket marina areas would be an excellent showcase for the city.
Formula One currently have a track in Shanghai, and has gained quite a following in China, with CCTV5 televising the race either live or pre-recorded (when they choose to show the national badminton championships instead), an Indy street race would certainly be more exciting for the average viewer should it choose to enter China. China Times