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IndyCar: Lawsuit filed by Boston Grand Prix CEO John Casey

ByAsher Fair|
BOSTON, MA - JULY 04: Fireworks explode over the Charles River with the city of Cambridge in the background during Boston July 4th celebrations on July 4, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. Security has been tightened around Boston's celebrations this year in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings which occurred on Patriots' Day in April. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JULY 04: Fireworks explode over the Charles River with the city of Cambridge in the background during Boston July 4th celebrations on July 4, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. Security has been tightened around Boston's celebrations this year in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings which occurred on Patriots' Day in April. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Remember IndyCar’s Boston Grand Prix last season? Neither do we, as it never happened. The CEO of the event is suing the city because of it.

John Casey, the CEO of the Boston Grand Prix that was on IndyCar‘s 2016 schedule but did not happen, is suing the city seeking $15.5 million in damages as a result of the event not being held.

Casey filed the lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court over his group’s attempt to hold the inaugural Boston Grand Prix last year on Labor Day Sunday. The race would have taken place this past Labor Day Sunday as well.

When the race organizers cancelled the race to the surprise of IndyCar, IndyCar sued them for breach of contract.

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Thousands of tickets to the race had already been sold before the race was canceled, but race officials ran out of money trying to refund ticket-buyers thanks to the fact that they had already begun to spend their ticket income on expenses related to the even being held, which may be part of the reason that Casey is now suing the city. After all, after the race was canceled, the company filed for bankruptcy.

According to WGBH, Casey is claiming that Austin Blackmon, Boston’s Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space, “waited six months to reveal changes  to a Federal Emergency Management Association flood map that affected the race circuit, thereby creating permitting problems that Casey says caused the proposed event to fail.” There are other claims in the lawsuit as well.

The removal of the Boston Grand Prix prompted IndyCar to add the Watkins Glen International road course back to the schedule for the first time since 2010. That race was held on Labor Day weekend both last year and this year, so it appears as though it will end up being a good move for IndyCar in the long run.

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How do you feel about this new lawsuit? Who do you think is in the right, and who do you think is in the wrong? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow along with Beyond the Flag for the latest news, opinions and analysis stemming from a number of different motorsports series. You don’t want to miss any of it. Also be sure to follow Beyond the Flag on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.