Grand Prix of Houston canceled

The Grand Prix of Houston became a casualty of the unification between Champ Car and the Indy Racing League. The Champ Car World Series was supposed to be the main event in the Grand Prix of Houston, which also included the American Le Mans Series, April 25-27. But Grand Prix officials decided to cancel the races rather than stage them without the Champ Car World Series.
The Champ Car race was not one of the events the IRL wanted to include in its schedule. The only races the IRL wanted to incorporate into its 2008 schedule were the Grand Prix of Long Beach and races at Surfers Paradise in Australia and Edmonton, Canada.
As a result, the owner and chairman of the Grand Prix of Houston said he explored the possibility of staging the event with the American Le Mans Series as the premier race, but decided that would not be possible.
"The unification of Champ Car and IRL caught us by surprise, and we were informed that due to the last-minute nature of this unification the Houston date could not be accommodated for 2008," said Michael T. Lanigan, owner and chairman of the Grand Prix. "We are saddened and disappointed to have to make this decision, but we remain optimistic that we will have the opportunity to bring the American Le Mans Series and the Indy Racing League to Houston in 2009."
Grand Prix of Houston officials added that discussions have begun to stage a weekend event in 2009 with the American Le Mans Series and the IRL.