Indy president Joie Chitwood resigns

7/21/09

Autoweek reported today that Joie Chitwood resigned Monday as president of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, creating yet another change in the historic track's leadership team.

Last month, Indy Racing League founder Tony George was asked to resign as chief executive officer of the speedway.

Chitwood became president of IMS in December 2004. He will be on the job until Aug. 6, when he leaves to become vice president of business operations for International Speedway Corp., which owns 13 racetracks around the country. Chitwood also will direct Americrown, ISC's catering company.

Grant Lynch, who now holds the job that Chitwood will take, becomes chairman of Talladega Superspeedway and vice president of ISC's strategic projects.

Jeff Belskus, the former chief financial officer of the Hulman-George family companies, took George's place on July 1, and now he assumes Chitwood's duties, too. Belskus said a replacement for Chitwood might not be sought given the leadership team that Chitwood assembled.

Chitwood, whose grandfather of the same name competed in seven Indianapolis 500s from 1940 to 1950, joined the Hulman-George organization in 1996. He spent three years with the Indy Racing League before moving to Joliet, Ill., to lead construction and early operation of the Chicagoland track.

Chitwood pushed for the staging of the MotoGP race at IMS.

He said his move has no link to George's situation.