IN BRIEF : Columbus 500 Race Canceled

The Columbus 500 sports car race scheduled for Oct. 1 was canceled today by International Motor Sports Assn. officials after promoters were unable to save the financially troubled event.

“Unfortunately, all of the people behind the scenes came close, but could not manage to put all of the pieces together to have a race this year,” IMSA Executive Vice President Mark Raffauf said. The race was to be run on a 2.3-mile course in the streets of downtown Columbus.

IMSA officials are reviewing options to fill the open date.

The Columbus street race began in 1985. However, the race was reportedly deeply in debt, and the Columbus City Council Thursday voted down a request by the promoters for a $350,000 debt reduction bond 7 to 0.