Race Promoter Wants ‘New York 200’ to Roar Past Trade Center

George Willig scaled them, tightrope walker Phillippe Petit crossed between them. Now, a promoter wants to send Michael Andretti, Danny Sullivan and friends racing around the World Trade Center’s twin towers.

The vast office complex is the hub of the proposed New York 200, an Indy 500-style auto race that would be run on the notoriously bumpy and congested streets of the financial district.

“At first blush, it sounds absurd,” admits Matthew Scheckner, director of the city’s Sports Commission and an advocate of the race. “People are worried that Mario Andretti’s going to be shaking the orange juice out of their glass in the morning.”

At second blush, it still sounds absurd.

For three days in July, a 1.3-mile course would be roped off around the city’s two tallest buildings. Streets where traffic usually crawls--partly because there are so many potholes, partly because there are so many vehicles--would be taken over by about 30 Indianapolis 500-class race cars moving at up to 220 m.p.h.

But earlier this month, enticed by the promoter’s promise of funds for neighborhood projects, a community planning board endorsed the race, which has been run in recent years in New Jersey’s Meadowlands.

The promoter, Frank Yodice of Motormarketing International, admits it will take some work to convert the World Trade Center into a race track. Streets must be graded and paved, and safety walls and fences installed.

Also, the race must be approved by other city officials, including the mayor.