I-500 Breaks Ground on New Operations Facility

SAULT STE. MARIE – Ground was broken Monday morning in Sault Ste. Marie for a project years in the making.

I-500 board members and local dignitaries were on hand for the groundbreaking of a new multi-purpose building on the racetrack grounds.

The new building replaces one that was condemned due to weather and houses the I-500 office, race control, broadcast rooms, meeting rooms and VIP suites.

The $200,000 project is funded through private donors, grants and local banks.

"The fact that this building goes up, as it is, puts us at a different level in the professional racing arena,” I-500 chairman Ric Federau said. “It gives us something to say we’re proud of. We have race control here, we have everything that every other race venue has."

Federau says construction on the building will be completed in time for the 49th running of the I-500 next January.