INDIANAPOLIS — Former Indianapolis Motor Speedway chief Tony George says he rejected a request to remain the CEO of the Indy Racing League because it would have created an "unnecessary" layer of bureaucracy.

In his first public comment since being ousted last week from the family-owned corporation, George said Friday that it would not be productive to have him leading the IRL and reporting to new Speedway president Jeffrey Belskus.

George says he has been assured by his mother, the chairwoman of the Speedway board, that no reduction in support for the Indianapolis 500 or the IRL was anticipated.

George had been the speedway's president for 20 years and formed the IRL in 1994. His statement was posted on the Web site of the Vision Racing IRL team he owns.