Look at Bernie's comment at the end of this from F1-live today. If they come back it apparently won't be Indy. If not, then where? North America's absence from the Formula One calendar is the teams' fault, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone insists. While the FOTA alliance is pushing hard for a return to the crucial American market, Ecclestone says the fact races in Canada and the United States failed was because of the position of the teams. "The teams wanted too much money to race there. That was the problem," the 78-year-old billionaire said in an interview with Germany's SID news agency. He suggests that, because the stumbling block is money, returning to North America is theoretically only a commercial matter. "We are talking," the Briton revealed, "but for the moment the teams do not want any more than 17 races." Ecclestone confirmed, however, that negotiations to reinstate the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis are not taking place. "We would go elsewhere," he said.
I never actually liked Indianapolis as a track but even that would be better than no USGP. I just wish they'd hurry up about it, Bull Sh*t that non of the teams don't want more than 17 races a year.
Hold it in St Pete Florida, like the St Pete GP, if Tampa has enough hotel rooms to handle the Super Bowl, I think it can handle a F1 race.
Vegas, Baby! - At night, under the lights!....... They've got the $ and the infrastructure. Don't use a friggin' parking lot like last time though - Put the main straight down the strip! Mad Max can even get his ass whipped while there Cheers, Ian
+1 He's trying to make the teams out as the bad guys. The "teams" want more money for those races? Last time I checked the was the one who negotiated with the tracks and the teams are paid a set amount from him. Have the race in Long Beach. Rich F1 history, great looking backdrop, easy to get to from LA and San Diego and most importantly, it's close to me. If Bernie can play the self interest game so can I.
What? When did this happen? I've got to go dig out my Rand-McNally, I'm pretty sure that isn't right... Montreal is in upstate New York.
Road America! Europeans like to camp! Nobody's buying RV's now anyways - how about shipping a ton of 'em up there and renting them out? Or downtown Chicago - I'd rather have F1 than the Olympics any day!!!
LOL!!! i have friends in VT... they'd be insulted! Ok, so how about we move the USA F1 GO to a REALLT bad neighborhood (secretly). Then tell the locals at the very last minute befoe the start of the race those cars have $20k rims, $$$$$ bodywork, etc. You KNOW the drivers would be fast THAT race Ok, seriously. i still love Watkins Glenn.
Vegas. That is where they are most likely to make money. People will come and pay even if they don't understand anything about F1. Gambling, prostitutes and the jetset will be the main attraction to most. Just like in Monaco.
While I'm sure he is shooting some kind of an angle, there is probably some truth to what he is saying. The teams are paid some amount of travel money for the overseas races. They probably wanted more of their expenses paid then Bernie was willing to cough up. The two NA races paid some of the lowest fees to Bernie of any of the races and thus he couldn't afford to pay them more.
I say Vegas too but I'm partial because I live there. But, it's not that easy. The strip would be a terrible place to run... there's no place to put the pits, traffic would have to be shut down and baracades put up, there's no place for stands, and narrow streets turn at only 90 degrees. Also, the Casino's won't want to stop pedistrian and car traffic from getting in and out. A lot of the hotels have their main entrances from LV Boulevard. Non F-1 fans might actually avoid going that weekend just to avoid the mess. So, on balance, it may not increase toursism. So, if it's not along the strip, the rest of the city isn't nearly as interesting, romantic, or sexy. On the plus side, certainly the crowds would be huge from just the normal visitor traffic Vegas gets but also and the closeness of LA, San Diego, and San Francisco, not to mention Phoenix and Denver. For the city, it would be a great event if they could find a way to pull it off. And, a night race would be perfect for European TV ratings (and cooler weather) but the cost of putting up the lights would be extreme. I can't see it happening.
This topic keeps cropping up every 6 months or so. The only place an F1 race will take place inthe USA is Indianpolis. If they can not up with the money for the race, already having an approved facility, who else has the money to do so anywhere else? There is not one race circuit in the USA that would meet FIA standards, and Bernie standards, for a US Grand Prix. This is Bernie negotiating. If its not at Indy, there will not be a USGP that lasts more than one year anywhere else.
for selfish reasons... Road Atlanta... nice city, good amenities, but the track would need huge FIA improvments... not likely to happen. For nostalga - Watkins Glenn. I think either Long Beach or Vegas would make the most sense.
