Why is the USGP at Indy? | Page 2 | FerrariChat

Why is the USGP at Indy?

Discussion in 'F1' started by Doody, Nov 22, 2003.

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  1. tatcat

    tatcat F1 World Champ
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    Sep 3, 2001
    10,968
    panama city beach FL
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    rick c

    the panoz is a monster. last year, at the now defunct dc alms race we were next to the panoz pits when the fired up that bear. it like to knocked you down. the sound reminded me of a P 51 fighter plane. the luodest i've had was at montreal at casino turn one of the saubers rapped his throttle coming out of the turn and banged my right ear so bad i couldn't hear for a week. cool!!
     
  2. tuttebenne

    tuttebenne F1 Rookie

    Mar 26, 2003
    3,189
    Bay Shore, NY
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    Andy
    Challenge

    Don't wait for the Glen to have an f1 race - or for anyplace else for that matter. Head up to Montreal for the GP in June. Its seven hours driving normally out of New York so you might be 11 hours or so away?

    I've been to Indy and there's no comparison between it and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. And the surrounding city is a great place to spend the "off-hours".

    Andy
     
  3. TCM

    TCM Formula Junior

    Nov 10, 2003
    552
    Tyngsborough, MA
    I agree with many of the above statements. I have never been to Indy but the infield track stinks IMHO. No personality whatsoever besides for the long straight. Montreal is a wonderful track. Very clean and isolated from the city but yet provides great seating and a great layout for the course. City is wonderful, people are friendly, good nightlife and good conversion rate.

    tatcat:

    Same thing happned to me at Montreal except it was MS on qualifying day! No earplugs and that V10 going full song about 30 feet from my rigth ear. Holy sh*t, I could not hear for a couple hours. Great experience though!!
     
  4. Amir

    Amir Formula Junior

    Feb 15, 2003
    687
    TX
    I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Indy, and can't wait to attend the Bahrain race next year.

    Although it was my first f1 race, I thought it served well as an F1 circuit.

    TCM: I agree with you. Those f1 cars are rediculously loud, especially when you are less than 3 feet away. Here's a quick vid from Indy.

    right click save as http://65.215.193.100/MVI_0111.avi
     
  5. Bill Sawyer

    Bill Sawyer Formula 3

    Feb 26, 2002
    2,108
    Georgia
    1. Indy is the only venue in the USA that is willing to pay Bernie what he demands.
    2. Grand Prix races LOSE money. Most promoters expect to make a profit. See 1. above.
    3. Tony George's ego is nearly as large as Bernie's.
    4. Bernie won't establish a race in an area that doesn't have decent accomodations. That's why he left Watkins Glen and why they will never return there. Even so, he stays in Chicago and helicopters to the track.

    Most new GPs are awarded to areas that want to make an impact on the world stage and are willing to pay dearly for the honor. Most American cities are not as desperate as third world countries like Malaysia and Dubai. Certainly, San Francisco doesn't need the publicity. Laguna Seca had many discussions with Bernie, but they are a non-profit that donates it's proceeds to charity. How do they explain to their constituents that no donations will be forthcoming this year because they had to pay untold millions to a British billionaire?
     
  6. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    I agree with every single point you have Bill.

    So the question should no longer be why Indy, but how could we make the USGP at Indy better?

    My suggestions:

    - Continue on the straight and use Indy turn 4 as well, then come to the infield.
    - Use the land of the golf course with its slight elevation changes for a more elaborate infield. Maybe even include an overpass to make the most out of a given space.
    - Add grandstands to the infield (which they actually will do in 2004, at least two, it is a start).
    - Run some US based race formula before the GP. No, not the Porsches or the Challenge cars, something cool like Formula Dodge, Atlantic, you name it.
     
  7. 96impalaSS

    96impalaSS F1 Rookie

    Dec 8, 2003
    3,524
    Hell
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    Chris
    im just glad its held in my own state.
     
  8. parkerfe

    parkerfe F1 World Champ

    Sep 4, 2001
    12,887
    Cumming, Georgia
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    Franklin E. Parker
    Doody, Indy is stellar because of its Indycar open wheel races including the Indy 500, not because of NASCAR. NASCAR has only started racing at Indy a few years ago. In fact, Indy had an F1 race on its oval for years until sometime in the early 1960s I believe. Can you imagine modern F1 cars racing around that oval ? That would be GREAT ! I do not know any where else that would be better for a sole F1 race in the USA other than at Indy. A second race in Vegas would be nice for gambling I suppose.
     
  9. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    F1 at Indy in the oval, now that would rock! Not on this Mickey Mouse course they use now.

    It really is a bit of a poseur race: They thrive on Indy's great reputation, but they really don't drive there and use that silly infield instead. What a pity. Kinda like going to Spa, but only track the private course and thereby leaving out Eau Rouge.
     
  10. beast

    beast F1 World Champ

    May 31, 2003
    11,479
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    Rob Guess
    Andreas;

    I agree that most of the infield section is a joke at Indy The part about indy is being in section H and see the cars come down from 200+ to under 70 in less than 74 meters and then throw the cars into turn 1. that is a sight in itself. Perhaps this year maybe Tony George can get a mock race on sundy between some IRL runners and F1 test drivers on the oval to see the difference between the two formulas are.

    Just my 2 cents worth

    Rob Guess "The Other Rob"
     
  11. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    I'm still grumpy from that boring experience. NO, not the F1 race, that was great. But all the time I spent on my seat from 9am to 1pm while NOTHING was going on. Agreed, that is partly Ecclestone's fault. But also partly Tony's who didn't allow for Porsches or Challenge cars before it.

    It reminded me of the Brazilian GP I once went to. Absolutely no supporting race or show. You just sit there and wait and wait and wait.
     
  12. pizzadude

    pizzadude Formula 3

    Feb 20, 2001
    1,265
    Indianapolis, IN
    Yes it is boring before the race. Thats why I just get to my seat around 12:15 or so. After being to all four F1 races and about 15 Indy 500s I am done getting there super early and just sitting.
     
  13. beast

    beast F1 World Champ

    May 31, 2003
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    Andreas;

    I agree that there needs more going on on sunday. Sunday is quite boring and the worse part is if your friends are all sitting in different sections you have to call them on a cell phone to meet them instead of being allowed into the stands to talk to them.

    Maybe this year i will take my putter and some golf balls with myself to the track and practice on the infield while i am waiting for the race to begin :D

    Perhaps this year we can have the first ever FerrariChat Putting championship on sunday.
     
  14. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Perhaps this year I might actually find the FerrariChat dinner. Hell, yes, my GPS will lead the way.
    :)
     
  15. beast

    beast F1 World Champ

    May 31, 2003
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    You did miss one hell of a dinner. the USGP 03 weekend perhaps was the highlight of 2003 for myself :)
     
  16. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Hmm, makes me wonder what my Ferrari highlight of 2003 was? Easy answer: Goodwood Festival of Speed, hanging in the Ferrari pit area and listening to the stories from Phil Hill and Jacky Ickx.
     
  17. beast

    beast F1 World Champ

    May 31, 2003
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    Andreas;

    That sounds like the highlight of a life time there :)
     
  18. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    It was darn good. After all 2003 was a very good F year for me: Aside from driving and tracking my car, I visited the USGP, the Imola GP and the factory. But nothing beats a sunny day at Goodwood.
     
  19. beast

    beast F1 World Champ

    May 31, 2003
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    I can think of one but i seriously doubt that Jean Todt will Can MS and give myself his ride :D

    About the only thing i can think of that would be a topper to your year would be going to every GP of the year with full paddock access ;)
     
  20. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Doesn't even have to be the full season. ANY paddock access to a F1 race beats the cake. I got very close to it last year, maybe this year...
     
  21. tuttebenne

    tuttebenne F1 Rookie

    Mar 26, 2003
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    Regarding the Sunday Morning boredom, at least at the Canadian GP they run a Ferrari Challenge event. Maybe this year the P cars will run as well?

    How about a spec car race for all the team test drivers? They usually are already at the events with nothing to do and it would give them a way to keep the competitive juices flowing. Thoughts?

    Andy
     
  22. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Actually Bernie once had the idea/intention to buy up CART to use it as a show race before the GPs. I would have loved that idea, but obviously it didn't happen. It would have been a win/win: F1 has something before its own races and CART a huge audience already interested in single seater open wheel competition. Alas.
     
  23. BrentC

    BrentC Formula Junior

    Aug 13, 2003
    278
    I was actually contacted several years ago by phone to participate in a survey on a USGP and where it should be held. I normally don't answer phone surveys, but when the lady said they were researching an F1 USGP, my curiosity got the better of me. At the time they were considering venues on the east and west coasts, and asked a lot of questions about how much you'd be willing to pay to attend, how far you would be willing to travel, etc. At the time I wasn't optimistic it would really happen, but I cast my vote for Indy because I live in the Midwest. Ironically, I've never been to the race there, though. I have been to the Canadian GP in Montreal and I loved it.
     

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