2007 USGP???

Also a lot of press today concerning the Cart/IRL merger. Tony's been a busy boy.

 

Attendance may be down due to the tire bull**** last year. A lot Europeans come every year and maybe 50% are from over seas. They may no attend either. The whole deal last year turned off everyone. Maybe it was part of the grand plan.

 

Nah. The tire issue is resolved and everybody knows that. Everybody will be back. If anything I'd expect attendance numbers slightly on the rise because of Scott Speed (or the lack thereof).

 

The USGP and F1 are bigger than one screwed up event.

I think the USGP will be around for a while and the attendance will be strong.

The only thing I would change is finding other support races that are a bit more exciting.

Keep the Porsche Cup but loose the other two events. YAWN

Replace them with bringing back the Ferrari Challenge and adding something like school bus racing where people do a lot of crashing and busses catching on fire while doing 100MPH down the straight...haha. (kidding)

 

Remember the USGP at Indy the first time around? Ferrari Challenge and Historic F1 race cars. Plus all teams had huge tents with F1 showcars and souvenirs. Outside the stadium tons of memorabilia vendors.

Now THAT was an event worth going to.

 

i love school bus racing when they chain two buses together, awesome!!! trailer racing is also quite amusing. the historics were great. i think access to the cars really enhances the experience. that's one of the things the canadian gp does well. the extra curricular activites at the track in indy, the museum withstanding, are lame.

 

two words - Laguna Seca

 

I thought it was particularly interesting that Tony George said he will be meeting with MR. Ecclestone and (not Bernie) and he also said he should be in sometime next weekend! Well I would hope so since that is the GP weekend. But remember Big B's statement in F1 Magazine, "I don't know why F1 is in the US because I don't know what F1 ever got from the US." Hey Mr. B, conversely speaking what did the US ever get from F1? Last year we got the SHAFT!
It will be interesting to see how many people show up this year, I suspect the hardcore group of about 110 to 125K people. Tony is not happy that the race is this close to the Indy 500 because it takes a while to clean up and make ready. I believe he liked in much better in September. Further Joie Chitwood's letter to ticket holders did not bear well for another race at the IMS. I felt his attitude was distinctively negative
It is only a few days off and we shall see. If it is a good race then maybe, if it is a POS then adios F1.

 

ditto i loved it

 

Not yet, but getting there. Have ya seen what they've done with the place lately?

 

I would agree this is a good number. They just did 119K at Montreal. If Tony expects more people than that, it might be an unrealistic expectation. He also should be happy with having the race in conjunction with a holiday such as the 4th of July.

 

From a European perspective the USGP must be heaven: Cheap dollar, ridiculously cheap entrance tickets, top notch facilites and the lure of Indianapolis. About the only downside is the Mickey Mouse track.

Too bad the race falls right in the midst of the World Cup. But that won't be an issue next year.

PS: I paid $ 20 for a ticket to see qualifying. This has got to be the cheapest way to watch F1 anywhere in the world (not counting test sessions).

 

Andreas, I am one of your biggest fans and respect your usually insightful comments. But "the lure of Indianapolis?" I have to draw the line. Do you have a girlfriend there?

 

Thanks.

No girlfriend, but I would recommend a visit to Classy Chassis. Only because of the cars of course.

Seriously, growing up in Europe the one thing you hear about motorsports in the US is the Indy 500. By now with rise of NASCAR probably similar things could be said about the Daytona 500 but I digress.

When I walked into the speedway for the first time, I got chills down my spine. It is that moment when you realize a life long dream has been achieved, you have come to Mecca.

Obviously the USGP isn't the Indy 500, but still the Europeans know they walk on holy ground when they enter the track. I'm not just making this up, just read a European race review. The reporters know where they are. Winning the USGP at Indy is a special cap in the feather. Which is quite ironic: Two of the racingwise dumbest tracks in the calendar (Indy and Monaco) get the most admiration. But that's what tradition does to you.

 

Okay. So you meant Indianapolis the track, not the city. I can agree with that; standing on the front straight and seeing the enormity of the place can be a humbling experience for a motorsports fan.

 

Right, not the city. But speaking of which: That still isn't too shabby. They have come a long way and for Euro standards it is a big friggin town with high rises. Not Chicago, not NY, but definitely says "USA" for what its worth.

 

I think the Indy circuit is great to the fans - it is inexpensive, you can easily walk about the entire circuit unhindered on Friday, Saturday - try doing that at Suzuka or Sepang.

Citywise there isn't much to speak of. But to me it isn't a big deal as I spend every possible hour on the circuit tramping about not to mention visiting the various souvenier stores in and around the circuit - I normally head over to a ribs joint for dinner and then rest my weary bones in my hotel room.

 

I walked into Indy and was also in awe. I could not believe they were going into a 90 deg. turn that was almost flat at that speed. And then I saw Mark Dismore hit the concrete pit entrance wall from 20 feet away, and it really sank in that you could get killed doing this.

I also don't understand the criticism of Downtown Indy. A lot of nice restaurants, bars, hotels. The F-Chat group is going to Nicky Blaines and it's as nice a bar as you would find anywhere. I'm mean come on, I'm going to the races, The place dose not have to remind me of Chicago or Manhattan. I think some people may have some preconceived notion of venturing into the Midwest.

 

All,

I have to say that the Indy 500 has lost some of the attraction for me since the CART/IRL split. Hopefully they will merge and I can again watch some decent open wheel racing in the states.

I have heard/read that another option would be to hold the USGP in Vegas and that Steve Wynn was going to get involved, to point of building a replica track of Watkins Glen in the desert... Having gone to races at Indy for the last few years (luckily my wife is also into F1 and we go to one North American race and on off the continent every year) it's not my favorite place to go. I think the track is great, the people of Indiana are awesome, good resturants, but something about paying $500 bucks for a plane ticket to Indiana this year is just wrong.... Anyone else heard any rumors of a Vegas USGP???

 

Yes, that's when they lost me too.

Considering that Vegas has the cheapest destination airfare (and Orlando is a close second) it would seem likely as a location for a race. But the airfare is cheap for a reason; they want you in the casinos losing money to the house. So if there is a race in Vegas, I would find it difficult to believe they will have an interesting circuit out in the hills somewhere. Having said that, others have mentioned a race in Vegas too so let's see what develops. All I know is that the last time they did this it was a joke; with a circuit in the parking lot.

 

Miller, Salt Lake City.

again, a ways off from FIA homolagation, but it has potential.

 

I agree and have not been to the 500 since the split in 95. Take out the Mickey Mouse turn and unite open wheel in the US. I love Vegas but I don't know about going there to a race. I'd be up all damm night and be in a daze the next day. And if you are at a racetrack in Vegas at 9:AM, you're not doing Vegas right.

 

I have said it before and I say it again: The track layout for the USGP could actually be quite amazing. It'll never be Spa, but it sure as hell could beat other places like Hockenheim etc. All they needed to do is sacrifice parts of the golf course (which only plays a few holes inside the oval anyway) and redo the inner section. The golf course would even allow for some limited elevation changes and additional stands.

I think the original plans were to use Indy 500 turn 4 as well and use more of the golf course at a later stage, but it never got to this point. Maybe if Tony and Bernie find each other and sign a longer term deal, Tony might call up the bulldozers again? We can dream.