I intentionally limited my comment to the grandstands BTW My best ***** came from Valhalla (N.Y.) Gadzooks the term for female dog gets censored. Well life's a *****
To be honest, with the excellent TV coverage, several cameras posted at strategic locations on the track, plus onboard cameras and expert commentary, there is nowhere I would prefer to be but in front of a TV set to watch a GP. I used to attend some European GPs in the past when TV coverage was mediocre but nowadays, it's far better in front of the box for me!! For the life of me, I couldn't justify to spend time and money to travel in several locations every year to watch a handful of GPs, put up with aeroports, airlines, luggagge checks, queuing up, transfer to the hotel queing up, sitting in a noisy atmosphere for hours, the crowd, watching just a portion of the track, blah, blah, blah.... Thanks but no thanks. I watch my motor sport on TV now!
Maybe you meet more interesting new people in front of your TV than I do. The practices, qualifying and race are there to offer some rest from the hectic schedule of the race weekend. My fondest memory from the last Phoenix GP is that I had to hold up some college girl in high heels while she was using the urinal.
Can't decide if you're arguing that Orlando fits F1 or not. However, there are lots of interesting things for race fans to do within an hour or two of driving of Orlando, if they aren't interested in amusement parks. Kennedy Space Center fits and is very interesting. The largest Harley Dealership is adjacent to I-95 in Daytona and is worth an hour, even if you are not into bikes, because of the displays of old bikes, art work, and selection of bikes. The auto museum in Saratoga is a winner and both coasts offer beaches galore. Despite the fact that I can timeshare it there and would love to see it there, I don't think its the best location because of the weather in June. Worse is Las Vegas, L.A., Texas, and Arizona. The idea is to get the Canadian and U.S. GPs on back to back weekends and you therefore have to match the weather (okay, you don't have to, but it is desirable) and the location to some degree. My pick is a location within a reasonable day's drive of Montreal so a person could fly in to Montreal, attend the race, vacation for a few days, attend the U.S. GP and drive back to Montreal, turn in the rental car and fly home. With race ticket prices so much more reasonable than in Europe, this makes a nice package for the real fan. Having said that, I don't think a new course is going to come along soon, so Indy is the most likely location in the short term.
Hammer meets nail. As much as I dislike being shoved around by a crowd of 100k, it is great to meet folks in every bar and restaurant that follows the same passion. One of my fav moments of every GP weekend/travel is raceday morning, having breakfast in the hotel: I'm normally dressed in my team's/driver's regalia and as I enter the breakfast room at some ungodly early hour for a Sunday there are already lots of people there all dressed up in their teams/driver's fatigues. It's like going to a Medieval tournament. It is sortof a "coming out" party: The day before you meet the folks in the elevator in civil clothing and you don't even know whether they're a fan or not (sometimes the lanyard around the neck is a dead giveaway). Then come Sunday morning it is time to reveal your liaison. I remember catching a ride with a bus of Swiss from the hotel to the track. I was the only in red, everybody else was in dark blue. I teased them, that why bother going to the race since Sauber will just have the regular DNFs. Oh boy, did I get a (friendly) earful back. USGP was the best of course since we had a lot of FChatters getting together. Montreal is a close 2nd.
I'm cheap. I have a collection of official Team Finland hockey jerseys and exact replicas in lightweight materials. I just take one and put my favorite driver's number and name in the back. It has led to some interesting encounters, not least in Montreal due to the very controversial tenure of Saku Koivu. Some other places, people have told me things like "Benetton's not racing any more."
Exactly. To me a race weekend is a party weekend, not a family vacation. But I recognize that I might be in the minority.
Thats the thing, it cost so much more today to go to a F-1 race, but you really are just getting the same old thing. Back in the days late 70's to early 90's you could actually walk around most tracks and see the different corners even if you did not have a special pass... but now its all grand stand seats, and you cant see or get close to anything. I was very privlidged to have been to a lot of the classic european circuits, and to me there is just nothing else better than being up close behind the barrier watching the cars. if you stand out side and just up the hill from eau rouge you know what i mean, its just crazy how fast and tight the cars were back then. At becketts Silverstone, amazing car control, and the noise is unbeleivable. Lesmos at Monza - same thing seeing the cars come in and shoot thru them - and the track is so narrow as well! Today even if you have an FIA gold pass you really cant get out on the track any more, because there is nothing to see, except huge runoff, and cement barriers. TV is the best place or from the Paddock Club - for $5000 per day. Nuts!!!!
Yeah, I'm cheap too. When I say I dress up in team's regalia, it really is more like some old Ferrari shirt. The only driver specific outfit I have is an Alonso shirt and hat from his Renault days and I bought that to annoy my Ferrari buddies. I dont have any data to proove either way, but my feeling is, that you are in the minority. Looking at the crowd at the races and particularly at the hotels and restaurant of GP towns, I think the majority of fans are men and they come with their wifes or girlfriends. Those might or might not come to the race and expect some more than "just" a race. Coming from the US a GP trip in Europe costs me literally thousands of dollars for my wife and me. It'd be a waste to only do a GP, so we normally wrap it into a vacation. That's the main reason we haven't been yet to rural Spa or Nuerburgring but done already all the city GPs. Even if they aren't as interesting from a racing perspective alone. Unfortunately you are right. In fact it was still good to about the mid nineties. That's when Bernie cut out all the fun and installed the Nazi rules that you can only enter a gate that takes you straight to your seat and you can't go anywhere else. I remember back in the mid eighties at the Monaco GP where I was watching the cars every session from a different location. That was fun. Once I was invited to the paddock club and it is like having travelled to another planet. Yes, the price is nuts, but boy do they pamper you there: Access to the drivers, access to the teams and the pits, you name it. Stuff that comes for free at ALMS or NASCAR. Which is why I have a sliver of hope that once Bernie croaks, this trend might get reversed.
I like Indy. I always had a great experience. The town good enough for the weekend, tons of bars and restaurants, easy access. I like how you can access just about the entire track from any vantage point. The musiem is cool. They reconfigured the track for Moto GP so it will be completely different if they run it counter-clockwise.
Latest from the Indianapolis Business Journal: http://www.ibj.com/george-courting-f1-again-but-maybe-not-for-indy/PARAMS/article/19506 George courting F1 again, but maybe not for Indy Tony George is trying to bring Formula One racing back to the United Statesbut not necessarily to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. George, who was IMS and Indy Racing League chairman until last June, was in China for several days earlier this month to attend F1s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai April 18 at the invitation of F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. While there, George met at length with Ecclestone and Zak Brown, founder and CEO of Just Marketing International, an Indianapolis-based motorsports marketing firm that represents several high-level F1 sponsors. Brown and other sources close to F1 said George was there to discuss the series future in the United States, examine Chinas motorsports sponsorship base, and meet with global motorsports sponsors who could potentially back a U.S. F1 race. GeorgeDespite interest from IMS and local tourism officials in bringing the event back to Indianapolis, that might not be Georges intention. The Speedway hosted an F1 race from 2000-2007, but the event left after George and Ecclestone couldnt come to an agreement that made financial sense for both sides. F1 also has hosted a race in six other U.S. cities since 1980. Each failed, primarily for financial reasons. Still, the allure of the growing international racing circuit is undeniable. Certainly, a Formula One race would be a high-profile event that could boost our region on a number of levels, said Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association CEO Don Welsh. The international draw is very appealing. But bringing a U.S. Grand Prix to New York is Ecclestones No. 1 choice in returning the series to American soil, and George could be part of a deal to make that happenand could even play a part in organizing the race, Brown said. Oddly, Chris Pook, former head of IRLs nemesis, Champ Car, has been one of Ecclestones recent lieutenants in establishing an F1 presence in the U.S. market. Jeff Belskus, who replaced George last July as head of the Speedway and IRL, said George was not in China representing the Speedway or IRL. Belskus added that he was not apprised of Georges trip in advance. Belskus said the Speedway would be interested in bringing an F1 race back under the right financial circumstances. Motorsports business experts said Ecclestone would have to lower the F1 sanctioning fee, which ranges from $10 million to $30 million annually, to make the race feasible in Indianapolis. Belskus added that he does not think George would work against Hulman-George business interests. I believe we have a good relationship with Tony, Belskus said. Thats how Id characterize it. The Speedway and IRLs board fired George after last years Indianapolis 500. The boardwhich is composed of Georges three sisters, mother and family attorneyoffered to keep George as head of the IRL, but he declined. George continued to operate his IRL team, Vision Racing, through 2009, but folded it earlier this year, citing lack of sponsorship money. George sunk $30 million of the Hulman-George family fortune into building the 2.6-mile serpentine road course and other infrastructure needed for the USGP at the Speedway. George earlier this year resigned from the board of the Hulman-George family of companies, and protecting and maximizing a return on that investment may no longer be his primary interest. Ecclestone has made it clear that he prefers to put an F1 race in a city larger than Indianapolis. Though there is no formal relationship between George and Ecclestone, George could be a player in the deal to get that done, sources close to the discussions said. Would Tony George love to broker a deal to bring back a U.S. Grand Prix? Sure, said Brown, who confirmed his part in the discussions between George and Ecclestone. Ecclestone has invited George to several F1 races this year and was eager to hear the IRL founders input on bringing F1 back to America, Brown said. Tony has a lot of contacts in motorsports, and he knows how to put on a U.S. Grand Prix, Brown said. I think if theres a role for Tony in trying to bring Formula One back to the U.S., hed be willing to help. Tony and Bernie have a very good relationship, and Tony has a lot of interest in seeing F1 return to the U.S. Given his departure from the Speedway, its difficult to say where Georges interests in F1 lie. Brown said George simply wants to see motorsports of all types flourish domestically. Ecclestone also has an eye on other U.S. markets, including San Francisco, Las Vegas and Miami. Brown said long term, Ecclestone may have interest in holding two races on U.S. soil. F1 sponsors have not been shy about voicing their interest in getting into American markets. A major thrust by F1 into the United States could imperil IRL sponsorships and other business interests, said Tim Frost, president of Frost Motorsports, a Chicago-based motorsports business consultancy. Randy Bernard, the IRLs new CEO under Belskus, didnt discount that notion. Anything in the entertainment world from the NFL to F1 is a competitor, Bernard said. He hedged when asked if bringing F1 back to the IMS would be in the best interest of the financially struggling IRL. If it is good for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the city and the state, who am I to make a formal opinion to the contrary? Bernard said. But if it failed the last time it was here, why would it come back? Brown thinks F1s U.S. growth would help all domestic motorsports. It would only increase the spotlight on the sport of racing, and thats good for the Indy Racing League, Brown said. A return by F1 to Indianapolis would undeniably boost the Speedways image as a premier motorsports venue, Frost said. But if F1 shuns the Speedway for another market, that could damage the facilitys reputation. If the worlds top level of motor racing returned to the U.S. and didnt locate at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, youd really have to scratch your head, Frost said. George, who could not be reached for comment, would appear to have at least some interest in seeing an F1 event run at the track owned by his familys business empire. He still has an ownership stake in the Speedway, Frost said. Im not sure why he would work to bring it anywhere else unless hes simply convinced it wouldnt work there.
Bernie Hack Negotiation 102: If Hack Negotiation 101 fails (floating a story about having a race in NJ and showing a proposed race track), then move on to the next level. Form the appearance of an alliance with the ousted former CEO of the venue you used to have a race at... and after you pay his full fare to go to a few races as an ultra VIP, hopefully the only place you can actually have a race - Indianapolis - will be scared into negotiating a more favorable deal with you. It's funny that Bernie talks about other "venues of interest" like Las Vegas and Miami. Las Vegas would have no interest in anything Bernie can offer them. They get triple the number of people for CES that Bernie can bring them, plus CES doesn't ask them to shut down the center of downtown or expect the city to roll out the red carper, or to pay anything for that matter.... CES pays Vegas, not the other way around. It would be priceless to see Bernie's face when the city told Bernie what they would charge him to have a race there. Miami is no different. Bernie needs the USA a LOT more than the USA needs Bernie. Getting anyone to fund a billion dollar racetrack in this country is a pipe dream. Won't happen. And doesn't need to happen. The track exists - at Indy. Bernie just doesn't like being under their thumb. But that is exactly where he is.
I also get the sense Bernie feels Indianapolis is a bit beneath him. He wants the biggest, swankiest cities in the US to be courting him, not Indy.
Its not at all clear that Bernie wants a USGP enough to cut a practical deal. Until he's willing to make such a deal discussion about location is academic.
Great article; thx for posting. These sentences jump off the page for me: F1 also has hosted a race in six other U.S. cities since 1980. Each failed, primarily for financial reasons.
He got pissed IIRC because Indy didn't roll out the red carpet to the extent he wanted, and I also believe he was staying in Chicago and flying in because he didn't think there were good enough hotels in Indy. So you're right about that. But I think the big swanky cities in the USA don't care about F1. It would be like the NFL demanding that Paris pay them $100mm to have a playoff game there... what does France care about the NFL. It's worse, actually, when you consider how F1 has treated the USA as of late.
I believe he is required to - that was part of what FOTA needed to come back into the FOM fold. I think he personally would like a USGP, but he would rather there be no USGP than to have one that wasn't based on a big important city kissing his butt and paying huge fees. He won't get that, so he'd rather no USGP than one at Indy... but the teams have his feet to the fire
A USGP is not an urgent priority of the teams mid-season. While the big manufacturers would like a US race Bernie is given a lot of freedom of action based on his track record of making everyone rich. Bear in mind that with the large number of GPs on the schedule adding another probably means dumping one. You can bet if that happens Bernie won't be looking to cut one of the new profitable ones. Rather it it would be a European race. Given that choice team support of a USGP may not be that strong.
