No more Indy. Now where?

Ian, I have been to Vegas 3 times and love the place! I am not a gambler I hasten to add, just the buzz of the place it's so over the top compared to little Britain.
Adding the fact that F1 is the sport I love it would make the 10hr flight feel like a walk in the park. It wouldnt matter to me what time of day, I'd probably still be jet lagged anyway... I have never been to Indy, the track I thought was ok but not one of my favourites. I go to Spanish GP most yrs but Vegas would be a cert for me, so much more to do there.

See you there then! Cheers Steve.

 

I've been to Vegas three times myself and I'm not a gambler either. The town just has so much to offer. It's where I drove my first Ferrari. Actually three: 348, 355 and TR rented on 3 consecutive days.

 

they already have a Ferrari Store in Vegas too.

 

Vegas isn't just for gamblers anymore. That's the way it was back in the day before big corporations starting buying land and building family-friendly casinos. There's a lot of stuff to do there that isn't gambling related (other than the fact that gambling supports that stuff monetarily). It's been a long time since I was in Vegas, but I went when I was 11 and still had fun so families can find stuff to do.

 

Why not Bristol? Can't the F1 cars do a roundy-round once a year?

 

If this thread ever makes it to the Las Vegas Tourist Bureau, it sure looks that way

Further comments to follow

 

Thats settled it I am going anyway ,Hoverdam on that glass walkway gotta try that LOL

 

if its in Vegas next year count me in

 

Steve, firstly, many thx for the response.

And I guess that's it - You either love it or you "hate" it - Having been there ~half a dozen times (on someone elses dime), I guess I fall into the latter group.

BTW, as an ex-pat Brit Indy was *much* more appealing to me than Vegas.

So, it's obviously not the "night race" thing that's attracting you

Cheers,
Ian

 

I hope it moves to Vegas, thats the only way I could ever convince the wife to go!

 

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No probs liking the chat ,
Yes I suppose it is a love or hate place.

It has been held there before in a car park I think ..Andreas will no doubt Know the facts or put me straight ,so with that in mind they will have some knowledge on how to stage it I should think. As regards to the night racing I cant think of a better place for it but thats just my opinion .I cant comment on Indy as I have never been I am sure you are right as a race track although I hope you didnt go when they had that tyre issue. That would have been a nightmare if I,d gone to that one..

 

Your wish is my command:

1980 and 1981 in the parking lot of the Cesar's palace hotel.

But mind you, a "parking lot" of US and Las Vegas proportions it was.

 

Thank you

 

It makes me sad to see the posts about where next for the USGP . . . Ok, I realize "it is what it is" and Indy is history for F1 (for now).

Sure, its just a race and there are other venues in the US that have possibilities. I could easily join in and debate the pros and cons of Vegas and the other places, but for our family, the USGP at Indy was one of the ties that keeps us getting together as our kids get older. It was our family reunion. It was a place we could easily get to in the motorhome for the weekend and hook up with the kids for 3 or 4 days and have some of the best times in memory. We go to the 500 - but the USGP at Indy was clearly different - special - and the event we all truly looked forward to. I could go on and on.

I really don't know who to be pissed at, Tony or Bernie, but at this point it doesn't matter.

Can we go to Canada, Vegas, or the Glen? Of course, I've been to those places before. But Indy was a special place for F1 and our family - we've been to them all. What else can I say. . . . . . .

Unfortunately business is business and doesn't take this "soft stuff" into consideration. I should know.

Again, what else can I say . . . . this is a sad day for me.

 

USGP needs to be on a true road course....not some crap street in Vegas. But then, it's really only about the money, isn't it? Maybe they can get Steve Wynn to be the Grand Marshal......

Jack

 

everyone seems to be missing the point here. the problem is not the track it's the money. all the speculation of which would be the best track for the race is moot. the real question is who will pony up bernie's blood money. if tony george is so dumb where will they find a genius to fork over umteen millions for something that has proven to be a losing proposition. i fear we will won't see another usgp for quite a while. spain sounds good for '08.

 

I went to the USGP and the Indy 500 this year. The crowd at F1 was comparatively thin. I doubt IMS will miss the USGP too bad if it was a matter of ponying up absurd millions for the least popular of the three big IMS races...

 

I was really dissapointed reading the email I got today from IMS. The only other places I could imagine F1 going are Vegas or Miami, but I doubt there will even be a USGP next year.


*Sighs*

 

It probably does go to his pocket. He walked by me in the Conrad Hotel on quali day of the USGP. He totally ignored all the autograph requests, etc, while even Flavio stopped to shake my hand. Needless to say, Bernie isn't my favorite person in the world.

Argh...

 

I definitely agree with you that the track is a moot point in the equation. It seems that I read somewhere that the LAS promoters were actually asking Bernie to pay them instead of vice-versa which is not his customary business practice. Seems like the "kiss of death" to me. Perhaps one could speculate that early on the USGP was doomed and Valencia is it's replacement. It makes sense - look at the attendance figure for Barcelona this year (140,300) in comparison to the USGP.

Carol

 

As well as Vegas, F1 has also tried and failed at Dallas, Long Beach, Detroit and Phoenix. Before the Glen or the street circuits, it was at Sebring in '59 and Riverside in '60 - they were both failures too, where more of the drivers knew the spectators' names than vice-versa...............

You're lucky that none of the US circuits except Indy meets the modern F1 standard, i.e. those horrible soulless Tilkedromes - yours have character and enough danger that people don't do the stupid 'I'm immortal' moves seen in F1.

Why should anyone put any more money in BCE's back pocket? He's over 70 and can't take it with him...........

If the UK loses the British GP in it's current form, fine - I'd rather Silverstone stays as a motor-racing circuit than a 'facility' like China, used once a year.

Paul M (crusty old f@rt and proud of it!)

 

Your comparison is flawed:
a) USGP 07 did very well, was the second best in its history and nearly reached the Barcelona figures you post
b) Barcelona is exceptional because of Alonso being 2x WDC, before he was a star, Barcelona's figures were way below the USGP figures
c) Valencia isn't the issue, since it is not even certain now that Alinghi won, but all the other Asian countries create pressure

The real argument however is, that the USGP attendance figures would be a LOT lower than what they were if they'd charge the prices any other GP charges. The USGP tickets are hugely discounted, so the reality would be more like 50,000 or less compared to 100,000 spectators in Europe.