No more Indy. Now where?

Does anyone have access to the TV audience numbers for the various GPs? I'd like to see a comparison of the viewers who watched the USGP versus an average of all other GPs. How popular is the USGP outside of the USA?

As for an alternate venue, the standard street course in Las Vegas or anywhere is the last thing F1 needs. If there is to be a new course it should enable passing or at least racing. One Monaco is enough.

 

The June edition of BusinessF1 magazine has all those numbers for the 2006 season. I don't have it with me, but I can look it up this weekend.

On average the USGP is fairly popular because the majority of viewers live in Europe and the USGP (as well as the Braziliand and Canadian GP) falls into prime time.

So simply based on TV audiences the USGP is for instance a lot more popular than the Suzuka GP. However would these events be held at reverse times, I'm sure more folks would tune in to watch the Japanese GP. Which leads back to Bernie's idea of night races for the Asian/Pacific GPs.

 

FYI,years ago the Indy 500 oval race was on the F1 calendar

 

Right, but I think Husker is looking for F1 cars to become trailrated as well.

 

True and none of the F1 teams ever participated in any serious way. Ferrari tried a couple of times with its hugely uncompetitive Indycar and failed miserably.

 

I say a true slice of Americana;
Any Walmart parking lot. I'll help set up the cones

Is it just me or does Bernie look like a Toad with a wig ?

 

David what a splendid idea. Think of all the immenities already in place . . . souveniers; food concession; beer & wine; fuel pumps; lawn and garden center for tables, umbrellas, chairs; pits and rv parking already striped, 24 hour service.....great!

Carol

 

When I was at the Indy race they said a decision regarding next year would be made by the middle of July. They are right about the timing. I think it is a shame to have no American event. Indy was thin in terms of attendance. I think that has something to do with the '05 lack of racing. I went to the '00,01,and '07 races, the first and last. I hope we get another race in the future. I had a great time this year and enjoyed the event a lot more than I did in the first two years.

 

Lets Tailgate !
But were going to need the Ferrari Breadvan.

 

Just curious, how many figures would we be talking about to update Laguna Seca to FIA standards?

 

all CAPS for a reason:

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ AND UNLESS YOU HAVE THE $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ TO HAVE AN EVENT, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE ONE.

PERIOD.

You could have the best and 'prettiest' venue in America, it still all comes back to $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

As I said elsewhere, I don't care for Tony G., but look what HE built at Indy - look at the money HE spent to get F1 there. No, it wasn't a Laguna Seca, or Elkhart Lake or Watkins Glen, but none of those places are capable of having an F1 event. I WISH they were, but they are not, for several reasons.

Will another venue get 150,000 people ? Seriously ?? I doubt it.

The only thing I don't like about american open-wheel racing is everyone drives the same chassis and uses the same motor, ie IROC.
To me, that's the ONLY difference between F1 and american open-wheel racing.

 

Hell, let's have one at Sebring !

I would have loved to see one at Riverside, but....

 

It's not just about upgrading the place, it is also about the nearby logistical infrastructure like a big city with hotel beds, restaurants and an airport.

Basically all the stuff that is missing in Magny Cours...

 

That track is really harsh for F1 cars. They'll probably be bouncing on and off the track all the time...

 

LOL have you seen his daughter........

 

Actually it was not on the "calendar" but the CSI - FIA forerunner alowed points from the 500 to count... so if you look back at the race stats.. you see strange American names that won at Indy, and did not compete anywhere else...

Ferrari did send Ascari and Alfa sent Farina to Indy, but they did not compete well against the Offys....So it was Points instead of the race.

In the 60's Lotus used to sacrifice Monaco for Indy... cause it paid so much!

 

Walmart has the $$$$ to have such an event, and plenty of venues. +1 to the Walmart parking lot idea.

 

Since all it is, is $$$$$, I like the WalMart idea also.

The USGP has gone from racing at one of the Jewels of Motor Racing History, to the F1 REDNECK GP, or whatever the term would be in Europa and a WalMart Parking lot will fit it nicely. Maybe if we can string a series of WM parking lots and the linking roads to each one, we can have the "MILLE MIGLIA OF WALMART!" With FIA Sanction and World Drivers Points.

At this point I don't care if there is a USGP, but the car makers do. It's gonna be interesting to see what happens. The McLaren-Gate, situation and it's ramifications, maybe everybodies "Dirty Laundry," and Tricks, will get an airing out, and find how SLEAZY, the whole business is? I can find other things to spend my money on, and my time doing, than following F1.

Ciao...Paolo

 

Paolo you've come up with the best idea yet - the Mille Miglia of Walmart. The route could be quite interesting depending on which WalMarts are interconnected.

I'm like you, I don't give a rats ass if there's another USGP or not. I too have other things to spend my play money on other than F1 - I'll continue to follow and attend the better racing series that are fan friendly, give you more for your money, have far better racing and are not eliteist. I'll go to Monza again any time for a LeMans Series race over an F1 race there - add to that the FIA-GT races (headed to Spa 24 in two weeks) and ALMS races. May have to attend a DTM race sometime too - huge attendence figures and fan friendly.

I truly feel very sorry for Lewis if he's affected by this - he's merely the driver of the car - get's in, drives it, gives feedback.

Carol

 

As great as F1 cars rocketing down the strip at night sounds in theory, after all the safety walls and barriers went up it wouldn't be nearly as cool. I had a long entry in another thread last night about how Indy never felt that happy to have F1 there and how it's not the place I'd choose to host the rest of the world for F1 due to the lack of attractions. There wasn't a thing to do in the city on the pre-race Saturday this year.

How about Road Atlanta? The owner (Don Panoz) definitely has the money to build more grandstands and bathrooms, it's a beautiful course, and Atlanta has more than enough hotel rooms to handle the influx of people. Sure, it's an hour drive from the city, but with the Olympic pedigree and high-end food and shopping, it ought to attract a strong showing of international guests.

And yes, I am biased...

 

Yes Carol,

This is the tragedy of the whole thing, Lewis Hamilton.

The whole thing is playing out like a Greek Tragedy, in it's effects on Lewis and the WDC of 2007, whomever it will be.

I think Bernie, was politely told by Tony George, to take a walk, this year, but allowed for a 2009 F1 INDY, to be possible, if agreement can be reached. Bernie, hit the limit with Tony George, in what the MARKET is willing to bear for F1. With all the investment that has been put into the track for F1 Race and Teams, by the George Family, and Bernie throwing CRUMBS to Tony, for the use of the Track, the USA MARKET, won't and cannot bear the PRICE! Let him go to China, India and the Arab World, where I'm sure he will get his price and new tracks and facilities. Good Luck and BYE, Bernie!

Tony George said, "ENOUGH!"

Ciao...Paolo

 

I believe Tony made a mistake. He hurt his business and hurt US racing.

As long as Tony was covering his variable costs and making some contribution to fixed costs it was economic for him. Also, look at the revenue lost by his town. If his comminity propers he and his business benefit too. It was a bad business decision and a bad sporting decision. He let his ego overide his good judgement and it will cost him, Indianapolis and the US.

 

I would like to see the #'s for the track. Bernie was on TV clearly making the point he is going where the money is. Indy may have lost money on the event based on ticket sales. The town is doing business but it was less than overwhelmed.

 

5,000 people at $1,000 per person for lodging, meals, etc. would be $85 million.

At $500 that would be $42.5 million. that's a pretty good chunk to lose for a 3 day event IMVHO.

It may not be alot to some, but most cities in the midwest would kill for that kind of revenue and publicity.

 

Just paid my AMEX. $725. 2 nights and meals downtown.