F1 doesn't need the US Grand Prix

TexasRaceLady

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F1 doesn't need US GP, says Ecclestone

by Andrew Fagan
June 14, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS, United States (AFP) - Ahead of Sunday's U.S Grand Prix, Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone has warned the owners of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) that he may take the event elsewhere in future years.

Though the IMS administration has expressed an interest in extending their current contract (which expires after Sunday's race) the long-term future of the U.S. Grand Prix is unclear and Ecclestone does not seem overly bothered.

"It is not vital to Formula One to be in the United States," 76-year-old Ecclestone told Britain's Daily Express newspaper.

"There are bigger markets for us to be in, in other parts of the world. We could be in India soon instead of the United States. We don't have a lot of sponsors from the U.S., no American teams and only one driver.

"I get along with (IMS owner) Tony George and I hope we can strike a deal, but we have offers from other places in the U.S. too," he added.

Indianapolis has hosted the U.S Grand Prix since 2000. But with new races in Singapore and Valencia to be introduced next year and with Abu Dhabi, South Korea and now India also due to be added to the calendar, it seems likely that some fixtures will need to be removed.

The Grands Prix in France, England and now the U.S. are all rumored to be under threat.

IMS president Joie Chitwood has confirmed that George is looking to meet with Ecclestone with a view to ending the speculation one way or the other.

"The hope is, from the dialogue we'll have at the event, that we'll have a result, whether it's here or not," Chitwood said.

"I think both parties would like to have some closure so we can let the fans know what's happening. Uncertainty is tough for everybody and more importantly for the fans, from a business standpoint.

"I think now is the time for discussion of a longer term agreement. We don't want to continue doing one-year contracts.

"I can tell you that Tony and Bernie had a phone conversation last week and they plan to have one here this week. We're hoping to discuss the future of the event, but nothing's been resolved yet."
 
Well, this year's race HAS to be better than last year's...
 
They waved that stick at Montreal for the past few years too. Basically, he's demanding money and favours. I think the technical term for it is prostitution.
 
I say let him go, after that fiasco they pulled last season. We don't need that again. What doe's he think this is a Pro Franchise of some sort like Baseball or Football. They've soiled the grounds of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Tony George should have told Eccles to take his circus to the half mile track down the street...
 
C'mon, this isn't anything unusual for Bernie or the series at all. They, then entire circuit believe they are the kings of racing and that anything that the American's have is just secondary. Most of the crowd who pay attention to this series are all outside of the US anyway, and so it's not like they would be mising anything. In fact, I'd wager that most of the F1 fans abroad, which is the majority, would rather they didn't race here. It's too bad and it's things like this that help fester bad feelings for the series here in the US. But with the success of NASCAR here, those elitist, looking down their noses, won't miss a thing.

Just don't let the door hit your butt on the way out!
 
I understand they chose Indy as the US track because of the history, prestige, etc. but if I'm watching F1 race in the US, I'd much rather see them race at one of the road courses here; there are so many to choose from.
 
Berni may want more money and be threatening to leave the US GP but the sponsor will have a Bloody Fit if they pull out of America. Where do you think the sponsor want to advertise their products? The U.S or Singapore? Yeah you guessed it, America. He's been doing the same crap to the British GP, Montreal, France, and even Belgium's famous Spa track that keeps getting taken off and put back on. The guys a**hole but with out him Formula 1 would share the same fate is Champ Car and IRL a split series with split fans and no money or sponsors.

My guess is the race stays on.
 
F1 Won't Return to Indianapolis in 2008

F1 Won't Return to Indianapolis in 2008
Published: 7/12/07, 11:25 AM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Formula One's U.S. Grand Prix won't return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway next year. The race will not be held at Indy in 2008 after eight years at the track, spokesman Ron Green said Thursday. He declined to give other details, but said speedway CEO Tony George would speak later in the day.

George had set Thursday as the deadline for reaching an agreement to extend the contract with F1. Indianapolis, the only American race on the F1 schedule, draws one of the biggest crowds on the circuit.

George, who met with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone last month during U.S. Grand Prix weekend in Indianapolis, had said he was confident a new deal would be reached.

But Ecclestone had repeatedly said F1 did not need to race in the United States. He mentioned the possibility of moving the U.S. Grand Prix to New York or Las Vegas.

The 2.6-mile, 13-turn road course was built inside the speedway's famous oval to attract the F1 race.

Attendance figures are not released at Indianapolis, but estimates have been around 125,000 each of the past six years. The inaugural race in 2000 drew more than 200,000.

The event was marred in 2005 when 14 of the 20 drivers pulled off the track just before the start over concerns about the safety of the Michelin tires used by seven teams. Afterward, George refused to wave the checkered flag or join Michael Schumacher in the winner's circle.

Last year's negotiations to extend the deal dragged into August before the two sides agreed to a one-year deal. Speedway officials had said they wanted a more permanent solution this time.

Despite F1's absence, the speedway could still be the site of three races next year as track officials expect to announce with MotoGP, the international motorcycle racing series, next week.

Besides the Indianapolis 500, the speedway also is the site of NASCAR's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on July 29.
 
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