No USGP in 2008

[plain fan]

Looks like our tenure as an F1 site has been terminated. The 2008 schedule was released on Friday and the US is off and Canadian GP is listed as tentative because it was raced in conjunction with the USGP.

[bell]

yep....thanks a bunch tony george........

hopefully they'll stay on track with the idea of a street race in vegas

[equality72521]

Another example of a few rich asshats that can't decide how to split the money, and we suffer.

[legion]

I was under the impression that the license for hosting an F1 race was something like $12 million, and it was more like $2 million for IRL and NASCAR. Indy couldn't make money, with full stands, at that price.

If that is the case, seems like Bernie blew it.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Tony George continuing to do his part to destroy racing in the USA. Way to go.

I'm hoping like crazy that an alternate venue (Vegas?) will happen.

[frogger]

How much of this decision was based on the incredible greed of Bernie Eccelstone, the lack of strong attendence at the USGP, and the lack of major sponsorship for the event? I tend to think that the American market for F1 just isn't there and, because of that, attracting corporate sponsorship for the event will be hard. Further more, pretty much any racing other than NASCAR seems like it's on life support lately. I was surprised that the USGP lasted as long as it did.

[Grady Clay]

I agree with all of the above but I don’t think the stands are full of paying customers. After the Michelin debacle, I understand (rumor) some very large percent of the seats are filled with “complimentary” tickets given to Boy Scouts, Rotary and anyone else who will come.

If EmperorEgg wants to put things back together, he should go to the French tire manufacturer. Lots of Luck.

I voted with my pocketbook and changed all my cars to Bridgestone and wrote Michelin a letter with copies of the invoices – no response.

This is one of the FEW cases where I can’t totally fault George, particularly with a $12M FEE, (not a percent of gate).

Best,
Grady

[DaveE]

As big an a**hole as George is, I can't blame him either. $12mil is insane for the US market where most have no idea what F1 is, plus the fact that Indy truly sucked as a road course, as hard as Tony tried to make it a 1st class track. It just doesn't have the appeal, and the drivers hated it. If only someone would spend the gazillions to put awesome facilities at the Glen, or Road America, or Laguna, or......... But who wants to do that at a loss? Sadly for most of us, the US market isn't a road racing market.

[legion]

I would pay nearly anything to see an F1 race at Road America. Still, even if they upgraded the track, I don't think the area has the facilities (hotels, restaurants, etc.) that F1 would require.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

My wildest fantasy is that they bring it back to the Streets of Long Beach. I'd LOVE to see this - slight modification to the road course bringing it up Pine, across Ocean (probably catching air at that point) and then a turn down Ocean rather than the back straight they have currently. Ahh, bliss it would be. . .

Mexico should make a bid to bring it in - I'd totally make the trip down to see it. Same with if they had a western Canada event.

[}{arlequin]

guess i'm in the minority here but i'm not crying over losing indy. in its short life it was never an 'inspiring' race and coupled w/ the 2005 farce i can't see anyone looking back on it longingly.

there are plenty of good street courses in the u.s. as well as watkins, elkhart lake etc. that could be used. it's prolly something that bernie has stuck up his arse ab f1's relations w/ the u.s. market.

proof was in the color coding scheme of the soft/hard tire compounds. when someone suggested they do the sidewall the way indy cars do it he practically choked to death from scoffing that 'his sport' will have *nothing* in common w/ the u.s. series. he's a tool.

[pwd72s]

Dave, we're a minority of 2....

[Porsche-O-Phile]

It was Champ Car - but yea, the elitist reaction was ridiculous.

[Zeke]

Again, we lose sight of the fact the Bernie could give a rat's a about the fee and what happens with the local promoter. If anyone has any vision, they would see the benefits to the locality in which the race was held beyond gate profits. This, IMHO, is not the case in Indy. They are famous enough w/o a European race.

However, a subsidized race would pump a local economy like no other way I can think of. Millions upon millions of people watch the race on TV and that's where Bernie's money comes from. Does Las Vegas need another circus? Long Beach does well enough with the Champ cars and no doubt would not think of subsidizing a more expensive race. They don't have the money to begin with.

To get the GP back in the US, someone has to come up with a community that would benefit the most from the publicity. Florida comes to mind. So does Texas. Shoot, a lot of places come to mind, but the locality has to be hungry enough to put out and large enough to be able to afford to do so. And, be in a position to reap the after glow.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Chicago maybe? What about an up-and-coming market like Atlanta?

[legion]

I'd say Road Atlanta before anyplace in Chicago.

And where is there in Chicago? It would be difficult to make Chicagoland Speedway into a roval, and Autobahn Country Club's facilities are probably beneath F1.

[Jays72T]

I don't think the MB, BMW, Ferrari, Honda and Toyota teams are happy about losing the US as a race, it's their largest market. We will see what happens but I'm sure those manufacturers want F1 in the US.

[nut11]

I loved INDY. Very fan accessible, fan friendly, inexpensive with mid western charm and great food. W/o a reconciliation b/t the two egos, Vegas would be a logical alternative, I guess. Problem w/ street circuits, though, is limited fan access around the track and crap site lines. INDY had it all. Too bad.

87 blk coupe

[nostatic]

easy, Willow Springs. People could stay at the Best Western, eat at Outback. Good times, I tell ya...

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by nostatic

easy, Willow Springs. People could stay at the Best Western, eat at Outback. Good times, I tell ya...

I often don't "get" your humor...this time, I'm lovin' it! Dittos for Portland (OR) international raceway. If the neighbors to the track love to ***** about the noise now...