If I could raise $30M, do you think that:
(1) I'd still be living in Long Beach?
(2) I'd still be working?
(3) I'd still have my "coolest" P-car being a '74 Targa?
Although I'm up for trying. I don't know how the FIA would respond to interest in a USGP in Long Beach. Personally I think it'd be awesome - F1 used to race here "back in the day". But I seriously doubt there would be much interest in a street circuit like this (then again, they do it in Monaco. . .) and I doubly doubt the local government would get behind it to the extent necessary to be a serious contender for a date. Then again, I suppose nobody knows for sure if nobody asks. . .
I'll ask around on some of the open wheel forums - there are still a LOT of people out there that despise T.G. and the IRL, and who are simply pissed off about the demise of Champ Car (which clearly was the better series, with the better equipment and the better drivers).
You're also fighting the tide of "stupidification" of America in the rise of NASCAR. Most laypeople out there associate ANYTHING to do with auto racing with NASCAR these days. A tragedy for the sport. Open wheel is a pretty limited demographic, but maybe just maybe there is enough interest to bring it here.
I certainly wouldn't hold my breath, but I agree doing ANYTHING is better than doing nothing and just "taking it" from short-sighted imbeciles like T.G. and B.E.