[tchanson]

Lets see. FTP claims that only private investor money will be used to construct a new circuit, for which land has not yet been purchased. Estimate a minimum of 250M for an FIA approved facility, likely closer to 300M before all done.

Then there is the FOM sanction/event fee. Based on the numbers that were published a few years ago when Indy was negotiating a new contract, Bernie's fee is likely a minimum of 25M per annum, with incremental annual increases. That would certainly make the annual fee north of 30M in the later years of the 10 year contract.

Given that the promoter receives no television income, nor any income from track signage, they are heavily dependent on the gate for revenue. You would need 100,000 spectators at $250 each to just cover the fee, not to mention the millions in other annual expenses to run the event. And you still have a 300M deficit from the construction of the facility.

The Austin paper claims that a TX state event fund will likely help with the fee, due to the positive economic impact the event will bring. It doesn't say how much. I think they have no idea of the speed with which F1 can burn mountains of cash.

The only thing that seems certain to me is that Bernie and FOM have likely received a hefty, non-refundable check from FTP to show good faith when the letter of intent/contract was signed.

I wish them well and hope they can somehow pull this off. I think its more likely this is the US version of Donnington Park.

I don't think this race will ever happen.





Tim