Send to a friendSteve April 9th, 2008 12:42 PM Link
I agree with Tony. When I attended the GP there, it was a phenomenal race, well organized, hugely attended event. Great stuff. We need it back. I’ll make the trip again.
Indy President Says ‘Door Open’ for U.S. GP
Written By: Seyth Miersma
Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Joie Chitwood confirmed that “the door is open” for a Formula One return to the U.S. and Indy.
Chitwood recounted at a recent press conference that while preparing for this year’s inaugural running of a MotoGP race at Indianapolis, track officials were in touch with the FIA to insure that the track would still be able to be reverted to F1 layout and specification. “We did not want to make any changes that would preclude us in the future from hosting F1,” said Chitwood.
While Indy CEO Tony George has been unable to reach a deal with F1 and Bernie Ecclestone for a 2009 U.S. Grand Prix, he has recently stated that talks are still ongoing.
Said Chitwood, “I know that Tony has said it, I’ve said it: ‘the door is open’. We think it’s a phenomenal racing series; we think it should be back in America.”
+ F1-Live: Indy official - ‘door open’ for US GP return
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7 Comments
Brad April 9th, 2008 12:54 PM Link
As much as I hope the USGP can come back, I just don’t see how that is possible right now. Bernie is getting $35 million from places like India, Singapore, and probably Russia in the next couple of years. There’s no way Indy can afford that kind of price.
The USGP drew the most fans of any race on the F1 calendar. I think they said last weeks race in Bahrain only had about 40,000 or so in attendance.
All of the manufacturers want to race in the United States, the fans here want to race in the United States. It’s just up to Tony and Bernie to meet and compromise on a few things.
Without a USGP I don’t see Canada surviving long. It’s just too expensive for the teams to justify a single flyaway race in North America. But the other problem is that soon the calendar will just be too full. Unless Bernie wants to expand to a more than 20 race schedule which I don’t see the teams supporting.
MJK April 9th, 2008 1:09 PM Link
Why Indy? Can’t we bring back a street course like say…Detroit?
jason April 9th, 2008 1:36 PM Link
Detroit?!! hahaha! They’d need a year just to fill in the potholes. Although it can sure use the economic boost.
chris April 9th, 2008 3:16 PM Link
Well if Moto GP can go to indy, anything is possible.
dante April 9th, 2008 5:01 PM Link
I thought I read that Belle Isle in Detroit had been completely done over recently for Indy cars or something.
Russ Bellinis April 9th, 2008 6:44 PM Link
I think they need to add a couple of North American races, maybe include one in Mexico City to spread out the cost of travel for the teams, but I won’t hold my breath. As long as Bernie can get oil rich sheiks to pony up the money to build a track and bring in the race in front of empty grandstands, I don’t see F1 going anywhere that it is simply popular.
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