Will F1 Return to Indianapolis?

[BobHWS]

Some say yes, some say no, some say maybe.

F1 considers return to Indianapolis for US grand prix
Guardian
March 14, 2010

Indianapolis is still a logical venue for a US Formula One grand prix and a return is on the cards, according to the sport's commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone.

"It is [a possibility]," Ecclestone said. "It's only the fact that it's all the wrong crowd and the wrong people ... nothing worked there really, we'd have to have a big change round. But we'd like to get back there."

What the heck does Bernie mean by "...all the wrong crowd and the wrong people." Perhaps he would prefer the "crowd" that attended last year's Turkish GP?

Speedway, F1 discussing race's return to Indianapolis
Indianapolis Business Journal
March 15, 2010

Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials confirmed Monday morning that they want to host a Formula One race again and that they are in discussions to bring the series back to the city.

IMS’ position followed comments by F1 leader Bernie Ecclestone published in Sunday's Guardian newspaper in England. Ecclestone told the newspaper “we’d like to get back there,” referring to Indianapolis, possibly as soon as 2011.

No serious talks to bring Formula One back to Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Star
March 15, 2010

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone suggested he would like the racing series to return to Indianapolis some day, but there aren't any serious talks to bring back the U.S. Grand Prix.

"In terms of negotiations, nothing is happening at this time," said Indianapolis Motor Speedway spokesman Eric Powell.

[JeremySmith]

Not anytime soon no...

"The wrong people and wrong crowd" I have no idea what Bernie means?

[Spritle]

With all the times Bernie put his fat foot in his big mouth while attending the USGP, I have to believe he is doing it again and really doesn't want a race there. Remember the digs against the US fan base, ("F1 doesn't need the US") or his stupid comments about Danica Patrick?

I have the feeling the "wrong people" are the ones in charge at IMS who won't pay his exorbitant prices to host a race. One of the reasons Tony George lost his job was because of how much he spent on the facilities to placate F1. Unfortunately for Bernie and fortunately for the taxpayers; the US, Indiana or Indianapolis governments aren't going to bankroll an F1 race.

The "wrong crowd" are probably the 100,000 unwashed, uncultured masses who only were paying $100 US or less to attend an F1 race at Indy. Bernie would rather have 30,000 cultured snobs paying $1,500 a ticket at some "classier" location like Manhattan, Vegas or Miami Beach; NONE of which are queuing up to build an F1 track.

I don't see it ever coming back to Indy until Bernie goes the way of Max. Many Indianapolis residents expressed delight in the local press when the F1 circus left town because of Bernie's arrogance.

Until then we'll have races in places where governments shower him with cash while the fans stay home. The good news is; as the grandstands grow ever more empty, the government cash will dry up and so will the stupid venues.

[ECW Dan Selby]

Have to say, really not a massive fan of the Indianapolis track, but regardless, it'd be good to see F1 back in the US.

Some bizzare Bernie comments, but nothing too new/shocking.

Selby

[nea]

They need to go to Road America. Or Watkins Glen. Or Laguna Seca. Trouble is, they may need to butcher the tracks to do so.

[ECW Dan Selby]

Which may give me some ideas on the Tracks section of the forum...

I don't see why in alot of these places (geographical restrictions apply in some cases) ((what a song lyric that'd be!)) they don't just put this giant run off around the current layout. Ok, I know it's not ideal, but it's better than butchering the actual circuit.

I have this strange image of modern day F1 cars racing (ok, tongue in cheek) around the Nordschliefe full of tarmac run off areas!

Selby

[nea]

Are there enough Pikeys to supply that much tarmac though?

[ECW Dan Selby]

lmao You'd have to ask Mr Brundle

Selby

[Spaced Invader]

"It's only the fact that it's all the wrong crowd and the wrong people ..."

Could he be refferring to the people that where rude enough to show their displeasure when 6 cars started the 2005 Grand Prix? People that had paid to see a show not a farce...

[Purist]

I was in the stands between Oval Turns 1 and 2 for that one; I'm glad I missed the semi soccer riot over by start/finish.

I suppose the one up-side was that having only seix cars made it a lot easier to carry on a conversation during the race.

[ptclaus98]

Originally Posted by nea

They need to go to Road America. Or Watkins Glen. Or Laguna Seca. Trouble is, they may need to butcher the tracks to do so.

I'd rather not have a GP.

[ptclaus98]

Originally Posted by Spritle

With all the times Bernie put his fat foot in his big mouth while attending the USGP, I have to believe he is doing it again and really doesn't want a race there. Remember the digs against the US fan base, ("F1 doesn't need the US") or his stupid comments about Danica Patrick?

I have the feeling the "wrong people" are the ones in charge at IMS who won't pay his exorbitant prices to host a race. One of the reasons Tony George lost his job was because of how much he spent on the facilities to placate F1. Unfortunately for Bernie and fortunately for the taxpayers; the US, Indiana or Indianapolis governments aren't going to bankroll an F1 race.

The "wrong crowd" are probably the 100,000 unwashed, uncultured masses who only were paying $100 US or less to attend an F1 race at Indy. Bernie would rather have 30,000 cultured snobs paying $1,500 a ticket at some "classier" location like Manhattan, Vegas or Miami Beach; NONE of which are queuing up to build an F1 track.

I don't see it ever coming back to Indy until Bernie goes the way of Max. Many Indianapolis residents expressed delight in the local press when the F1 circus left town because of Bernie's arrogance.

Until then we'll have races in places where governments shower him with cash while the fans stay home. The good news is; as the grandstands grow ever more empty, the government cash will dry up and so will the stupid venues.

Vegas, classy?

[F.O.F.]

Originally Posted by Bernie E

"It's only the fact that it's all the wrong crowd and the wrong people..."

What an offensive comment to the true motor racing fans that attended the races at indy! I'm one of the people who usually gives Bernie the benefit of the doubt, and I certainly don't hate him quite as enthusiastically as some people on here, but what a load of elitist horse$!&#.

I'd love to see a US GP but I think that any racetrack owner in The States would probably live a longer, happier life if they were never introduced to Mr. E.

[rustyfan]

Forget Indianapolis - Formula 1 should go to Barber Motorsports Park instead if they want to race in the US, and they wouldn't have to butcher the track either.

[ECW Dan Selby]

It looks like a good track. Nice elevation changes, overtaking opportunity and selection of curves (albeit mainly hairpins).

Maybe not for F1 then.....

Selby

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by rustyfan

Forget Indianapolis - Formula 1 should go to Barber Motorsports Park instead if they want to race in the US, and they wouldn't have to butcher the track either.

At ~3700m, and reasonably fast I don't think the laps would be long enough. Bring back Caesars Palace Car Park I say - a punishing physical challenge at least, with all that anticlockwise twistyness. Then again, have they built over it? They could always rebuild it elsewhere, if you have a big enough car park.

[jab]

F1 in Alabama?

[nea]

Might not be as unpopular as you think. After all, F1 engines are V8s.

[Spritle]

Unfortunately no one is going to build an F1 track from the ground up and no existing venue will do what IMS had to do to meet F1 requirements, especially after seeing what happened to IMS.

Indy was hardly the best venue but it has motorsport history and a central location in a large country to at least make it interesting and easy to attend a race for the market they are hoping to attract. But most importantly, they tried to keep the prices affordable. Besides the tickets, the concession prices were the most reasonable I ever saw at ANY sporting event.

Add to that the small town atmosphere and the lack of exclusive luxury nightclubs or restaurants made getting close to the drivers and team members a real possibility. I had dinner one night at a table next to Kimi and bumped into Mario Theissen and JPM in 2007 on the street. When I left Indy I was sitting with almost the entire Renault team, (excluding drivers & Flav) at the airport; something I doubt would have happened in Monaco! Oh yea, I also got to drive MY car on the Indy F1 track the day after the race in 2005. Are they going to offer that perk in Korea?

If you want to commit business suicide in the US, spend millions or billions on rehabbing or building a venue for a sport no one is interested in and on top of that, charge $300-$600 for a ticket. Even the New York Yankees can't fill the expensive seats in their stadium and they HAVE a fan base!

Unless Bernie forgets his fantasy US locations, there won't be another USGP for a long time! And maybe that's a good thing so someone else doesn't spend a fortune trying to build something only to have the raced ripped out from under them so 1,235 Turks can watch in Istanbul.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Spritle

Unfortunately no one is going to build an F1 track from the ground up and no existing venue will do what IMS had to do to meet F1 requirements, especially after seeing what happened to IMS.

Unless Bernie forgets his fantasy US locations, there won't be another USGP for a long time! And maybe that's a good thing so someone else doesn't spend a fortune trying to build something only to have the raced ripped out from under them so 1,235 Turks can watch in Istanbul.

Couldn't agree more. However, I don't think there will ever be another USGP until Bernie has relinquished control of F1.

[NaBUru38]

There's no "sweet money" (that's Spanish) in the United States now to have an F1 race. Once there is, they will pick Indianapolis (because of its history) or a big city like New York or Los Ángeles to make sure that lots of rich people will go.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

There's no "sweet money" (that's Spanish) in the United States now to have an F1 race. Once there is, they will pick Indianapolis (because of its history) or a big city like New York or Los Ángeles to make sure that lots of rich people will go.

Longbeach as it's part of the LA conurbation, would be the most viable option as the IRL and formerly Champcar and CART, hold the Longbeach Toyota GP there; it used to be the US GP West. However Bernie would probably require a major overhaul of the track costing millions and then demand his fee, also costing millions. It's not going to happen while he runs F1.

[MrTTraces]

If Bernie wants a classy venue in America for F1, he should get in contact with Dolly Parton's theme park! (tongue firmly in cheek)

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by MrTTraces

If Bernie wants a classy venue in America for F1, he should get in contact with Dolly Parton's theme park! (tongue firmly in cheek)

While staying with that theme why not Neverland? I'm sure Jacko's estate could do with the money and it has an amusement park with a big wheel like Le Mans. It's in Santa Barbara, not a million miles away from LA.

[MrTTraces]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

While staying with that theme why not Neverland? I'm sure Jacko's estate could do with the money and it has an amusement park with a big wheel like Le Mans. It's in Santa Barbara, not a million miles away from LA.

not a bad suggestion but the noise police might say no (like the sort of people who complained about croft in the UK) and locals might not like it either.

Bubbles the monkey to present the trophies?