Second US F1 track?

[Chatters]

Mr. Egglestone has suggested that he would like give the US of A another round in the Formula 1 calender. My question to you is where would you hold it?

[FPV GTHO]

Laguna Seca or Road Atlanta. LS seems more likely as Ecclestone probably would badge it as the US West GP

[JohnSSC]

I don't think there is any other track in the US at the moment that meets the safety standards for runoff areas, etc. Certainly not Laguna - a demo run is one thing, but a race, no way. Road Atlanta is out too for the same reasons. All of the "traditional" tracks here are not up to par vis a vis FIA standards.

God help us that there is not yet another inane street race. Only Monaco is remotely interesting because of it's history/layout imho. I remember the lovely F1 race in Vegas through the parking lots. It was horrible. I keep trying to forget it but I can't - kind of like my first marriage...

I will just go hide over here while everyone starts banging on about Surfer's...

[VilleneuveTracy]

Daytona, run the road circuit but also have the cars on the high banks for a fair amount of the lap.

[JohnSSC]

....and getting the cars from the road course onto the banking how? The transition would bust 'em up faster than Andrea deCeasaris on a quali!

[maltafan]

No matter how many efforts Bernie does to get more F1 fans fom the USA, he will not succeed. Americans are mad about other series, which are more entertaining than the rules-packed F1.

[Pingguest]

It should be run on an oval. Let's go to Talladega!

[Silk Cut Jaguar]

Originally Posted by Pingguest

It should be run on an oval. Let's go to Talladega!

Haha, the entire race would have to be shown as a slo-mo replay just so viewers could keep up.

[kipper]

As in previous posts, I'd really like to see F1 at Laguna Seca or Elkhart Lake. However, the realities of this (as JohnSSC points out) means that such a wish is unlikely to ever occur.

For what its worth, I suspect that if a second American Grand Prix were to be held it would be on a street or parkland course similar to Albert Park. Regarding likely locations, Bernie Ecclestone has seemed to consider Las Vegas on a number of times, whilst there have been the occasional story relating to a motor race in New York over the last 20 years or so and one of these stories may eventually come to fruition.

[duke_toaster]

Infinon/Sears point might become a possible on the IRL configuration ....

[DPRacing]

Laguna Seca would be great

[DPRacing]

dubble post

[dcp2685]

Move Indy to Watkins Glen for US GP East, Laguna Seca for west.

That would be awesome!

[Rex Judicata]

Originally Posted by Chatters

Mr. Egglestone has suggested that he would like give the US of A another round in the Formula 1 calender. My question to you is where would you hold it?

There are a number of tracks that come to mind.

• In 1959, the USGP was run at Sebring - give them some time and money to improve the facilities and run there.
  
• The same for Daytona - run the same course that the sports cars run - that would give some of the drivers a religious experience.

Other interesting tracks include:

• Road Atlanta
• Watkins Glen
• Road America
• Laguna Seca
• Bridgehampton
• Summit Point
• Sears Point
  
• Oh yes - that new 'theme park' and track in Alabama - can't remember the name.

Under no circumstances should a street race be permitted.

[rblanshard]

Originally Posted by Rex Judicata

Oh yes - that new 'theme park' and track in Alabama - can't remember the name.

Barber Motorsports Park http://www.barbermotorsports.com/

And all of those would be excellent suggestions. Given the fact Zonta just took his Toyota out to Laguna Seca and set the track record gives me hope they'll host a F1 race in the near future.

[Rex Judicata]

Originally Posted by rblanshard

Barber Motorsports Park http://www.barbermotorsports.com/

And all of those would be excellent suggestions. Given the fact Zonta just took his Toyota out to Laguna Seca and set the track record gives me hope they'll host a F1 race in the near future.

Thank you! Excellent link - Barber would be a great venue for F1, and I suspect, easy to bring up to safety regs.

[luke]

Road America, no, I have explained before.
Laguna Seca. maybe. I think it is quite possible.
Road atlanta can't see it being safe enough for F1.

I would like to see another street race though.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by rblanshard

Given the fact Zonta just took his Toyota out to Laguna Seca and set the track record gives me hope they'll host a F1 race in the near future.

I'd be surprised if Zonta's demonstation will ever lead to a Grand Prix at Laguna Seca. As I understand it, the circuit's facilties are not close enough to F1 standard, which are rapidly rising due to the likes of Sepang, Sakir and Shanghai. Ricardo Zonta and Toyota were present at Laguna Seca to undertake what was in effect a promotional run. That said, I'm sure that if sufficient money could be found to fund the upgrades then in my view Laguna Seca would make a great addition to the F1 calander.

[bigjon]

Remember that F1 folk have a chequered history at Laguna

A Ferrari fell in half there...

...and of course Rodriguez died at the corkscrew at a time when he was involved in the F1 curcuit

Futhermore, they'd have to change the corkscrew - and is it worth changing a great race track just for the sake of a potential F1 race. i think not

[Rockmunky]

I'd vote for Laguna Seca, i'd love to see all the cars trying to get through the corkscrew on the first few laps. However, LS is quite short, and this could be a problem with traffic factorsetc.

Maybe another street circuit, but not in America. But that's another topic alltogether.

[Knowlesy]

Elkhart Lake, the worlds most beautiful track.

Though F1 can stay well away if it wants to insert even the hint of an extended gravel trap or tarmac run-off. Or chicane.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by knowlesy

Elkhart Lake, the worlds most beautiful track.

Though F1 can stay well away if it wants to insert even the hint of an extended gravel trap or tarmac run-off. Or chicane.

Tilke's on his way.

[Rockmunky]

Over my dead body he is, but of course if F1 did move there, then the Bernie and Max show would feel obliged to leave their everlasting mark on the circuit.

[jhansen]

This topic seems to come up quite often for some reason. Other than Indy, none of the circuits are even close to F1 standards.

Laguna has done a lot, but they still are not up to snuff. It will take millions more to get it there. That means a new sponsor, or one of the manufacturers to come in and help. Red Bull and Yamaha have paid for most of the recent work for Moto GP. The track is county owned, and they wont spend the money to bring F1. Not to mention, the surrounding residents detest noise. Furthermore, Monterey is pretty secluded. It's tough enough to get a hotel and move around the track for a Moto GP event. If F1 pulled in more people it would be even worse.

Barber is better off as a bike track. F1 would look silly there.

Sebring? LoL, that would be a good suspension test.

The new Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City is possible. If they spend the money to add infrastructure.

Nope, Indy is the best bet. They've already spent the money. North American road courses are lucky enough to survive, let alone have the money to upgrade for F1 status.

[Rex Judicata]

Originally Posted by jhansen

This topic seems to come up quite often for some reason. Other than Indy, none of the circuits are even close to F1 standards.

Many of the so-called F1 standards have much in common with Bridgestone's logo. The world does not need multi-hundred million dollar tracks in countries that don't even have public libraries. What we need are tracks that provide interesting racing -- with passing on the track -- reasonably near population centers and airports.

Originally Posted by jhansen

This topic seems to come up quite often for some reason.

It comes up because there are about 300,000,000 in the United States, and it is the biggest market for all of the major automobile manufacturers. In addition to have almost 300,000,000, it also is about 2.5 times the size of the European Union. The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $42,000.

For more information, see https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications...k/geos/us.html