Lets say this rumour is true......

crazytrain · 27 Sep 2002, 02:03 (Ref:389407)

I've been on several message boards lately and the talk is that Pook and Bernie Eccelstone have been talking about a partnership for the last little while. CART would be called Formula America or something like that and be sanctioned by the FIA basically taking care of the North american side of open wheel racing. If this is true I don't like it. Pook keeps talking about V10's coming into effect in 2005, and Pook keeps saying that he wants to be a feeder series to F1 maybe its true. I think the problem with this is that different parts of the world whether it be the marketing of Racing or the selling of beer you need to market things differently depending which part of the world you are in. Bernie hasn't figured that out yet in north America, and may never will. If B.E. does buy into CART I hope that he dosen't take majority ownership because you never know what he'll do he is friends with TG and his Little racetrack. I personally don't think this would happen but you keep hearing that CART is coming out with a huge announcement soon maybe this is it?

Jay · 27 Sep 2002, 02:44 (Ref:389422)

No, that would not be good. I always like seeing Cart guys going over to F1 and having some success, but Cart being related to F1 in any would be a terrible thing for the series...almost as bad as Tony George taking it over.

f1manoz · 27 Sep 2002, 05:13 (Ref:389490)

Go away Bernie. CART can do without your influence. Bernie is WORSE than Tony....

macdaddy · 27 Sep 2002, 07:50 (Ref:389554)

It's been hard to not be suspicious. Who was behind that holding company's purchase of CART stock some months ago? But I wouldn't worry about Bernie getting majority ownership, because it was written into the stock's IPO that no one person can own more than 15%. Who knows? Maybe it's actually Forsythe buying F1.

At any rate, I can't see it as being any good at all. It's actually almost scary to think about! When Pook mentioned V10's... And lately Pook's also been talkin' about synchronizing the calendars. Wonder if he wants to run biweekly, on the F1 off-weeks?

DNQ · 27 Sep 2002, 10:35 (Ref:389653)

I don't think CART is suited to track after track of slow speed, second gear corners, and a total lack of passing.

crazytrain · 27 Sep 2002, 10:48 (Ref:389658)

Macdaddy

Apparently CART has allowed G. Forsyth to own more than 15% of the stock without the poison pill taking affect. I think he owns sonething like 25-30% now. so maybe CART will go private and I think Forsyth would be better than any other candidates out there to own CART.

Liz · 27 Sep 2002, 10:49 (Ref:389659)

No, Bernie, no! Go Bernie Go!

Bernie doesn't understand anything about Pook's vision or any other vision except the one of him cornering all the power. His vision if you want to call it that is exactly the reverse of Champ Cars' vision.

Hope this one proves untrue.

Mal · 27 Sep 2002, 10:56 (Ref:389665)

Is it significant then the Bernie has announced that he wont be attending the USGP for urgent business reasons!

Testure · 27 Sep 2002, 11:37 (Ref:389696)

Quote:

Originally posted by Liz
Bernie doesn't understand anything about Pook's vision

I think the point here is that Pook's vision is to get the FIA involved in CART. We've read comments from Pook over the last couple of months about how he doesn't see CART and F1 on the same level and basically how CART could be a another F3000-style "feeder series" for F1. Now if the man who controls CART has this "vision" and it's one we don't agree with, we might have problems...

racer69 · 27 Sep 2002, 14:17 (Ref:389818)

If this 'Formula America' thing ever happened, then presumably races in the USA, Canada and Mexico etc... but races like Australia, Britain and so on would be lost, and hasn't one of CART's strong point in the last few years been it's international growth. I also don't think it would be of any advantage to CART to have it tagged as a 'feeder series' for F1.

f1manoz · 27 Sep 2002, 14:23 (Ref:389830)

I certainly don't see CART as a feeder series to F1. It just so happens that many potential F1 drivers have picked up drives in CART to hone their skills, and since they are already contracted to F1 teams, they are picked up.

CART is supposed to be an internationally independent racing series, based around the fastest cars, fastest tracks and fastest drivers in the world. We do not want to see it turn into F1-2.

Flatspot · 27 Sep 2002, 14:28 (Ref:389836)

I've read about coordinating schedules with the F1 races for the European schedule which makes perfect sense to me. It also makes sense to coordinate with them in the Pacific Rim and Oceania. I've also read Pook's comments about being a feeder to F1, which in a way it already is, though not officially. I've also read Pook throwing around the possibility of a name change but that has been dealt with as a marketing issue only from what I have seen.

What I haven't actually seen is any comments from Pook or Bernie about FIA sanctioning of CART events. Where have I missed this or is it purely speculation?

Tiresmoke · 27 Sep 2002, 15:01 (Ref:389870)

I hated the sound of this at first, but what if this is CART's only hope of sustaining itself. Pook has a lot to offer F1 too. Long Beach. Indy can go flush itself. I dont think this deal will necessarily make CART part of F1, and I dont think Pook would let that happen. But there's instant access to F1 money, sponsors, appeal, etc. Aligning with F1 would be okay, being an F1 little sibling would be bad. Pook has a solid vision. wait and see.

Down F0rce · 27 Sep 2002, 15:17 (Ref:389894)

Quote:

Originally posted by Liz
Hope this one proves untrue.

me too! F1 is ....ok.... some times (ie Monaco 2002) but CART is better on the whole, it should stay separate.

Liz · 27 Sep 2002, 15:56 (Ref:389937)

Yes, coordinating with the F1 European schedule is a good idea, for coverage and for attendance reasons. And making capital out of the fact that some of our drivers go to F1 is just good PR sense. Let's not make necessity out of a virtue though. Leave the door open for guys to "move up" if they have the talent and keep lines of communication open with F1 to that end; but don't tie to them because we have seen what becoming dependent on other peoples' money has already done to us once. "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice ... "

Down F0rce · 27 Sep 2002, 17:36 (Ref:390024)

i just saw on teletext- Bernie will miss the US GP beacuse of "Buissiness Committments"

nw that i think about it, it wouls be interesting to see the F1 and the CART drivers together in a one off anual race...just a thought

Jordi · 27 Sep 2002, 17:40 (Ref:390031)

Maybe the best for CART would be an "strategic alliance" with the FIA and Bernie...

Or maybe it's a thing for the loong future, when the Constructors say they'll have their own championship...

macdaddy · 27 Sep 2002, 18:01 (Ref:390055)

Maybe it's the easiest way for Bernie to get his "Premier" league up-and-running. Or maybe it's all just coincidence.

Liz · 27 Sep 2002, 20:42 (Ref:390163)

Maybe he's just decided, "I can't possibly sit through another manufactured TGF win and look as if I'm enjoying it. I'm going to stay home and watch Coronation Street."

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