USGP may be cancelled in 2008: F1 not coming back to Indy
It looks like there won't be any United States Grand Prix (USGP) next year, at least not at Indy. According to all of the reports we've read, the 2008 Formula One schedule won't have a slot for a United States Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After eight years of races at the Speedway, the FIA and Tony George apparently couldn't reach an agreement for future GPs at Indy. It seems F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone made some less-than-flattering comments about the event following the June race this year, and July 12 was the deadline IMS had set for a decision on future races. The two parties had been on a one-year extension of the prior contract, but it looks like there will be no extension this time around. There is still some remote hope that an agreement could come in the future, but even if Indy fails to secure a new race, Vegas and New York have been mentioned as possible future USGP locations. No info on those developments has surfaced yet.
Thanks for the numerous tips, everybody!
[Source: Autoweek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
K 2:36PM (7/12/2007)
As a European, I personally really like the US GP track, particularly the long banked turn into the home straight. Sure the infield section is a bit slow at some points, but I love seeing those cars fly around the banking, slip streaming off each other and going into a huge braking duel. I don't think any of the current tracks offer as much overtaking opportunities as the US track. I would miss it very much if it went away.
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Bret 2:42PM (7/12/2007)
Same game, different ball field.
Bernie has played this game over and over for years. He's jerked around everyone, including the British GP in recent years. Yeah, F1, which is mostly a UK based racing series, would not have a race in Britain back in 2005 if Bernie couldn't find a way to extort more $$$ out of the BRDC.
The real question is, will Bernie be able to play Tony George the same way he plays everyone else around the world?
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Eric Barker 2:53PM (7/12/2007)
This is a shame. I really enjoyed all of the Speed/Fox coverage this year, as well as the past few. I attended in person in 2003 and had a fantastic time. I doubt there's a better circuit on the calendar for spectators, even if it's not the most inspiring layout. I agree with the first poster though...there was always something unique about seeing the cars come around the banking and battle for position going into the first turn.
JG Hitzert 4:39PM (7/12/2007)
I guess Ecclestone is the bigger pr#$k but will this be another American racing debacle that George has been a part of. Like when real racers quit participating in the 500 and the dissolution of well funded and talented open wheel racing in the US.
Bob 2:58PM (7/12/2007)
If anyone has the stones and bullheaded stubborness to go up against Bernie's Travelling Circus it would be Tony George. I'll miss the USGP at Indy, but I'm going to gladly throw in behind Mr. George on this one. Take a hike Ecclestone.
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jason 3:00PM (7/12/2007)
To sum this up in two words, this sucks. I went to one of the first USGPs in 01, I believe it was, and it was a great event and I've been hoping to make it to another one. I haven't been to many races, but the facility was great, the people were great and the race was great and the cars were really something to behold. Does Berny have to kick the bucket before he is replaced?
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Kowell 3:01PM (7/12/2007)
Dear Bernie said the same thing about the canadian Grand prix 3-4 years ago. Basically he needed a 5 million Dollars "bribe" to de-cancel it....
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naggs 3:09PM (7/12/2007)
bernie should have been kissing ass to stay at indy after the disaster of 05 usgp.
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Chris 3:09PM (7/12/2007)
YES! Indy SUCKS! The race should be in a location someone would actually WANT to visit. The town of Indi also is very uncharacteristic of a town fit to host a F1 race - just doesn't live up to the image.
New York, Las Vegas, Miami, ALL much better places. I suspect that NY will say no and LV will take too many years to prepare....
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mike 4:32PM (7/12/2007)
I couldn't disagree more. I have been to every single USGP at Indy and the town is great. The uptown area is full of restaurants and shops, the people are friendly. They have the Ferrari/Maserati show and shine every year at monument circle along with a host of other things. Granted it is not as slick as Monaco but, I had a great time every year (including the year of the 6 car parade). I'll miss it but, we planned to go to Montreal next year anyway so I guess this makes our planning even more timely.
Shark 7:37PM (7/12/2007)
As a resident of Indianapolis, I say good riddance. F1 may be the most technologically advanced form of racing, but it sucks. Tony George made the right decision on this one. Growing up and living 3 blocks from IMS, I remember the hay days of Indy Car. While I don't think it will ever return to those days, IMS is still better off without F1.
PS: Chris, you're douche.
Andrew 3:09PM (7/12/2007)
As someone who lives in Indy and has attended 4 of the races I can say I'm behind Tony George all the way. Every other F1 race is subsidized by the government of the country they are held in. Tony has been putting up his own money and has committed himself and the track to making it a success.
I stopped going after the debacle that was the 2005 race. Someday the teams of F1 will do something about Bernie, until then, he can go f**k himself.
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Big John 3:11PM (7/12/2007)
Long Beach!
(the west coast one)
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All American Dude XX 3:15PM (7/12/2007)
dang right...bring F1 back to Long Beach!!!
Andrew Fahsholz 3:23PM (7/12/2007)
If this is true, I will miss the USGP. I attended this years event, my first F1 race, and had an incredible time. An F1 race is something every race fan should have an opportunity to experience, but it looks like that will become harder for U.S. fans now.
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Biff Baxter All American 3:15PM (7/12/2007)
Good riddance. I enjoyed the race while it lasted. But the pompous European pricks who own and manage F-1 have this cancellation routine down to a science.
It frost's Bernie's balls that, in the end, American's just don't give a crap about his "traveling circus". It was several year's ago that he stated that F-1 would never gain a foothold in the US market because "Average American's have the attention span of fruit fly". He's right.
Bernie who?
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Thom Tompkins 10:45PM (7/23/2007)
I have been to each USGP held in Indi and I have enjoyed them all. Sure its not the greatest of tracks but its still a fun three days. There is no doubt that Bernie is a tough business man and he knows that he has a wordwide audiance and for certain he doesnt need the US. He is in the enviable position of having too many countries begging him for races and not enough slots in the calendar. He can afford to be picky. Is the Middle East, India and other third world countries better choices than America? In the long run I would say no. But F1 has shown itself ot be a short term thing in many locations hasnt it. But Its hard to imagine that the teams let him get away with it. With the exception of Renault, its the number one market for most of the sponsors involved in F1 and they should have all stood up and said no way....but they didnt. And as far as other venues: there are 0 tracks in America that could host an Grand Prix. No large scale structure and no one has the cash flow to build it. The only way Tony did it was on the backs of other successful events held in Indi. I dont think anyone else can do that at the moment. And everyone keeps talking about Long Beach? Are you kidding? They can just barely host the open wheel Grand Prix of Long Beach every April. Sure they could close off the streets but where is the 100 million that Bernie requires to bring each race up to F1 standards going to come from? Certainly not the city of Long Beach........doubt it. Vegas...too hot and no time on the calendar to host it when its not 115F in the shade, did I say NO shade in Vegas......New York would require too much construction and run off.....I'm afraid were doomed for a while fellas unless the Tony and Bernie show grows up somehow.
Rick 3:14PM (7/12/2007)
Where the hell in NYC would they have the race?
Or do they mean NY State? (Watkins Glen, or some other nearby track like Lime Rock in CT or Pocono Raceway out in PA?)
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Mr. Oak 3:30PM (7/12/2007)
Lime Rock, The Glen or Laguna Seca. LS couldn't any worse than any of the no passing European tracks.
Billy 3:16PM (7/13/2007)
I love Lime Rock, but think it's too small for a GP event. Also, traffic (on the track) is a problem.
The Glen is a better sized track, but it's dangerous!