Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Earnings/Financials
Indy seeks return of U.S. Grand Prix for 2009
American fans of Formula One, take heart: Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George is pushing to bring the U.S. Grand Prix back to Indy for 2009.
The race was taken off the calendar after George and F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone failed to come to a financial agreement, but while other sites have been touted as alternative venues for the American round of grand prix racing, the speedway remains the only one ready to host without the need for any further modifications. All George needs at this point is the cash, and he's enlisted the services of local marcom firm Just Marketing to find a title sponsor for the race that would help raise the funds to secure the event for next year's calendar.
[Source: GrandPrix.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
joe 6:43PM (3/19/2008)
I hope they bring it back there, though vegas wouldn't be so bad. While they are at it, it would be nice if they moved the race to a different time on the calendar so it isn't so hot. I went last year and it was hot and humid, making it undesirable to stay in the stands very long for the support series.
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Luis 6:51PM (3/19/2008)
I agree with you about the heat/humidity; and I do wish something closer to California would be an option. Got my fingers crossed...
L.Wood 6:46PM (3/19/2008)
I don't know why any location puts on a Formula 1 race. I love watching the races, but it seems each location putting on a race loses money while Bernie makes money.
I read where the local government took a $37,000,000 loss or some such amount on last year's Australian Gran Prix, and now Bernie wants them to spend money to put on a night race?
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Vexorg 7:12PM (3/19/2008)
I'll just settle for having the race somewhere that doesn't involve giving Tony George money to watch it. Laguna Seca might be interesting, but I doubt the facility would be able to handle it.
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ET 7:44PM (3/19/2008)
I would rather have no US Grand Prix than one at Indy. I went one year...never again. There is no support from the city that F1 is even in town and the whole atmosphere is dead. The track isn't even in a nice part of town and there's no "party" feel like there was at Montreal. The Canadian Grand Prix is the only one to go to for folks in North America. With no Indy Grand Prix, there's at least hope that one will be added to a city that can appreciate it. I say Vegas, LA, Miami, or a host of other more sensible places than Indy.
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JayP 8:06PM (3/19/2008)
I thought the Vegas night event was a done deal... no one told Tony?
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E30FTMFW 11:46PM (3/19/2008)
YES YES YES YES YES YES AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME
I'm going to email Tony myself and tell him to make this happen. I'm Indiana born and raised and I felt like I lost a part of me when the USGP left the Speedway.
Thank you Tony George, make it happen! Answer my prayers.
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Steve C 7:57AM (3/20/2008)
There is only one US racetrack where I would pay money to watch Formula One and that's at Road America, perhaps the best road course in the World, for sure the best in the US.
Since Road America isn't about to spend the gazillions it would take to build the necessary infrastructure that King Bernie demands for his traveling ego show, you won't be seeing me at any US Gran Prix.
As a road race, Indy was a joke. Let's just leave it as a footnote to history.
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E30FTMFW 9:16AM (3/20/2008)
Booooo to all the nay sayers.
Bring back the USGP to Indy!
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Neworderrr 10:16AM (3/20/2008)
Just wondering why another established track in the US can't take the USGP, like Infineon, Sebring or Laguna Seca. is it the saftey aspect, the remoteness of the tracks from 'civilization' or just getting the money?
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Johdaxx 1:07AM (3/21/2008)
Darn, I was hoping they'd come to Buttonwillow - California's aswer to Magny Cours :)
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David Ederer 9:46AM (3/24/2008)
I loved the races at the Watkins Glen and Montreal, but with no cars with any US content, (No goodyear, no ford engines, no US drivers.......) I'm lost interest.
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MrAlien 5:22PM (5/26/2008)
the Indianapolise motor speedway is the only track in America that can host a USGP. it has to be in or near a major city, infrastructure to support 200K people, F1 garages on pit lane with private boxes over looking, specific requirements for a media center and paddock. even a track like Daytona, that already hosts a major road race, and has some of the infrastructure, would need to spend $100 million just to meet the specs.
yes I have been to the USGP, and agree that in recent years the city has not done enough. but the city already spends the entire month of may on the INDY 500 with parades and banners, by the 2nd week of june they are tired of racing. I think the race would do much better in september.
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