PDA

View Full Version : No Formula 1 in the U.S. ?


JEFFTATE
06-23-2008, 11:40 AM
I watched " Grand Prix " ,the 1966 film, over the weekend and now I've got a craving to go to an F1 race.
But , I've looked on their website and noticed no F1 or Grand Prix races in the U.S.
What's up with that ?
Does anybody know why there aren't any races here anymore ?
I've done a little research and noticed that they used to have a race at Indy and some other tracks.
I thought they had a United States Grand Prix somewhere.
Maybe someone who's kept up with it over the years can shed some light on why ?

Of course , Indy Racing League is pretty cool.
That could be an alternative.
They've got races all over.

But , dang !
I want to go to an F1 race !
CraigMorrison
06-23-2008, 11:49 AM
We only like cars that can turn left. Turning both directions is just too fancy.


F1's contract was up with the track at Indy, and Bernie Ecclestone chose not to renew because there are other markets in the world that have been trying to get a race. He has also said that F1 doesn't need the US to survive, and I think he's just playing a little poker with US venues by not having a race here. And with countries like India who are spending $250,000,000 to build an F1 specific track, maybe he's right.

I had the chance to see the Melburne GP back in '99 and it was one of the best motoring events I've been to. To hear an F1 engine in person at full throttle is just awesome. It definitely needs to be on a car guys bucket list.
CraigMorrison
06-23-2008, 11:49 AM
You could always go to the Canadian GP (unfortunately it has already happened this year)
paul67
06-23-2008, 12:14 PM
You do not miss alot ,follow the leader unless it rains.
JEFFTATE
06-23-2008, 12:27 PM
Well , ok.
Maybe Canada or Mexico in the next few years to come.

Thanks Craig !
Joey_H
06-23-2008, 12:29 PM
I heard last night on the Speed Channel that the US GP is tentatively slated to return in 2009. Old schoolers like me saw the F1 circus in person when they used to run at the Long Beach Grand Prix. :headbang:
JEFFTATE
06-23-2008, 01:07 PM
I heard last night on the Speed Channel that the US GP is tentatively slated to return in 2009. Old schoolers like me saw the F1 circus in person when they used to run at the Long Beach Grand Prix. :headbang:

Cool !
Right on !

I got friends in California !
Larry ? ................ I'm coming out to visit !
SaturnVUEguy
06-23-2008, 01:20 PM
where would they race here in the US? Road Atlanta, Road America, Laguna Seca?
WS6
06-23-2008, 05:22 PM
F1 has very strict requirements for runoff room and wall locations and the like. Only place I have ever heard could qualify is Indy. Road Atlanta would be awesome but there's not enough runoff area supposedly.
Joey_H
06-23-2008, 05:42 PM
The US Grand Prix will be back in Indy in 2009, if it does indeed return to the schedule. The Long Beach Grand Prix has long since changed from F1 to Indy-type cars. It was CART, then Champ Cars, next year Indy cars from the IRL series. Sadly no F1 for us Californians.
Samckitt
06-23-2008, 08:34 PM
This year Indianapolis Motor Speedway is using the Grand Prix track for a motorcycle race. F1 didn't re-up their contract.
JEFFTATE
06-24-2008, 05:20 AM
I'd like to see them at Indy , but it would be so cool to see them on a Road Course instead of the oval.
Samckitt
06-24-2008, 07:04 AM
It is a road course. They have the 2.5 mile oval & a road course all at the same location.

The red is the route the F1 cars took & will be the track the motorcycles use I assume.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
protour73
06-24-2008, 08:34 AM
as of the last article I read, written March of this year, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (which has the only F1 approved facility in this country to date)

the Indiana-based marketing firm Just Marketing has been hired by the IMS to help sign a title sponsor for the F1 race. There are rumoured to have been talks between the F1 authorities and the cities of Las Vegas and Miami, but Indianapolis remains the only purpose-built track in the United States that is suited to F1, without the need for major upgrading work. A deal thus can be done quickly and so there is potential to put the race back on the calendar in 2009.digg_title = 'Indianapolis chases sponsor for US Grand Prix in 2009';digg_media = 'news';digg_topic = 'motorsport';


so those of us American F1 fans, will hold our collective breath....maybe. I attended the US Grand Prix at Indy 2000-2006, it is an awesome event, and a great spectacle to listen to that kind of V-8 technology emitting a 19,000 rpm song like they do.
dannyho
06-24-2008, 09:24 AM
It's hard for them to find sponsors for the race. I went to the Canadian Grand Prix this year and there were 3 or 4 weeks, in march IIRC, where it was going to get canceled too because Molson decided they couldn't afford to sponsor it. Luckily Budweiser picked it up, but it was close.
JEFFTATE
06-24-2008, 09:38 AM
It is a road course. They have the 2.5 mile oval & a road course all at the same location.

The red is the route the F1 cars took & will be the track the motorcycles use I assume.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Wow , thanks !
That looks cool !
Paul_J
06-24-2008, 12:22 PM
I thought most of the F1 driver's went to NASCAR! lol......
CraigMorrison
06-24-2008, 12:26 PM
I thought most of the F1 driver's went to NASCAR! lol......

Just the ones that couldn't be competitive in F1:box:
Hartz
06-24-2008, 12:36 PM
Actually they reconfigured the Indy road course just a bit for the Moto GP guys. They basically got rid of Mickey and Mouse, and smoothed out that area.

I really miss the U.S. GP. We had AWESOME seats at turn 1. Went to the NASCAR race at MIS that weekend instead this year - not the same. Oh no - not the same at all. :sleeping:
fast Ed
06-24-2008, 01:09 PM
You could always go to the Canadian GP (unfortunately it has already happened this year)

+1

And the bonus is that the Quebec women are really hot. :D


cheers
Ed N.
Rybar
06-24-2008, 02:22 PM
You do not miss alot ,follow the leader unless it rains.

Nice statement, Have you ever watched F1?

Craig, I agree with you, I've been to the Canadian GP 3 times now. the V10 engines were amazing to hear in real life. The V8's are not far off.

Jeff, I'd recommend the Canadian GP in Montreal, the track is close to downtown and the city is party central. Plus the fact that the women are unbelievably hot there. The track is a couple of Subway stops from downtown.

Here's a view from the stands. Imagine the grand stands doing the wave while F1 cars are screaming by at 19,000 rpm:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/800pxCircuit_Gilles_Villeneuve_Hairpin-1.jpg
JEFFTATE
06-25-2008, 04:26 AM
Awesome !
I'm saving money for the trip..........starting now !
Rybar
06-25-2008, 10:57 AM
Awesome !
I'm saving money for the trip..........starting now !

Jeff I'm probably going to go again next year. Let me know if you need any help planning the trip. Tix are around $300-$400 and then I could recommend a good hotel to stay at downtown (which is where you NEED to be!)

Anywhere near St Catherine & Crescent St or Peel St. There are Ferrari, Porsche & Lambo gatherings. Plus you may spot Enzo's, Mclaren SLR's and other exotics.
JEFFTATE
06-26-2008, 04:24 AM
Jeff I'm probably going to go again next year. Let me know if you need any help planning the trip. Tix are around $300-$400 and then I could recommend a good hotel to stay at downtown (which is where you NEED to be!)

Anywhere near St Catherine & Crescent St or Peel St. There are Ferrari, Porsche & Lambo gatherings. Plus you may spot Enzo's, Mclaren SLR's and other exotics.

Wow , Thanks !
I'll see what I can do about that !
I really appreciate that , a lot !