USGP Rumor for 2010 - Not Indy?

[weeflyonthewall]

Anyone get a YouTube capture on Bernie's comments? A few options? Does this have anything to do with a US GP team possibly entering the picture late next year?

[schmenke]

I saw his comments to Peter Windsor on Speed TV.
Bernie did not make it sound like a USGP was possible before 2011. He was very non-commital.
Don't hold your breath :mark:

[wmcot]

I really wouldn't expect anything definite from Bernie until the check's in the bank! ;)

[superocean]

Bernie's looking for someone to put up the cash to run a race in either Vegas or Miami. There's no track set yet so there's not many people looking to jump into trying to organize this crap. Probably a ploy by him to make Indy pay up to get the race back b/c Indy will know once Vegas or other city gets organized, he won't have the chance to get the race back at Indy. remember indy's spent tons for that track they built in the infield.

[call_me_andrew]

I didn't see anything on Youtube, but I did just read something about this in Autoweek. I'm sure Bernie would rather have Vegas, but I don't think anyone in Vegas cares right now. BMW favors a two race solution. They note that most of their customers live along the coasts rather than the midwest, and would like to see a USGP East and USGP West.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080908/FREE/809089988/1531/FREE

[pits4me]

It sounds like there was a meeting between some of the factory owners and Bernie. Three options for the West coast.

Las Vegas a soft possibility.

Laguna Seca is 2.2 miles but needs more work. The new garages a big step in the right direction. SCRAMP could be an obstacle.

The Valencia race has given hope to a purpose designed street circuit along the San Francisco water front. It will be interesting how all this plays out in the months to come.

[wmcot]

BMW favors a two race solution. They note that most of their customers live along the coasts ]

Yep. In California, a BMW is sign of status. You may live in a run-down dump, but owning a Beemer says that you are somebody important!!

[schmenke]

...Laguna Seca ...

That would be fab! :up:
I can just imagine F1 cars screaming through the corkscrew!

[Rex Monaco]

What would be required to make Long Beach safe for F1?

And would F1, IRL and/or ALMS be willing to share the weekend?

[Daniel]

That would be fab! :up:
I can just imagine F1 cars screaming through the corkscrew!

Did you see the MotoGP race there? Valentino Rossi cut the corkscrew and gained an advantage and wasn't penalised. Now if only the FIA were in charge of MotoGP we could accuse them of favouritism towards those Italians!

[call_me_andrew]

What would be required to make Long Beach safe for F1?

And would F1, IRL and/or ALMS be willing to share the weekend?

Well it starts with the organizers willingness to pay $20 million for a sanctioning fee.

Then it would require IRL to give F1 top billing (which will never happen).

Then you need the FIA to give the track a Grade 1 safety rating (several more million dollars needed).

Then pit road has to be rebuilt with a Formula One garage.

Getting people to buy tickets is the easy part.

[schmenke]

Did you see the MotoGP race there? Valentino Rossi cut the corkscrew and gained an advantage ...

:?:

Isn't the corkscrew surrounded by gravel?

[call_me_andrew]

No I think it's just dirt. It's just too dry to support plant life between April and November.

[Daniel]

he only went the tiniest bit off :p one of the best races ever!

[markabilly]

Seca---the best (unfortunately the greed, the lack of access, the folks that run the track and so on...make it an impossible dream).

The corskscrew and the track in general is not as challenging as it used to be because they decided to "improve" it about four years ago.

But, compered to somewhere like Vegas or miami, geeeewhizzzz why why why go there. Nice flat aerea with no hills...and concrete curbs/mobile walls.... everywhere.....yuk

[truefan72]

laguna seca is far far far from being F1 worthy, for too many reasons to even get into it here.

Miami, Vegas, Long beach (modified) or back to indy are really the only serious contenders

[wmcot]

My bet is on Vegas. Not because it's the best, but because the money is there. And Bernie goes where the money is! Hell, Bernie will probably buy a casino or two while he's there.

(Of course, Vegas is pretty close so I might go there even though I absolutely hate Vegas - nothing but greed, greed, greed in the middle of a stinking desert!)

[Rex Monaco]

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20776.html

The F1 e-magazine GP+ is reporting that there are discussions going on with the aim of taking Formula 1 to a purpose-built racing circuit near Palm Springs. The appearance, albeit fleeting, of Chris Pook in the paddock at Monza set tongues wagging. Pook was the man who created the Long Beach Grand Prix back in the 1970s and went on to ran CART between 2001 and 2003. He then retired to Palm Springs but has remained close to Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.

The United States Grand Prix is a name that is now believed to be owned by Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but that does not mean that we could not see a Californian Grand Prix in the future.