Formula 1 - Bye bye Indy ?
The United States Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will not be on the 2008 Formula 1 schedule. After recent meetings, Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Tony George and Formula One Management Ltd. CEO Bernie Ecclestone mutually agreed to not schedule a race at Indianapolis in 2008.
“After several discussions, Bernie Ecclestone and I were unable to agree how to keep Formula 1 in Indianapolis for the near term,” George said. “However, we have agreed to leave the door open for a potential future date. It has been a pleasure having the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis, and I hope that as we approach our Centennial Era at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, an opportunity might present itself that would allow its return.”
The problem is one of sanctioning fee which are too high for George to afford and Ecclestone appears to think that F1 does not need to be in America, at least not unless the venue is the right one. (Grandprix.com)For no particular reason this race was one of the highlights of the F1 season for me. I hope that they do keep the door open and one day F1 will return to this track. For the moment Bernie has one more free slot in calendar to offer …
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July 12th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Its a pity that politics play such a key role in racing. I have been to Indy every year but the first, and had a great time. It will be a shame to loose that.
July 13th, 2007 at 2:47 am
it is a mix of money and politics. for any track F1 goes to the F1 weekend is THE HIGHLIGHT of the year. it was not so at Indy and that is difficult to digest for Bernie. On the other hand he has so many other tracks backed with governement and other money knocking on his door … if he as a Brit would not mind to drop British GP can’t expect him to shed a tear if US GP goes …
July 14th, 2007 at 1:13 am
You have it nailed with Bernie and Silverstone… Still, I just can’t imagine that F1’s sponsors would be happy without a presence here in the States. I also can not think of a track that can handle the volume of spectators that Indy can. Apparently Daytona does not have the run off areas necessary for F1.
This race had become a big event for about 10 of us who would meet there every year for three days. We are probably going to do the Moto GP race instead now.
July 14th, 2007 at 6:27 am
The car manufacturer’s involved in F1 made it quite clear that they US GP is important for them. Can only hope that this is just kind of a game from Bernie and the US GP will be back soon …
MotoGP is not a bad alternative for the annual big event, the racing is awsome…