F1 Teams Demand US Grand Prix Be Placed Back On 2010 Calendar

The prospects for a return of a Formula One race in the United States have improved after Bernie Ecclestone held talks with team principals in Belgium about putting the event back on the calendar in 2010, autosport.com has learned.

The event at Indianapolis was dropped for this year after its circuit boss Tony George was unable to agree financial terms with Ecclestone to sort out a new contract at the end of 2007.

But with no prospects for a last-minute deal rescuing the event even for 2009, teams and Ecclestone discussed during a team principal's meeting at Spa-Francorchamps about ensuring the event does return - although not necessarily at Indianapolis.

It is understood a number of teams have made it clear to Ecclestone that it is vital, especially amid the world's current financial situation, for America to once again feature on the calendar.

HSCenterconsole - 9/11/2008 12:45:33 PM

+3 Boost

My dream would be to see the American Grand Prix run on the streets of New York and through Central Park. Talk about a way to get the US's attention.

LexSucks - 9/11/2008 1:19:43 PM

+3 Boost

They were supposed to to that with Champ-car a few years back. They had it layed out and everything. It never happened. I live in NY and we have to travel for 100's of miles to find a good professional race. Kinda Sucks

HSCenterconsole - 9/11/2008 2:41:28 PM

+1 Boost

009, is the above pic from Formula 3000? I think it is.

LexSucks - 9/11/2008 3:18:25 PM

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F3000 was replaced by GP2 in 2005. The cars in the picture are GP2 Cars. The car closest to you in that picture is a "Racing Engineering" team GP2 car.

Bored - 9/11/2008 3:42:48 PM

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@ LexSucks,

Really? I just watched my first GP2 race in a year (Spa) and didn't remember the front wings being that sculpted. I had guessed a F1 car pre-2000, then it dawned on me to take a look at the racing slicks.
Nice catch! Please help Agent009 find a more appropriate photo for his post.

adall - 9/11/2008 3:10:22 PM

+2 Boost

Vegas or San Francisco would be my vote

Bored - 9/11/2008 3:52:04 PM

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@ adall,

Vegas would most likely be a street circuit.
What did you mean by San Fran? Laguna Seca or Sears Point (yes, I know it's called Infineon these days...Candlestick is still Candlestick, dammit)?
Indy is a lot better than I thought (and the drivers like it). The obvious drawback is that Indy is not the first (nor possibly the last) place you would think of as a F1-type city. Personally, I would rather have a a street race along Chicago's lakefront, but it been nearly 30 years since anyone in Chi-town has made an attempt to have any type of open-wheel racing on a street course. It still hasn't happen and probably won't until after Chicago finds out if they will get the 2016 Olympics.

adoptgreyhounds - 9/11/2008 5:16:23 PM

+3 Boost

Bored-

I live in Indy and your right were not a F1 city or people(me yes). No one promoted it.

Nascar, Indy, hell even the Moto GP this weekend all kinds of press. The problem is those forms of racing are simple and Indiana again born and raised here is a simple minded state. Indiana wants to be high class but really just a bunch of rednecks.

Bored - 9/12/2008 4:43:00 AM

+2 Boost

@ adoptgreyhounds,

Sad but true.

LexSucks - 9/12/2008 9:43:08 AM

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adoptgreyhounds,

The F1 races at indy do not rely on the local indy residents to fill the stands. People come from other parts of the country to watch the race. When I saw the indy f1 races on TV the grandstands were packed. When they had that 6 car race because of the tire fiasco the stands were filled with more that 100,000 people!

gooch - 9/12/2008 9:55:34 AM

+1 Boost

@ Bored -- all the comments I saw from the drivers were of the "Indy is a Mickey Mouse circuit" variety, especially from M. Schumacher. Of course, since he is now retired, who cares?

I was at the six-car race -- it was my first F1 race and my gracious wife got to experience my thrill. We had a great time, up until the part where only six cars blizted past on the straight! She said she will never go to another F1 race. I said "Let's go to Monza next year" and she quickly changed her mind.

My vote for a circuit would be back in Indy or at Elkhart Lake. I would say Road Atlanta, but I don't know if it is ready to host a Grand Prix. There's a new 4.1 mile club track in NY that might work as well. I forgot the name of it...

carguy68 - 9/12/2008 10:36:58 AM

0 Boost

boring!

hpfreak - 9/13/2008 4:49:07 AM

+1 Boost

They should get the funds together and build a permanent circuit in Las Vegas.