N.A. Grand Prix
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N.A. Grand Prix
US return a 'crucial' priority for FOTA
Monday, 29 June 2009 15:41
Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo says bringing Formula 1 back to America will be a key priority for FOTA now that the row over the sport's future is settled.
The teams have repeatedly called for the United States Grand Prix to be revived as America is such a big market for many of the car manufacturers involved in F1.
The race fell off the calendar after 2007 when Bernie Ecclestone was unable to find a suitable agreement with the Indianapolis track that had hosted F1 since 2000.
The situation has been exacerbated this year with the loss of the Canadian GP at Montreal, leaving F1 without an event in North America.
Di Montezemolo said that Ferrari was particularly keen to get F1 back to America, and that it would be among FOTA's top priorities.
"It's absolutely crucial," he said in an interview for Ferrari's official website.
"North America presents, for us, part of our history, with important historic victories for Ferrari at Sebring and Daytona [in sportscars].
"Recently I remember some victories by Michael Schumacher at Indianapolis' Formula 1 track, and this I think was fantastic.
"So we want to go back, because we love the United States.
"The United States has been our largest market for many, many years and so we will do our best to race there again with Formula 1.
"We know we have a lot of fans over there."
Ferrari dominated the US GP for most of its seasons at Indianapolis, with Schumacher winning the 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 F1 races at the track.
Monday, 29 June 2009 15:41
Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo says bringing Formula 1 back to America will be a key priority for FOTA now that the row over the sport's future is settled.
The teams have repeatedly called for the United States Grand Prix to be revived as America is such a big market for many of the car manufacturers involved in F1.
The race fell off the calendar after 2007 when Bernie Ecclestone was unable to find a suitable agreement with the Indianapolis track that had hosted F1 since 2000.
The situation has been exacerbated this year with the loss of the Canadian GP at Montreal, leaving F1 without an event in North America.
Di Montezemolo said that Ferrari was particularly keen to get F1 back to America, and that it would be among FOTA's top priorities.
"It's absolutely crucial," he said in an interview for Ferrari's official website.
"North America presents, for us, part of our history, with important historic victories for Ferrari at Sebring and Daytona [in sportscars].
"Recently I remember some victories by Michael Schumacher at Indianapolis' Formula 1 track, and this I think was fantastic.
"So we want to go back, because we love the United States.
"The United States has been our largest market for many, many years and so we will do our best to race there again with Formula 1.
"We know we have a lot of fans over there."
Ferrari dominated the US GP for most of its seasons at Indianapolis, with Schumacher winning the 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 F1 races at the track.
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^^ Especially in this economy it would be silly to not have the race in a location that attracts vast throngs and end up having it in a location where the stands are empty, over the mere issue of fees.
I'll be happy to see the races at Indy & Montreal back on the calendar
I'll be happy to see the races at Indy & Montreal back on the calendar
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I would love to see F1 back in the USA. With that said, I'm not sure I want it back at Indy. That track is boring to me, But that's probably the only place in the US that could hold a F1 race without spending millions in renovations to meet the requirements for F1.
Maybe some city in the US could make a city street course and make that work. Chicago, New York, Miami, San Diego maybe?
Maybe some city in the US could make a city street course and make that work. Chicago, New York, Miami, San Diego maybe?
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Apart from a hastily put together street circuit in some place like Las Vegas, the ONLY place in the US that can host F1 is Indy. Any other circuit in the US will require MAJOR enhancements AND will have to add hotel space.
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^^ very true. They need to bring it back Indy & Montreal ASAP. They can always scour alternate locations in the US, but with the way things currently are I doubt whether any city or location will be able to step up and claim the US Grand Prix.
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Originally Posted by chetly,Jun 29 2009, 11:45 AM
I would love to see F1 back in the USA. With that said, I'm not sure I want it back at Indy. That track is boring to me, But that's probably the only place in the US that could hold a F1 race without spending millions in renovations to meet the requirements for F1.
Maybe some city in the US could make a city street course and make that work. Chicago, New York, Miami, San Diego maybe?
Maybe some city in the US could make a city street course and make that work. Chicago, New York, Miami, San Diego maybe?
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Originally Posted by PeaceLove&S2K,Jun 29 2009, 11:17 AM
I vote San Francisco, assuming Lombard St is incorporated into the track.
That said, it would be very picturesque and has the potential to rival Monaco imho.
