I heard a 1 year contract is in place for 2007 from a real good source last week, and heard the same on the local news this AM here in Indy, although IMS officials refused to comment, but it sounds like it is more than just a rumor.

 

Great!!!

 

We heard 99% confirmation of this at the race back in July.

I believe both parties are hedging their bets, Bernie does not want to commit to soon because how many were there just because of free tickets is an unknown, and Tony does not want to commit because he can get more money if he can prove the numbers are going to be strong.

Bottom line, I'll be there in '07!

 

I thought it was the other way around -- since Tony would pay Bernie a flat (negotiated) fee for the right to have the USGP at his place, and he gets the gate, and Bernie gets the fee they negotiate that Tony pays him and the world wide tv rights, I would assume Tony would be concerned about how many will buy in 2007 since some of the people in attendance this year were Michelin bought "freebies" and Bernie to the extent he cares about the gate, would charge Tony more if he though the gate would be high and thus Tony would be (or should be) willing to pay a bigger flat rate fee for the pleasure of having the F1 circus come to town and to take the gate.

I had heard that a single year extension was being discussed back in july as well, but the report I heard recently was the deal is actually in place.

The IMS is moving the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard up a week or so next year, so timing of the USGP in Indy will be critical, since they have to go from oval set up with stands in front of the F1 garages for te 500 to road course with no stands in the garage area but stands in the infield at turns 6 and 10 for F1, and then tear it all down and put it back to oval configuration with the stands back up infront of the f1 garages for Nascar, and will nowhave to do it all in at least one week less time assuming the USGP is between the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400 again next year.

I sorta wish they'd move the USGP back to September, but I think Montreal and Indy being back to back actually saves the USGP and the GP du CAN $ as the facility owners have to pay some fee for the travel expenses of the teams, and it is cheaper to fly the stuff to North America once to Montreal and truck it to Indy, than it is to fly to North America twice, like it used to be done when Montreal was in June and Indy was in September.

In any event, I hope this is true! I'd hate to have to travel to foreign countries to see F1 in person!

 

From today's Indianapolis Star:

F-1 racing will return to Speedway in 2007
George signs 1-year deal for U.S. Grand Prix


By Curt Cavin
curt.cavin@indystar.com

Grand prix auto racing will return to Indianapolis in 2007 thanks to a deal signed Wednesday by Indianapolis Motor Speedway's top official.


Tony George, the track's chief executive officer, confirmed the signing of a one-year extension of the U.S. Grand Prix. A mid-June date is tentative until the sport's sanctioning body approves Formula One's schedule this fall.
The Grand Prix has delivered close to $1 billion in economic impact to Indianapolis since its first race in 2000, according to the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association.
A plan to purchase tickets will be announced within a week, a Speedway spokesman said.
No other details, including how much the Speedway will pay F-1, were revealed Wednesday.
George said he signed a one-year extension to the contract that expired after race on July 2, but his commitment to F-1 remains long term.
A one-year deal was signed because the sport's organizational structure, known as the Concorde Agreement, is good only through next year.
"It seemed appropriate to see how things shake out and see what the lay of the land is," George said of F-1's instability. "There are too many unanswered questions to commit any longer than that.
"But our intention is to be long term (with F-1)."
F-1 boss Bernie Ecclestone could not be reached for comment Wednesday night. A representative said he might not be available until next week's Turkish Grand Prix.
The future of the USGP has been in question since last year's race when 14 of the 20 drivers pulled their cars off the track before to the start amid concerns over Michelin's tires. Only six cars, all with Bridgestone tires, completed the race -- to a chorus of boos from the crowd.
Michelin helped the event rebound this year by purchasing 20,000 tickets for the Speedway to distribute to individuals who renewed their orders. Each order received two free tickets.
A crowd in excess of 100,000 attended this year's race. Because the turnout was similar to crowds of recent USGPs, track officials were convinced there was no long-terms negative effects from the Michelin debacle

 

2007 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 17 AT IMS
Ticket Information Will Be Announced In Coming Weeks

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006 - The 2007 United States Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday, June 17 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the eighth consecutive year that a FIA Formula One World Championship event will take place at the world's most famous racetrack.

 

nice. i'll make sure not to make any out of town trips that weekend...

 

I may have to come back for some of those S2KCA brats and to see Mr Button win!

 

But then again this is not new news to me...

 

Is anybody else ready for the USGP to be held at a new location? Indy is a quintessential American racetrack, I'll agree, but aren't there any other tracks in the US that F1 can rotate to? Laguna was recently redone to allow for MotoGP to run

Regardless, I'm going to Indy next year!!