Indy: Home of the last US Grand Prix
Formula One Blog has learned that several Formula One team chiefs have asked F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone to reinstate the race in the United States from 2010.
The last US Grand Prix was held at Indianapolis last year, but was dropped after circuit boss Tony George failed to agree a new contract with Ecclestone.
Prospects of securing a deal for 2009 are microscopic, but the team leaders want to see the event return – however, Indianapolis, home of the Indy 500, is not a favoured venue.
A number of teams, in particular the carmakers, have made it clear to Ecclestone that the American market is too important for them to ignore.
Honda Racing CEO Nick Fry told autosport.com:
“The American GP is key for two reasons. Firstly, this is supposed to be a world championship and a large part of it is made up of North America, so we should be going back there.
“Secondly, the North American market is absolutely vital to us, and for all the luxury car makers especially it is key. It is a market Honda is successful in, with Honda and Acura, and we would like to get back there as soon as possible.”
BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen added:
“It is important for BMW as a manufacturer but also for our sponsors. The USA is still the biggest market for BMW and we should be there. But we should be there successfully, so we have to find the right venue, the right setting and the right approach in order to make a point over there.
“If I look at where we sell our cars it is certainly on the east coast and the west coast, so from that perspective it (Indy) is not the ideal venue.
“I know Bernie is negotiating with several regions or cities in the US but apparently there is nothing confirmed or nothing ready to be announced.”
Williams-Toyota boss Sir Frank Williams said the event was vital even for independent teams like his.
“We all want it. Many of our sponsors are very active in the US – and several American ones, like Thomson Reuters, AT&T, are looking to expand – Philips too.”
Honda boss Nick Fry agreed with Mario Theissen’s sentiment that a race located on either the Pacific (West) or Atlantic (East) coasts would be ideal. Ecclestone has long been known to favour a race in Las Vegas.
“Ideally we would like a site on either coast, which is a key market for non-American brands. And from our point of view, the sooner the better.
“Bernie is very good at understanding the market and what the manufacturers want. He does realise the importance of this and we know he is doing his best to fix the problem, and we will give him all the support we can. We are all aligned on the importance of America.”
However, Indianapolis Motor Speedway spokesman Fred Nation said recently that his track was confident a deal could be put in place for them to return to the schedule.
“We are very optimistic for 2010.”
Neal’s View: It seems all teams want a race in the US, although the calender seems to be tightly packed as it is. The calender is set to expand to 19 races for 2010, but the US Grand Prix would make this 20 – surely the maximum possible. Although I would have thought an American driver being successful in the sport would be of more help. What chance of Marco Andretti? Honda seem to have given up on him.
As a sidenote, I do wonder how many fans four-times ChampCar Champion Sebastian Bourdais has brought with him?
The Pitstraight 