[aldo]

Not having a USGP is a disgrace, but it is to be expected. Formula 1 racing has lost ground to NASCAR and other easily-accessed US sports events (Football, Basketball, Baseball, etc.) for several years. F1 is like soccer. There just isn't enough of a fan base to make it a really marketable venture anymore - as perceived by those who could make it happen. Oddly, smaller, less economically-gifted nations like Canada and Belgium (to name just two) seem to have no trouble organizing and running consistently successful GPs.

Of course, there is a LOT more to the story of why the USGP isn't going to happen. But frankly, I just don't see F1 coming back any time soon, and I'm just glad we still have TV coverage! I'd hate to see that go the way of WRC!!!

If I remember correctly the US Grand Prix was always a popular and successful event, always sold out, always on national TV. The major constructors in F1; Ferrari, Mercedes, Toyota, Honda all count the US as their single most important market and spend millions on advertising here. I imagine they would love nothing more than to have a F1 venue here as part of their promotion strategy.
I think there’s only one reason F1 left, Sir Ecclestronzo’s money demands. He has gone as far threatening to drop Silverstone (can you imagine) from the schedule if he doesn’t get his infrastructure improvements and payments.
As long as their’s a cue of third world countries waiting with money and new facilities in hand, nothings sacred

 

[davidteachey]

A point that I wholeheartedly agree with Alex on:

Thank god for Speed's live coverage of F1. Remember when we had to check Road & Track magazine for the results of races that had happened ~7wks earlier? And if we were lucky, Wide World of Sports or some such would show the Monaco GP. I hope for Speed's continued live coverage for years to come. As long as Bernie The Exalted doesn't somehow put the kybosh on it, of course!

David

 

[Alex Csank]

Of course, there is a LOT more to the story of why the USGP isn't going to happen....

As I wrote above, there's a lot more than meets the eye. But the bottom line is still that the $$$ are available here in the USA to pay whatever it might cost. As I see it, there's just not enough of a fan base complaining and/or putting their money out there to force a USGP return. It's all about the $$$. Sir Bernie, Speed TV, other networks, etc could all agree - for the right price - if it all appeared profitable enough to everyone.

 

[Alex Csank]

Recent history of the US GP

Alfisti,

Because not everyone knows a great deal about the USGP troubles, here's a brief history of the "recent" GP history in the USA. I'm not an expert or anything, I just want to make sure that folks know the basics of the US GP history.

I'd sure like to see a regular USGP, but I just believe that the fan base is not big enough given that even sports like Hockey and baseball are losing ground to NASCAR, basketball and football. It's a big money game and F1 just isn't as big a draw as NASCAR and those other sports.

Thanks to Wikipedia for the info:

In the 1989 season, the USGP was moved to Phoenix, Arizona (from Detroit and Las Vegas). The Phoenix street circuit was laid out in downtown Phoenix and was unpopular with drivers and the local crowd. After the race in 1991 was attended by fewer than 18,000 spectators, F1 left until 2000.

In 2000 F1 returned, with a race at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The attendance at that first race was estimated at over 225,000, perhaps the largest ever in F1. Michael Schumacher's win was his second of four straight to end the season as he overtook Mika Häkkinen for his third Championship. In 2001, the race went off less than three weeks after 9/11, and many teams and drivers featured special tributes to the U.S. on their cars and helmets. The 2002 edition was known for Schumacher and teammate Rubens Barrichello trading places near the finish line. Held in September its first four years, the USGP at Indianapolis was moved to an early summer date in 2004. In 2005, problems with Michelin tires led to seven teams withdrawing from the race after the formation lap. Only the three teams (six cars) with Bridgestone tires started the 2005 United States Grand Prix, and the event was considered a farce. Many commentators questioned whether a United States Grand Prix would be held in Indianapolis again, but the 2006 United States Grand Prix was held the next year, on July 2, 2006, without controversy.

On July 12, 2007, Formula One and the Indianpolis Motor Speedway announced that the 2007 US Grand Prix would be the last one held at IMS for the forseeable future, as both sides could not agree on the terms for the event. Reportedly the door has been left open to renegotiate the possibility of returning the USGP to Indianapolis, but Formula One has not included a USGP venue in its 2008 schedule.

 

[FMG_V6_btb]

My predictions for 2008 season:

first third: Ferrari will dominate the races, McLaren will be near but we will see driving fails of Hamilton, Renault (well, Alonso) will be near Mclaren, maybe some race in front of them

Mid season: Ferrari will continue winning, but Alonso with Renault will become to be the second force, McLaren will start to deal with BMW.

End of season: First Ferrari with Raikkonen, second renault with Alonso, third Hamilton with his father...

 

[domgul]

F1

I am interested in FMG V6 comment about Hamilton.Your prediction third Hamilton with his father !!! Could you explain please.
The behaviour of part of the partisan crowd towards Hamilton (racist) during testing in Spain was disgusting.This is a sport and such behaviour doesnt belong there.
Regards
Dominic Gulotti

 

[davidteachey]

"Hamilton with his father"....hah! Thanks for the good laugh, FMG!

(Dominic, I took FMG's comment to mean Ron Dennis, rather than a racial slur...hope I'm right.)

I predict another Ferrari/McLaren battle, and I don't really factor in Renault (I factor in BMW more so than Renault). We've only got a month to wait now!! Game on, babies!!!

David

 

[FMG_V6_btb]

Hamilton's father has play an important role last season, he was responsible of many of the problems among Hamilton-Alonso-Ron, and the final unsucces in results of the "team".

In my opinion, fathers, wifes, girlfriends, and also driver's managers must remain apart during races.

Whats the matter? everything against Hamilton is racialism because he is the only black?????, I'm Spanish, and many many many expresions of American English are just impossible to understand for me, I try but believeme I'm not able, the same problem happened with the declarations of the "Spanish partisan crowd" during testing in Barcelona, it was not racialism insults, just only insults in the Spanish way, believeme.

For example: "Hamilton bocachancla!!!" that means textually: Hamilton boca(mouth)chancla(summer shoe), this expression is used when somebody speaks too much without care about somebody.

Is it clear???

Regards

 

[FMG_V6_btb]

Ah!! I forget to mention that as Alonso said two seasons ago, formula 1 is not a sport, is a business, If not why uncle Bernie is questioning the continuity of the races in Silverstone?, because he wants more money, as in USA.

Last new:

Did you all know that the EMS of ALL the teams comes from McLaren Electronics Co. and that the engineers from Honda discovered that making a combination with three buttons you obtain a different more agressive mapping for the engine, and launch and traction control (which is forbiden), is this sport?

These are the things that FIA must investigate, and not send menaces to the Spain Grand Prix organization for the behaviour of some people in the stands.

 

[Sprintn]

Personally... I think the Spanish fans should be disgraced by the Pathetic, childish, Primadona (sp?), manner in which Alonso acted last year, and be standing in the stands making fun of him at testing... calling him a Bambino!!! If an American there was an american driver getting that sort of publicity and acting in such a way... i would have been embarrased! So what is Alonso actually saying... THat he can't win unless he gets preferential treatment as a team leader?!?! What a JERK and a LOSER!

 

[FMG_V6_btb]

Hamilton took a lot of benefits from the settings made by Alonso in his car, that is something you will check this new season (because Alonso is not there to help him), and that is the reason why Aloso was angry last season.

And the preferential treatment in McLaren was to Hamilton, don't forget Hamilton was "made" by Ron Dennis, as Alonso was "made" by Fabio Briatore (Briatore & Dennis ways to act in the management of their teams are totally opposite).

 

[domgul]

F1

Hi
I actually asked the question regarding comments about Hamilton and the Spanish crowd behaviour because i expected this kind of answer.
Its ok to be patriotic but after trying to justify the Spanish crowd behaviour,some of them had painted there faces black !!!!, you have now attacked Maclaren, Ron Dennis, Hamiltons father ....etc.Basically you sound anti English.
Im also not interested if Alonso has said that Formula 1 is not a sport, with fans and followers like you he is right.I was at the Nurburg F1 last year and will never forget the 3 or 4 Spanish fans behind me who cheered,yelled and had a lot of fun when Hamilton crashed at high speed during the last qualifying.He could have been seriously hurt.
I go to Formula 1 races to have a good time and enjoy myself and the atmosphere.Not to see and hear some of the above behaviour.
I am also not a Hamilton,Maclaren fan or supporter, BMW-Sauber is the team i follow.
Heres to Formula 1 2008.
Dominic Gulotti

 

[FMG_V6_btb]

Dominic,

There is something you ignore and must to know:

Testing days at barcelona matched with carnival, I hope you know what is carnival, these days in which people puts a disguise and go to the street to laught from everybody, I suppose in Zurich people don't make that things, but we are latin, you know, we are less serious that northern people, we like to laught loud and make noise, and we have the blood hotter than other European people.

That was the reason of the people with the faces painted in black. If you don't believe me, next time I invite you to know how the carnival is here at Spain.

Ah!, I'm anti nothing (you must know that Alonso is more apreciated in UK than Hamilton, search in the net...)

Cheers

 

[FMG_V6_btb]

Nothing to say now???.... OK (as I supposed)

 

[slam105]

Getting back to the 2008 season:

Being a 'die-hard' Ferrari fan I'm hoping for a 1-2 finish for Kimi & Massa, in the Championship! My "long-shot" prediction: Rubens will WIN at least 1 race in 2008!!!

I can't believe that Toyota & Honda will accept another season w/such dreadful results---I'm looking for them to actually WIN a race or two!

Can't wait for this F1 season to get started!

Regards

 

[AlexW]

Well, I'll use this as my intro to the board. I've been looking around for another car, and there is a toss up between a Lancia Fulvia and an Alfa GTV, so I came here for some info, and I found this thread. I'm super excited to have found a fan base for F1 here in the States. I really just got into it last season, but it was really hard finding where to watch it (I live in TN where NASCAR rules...bummer). I was always diving through the newspaper or scouring the F1 site to find the results of all the races that I missed.

Are all of the GP's really on Speed? Or are they just at like 3am or whenever the race is happening live?

As a BMW fan, I hope to see them inch their way up for this season. IIRC, they held a pretty steady 5th place in race standings.

Alex Wilkins

 

[Alex Csank]

...toss up between a Lancia Fulvia and an Alfa GTV, so I came here for some info, and I found this thread. I'm super excited to have found a fan base for F1 here in the States. I really just got into it last season, but it was really hard finding where to watch it (I live in TN where NASCAR rules...bummer)....Are all of the GP's really on Speed? Or are they just at like 3am or whenever the race is happening live?...As a BMW fan...

Welcome aboard. Alex...even though you're a BMW fan

Yes, all the races are on Speed. Most European races are broadcast live at commencing at 8AM Eastern Time on a Sunday, which isn't bad...you should be out of bed by then anyway! The only races which occur at weird times are the Asian races. The Japanese GP starts around midnight Eastern, while the Chinese GP starts at about 2 AM for example. I make it a point to get up and watch it anyway...that's half the fun!

Both the Fulvia and the GTV are wonderful cars, but with VERY different characteristics! The Fulvia is a small, FWD short-geared sporty car, while the GTV is a long-legged, agile, RWD Gran Touring car (or a weekend racecar if you wish to use it that way). Either way, we have owners of both on this website and there are also several clubs out there with local members you can hook up with for help finding, buying and maintaining your car...they even get together for parties, drives, races, autocrosses, rallies and other events. The two main clubs are F.L.U. (FIAT Lancia Unlimited) and AROC (Alfa Romeo Owners Club). Check them out on the web!

You picked an interesting place to live as a F1 and Italian Car lover! Did you just WANT to be different from everybody else there? Actually, there are many Alfisti and Lancisti in TN.

 

[AlexW]

I don't wanna go too OT here, but my dad, his dad, and I have been the strange ones of the bunch since we are the only car fans in the family. My dad and I prefer European cars and I've been successful in only ever owning them, though the sum of the three that I have is a far cry less than what most people pay for cars on a regular basis. I'm in to the unique, which explains the Italian cars and the F1.

Say, there was an American driver in the 2007 series, I think he drove for Torro Rosso. Didn't have a great season, but I had heard that it was the team rather than his driving skills. Didn't see him on the 2008 roster. Anyone know what the story is there? I've been out of the F1 loop since the season ended what with college and all

Alex

 

[AlexW]

By the way...thanks for the club info Alex!

Alex

 

[Alex Csank]

Saw the movie 'Grand Prix' again tonight. That was fun. Times sure have changed!