Another year for Indianapolis

[FranticFury]

Formula One will return to Indianapolis for the US Grand Prix in 2007 but Speedway CEO Tony George is not yet ready to commit beyond next season.....

http://motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=229405

 

[Tornado]

Good. Maybe they will go to a better track two years from now (like, eh, Watkins Glen. We need something to balance out the loss of Suzuka with that crap known as Fuji.). It is, however, another reason for Schuey to stay in F1 for another year, which I think is cool.

 

[FranticFury]

I'm Thinking about Road America being the next spot to host the US GP. Its a great true 4 Mile Roadcourse that gives a lot of action in every event, Rain or Shine.

 

[Tornado]

Probably too much in the way of constant elevation changes for Road America.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Good. Maybe they will go to a better track two years from now (like, eh, Watkins Glen. We need something to balance out the loss of Suzuka with that crap known as Fuji.). It is, however, another reason for Schuey to stay in F1 for another year, which I think is cool.

I just watched the NASCAR race at the Glen. There's no way F1 cars would run at that track with its high speed corners and only close-proximity guard rails for protection.

Sad, but true. It would be wonderful to see F1 cars there.

 

[Pupik]

I just watched the NASCAR race at the Glen. There's no way F1 cars would run at that track with its high speed corners and only close-proximity guard rails for protection.

Sad, but true. It would be wonderful to see F1 cars there.

The guardrails were pretty much the reason F1 cars stopped racing there after 1980. The circuit owners couldn't afford to keep it to the changing FIA specs then, let alone now.

Of course, Monaco is an exception to this rule, year after year, despite all the sabre-rattling that it's not a "sacred cow".

 

[Kylehnat]

This is great news! Hopefully I'll have enough money to make the trek next year.

But let's be clear: If F1 is not at Indianapolis, IT IS NOT GOING TO BE IN THE UNITED STATES, PERIOD. No other track in the country is FIA-worthy, nor will it be unless HUGE investments are made to upgrade the facilities. There is also an issue of access. Even if Road America, Mid-Ohio, and The Glen are the best circuits on earth, it is not easy to convince Bernie and Co. that the sprawling metropoli of Elkhart Lake, Lexington, and Watkins Glen are perfect places to bring 200,000 people for a race weekend. I'm just guessing here, but I don't think drivers, sponsors, or dignitaries want to stay at the local Days Inn, either.

 

[wfooshee]

Panoz's purchase of Road Atlanta some years ago was with the expressed purpose of bringing it up to FIA spec, and the track is improved beyond recognition in comparison to its previous incarnation. Gone are the earthen berms that served as walls around the track. There are concrete walls and catch fencing lining the entire course. Gone is the dip on the back straight before the bridge. However, at a fraction over 2.5 miles, it would be one of the shortest GP tracks. I think the Atlanta area has enough hotel rooms, too.

Lacking: still no garages, just open paddock space if I remember correctly from my visit there this spring, and very few grandstands. Spectator viewing is on foot or hillsides. The entire track is accessible for viewing, though.

 

[Kylehnat]

Panoz's purchase of Road Atlanta some years ago was with the expressed purpose of bringing it up to FIA spec
...
Lacking: still no garages, just open paddock space if I remember correctly from my visit there this spring, and very few grandstands. Spectator viewing is on foot or hillsides. The entire track is accessible for viewing, though.

Aye, there's the rub. No matter how nice and beautiful the track is, if there isn't a state-of-the-art pit lane/paddock, there's no chance of hosting F1.

 

[red70mach1]

Miller Motorsports Park in Toole Utah looks like F1 ready.

 

[wfooshee]

Miller Motorsports Park in Toole Utah looks like F1 ready.

You think the Hungaroring is a parade ground, wait till you put F1 on that windy road! That said, I enjoyed the AMA bikes and ALMS races I saw there, but I haven't seen open wheel cars, and I'm afraid the course wouldn't lend itself well to overtaking opportunities, other than turn 1 and maybe the end of that shorter interior straight.

 

[Dougboy]

I'm afraid the course wouldn't lend itself well to overtaking opportunities,

Same could be said about a few of the circuits in the 2006 FIA season

 

[Casio]

Can't you American's just block off some road for a while and have a street race?

We do that every year at Albert Park, and we did it at Adelaide (Still with the V8s) and at Surfers Paradise with the Champcars.

A street race would be great for America I think. Thoughts?

 

[wfooshee]

Same could be said about a few of the circuits in the 2006 FIA season

Why add yet another one?

Can't you American's just block off some road for a while and have a street race?

We do that every year at Albert Park, and we did it at Adelaide (Still with the V8s) and at Surfers Paradise with the Champcars.

A street race would be great for America I think. Thoughts?

Been there, done that: Dallas, Detroit, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Long Beach have all been F1 street venues.