Are You Going to Miss GP?
The Formula One Series is making its annual trek to North America this weekend, but this year the series is only making one stop.

After being part of the jaunt across the big pond first from 1959 through 1980, then again from 1989 to 1991 and finally from 2000 to 2007, the United States Grand Prix was taken off the schedule this year.

The race has had problems since the tire debacle in 2005, that saw seven teams drop out of the Grand Prix. The teams were not supplied with safe tires and decided to not race as a result.

That problem put a strain on the European series' relationship with the United States. The series lost a lot of its popularity and it seems that Tony George and Indianapolis Motor Speedway lost too much money to bother with trying to keep the race.

When the decision was made last year to not run the race at IMS, it was too late to try to schedule another race in the U.S. for 2008.

But would a change in venue help spark a worthy fan base in the U.S.? With the top three stock car series, the number of lower level stock car series, open wheel, road racing, drag racing and dirt racing series, is there even room in race fans' hearts and pocketbooks to support the Formula One in the U.S.?

The series definitely has a niche and a following, but does it have enough in the States to justify the cost?

There was talk last year that a street race in Las Vegas might be in the cards for a future U.S. Grand Prix. That would definitely be intriguing and fit in with the exotic locales found on the F1 circuit.

Where else do you think a Formula One race could be held in the U.S., or North America for that matter?
Posted: 6/4/2008 3:34:29 PM
Comments:
I grew up in a world of NASCAR and NHRA/IHRA Drag Racing, and to be honest, F1 is the most pure form of motorsports in the world. How it does in the American market though, is almost shameful. It's not covered by major networks as a general rule. You won't see the results on the local news at 6. You won't pick up a newspaper and see anything about F1. As such, unless someone decides its worth it to advertise it heavily, and get it some exposure, it will never do well in the U.S. More recently, the withdrawal of Ford's motorsports effort, and General Motors some number of years back, has definitely not helped fans here relate to the sport.

I do find the reference to the Michelin tire problem interesting, as the FIA stated it would enforce a speed limit in the corner in question (as for safety) that would provide an immediate black flag to anyone running an unsafe speed, such that they would be required to pit and take new tires.....

MICHELIN couldn't agree to that (Despite winning every other race that season), and effectively ruined F1 for the American fans.....

As for my personal tastes, Las Vegas, New York, Miami, somewhere very large, and very mainstream, on a street circuit, preferably at night. It must be noted that I will only be able to afford to see F1 races on TV anytime in the short term future (I fit the demographic of a NASCAR fan.) However, I very much enjoy F1. It's unbiased, and pure. Anyone complaining about a lack of passing definitely didn't watch the Canadian Grand Prix today!
Posted On: 6/8/2008 7:12:00 PM
i would like to see the F1 race at Elkhart Lake its a good long road course and i think nascar should give Elkhart Lake a shot as well
Posted On: 6/6/2008 11:19:24 PM
Let's see how good these F1 drivers really are and have them run Elkhart Lake.
Posted On: 6/5/2008 9:00:01 PM
Watkins Glen gets my vote. I was sorry to see it leave this track in the first place. It has improved in the past few years and is a more suitable environment for the F1 crowd.
Posted On: 6/5/2008 10:19:47 AM
I agree with the Watkins Glen approach. Great history.
Posted On: 6/5/2008 9:20:53 AM
if your trying to keep it on the east coast for a swing back to silverstone...how about a return to Watkins glen? or if west coast is your style - Laguna Seca
Posted On: 6/5/2008 7:31:58 AM

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