F1: USGP "Not Vital," Ecclestone Says
Lenny
Written by: RACER staff Indianapolis, Ind. - 6/14/2007
Last days for the USGP? The clock is ticking.
Formula 1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone appeared to be ready for
hardball in discussions over renewing the contract for the United
States Grand Prix at Indianapolis. Ahead of this weekend's USGP, the
76-year-old Briton who determines where grands prix will be run seemed
nonchalant about the prospect of F1 moving on if he cannot conclude a
new deal with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"It is not vital to Formula 1 to be in the United States," Ecclestone
told Britain's Daily Express newspaper. "There are bigger markets for
us to be in other parts of the world. We could be in India soon
instead of the United States. We don't have a lot of sponsors from the
U.S., no American teams and only one driver," he added.
"I get along with (Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner) Tony George and
I hope we can strike a deal, but we have offers from other places in
the U.S. too."
Publicly at least, IMS officials remain optimistic about the prospects
for the race continuing. IMS president Joie Chitwood told the
Associated Press that George was looking to discuss a long-term
contract with Ecclestone.
"The hope is, from the dialogue we'll have at the event, that we'll
have a result whether it's here or not," Chitwood said. "I think both
parties would like to have some closure so we can let the fans know
what's happening. I think uncertainty is tough for everybody and more
importantly for the fans, from a business standpoint.
"I think now is the time for discussion of a longer term agreement. We
don't want to continue doing one-year contracts."
Indianapolis is hoping to add a MotoGP round to its schedule for 2008,
which would make an unprecedented four races along with the Indy 500,
F1 event and NASCAR's Brickyard 400. It has been speculated that the
motorcycles could serve as a replacement for F1; however, Chitwood
said it should be possible to fit all four into the Speedway's
calendar.
"We'd have to talk with city officials and see what weekends are open,
that sort of thing," he said. "We'd have to see what makes sense, but
that's so far down the road right now."
Catch up on the developments in Formula 1 each month in RACER. Steve
Cooper gets the scoop on the decline of the Renault F1 team this
season, and its efforts to turn the tide in our July issue, on sale
now.
Indianapolis is in the last year of a contract for the race it has
hosted since 2000. Ecclestone has talked in the past of taking Formula
1 to street circuits in Las Vegas or New York.
However, he also faces a squeeze on the calendar, with Valencia and
Singapore confirmed as new races for next year while Abu Dhabi is due
to make its debut in 2009 and South Korea in 2010.
India is also lobbying hard for a race and Suzuka is looking to return
to the championship as a second Japanese race after being replaced by
Fuji.
Ecclestone's comments aside - which are similar to ones he made last
year before agreeing a one-year extension with Indianapolis - the U.S.
is a key market for the automotive manufacturers who dominate the
sport and own most of the teams.
"The automobile market in the USA is the biggest one for Mercedes-Benz
outside Germany," noted Mercedes motorsport vice-president Norbert
Haug, whose company owns 40 percent of championship leaders McLaren.
"For the BMW Group, the USA Grand Prix is of key importance in so far
as the United States is our biggest market," said BMW Sauber boss
Mario Theissen in a team preview of Sunday's race. "We sell more cars
there than in Germany and also have our biggest production sites
outside Germany."
forty
> F1: USGP "Not Vital," Ecclestone Says
> Written by: RACER staff Indianapolis, Ind. - 6/14/2007
>
> Last days for the USGP? The clock is ticking.
>
Bernie's most likely just trying to send a pre-negotiation message to TG
- "You need us more than we need you."
--
forty
“To embrace an extreme, one must first let go of reason.”
Paul-B
> Lenny wrote:
> > F1: USGP "Not Vital," Ecclestone Says
> > Written by: RACER staff Indianapolis, Ind. - 6/14/2007
> >
> > Last days for the USGP? The clock is ticking.
> >
> > <snip>
>
> Bernie's most likely just trying to send a pre-negotiation message to
> TG - "You need us more than we need you."
If Bernie thinks that, he's wrong.
The USA doesn't need F1, but undoubtedly F1's (Bernie's) sponsors need
the USA.
--
Paul-B
Bigbird
"you" = IMS not the USA
--
forty
couldn't possibly be blind to the value of the USA market. But Bernie is
a skilled negotiator, and admitting that you need the other party isn't
a good way to start out when playing hardball. Not a very good bluff
IMO, but methinks its a bluff nonetheless.
forty
That was the main gist of my point, although his "It is not vital to
Formula 1 to be in the United States" rhetoric seems to give the
impression that he's trying to include the USA market in his bluff. As
Bernie mentioned, though, F1 could have other options for a Grand Prix
in the USA.
ncrdbl1
The final paragraph in the article basicly said that ole Bernie was
shoving a load of manure. He can say different as many times as he
wishes but he knows that it is important to the series and to their
teams and sponsors to be in the American market. The going to Las
Vegas or the streets of New York is just blowing smoke. NYC will not
be the location of ANY street race no matter what the series.
Lenny
> That was the main gist of my point, although his "It is not vital to
> Formula 1 to be in the United States" rhetoric seems to give the
> impression that he's trying to include the USA market in his bluff. As
> Bernie mentioned, though, F1 could have other options for a Grand Prix
> in the USA.
>
I think Bernie knows the USGP at it's current pricing is a cash cow
for Boy George and he wants a cut of the pie. IIRC, it was discounted
for the first five years to grow interest and last year was a special
price to make up for the tire debacle. Even with the attendance
falloff, it must make huge money with 100k attending. Without it, the
NASCAR race and the Indy 500 wouldn't fund Tony's fleet of planes and
the money pit called the IRL. One or the other must go.
Tony and Bernie need each other, but you won't hear any good words
about each other until the ink is dry.
Depresion
"ncrdbl1" <mphsr...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1181836566.2...@x35g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
>
> The final paragraph in the article basicly said that ole Bernie was
> shoving a load of manure. He can say different as many times as he
> wishes but he knows that it is important to the series and to their
> teams and sponsors to be in the American market.
Hence the presence of Scott Speed, there arte a good dozen or so other race
tracks that could take F1 in the USA all of them would be better than the
dreadful Indy location.
forty
Actually, when factors such as facilities, location, and layout are
considered, there really aren't too many viable USGP locations.
News
Lenny wrote:
> F1: USGP "Not Vital," Ecclestone Says
> Written by: RACER staff Indianapolis, Ind. - 6/14/2007
>
> Last days for the USGP? The clock is ticking.
Bernie will demand the right to install a Tilkedrome skidpadring at the
present location ("no bricks, please"), along with a longer duration,
more robust financial arrangement.
Von Fourche
"Paul-B" <pa...@rasf1.net> wrote in message
news:5dd5lmF...@mid.individual.net...
Exactly. Isn't the this race broadcast in the all important evening
time in Europe?
Isn't that what Bernie wants? This race usually produces half way decent
races.
Can't see it going away. Then again...
Maybe Bernie saw the report from the Indy Star newspaper last year
saying how
much more money the businesses make when the F1 crowd comes in for the
weekend - F1 crowd spends more money than the Indy 500 crowd and the NASCAR
Brickyard 400 crowd. Godfather Bernie Capone wants a bigger cut.
Mark
> "Paul-B" <p...@rasf1.net> wrote in message
Well it will be interesting to see how it works out. Frankly I don't
think there is much of a chance it will be back at Indy if any sort of
business sense is used. Leave out the track design, local
accomidations or anything like that. The question is "Where can
Bernie go to make the most money?" He gave IMS what he considered a
sweet heart deal to get a presence in the US expecting to make it up
later. The great tire race slowed that up a bit, but now he wants to
get paid. In many places governments actually subsidize the races I
hear. F1 doesn't come cheap. With the crowds, I doubt its breaking
even now. Though TV numbers appear to be up in the US I read
somewhere, that has no bearing on how much a track owner would see.
IF sound business was the reason, it would make no sense for the
return on investment. Then again he is negotiating with Tony George,
so if he was willing to sell all of US open wheel racing down the
tubes for his on ego, he would certainly be willing to pay what it
takes good business or not to keep F1 for ego purposes. Isn't the
time about up where the IRL was going to be bigger than F1? Somehow I
doubt Bernie is worried about him taking his hammer to work everyday.
ncrdbl1
> "ncrdbl1" <mphsric...@aol.com> wrote in message
There are not a dozen or so race tracks in America that meet F1
requirements much less can put on the USGP. You need to get over the
hatred of TG and open your eyes. At this present time outside of maybe
DIS these is no other location in America that could host a successful
USGP. Outside of Indy there may be 2 or 3 at most facilities that
could be made F1 acceptable and the cost to do so for them would far
out weight any benefit of hosting the event. I do not see anyone
wanting to layout $200 million in order to upgrade facilities and pay
the fee to host the USGP.
Depresion
> On Jun 14, 11:39 am, "Depresion" <127.0.0.1> wrote:
>> "ncrdbl1" <mphsric...@aol.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:1181836566.2...@x35g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>> > The final paragraph in the article basicly said that ole Bernie was
>> > shoving a load of manure. He can say different as many times as he
>> > wishes but he knows that it is important to the series and to their
>> > teams and sponsors to be in the American market.
>>
>> Hence the presence of Scott Speed, there arte a good dozen or so other
>> race
>> tracks that could take F1 in the USA all of them would be better than the
>> dreadful Indy location.
>
>
> There are not a dozen or so race tracks in America that meet F1
> requirements much less can put on the USGP.
No there are a dozen that could by the time the F1 contract at Indy is up.
> You need to get over the hatred of TG and open your eyes.
I couldn't care one way or the other about TG, it's the Indy track that's
crap.
Maniac215
CatharticF1
news:vLSdnTWzGIvlTOzb...@centurytel.net:
> USA to F1: f1 who?
It's too late.
We didn't care about *you* first..
--
CatharticF1
"Formula 1 - Visible McLaren cheating here now."
Mark
Well frankly that is exactly what Indy did. They built the entire
infield road course, built pit garages, ect and others here could
comment on other upgrades. Has Indy made money from F1? I doubt it.
There are places Id like to see F1 go, but the same reasons make it
impractical. Id love to see F1 back at the Glen, but you think ISC is
going to do the necessary upgrades? No way. Road America would be a
great place for those cars to stretch their legs a bit, but it being
out in the boon docks keeps that from being likely. Road Atlanta
would also be a fun place to see them run, but again the "extras" that
F1 requires again would make it unlikely. A return to Long Beach
would be possible, but economics would be the key. They didn't work
before and likely wouldn't work now.
Bernie could careless about team sponsors and where they want to
race. F1 will race where Bernie makes the most. That is likely to be
Asia. The US market may be better for the sponsors, but if Asia is
better for Bernies pocket thats where they will be and that includes
pulling the race at Indy if he can get more for the weekend anywhere
else. All that being said, he still is dealing with Tony George. The
checkbook is large enough that he does not have to care whether it
makes business sense or not. If his ego or any other reason makes him
want to pay Bernies price, the race is safe. Trouble is once Bernie
gets his price, it always goes up.
Lloyd
Probably right, but I'd love to see it at a "natural" road course,
with things like trees and hills. Instead of promoters building
cookie-cutter race tracks all the time (Texas, California, Chicago),
someone should build a good modern road course. Considering Ferrari,
Mercedes, BMW, and Toyota, California would be a good place -- should
be a good fan base there.
Von Fourche
"Lloyd" <lpa...@emory.edu> wrote in message
news:1181931650.9...@g4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
A track like Sepang outside L.A.?
RdKetchup
I don't know if Mont-Tremblant would make a good circuit for modern F1.
Champ Cars going there latter this summer should be interesting.
It is a beautiful track, specially from a motorcyclist perspective. Of
course the infrastructure in the area would not meet the demands of the
F1 circus. Funny, I went to Mugello 2 weeks ago to watch the MotoGP
race, and lack of infrastructure didn't keep 120000 people from showing up.
pltrgyst
>Probably right, but I'd love to see it at a "natural" road course,
>with things like trees and hills. Instead of promoters building
>cookie-cutter race tracks all the time (Texas, California, Chicago),
>someone should build a good modern road course.
Barber Motorsports Park is a gorgeous complex, but it's in Alabama.
-- Larry
News
RdKetchup wrote:
> I don't know if Mont-Tremblant would make a good circuit for modern F1.
>
> Champ Cars going there latter this summer should be interesting.
>
> It is a beautiful track, specially from a motorcyclist perspective. Of
> course the infrastructure in the area would not meet the demands of the
> F1 circus. Funny, I went to Mugello 2 weeks ago to watch the MotoGP
> race, and lack of infrastructure didn't keep 120000 people from showing up.
Haven't been to St. Jovite for 20 years, since the Can Am when Brian
Redman did a maple leaf off the hump on the back straight in the Lola
T333. Scary moment, if unfortunately quite predictable with the flat
bottomed cars of that era.
I see Champ Car taking the bait, but has course safety been upgraded to
the point that F1 would consider showing?
RdKetchup
I doubt it, IIRC, representative from World Superbike had a look at it 1
or 2 year ago, and it didn't fit their requirement.
And even at the slow speed I was riding it, certain turns (like #7,
fastest right-hander) looked quite scary from lack of runoff.
Luigi Topolino
Yes, he demonstrated his lack of respect for the American fan base in
2005, when he let Ron Dennis lead the effort to hijack the race.
--
"...Luigi follow only the Ferraris."
Bigbird
> In article <10ca73d2i4r54kceu...@4ax.com>,
> Luigi Topolino <tif...@mindspring.com> wrote:
>
> > Yes, he demonstrated his lack of respect for the American fan base
> > in 2005, when he let Ron Dennis lead the effort to hijack the race.
>
> I don't see the lament about the 2005 race. Ferrari was on the same
> set of tires the entire race.
Race?
--