"Dude, where are all the cars?" - Does F1 need two races in the USA?
by Adam Milleneuve on Oct 26th, 2011
World © Swope/Sutton The start of the US GP in 2005. Cracking entertainment all round.
Formula One and the United States haven't had an altogether brilliant relationship over the last decade.
Back in 2005, the Indianapolis Grand Prix was little short of a disaster; fewer than half the grid started due to issues with the Michelin tyres and the fans were "treated" to six cars "racing" round.
Almost typically, Michael Schumacher and his Ferrari team had the Bridgestone tyres, started from pole and won the race.
Those were the days, eh?
Then there was the USF1 team, a dream being turned into reality by Peter Windsor et al. Despite all the fuss, garage tours and deals with YouTube, nothing every materialised and everyone carried on as though it never happened.
USF1 "launch" on SPEED TV - and not much else happened afterwards - we don't even like their logo credit: sutton-images.com
To turn to matters more current and on a positive note, come the 2012 season, stateside F1 fans will have the pleasure of a US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas and, from what we've all seen so far, it's looking good.
Of course, many of the manufacturers and other companies affiliated with Formula 1 would embrace the chance to reach out to the American markets, as do Bernie Ecclestone and friends.
Yet it seems that's not enough - now we've been hit with the news that come 2013, there will be yet another American Grand Prix in New Jersey, likely at the expense of a European event (and, most annoyingly, Valencia has a contract already).
What do you make of it - are you happy to have two USA based races?
Should F1 really be visiting the US twice in a season?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Comments and Discussion
I have (somewhat selfishly) been awaiting a GP in Portimao; superb circuit, great surroundings & European based. What more do we need!?
New jersey track will be made by Tilke, that's not good news.
On a more positive note, I like the idea of a couple US races. Too bad they didnt pick Laguna seca or watkins glen, is it because of sponsors' demands for huge hospitalities? Surely they cannot say it's because of safety and run off areas, not when they race at those street circuits Made by tilke..
If you support Formula 1's return to the US join us on Facebook and Linkedin "Friends of Formula 1 Weehawken New Jersey-West New York"
Totally agree with Doc - Watkins and Laguna Seca should be the two venues
wait a second, i thought there was a rule against a country hosting more than one gp in a season. what im scared of is eccelstone will scrap montreal in favour of new jersey. also, what the hell is it gonna be called, north american grand prix?? that just isnt right for me
The only thing that matters is whether local interest will fill the seats. Two times full house in the US is better that no spectators in Istanbul, Shanghai and Bahrein.
Nope!
The New Jersey race will be called the Grand Prix of America
Austin will be United States Grand Prix
I am all for another street track
@chfan06. There is not really a rule against two races in a country. it's just some argument that Ecclestone used in the past to get rid of the GP Imola which actually was a 2nd Italian GP. Also Spain has two GP's (Barcelona and Valencia) but one is acalles the GP of Europe so it doesn't sound like they're both within the Spanish borders.
@ Doc, I agree that another Tilke circuit is the last thing we need. The New Jersey track should be a streetcourse. It sounds spectacular but when Tilke does the design it will most likely not look like a real streetcourse. Look at Valencia, there was never an exciting race though it is held in the harbour area instead of the nearby racetrack. Run off areas are so wide you can land a Boeing 747 in it. A real streetcourse should punish immediatly if you make a mistak, just like Monaco. An inch too wide means you hit the barrier.
i dont see a problem with 2 USA GPs, the US is huge on motor sports, and can have a big impact fan wise on F1, hense why Bernie wants 2 GP over there, for marketing reasons.
That aside, i think a second GP over at south america would be nice, maybe the return of an argentinian GP or something like that. im a ver advocate F1 fan, i save money year after year so i can attend more than 2 GPs every year, since im south american its always Brazil and somewhere else (ive had the priviledge of attending all of them over the years), but it would be nice to be able to attend a different one that brazil down here, i would even take a mexico GP, i know its not south america but close enough. whats nice about the 2 US GP is that the US is also close, closer than europe, asia and the middle east.
cant wait to attend both the US GPs, Austin more that the NJ track since that one is gonna be a tilke track and i kindda hate those.
As an F1 fan just a bit south of Jersey I'm all for it! Baltimore recently had success with a Indy Car street track around its harbor. F1 should use that venue some day... i wish
.
How have the locals taken to the news?
Not sure how accurate it is, but this gives a great idea of how the NJ track will look (made in rFactor)
@veritas On paper and from simulator previews the New Jersey track looks unexpectedly good. Could be a good track from tilke at last? Still, i'll wait and see, as even Valencia didn't look that bad on paper. And then...
Didn't see much about Austin though. Any ideas?
There's tilke's hand in Austin as well! Fingers crossed though..