Formula One cars could be racing with a backdrop of the Manhattan skyline if Bernie Ecclestone gets his way.
The F1 boss wants to help set up a New York Grand Prix in 2012.
"(It would be) in front of Manhattan in New Jersey, with the skyscrapers in the background," Ecclestone said in
Thursday's Gazzetta dello Sport. "Fifteen minutes from the center of New York to the circuit would be marvelous."
Ecclestone appears to be interested in widening F1's footprint and appeal in the United States. On March 15, Indianapolis
Motor Speedway officials confirmed that they were in discussions with the series to return to the Brickyard. Ecclestone
had told an English publication that "we'd like to get back there," referring to Indianapolis, possibly as soon
as 2011.
There hasn't been a grand prix in the United States since 2007, when Lewis Hamilton won in Indianapolis to signal the
end to eight years at the circuit.
Before that, Phoenix hosted three grand prix from 1989 to 1991, while Watkins Glen in upstate New York hosted the F1 from
1961 to 1980.
Ecclestone also left the door open for former Renault owner Flavio Briatore to return to the series. The Italian was banned
for life after an attempt at race-fixing at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. He overturned the ban in a French court, but Formula
One's governing body is appealing the decision.
Briatore recently ruled out a return to the series.
"Why not?" Ecclestone said. "It depends on what he wants to do, but I think he could have a role promoting
Formula One."
The 79-year-old Ecclestone also said he has no intention of leaving Formula One any time soon.
"I am happy to continue. I'm well and I'm enjoying myself," he said. "When I'm not, then I will
stop. At the moment we are going through some difficulties and when things are going badly you should lead from the front
to try and improve them."
IBJNews
Formula One boss eyes New York for grand prix
IBJ Staff and Associated Press
March 25, 2010
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Well, we could blame ABC because they haven't advertised the INDY 500....not during the HUGE TV rating shows like Dancing with the Stars (of which IICS driver Helio Castroneves is a former champion). He never won a CART championship, did he?
We could blame the new car...because it's ugly and has a V6 that has less horsepower than the pace car. CART (to my knowledge) never had that problem with cars they presented at the speedway years 1979 through 1995.
We could blame the fencepost, but that would be crass. Or maybe Danica? Or maybe Jean Alesi....or boost increases from constant rules tampering. Maybe we could blame Penske who still is winning everything as usual.
Maybe we can blame the world for not understanding the the great Indy gods who regularly twist things in such ways that we mere mortals must only accept, but never question.
So, it does beg the question....who is responsible if the series and Indy continues to flounder? Are the responsibilities so diffuse and complicated that no one really is to blame for it's fall from grace?
I urge the speedway to sign on for 7 more years of ABC coverage and 7 more years of NBC Sports Network coverage. It been win-win so far....*cough* *cough* -
"They're problem was thinking they were bigger than the institution that made their existence possible. That turned out to be a mistake."
The above quote made by Disciple shows his continued inability to grasp a simple concept: CART is dead. Twice. It provided a brilliant stage for some of the best open wheel racing in all the past century of racing. It's gone DOOD, get over it.
PLEASE explain, Mr. Disciple of INDYCAR, why you continually hammer home, even on the eve of the 2012 Indy 500, this same point...over and over? Seriously, why does the legacy of CART haunt you so much?
The same problems that affected the sport for over a century of AOW racing STILL affect it now. Your answers (or lack thereof) belittle the very sport you claim to love. Indy rots in your hands yet you request status quo. You negate salient points with drivel...always.
Indy is not going to die. But, it is dying...are you willing to accept that? "Indy is a hot mess"....it's true. Yet you want it that way? What is wrong with you? -
I just want to make sure I am reading this right - Wellpoint is eliminating 112 employees. Wellpoint is a customer of Repucare. Repucare is creating 82 jobs. I sure hope they are hiring Wellpoint employees. Does not make sense!
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Triscuts...love um!
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Of course the fair will go on. Don't you big city reporters understand county fairs? Get outside the beltway and see what life is really like!
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-Jason
Belle Isle now supports racing, plus it also
borders the city of Windsor, in Ontario, Canada.
Bernie needs to go, period! Not racing at IMS or any other venue for that matter all goes back to him not getting the $$$ he asked for. Teams are being asked and then forced to cut budgets, but Ernie just continues to push for more and more money, most of which ends up in his pockets. I am amazed the powers in F1 keep putting up with him.
Bernie needs to go, period! Not racing at IMS or any other venue for that matter all goes back to him not getting the $$$ he asked for. Teams are being asked and then forced to cut budgets, but Ernie just continues to push for more and more money, most of which ends up in his pockets. I am amazed the powers in F1 keep putting up with him.
Still hopeful (foolishly so, I know)F1 will return to IMS soon. Would love to hear the conversation between Cowboy Bernard and F1 Bernie during negotiations...yee haw.
Obviously, he wants to create panic so people will give him the store and attract the race to their venue. But equally obvious is the fact that he is painfully obvious. He does this every time with every venue.
Obviously, he wants to create panic so people will give him the store and attract the race to their venue. But equally obvious is the fact that he is painfully obvious. He does this every time with every venue.
Hats off to Tony George for attracting this race in the first place, and then for standing up to our buddy Bernie.