Stefano Domenicali says that Ferrari is very keen for Formula 1 to get back into the United States.
“The American market is important, and we want to go back to the United States,” he said. “Getting Canada back was a step forward but we also want to be in the US. But we also want the best possible venue and it must be promoted in the right way, with the right television coverage. We are encouraging Bernie Ecclestone to work in this direction.”
joeblogsf1 
Yes, please return to the US, but find and upgrade a better track than Indy.
Bravo Stefano!
I have heard similar statements from Martin Whitmarsh in the recent past, but it is even better to see the head of F1’s most popular, successful, and famous team speak out in favor of a return to the USA as soon as possible. Indeed, for all the fans who say that F1 should not race here, how can they argue with the people in charge of the teams who realize the true economic and sporting significance of the American market?
Canada coming back is a great thing. A return to America- at a quality venue- will add that much more to the sport in so many aspects 🙂
Unfortunately, Indy’s flat track and oval seating is the ONLY US track ready to host a F1 race. In addition, its location near the middle of the country makes it ideal for reaching the most people vs. a track on one of the coasts. Ideally, I would like to see someone upgrade Road America to F1 standards. One big problem for RA is no local hotels for F1 and the access roads to the track would need MAJOR upgrading.
DM,
Which track would you suggest. As we’ve seen with Valencia, even with Monaco, street circuits are uninspired and aren’t conducive to overtaking.
I guess one of the west coast tracks might work, but they Infineon, and Laguna Seca are both more than an hour from a major city, and in the relative boondocks.
Elkhart Lake, Mid Ohio, and Watkins Glen are also fairly isolated, and I would assume that these courses would require some work to make them pass FIA muster. Florida tracks Nevada, would be pretty hot if you tried to coordinate the race to partner with Canada, and if one chose a venue in the Western US it would be quite a drive cross country or require an additional flight across the country, where one in the eastern half of the country would have less transportation costs.
One question was the racing at Indy awful? The Michelin debacle could be attributed to the tires and the FIA not wanting to set up a chicane, as far as I recall.
Plus, Indy has capacity for more people than most of the tracks on the calendar, and definitely has enough hotel and lodging capacity. The other advantage is that only Daytona has as much identification with racing in the US, compared to Indianapolis. (although the Indianapolis/IMS brand had been tarnished, it still has the heritage/identification with motorsports). Plus, although it requires flights from the west coast, it is within an 8 hour drive from close to 50% of the population and the track is less than 15 miles/20minute drive from the airport.
So convenience, FIA approval, brand identification, and lodging availability aren’t issues.
I don’t think that Indy is a great town, but what of some of the towns or cities around other historic tracks.
It sometimes boggles the mind that an astute businessman like Bernard Charles Ecclestone has never sorted the American market. No doubt BCE has grown the brand over the years, but it seems that F1 has missed its chance in the US. NASCAR is more popular than ever, and I can’t see Americans gravitating towards F1 any time soon. F1 is often viewed as the opposite of everything that NASCAR stands for: competitive egalitarianism, fan access, and driver interaction. F1 is remote, European, and elitist. You have to bring it down to the American fan’s level, not try to bring him up to yours.
Just do a deal with Chris Pook
Yes, but the best near term bet is a street course. There are no suitable permanent venues in the US at this time, and in the recession, cities and corporations are not inclined to put up the millions it would take to plan and pull off a street course either. I am afraid we are several years away from seeing F1 in the USA. One idea that was floated a few years ago was to set up a road course at old NY World Fair Grounds in Flusing Meadows, NY where the US Tennis association has their stadiums, but I have not heard anything about that lately.
George,
For me, Indy is a bland track, no elevation changes nor great corners. All that you say about its location, lodging, and such is correct.
Watching the race at the track is fine, the sensation of speed and noise is exciting. On the other hand, watching the race on TV is very boring. This may be why some people decided not to attend the race: “boring race on TV, why waste money going to the track?”
I would like F1 to race at a proper road course. Laguna Seca would be fine. The track is dramatic and would translate the speed and thrill to the TV audience. MotoGP runs there and F1 could see how they deal with public transportation. Most Americans are use to driving to get to places. People who fly into San Francisco will have a great city enjoy.
I am happy that F1 is back in North America
Indy’s a great town! Maybe not a great international metropolis, nor the cultural epicenter that can excite billionaire globetrotters, and thus all the F1-insiders went up to Chicago for the evenings during race weekend. Indianapolis Motor Speedway has the best facilities for the F1 level in the U.S. It’s a central location for fans. But no one would mistake Indianapolis for Monaco. Still I gotta stick up for the hometown!
The F1 Circus in America needs a proper Circuit and not a 1.9 mile street circuit in the heart of NY or Chicago or wherever.
What F1 needs in the states is so obvious and i cant understand how nobody notices this yet.
Question? What American City has teh most money (Per Capita) Las Vegas
What City has the most exciting nightlife and Hotel Glamour? Las Vegas
What City could afford to build a metropolis Hotel and Racetrack just off the Strip? Las Vegas
And no i am not saying to run the race in the stupid parking lot at caesars palace like it was done last time F1 visited Las Vegas. Im talking about a Prestine Circuit being built to the best of American Standards. The fact is that Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen, Road America, and Sebring are all fantastic Circuits, however they are nowhere near as smooth in terms of bumps as Indy and the rest of the F1 schedule which is 1 reason why they wont go there.
If vegas could build a track that had brand new and as smooth as a babies butt, Tell me now who in the entire world would not want to attend or watch that race? Cmon You Vegas gazilionaires! Team up and Build this for the rest of America!!!
Jotham, I forgot that I put the “not a great town” in my post, and didn’t mean to demean naptown, just in comparison with the cities that are mentioned for some of the races and excitement level accompanying in those towns/cities for visitors, NYC, SF, LA, LV for US cities have more going on than Indy, as does,Monaco, Singapore, Shanghai, Milan, Melbourne, Valencia (boring races great city), budapest, and Montreal.
Overall give me Indy, aside from Long Beach and Watkins Glen no other venue has history with F1 over such a span, It couldn’t be more boring than the new track, Turkey, Valencia, or even Singapore. If Singapore didn’t have the night race, would it be that interesting?
I’m guessing the most likely permanent racetrack that would be capable of handling an F1 race in the US, other than Indy, would be Miller Motorsports park. It is however in the middle of nowhere, and the track is flat and lifeless. Not sure how the grandstand situation is there either.
I am not sure how close it would be to F1 standards, but Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL is a beautiful circuit. They host the Gran Prix of Alabama with the Indy cars and also the Grand Am series as well. The track is a 2.3 mile, 16-turn course and reminds me of tracks in Europe.
Here is the website: http://www.barbermotorsports.com/
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