U.S. Grand Prix To Return?

April 26th, 2010

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Could the Indianapolis Motor Speedway host the United States Grand Prix again? Former IMS CEO Tony George had a meeting with Bernie Ecclestone at the Chinese Grand Prix to discuss bringing F-1 back to the U.S. However, Jeff Belskus, who replaced George, said that George was not representing IMS.

Belskus told the Indianapolis Business Journal that the Speedway would be interested in having a F-1 race again if it could be financially viable. The city’s merchants would certainly welcome F-1 back.

As for rumors that George, who has nothing to do with IMS now, might be talking to Ecclestone about taking F-1 elsewhere in America, the Indianapolis Business Journal stated that Belskus does not think George would work against Hulman-George business interests.

“I believe we have a good relationship with Tony,” Belskus said. “That’s how I’d characterize it.”

New IRL CEO Randy Bernard commented: “If it (F-1) is good for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the city and the state, who am I to make a formal opinion to the contrary? But if it failed…the last time it was here, why would it come back?”

The problem for any event trying to get onto the calendar is that with Korea and India in the mix, there are already 20 potential races in 2011, and that is just about the maximum that the teams can cope with.

- Pirelli has thrown its hat, make that tire, into the ring as the Italian company has joined Michelin and Avon Cooper who have already announced bids to supply tires to F-1 next year. The question is, would there be just a single tire supplier or will there be a tire war? And will the teams continue to get free tires or will they have to pay in 2011?

- Since 1966, 100 teams have come and gone in F-1. That startling statistic from Autoweek magazine serves as a stark warning to the FIA and the current teams as they consider cost cutting and the long-term regulations for the sport. Ferrari and McLaren are the only two teams that have stayed in the series since 1966.

- The lack of overtaking in F-1 is a problem that needs to be addressed. Unless your name happens to be Lewis Hamilton. The McLaren driver has pulled off an amazing 32 passing moves in the first four races.

Hamilton showed his passing prowess in GP2, and when he came to F-1 in 2007 he carried on getting past cars in decisive moves often carried out in corners where nobody else would consider making an attempt.

“I always race my heart out, always race to the maximum, so I guess that’s what happens,” he said. “I’m not afraid of overtaking other drivers; I actually love a decent battle out on the track. I’m pleased that I’ve been able to fight in these past few races.

- Minor mistakes are creating major consequences because of tight competition this season. “The difference between the cars is so small,” Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali said. “It is unbelievably small and if you do a little mistake while you are driving, you move from first or second to seventh or eighth position.”

- The Serbian Stefan GP team has launched an all out campaign to enter F-1 in 2011.Team owner Zoran Stefanovic announced that the Stefan Technology Park, complete with a race track, will be built outside of Belgrade. The team says it is talking to a number of drivers including Jacques Villeneuve, Kazuki Nakajima, Ralf Schumacher, Takuma Sato, Christian Klien plus rally ace Sebastien Loeb.

- Virgin had an embarrassing “race” in China as both cars failed to even start. Timo Glock must be kicking himself for turning down an offer from Renault and signing for Virgin for this season.

- Michael Schumacher’s former teammate Jos Verstappen had this to say about Shumi’s comeback. “Maybe he has lost his feeling for driving during the three years of his retirement,” he told a Dutch newspaper. “What we are now seeing is that Schumacher is an ordinary man of flesh and blood and that even he cannot conduct magic.”

- Fernando Alonso’s audacious pass on Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa on the narrow pit entry road in China has not caused any friction between the duo.

“I don’t know, he was inside so there was nothing really I could do there,” Massa said when NSSN asked him if he thought the move was a bit sneaky or unfair. “So in terms of the rules, it should be okay because I saw another car doing the same. You need to ask (race director) Charlie (Whiting) not me.”

Alonso and Massa both downplayed the incident.

“This episode is creating a stir just because it happened between two teammates,” Alonso said. “If the other car would have been green or gray, we’d all be celebrating this maneuver, but instead we’re just losing time with polemics, where there is nothing to say. If someone wants to make a fuss, it definitely won’t ruin the spirit of Ferrari.”

Still, one has to wonder if Massa won’t firmly shut the door the next time Alonso tries a pass just to make sure his good mate knows he’s not a pushover.