I bet Bernie couldn't care less if New Yorkers want it. It's the TV revenues he's interested in. All he has to do is sucker a promoter into giving him $30M or so for the privilege of losing money to put it on.

 

I wonder if the Mayor has even been consulted. City Council might have something to say, too. I can't imagine that tying up the most congested part of one of the world's largest cities for a couple of weeks would be too popular. It's enough of a problem in Monaco, and they have it down to a science (and take great pride in their heritage). And Monaco's not nearly as busy!

Interesting article:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/270420...is-change.html

 

Hmmmmmmm, Ben's curious how it was "damaged". I mean, they have a spare tub that they can build up, why didn't they just do that if that car was so bad? Fishy.

It almost sounds like they're making excuses. Did they use this chassis in testing that had a longer wheelbase? Doesn't make much sense to test with one wheelbase and race with another. And I cant imagine it's very easy to lengthen a chassis that is already assembled.

It's not all adding up...........I hate math.

 

It looks like they didn't have that particular chassis with them while they were on the road. They probably had chassis that were identical to his current car with them while they were moving around, I guess.

I for one, would welcome our new aero challenged overlords. I have privately thought for years that the problem with F1 racing was that it was so dependent on aero engineering. I'd say we should return to 1967 and get rid of the wings entirely, but people would call me mad.

 

My guess is they're trying to make a car that is more attuned to his driving style to see if that's what's holding him back. I suppose it's also possible there might be some smidgeon of a problem with his existing car--sort of like a "Monday" car--just because extremely small differences can make a big difference in performance.

A third possibility would be that the two cars were deliberately designed differently to allow them to make the switch if necessary, and they're now using this option.

 

I have to admit that this is one of the best forums around and the participants are smart... Very smart! I can always count on informed, astute, and thoughtful insights into the world and doings of F1. Just wanted to pass that on to you all!

Now to the matter at hand. I could not agree more with all of you on the subject of the NYC/USGP concept!

I too wonder if the mayor of NYC and the city council has been approached. You can bet that if they were, they would nix Bernie's through the streets idea. You're right Deb, what a mess of an already congested traffic grid a NYC GP would make!

I think though what Bernie the Impressario would like is to have the USGP, with NYC as a backdrop. The only way that would occur is by having it in New Jersey across the (way) harbor.

Remember what CART tried back in its heyday... a "street" race which ran through/around Giant's Stadium... there's your USGP with NYC as a backdrop!

Probably what the old troll is looking at doing, IMHO.

Interesting article online at...

http://www.manhattanstyle.com/news/n...-race-in-2012/


New York may host Formula 1 race in 2012

By: Justin McGuire | Posted on: March 27th, 2010

Formula 1 Boss, Bernie Ecclestone wants to host a Formula 1 race in New York City. He is currently working hard to fulfill his dream. Bernie expects that New York will host an F1 Grand Prix in 2012. Bernie Ecclestone hopes that his 40 year old dream will finally come true.

This is not the first time the Formula 1 boss has pushed so hard for a New York Grand Prix. He made a similar push in the eighties to include New York and Rome as venues but failed to set up races in both cities. This time around he is working to get New York City and Rome on the F1 calendar for 2012.


Bernie Eccelstone said that “I hope the race will be held for the first time in 2012. I am trying to host the race in New Jersey opposite Manhattan with skyscrapers in the background. The race circuit is fifteen minutes from the center of New York City. Its wonderful to host a race there.


If Bernie Ecclestone succeeds it would be a huge boost for Formula 1 in the United States. There has not been any F1 race in United States since 2007. The last race to take place was the Indianapolis Grand Prix, which was won by Lewis Hamilton.


According to experts, Bernie’s big push to hold a race in New York City is to strengthen Formula 1 roots in United States. Despite the huge popularity of Formula 1 around the world, it still comes a distant second to NASCAR in United States. There were many contenders for the US Grand Prix but Bernie discarded all of them since he is obsessed with New York.


There are also some reports that he was desperate to host a race in New York next year. He believes that the presence of Michael Schumacher would be a great marketing boost to the New York GP.

 

I just wrote to the Mayor and a few Manhattan city council members. I'll let you know if I get any information.

 

NYC as a backdrop. How about the swampland across the river from Manhatten, and call it the Ellis Island GP? Or they can pull a Ceasar's Palace trick and set up a course in the parking lot of the Meadowlands stadium.

Bernie is such a massive freaking idiot! The US needs a race that people will actually want to go to, where race weekend won't have to compete with a bajillion other things. I wouldn't go to a USGP in the NYC area if I had free tickets and rooms. Hell, if he wants a great backdrop, design a course on the old Alameda Naval Air Station. You'll have San Francisco as a back drop. Makes as much sense. The same incredible traffic problems.

 

True--actually, the only track that is centrally located, has hosted F1 in recent years, AND has the experience and ability to handle massive crowds is in the middle of Indiana...

Elkhart Lake would be close behind if it could be converted to Bernie's specs. At least it has had CART and American LeMans races in recent years. Heck, it's even hosting NASCRAP in June!

I don't know what would need to be done to upgrade it, but seems to me that Road America at least would have an incentive to put the cash into it. Then again, Bernie's likely to change specs to purple paving or something.

 

It would never happen, but what about Sebring? It supports the biggest ALMS event on the calendar, so surely it'd be able to support F1.

And what a compromise. I mean no elevation change, but the cars would have to be so softly sprung because the track is sooooo bumpy. And it's so bumpy that it's completely unlike anything else on the calendar. I'm pretty sure most of the drivers would be peeing blood the next day.

That's it, my mind is made up. USGP at Sebring!


For that matter, why don't they have a GP at Le Mans? That main straight would be absolutely, positively ridiculous. Then the teams would be able to reuse their Monza aero packages. The overtaking would be rampant!

 

You hit the target dead center!

Race through the streets of NYC is a race that I would never attend... If the troll wants a race in New York then head over to Watkins Glen and do it right!

Yeah Bernie has a track in a metro area, centrally located and upgraded to handle F1's needs... But then there is the issue of $$$$$ and dealing with Tony George...

Though it is close to me (relatively speaking) I would rather not see the USGP park itself at IMS again... the track is just not suited for road racing... too Mickey Mouse for me

My choice for the new home of the USGP is Road America!

Elkhart Lake is a drivers circuit a truly beautiful, picturesque venue. It is centrally located, within an hours drive from a metro area (Milwaukee), hosts world class lodging in the town/resort facilities of Elkhart Lake and Kohler. Also as Deb has mentioned it has hosted world class professional series like ALMS and CART. Whatever upgrades Ecclestone requests though might prove to be a hurdle. What's not to like though? It would be a great home for the USGP!

Ouch! Not sure that Sebring is the best choice... I can see way too many suspension failures occuring, not to mention the resulting accidents that would ensue because of it.

 

Ummmmmm, and?! The survival of the fittest, high-attrition races are always fun to watch. Kind of like the 02 Australian GP, or many of the races at the old Hockenheim.

Ha, I can see the sparks flying now.


I agree with IMS being too mickey mouse. I would have liked it more if they would have made the circuit longer and possibly used more of the oval. But that would have required fewer holes on their golf course, lol.

The lap time was just so short! And a race was what? 72 laps? But it was a heck of a place to watch a race. You could often see multiple parts of the track at one time.

 

I don't like either of the layouts.
http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-...rack-proposal/

It's unfortunate.

 

You know, I'm afraid that we (U.S. F1 fans) are going to be force fed... A street race rammed down our throats wether we like it or not!

The USGP (aka Jersey City GP) is a travesty all thanks to Bernie and his endless thirst for $$$$$$$$.

One wonders what this will cost in terms of preparation (i.e. garages, amenities, security, etc.)? I wonder if the city council and citizens of Jersey City really know what they're getting into?

 

USGP = United States Guido Prix.

 

Interesting article:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/300420...ang-china.html

And, don't say I didn't warn you:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/040520...-alonso-d.html

 

I think Bernie will quickly realize that people in NYC don't give a crap about racing. There aren't any Nascar races there. There aren't any Indycar races there. The closest they've got is the Glen, which is upstate......I think? And I'd bet good money that NYCers don't give two craps about the Glen either.

 

Yeah, but what about the New Jerseyans?

 

The Glen is actually in the western part of NY.

 

Thanks Gromit, Geography wasn't my strong suit. That's why I went into engineering, lol.

But New Jerseyans are still NYCers. Just like anybody that lives north of I-80 is from Chicago. I don't care if you live in Dubuque, IA.....it's still Chicago! It's just one of the far out burbs.

Hooray for the European season starting. Friday P2 tomorrow morning!

 

Holy cow! Very interested to see if these cars make a jump in performance.

Traditionally, Ross Brawn isn't one that embraces radical changes like this. It normally seems like he follows a very pragmatic process....as well as the KISS method.

It first I thought it was some kind of radical F-duct concept, but then was like, "how the hell does the motor get any....OOoooohhhhh."

 

Nice article on Speed about the possible reasons for the demise of USF1...

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/artic...icas-comeback/

 

Anderson goes into the Idiots Hall of Fame with Bernie and Max.

Even IF they'd gotten the car done, there would have been next to no US based sponsorship. No US driver, no US sponsorship. And no European company was going to sponsor a US team.

 

You're right. It's not like we're one of the world's largest commercial markets, or anything like that!

 

Anderson surely gets my vote for inclusion into the Idiots Hall of Fame or Hall of Infamy!

What an ego this man has...

Truly he has no shame and is the master of the cliche with sound-bytes like:

(Anderson said US F1 was still intact despite having fired its employes)... "The entity,” he said, “is moving forward.”

Anderson blamed the poor result on the fact he’d hired people from highly budgeted F1 teams with several hundred employees. “We didn’t want to try to out-Ferrari Ferrari,” he said.

Anderson was coy on the lack of a working F1 chassis saying, "We like to keep thing close. I like to think of USF1 as akin to Lockheed's famous Skunkworks... our operation is very much like the Skunkworks."

Ken Anderson should have been a snake-oil salesman or a politician!

Correct on all counts!

It is a real travesty and his (Ken Anderson's) actions have made an already difficult situation (namely creating and finding funding/sponsorship for a US Formula One team) all the harder. His arrogance mirrors that of Wall Street financiers and bank CEOs.