Looks like F1 is coming to Jersey!



Track will probably stink but heck - I don't have to travel so far now..




Speed TV on Friday said it will interrupt its regularly scheduled programming on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. Eastern to "bring audiences live coverage of a special announcement regarding the future of Formula One Grand Prix racing in the United States."
The broadcast is expected to be the formal announcement of the previously rumored New Jersey F1 race that will take place in view of the Manhattan skyline, probably in 2013 and likely paired with the Montreal F1 race.
The effort to bring the race to a temporary street-circuit in Weehawken and West New York in New Jersey is headed by gentleman racer Leo Hindery Jr., who is the former head of the YES network, and who is married to Speed TV executive Patti Wheeler, daughter of former Speedway Motorsports Inc. executive and legendary promoter Humpy Wheeler.
A well-regarded NASCAR executive is rumored to be joining the effort, though that announcement may or may not come on Tuesday.
The race is expected to complement the already-announced U.S. Grand Prix scheduled to debut in November 2012 in Austin, Texas, as well as a race planned for Mexico.


Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/2011...#ixzz1bTeUyI7q

 

Good Golly Miss Molly!

I thought that this project (Jersey/NYC F1 venue) was cast out with the dirty bath water some time ago!

I still have not heard anything concerning the rumblings of Austin's issues with promoter Helmund since that press release awhile back.

They seemed in trouble and now this news arrives on our doorstep...

Strange days indeed... quite peculiar!

 

The teams better hire swat teams to guard the paddock during the race weekend, lest Tony Soprano and his crew liberating the teams of their fancy gear...

 

Can't believe how much "thank you's and pat on the,backs" there was during the news conference! Saw the first 40 minutes and then had to get back to work.

Track looks half way decent for what they have to,work with. Great elevation change! Might be best to get up high on the Palisades Pkwy and watch from there since its,avery elongated course..

 

NJ still has a along way to go to make it happen. Hopefully it will work out.

 

Crap. Another street course.

 

I came across this article and was wondering if anyone had heard any news concerning the status of the USGP in TX?

F1 panel approves name changes, 2012 calendar

Nov.4 (GMM) The F1 Commission on Thursday approved name changes for three formula one teams ahead of the 2012 season.

Next year, Team Lotus will become Caterham, Renault will be called Lotus, and Virgin will adopt the name of its Russian supercar partner Marussia.

The changes - voted on by the 26 members including Bernie Ecclestone, Jean Todt, race promoters, teams, manufacturers and sponsors - are pending the approval of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council meeting in December.

Also discussed in Geneva was the 2012 calendar, with events in Austin, Korea and Bahrain reportedly in doubt and Turkey apparently hoping to slot back in with a reduced sanctioning fee.

But a source close to Texas' scheduled 2012 US grand prix reports that the F1 Commission confirmed next year's calendar as originally published by the FIA.

Still the first US grand prix in Texas could be delayed a year until 2013, according to the latest rumours and reports.

It is believed the Austin venue, where permits for vertical construction have only just been issued, will be discussed during Thursday's F1 Commission meeting in Geneva.

Bernie Ecclestone is reported to have said in India last weekend that he believes there are "issues" within the group that is organising the 2012 race.

KVUE News visited the site this week and reported "business as usual".

But as for F1 chief executive Ecclestone, he has "left the door open", according to F1 insider Don Batson of International Marketing Development.

"I think he (Ecclestone) is talking about the fact that there is some conflict in Austin, that there has been a construction slowdown that is kind of hard to explain other than there being some kind of a conflict internally," agreed Autoweek's Steven Cole.

The rumour now is that the inaugural 2012 race date could be pushed back to 2013.

"It (2012) is certainly doable for next year," Batson insisted, "although they do have a lot to accomplish."

Cole said he will be waiting for news to emerge from the F1 Commission on Thursday.

"(There) could be good news for Austin, could be bad news, I'm guessing there will probably be no news because as far as I know they still have time to make the November (2012) date," he said.

The Circuit of the Americas organisation did not comment.

 

Unfortunate when there is such a tremendous number of permanent courses lining up to pay the sanction fee and host a race. In other words, it is either that or is doesn't happen...

 

Good Lord--what an awful prospect:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/111120...-williams.html

I can see the skanks lining up...

 

Well now, hold on deb...

I know that Raikkonen has as much appeal as a bowl of cold oatmeal in the interview room but on the track he can prove to be quite entertaining as he plys his craft (that is assuming his heart is in it).

Williams will need to provide him with the proper equipment (doubtful) if we are to see some spirited driving from Kimi.

Otherwise if the car is not up to the challenge, he will be just another backmarker (look at poor Ruebens). He will circulate around the circuit and collect a paycheck, nothing more.

It will be good for publicity and I can see ole Bernie just licking his chops at the prospect of making more $$$$$$$...


Now "post-race / party" Kimi is another animal altogether...

Alcohol only helps to fuel this guy and I have no doubt that you're correct as the "ladies" will be lining up to have a go with him and be seen in the limelight.

Can Paris Hilton be far behind?

 

Better not finalize those plans to the USGP in Austin just yet...


Ecclestone Casts Doubt On 2012 Calendar

Associated Press | Posted November 12, 2011 Abu Dhabi (ARE)

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone expressed doubts on Saturday over whether the 2012 U.S Grand Prix will go ahead as scheduled in Austin, Texas.

Formula One was expected to return to the U.S. after a five-year absence. Indianapolis last hosted a race in 2007. Before that, Phoenix hosted three Grand Prix events from 1989 to 1991, while Watkins Glen in upstate New York hosted the F1 from 1961 to 1980.

Asked about the November race's prospects, Ecclestone said: "I don't know. We're trying. It's a bit of an uphill struggle there at the moment.

"There are two parties, one is building a track, the other has the contract and they've forgotten to talk to each other."

Red McCombs, former owner of the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Vikings and one of the chief financial backers of the race in Austin, said last month the U.S. should be able to support two races after the five-year drought.

Ecclestone said there were "no problems" with the Grand Prix scheduled in New Jersey in 2013 and also said that next year's Bahrain Grand Prix would definitely go ahead despite ongoing trouble in the country.

 

Sabre, if the Austin F1 collapses, don't say I didn't tell you!

As for Kimi, I don't have a problem with his driving, if, as you say, his heart is in it. It's the constant party-animal-I'm-so-drunk-I-can't-stand-up bit I object to. I can always hit the mute button for the after-race interviews. Since he won't be on the winning team, it won't happen often.

 

I could be that Kimi going to Williams this year is just a stopgap and that he expects to sign with a team further up the grid the following year. If his contract is for one year, it would provide fuel for this line of reasoning. For example, what if Schumacher does the final year of his contract and decides not to continue? Empty seat at Mercedes. Etc, etc...

 

Hurray! We got to hear a different anthem yesterday and it was refreshing. Happy to see LH win but any of the top 5 would have been nice at this point. But that was one weird retirement for Vettel!

 

It darned well was wasn't it. I wonder what the heck happened there?

 

I think they pinned it down to a suspension failure. So the susp went off first and punctured the tire.

 

Damn it! Another embarassing blow to F1 in the USA...

Bye bye Austin....looked like it was going to be a great track.

 

I always felt Bernie Ecclestone is playing Austin to get a better bargaining position for the venue that he really wants: NYC.

 

The story just keeps on rolling...

More news on the fate of the USGP...


US GP has one week to save 2012 race - Ecclestone

Nov.18 (GMM) Organisers of the US grand prix have one week to rescue their event before it is scratched from next year's calendar.

The deadline has been imposed by F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, according to the Associated Press.

"If they want to come back to us, if it (a contract) is not signed before the end of next week, I suppose it won't be on the calendar next year," he said.

It is reported that Ecclestone wants a letter of credit or a guarantor for the organisers' $25 million race sanctioning fee.

"We have a World Motor Sport Council meeting on the seventh of December and we need to prepare everything before that," said the 81-year-old Briton.

In reality, the deadline will almost certainly be missed, with the Circuit of the Americas announcing that it is setting its sights on hosting an inaugural event in 2013 instead.

"We know the US market is important to the teams and their sponsors and 2013 certainly allows time for the Circuit of the Americas to be ready," the organisation said in a statement.

The project's collapse occurred apparently because of disagreements between the original promoter Tavo Hellmund, and the circuit.

"I think somebody needs to jump on a plane and go see (Ecclestone) and make him happy," Hellmund told reporters on Thursday.

Without saying it specifically, it is clear he blames the project's investors.

"It's really not a Tavo problem. It's really an investor problem," Texas comptroller Susan Combs told the local Austin American Statesman newspaper.

"The state has no role in saving something like this," she added.


"It's all about the money... Show me the money!" - Bernard Ecclestone...

 

Bernie is dangling the carrot again... any buyers?

ECCLESTONE FLOTATION TALKS PUTS POTENTIAL F1 BUYERS ON ALERT

20 November, 2011 / jamesallenonf1.com

Bernie Ecclestone has again raised the possibility of the commercial arm of F1 being floated on the stock market in Asia.

The 81 year old billionaire has told the London Telegraph that he thinks a floation in Asia, either in Singapore or possibly Hong Kong would be a good step for the business and allow private equity firm CVC to make a complete or partial exit.

“If I wanted to dispose of the company today I would float it in Singapore or Hong Kong,” Ecclestone said, adding that if CVC wants an exit, “it would be better to float the company in Singapore than sell it”.
But that does not mean its going to happen or is even likely to happen. It’s just standard practice when looking to create a market for a sale. There are a few parties interested in acquiring the company which holds the rights to F1, from NewsCorp, which still has an open dossier on it through to Middle East sovereign wealth funds. Even some teams have suggested that them owning a stake in the sport would be desirable and would bind them in.

Today’s message will put interested parties on alert and focus minds.
It is common practice in the business world with private equity firms concerning this kind of transaction. It’s a usual way of doing things – you run an auction with buyers at the same time as preparing for an IPO. It keeps competitive tension between both the private buyers and the public markets.

Ecclestone has looked at flotations before but it didn’t work out due to EU competition issues.

 

I think you can pretty well kiss off F1 in Texas. Not only did Bernie seem pretty pessamistic when asked in Brazil yesterday, here are a couple of articles I got in my inbox today (scroll down a bit on the second link):

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-ta..._campaign=News Alert: Subscriptions

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-po..._campaign=News Alert: Subscriptions

Besides, Bernie got New York/New Jersey, which is what he wanted in the first place. There's NO incentive for him to work on Texas, and he probably has absolutely no skin in the game.

Sorry, guys...

 

I think I can remember exactly what Bernie said... "Yes, they are just missing two things - the money and a pen"...

Classic.

 

No, Bernie never has any skin in any game...

 

I think you can kiss off F1 in NJ as well. Have you seen all the houses and apartments adjoining the proposed track? All lawsuits waiting to happen. A whole lotta NIMBY.

 

Meanwhile, major tracks in California, Wisconsin, and New York--tracks that would understand and appreciate F1--are denied.