Formula 1 coming to Austin, TX!!!

http://jalopnik.com/5547399/

and there was much rejoicing

I kept waiting for the punchline.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/5/10824.html

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/83873

From other news besides jalopnik....

Bernie is not making any friends with some of his "for the first time" comments. It's not like Belgium or England have either made a location purely for Formula 1...

So, any speculation where the money is coming from to support this?

E-

While I'm excited, I'll believe it when they break ground. Why on earth they chose to build a new facility instead of renovating one of our many already great courses such as Laguna Seca is beyond me. Though it has been rumored that F1 has east-coast fever when it comes to the US

In reply to alfadriver:

"For the first time in the history of Formula One in the United States, a world-class facility will be purpose-built to host the event."

key part is "in the United States"

In reply to sobe_death:

maybe because texas, and austin in particular could use a world-class roadcourse facility so people don't have to drive to MSR cresson or MSR houston to do a track day.

Strizzo wrote: In reply to alfadriver: "For the first time in the history of Formula One in the United States, a world-class facility will be purpose-built to host the event." key part is "in the United States"

Right- which ignores All of the tracks that previously had run, and also places us on equal ground as China, Abu Dabi, and the rest of the generic tracks recently built to run the F1 Circus.

Why does that matter in the world of Spa, Monza, Silverstone, etc. That was a point that didn't need to be made, IMHO.

And it also hints that the facility will be a collosal waste of money, since it's only purpose in life is to host a single race weekend, once a year. Yes, I know that's not what may happen, but that's how it reads.

Well, at least I don't need to worry about driving to Indy anytime soon for an F1 race. The only facility in the world that's capable of holding 200k people quite comfortably for an F1 race (and still look empty).

I digress.

I'll buy it when they actually fly to the US for the race, and the tickets I may buy won't have to be refunded.

E

I wasn't trying to imply that they don't need a world class road course facility. Everyone should have one

I'm just wondering how this worked out instead of using a "famous name" course and just revamping it to F1 standards

watch out... going into the sand trap might carry a death sentence...

sobe_death wrote: While I'm excited, I'll believe it when they break ground. Why on earth they chose to build a new facility instead of renovating one of our many already great courses such as Laguna Seca is beyond me.

Probably because "they" (the guys with the money who put this together) are in Texas :) Maybe Austin's involved in it as well.

It's a new track! this is good! I'd heard rumors of this a couple of weeks ago, glad to hear it's real.

Who us paying for this?

Did they underestimate the power and didication of the Austin area environmentist and anti-growth movement?

Will the grid girls wear cowboy boots and hats?

alfa - i guess i was arguing your statement on the grounds that it sounded like you were saying that it had been done before, but i guess its not hip to build a new track and instead make people from texas that want to see an F1 race drive 20 hours to somewhere that the people are rude and don't appreciate the business the race brings (like jersey).

i guess people think of Texas and they don't think there is any support for motorsports that aren't roundy-round, but there is a rapidly growing motorsports population, and quite a few national autocross contenders come from the austin region every year. up until a year or two ago, you had to drive to houston, college station or Ft. Worth if you wanted to go to a track day, even now you would have to wait for an open day at harris hill or pay for membership in their club.

i'm really suprised at the negative reaction of so many people at the idea of another non-nascar track in the US.

TJ wrote: Who us paying for this? Did they underestimate the power and didication of the Austin area environmentist and anti-growth movement? Will the grid girls wear cowboy boots and hats?

looks like they already have a cool track in Austin...

http://www.drivewayaustin.com/track-maps/grand-prix-course

will this work out like Indy did? they spend a ton of money and several years reworking the track for the F1 cars, then lose the race because one tire manufacturer couldn't make a tire that could hold up to the aggressive suspension settings required to make them competitive? i was almost at the point where i was starting to think that F1 wasn't so bad right up until that happened, then i realized that they were just a bunch of whiny little babies.

Strizzo wrote: alfa - i guess i was arguing your statement on the grounds that it sounded like you were saying that it had been done before, but i guess its not hip to build a new track and instead make people from texas that want to see an F1 race drive 20 hours to somewhere that the people are rude and don't appreciate the business the race brings (like jersey). i guess people think of Texas and they don't think there is any support for motorsports that aren't roundy-round, but there is a rapidly growing motorsports population, and quite a few national autocross contenders come from the austin region every year. up until a year or two ago, you had to drive to houston, college station or Ft. Worth if you wanted to go to a track day, even now you would have to wait for an open day at harris hill or pay for membership in their club. i'm really suprised at the negative reaction of so many people at the idea of another non-nascar track in the US.

I have nothing against Texas.

I'd have the same reaction that we were going to hold a race in two years, for the following 9 on a track that doesn't exist anywhere in the US. The cubic $$ that have been poured into many of the world's new F1 hosts come from the government, not private hands, so I'm wondering where the money is coming from. And based on the cost it will be to build, I highly doubt many smaller clubs will have enough money to rent the track on weekends, so it's not really going to help, except gain some exposure. (many of the "club tracks" are too expensive for our club to rent)

That, and the crack about the first time track- come on, Bernie- as much as we all don't like tony, he put that infield in, and the pagoda, and the pit side garages in JUST FOR YOU. Plus, the facility was always at the top of the top in terms of ticket sales, since it's SO big. Maybe he didn't like the idea of being the 3rd most important race held at the track. The statement seems very "burn bridges" to me.

Indy was a great host, I thought.

Never, ever, going to be built. Oh wait, where's Bruton Smith.....

Strizzo wrote: i'm really suprised at the negative reaction of so many people at the idea of another non-nascar track in the US.

I am not having a negative reaction to the idea of a cool new track. I have serious doubts that it will happen at all, much less in time for a 2012 race.

I keep checking my calendar to see if its April 1st.

I have to wonder what Juan Pablo Montoya's take is on this. A former World Champion F1 driver, now surrounded by rednecks.

If anyone can suss this thing out, I figure it could be him.

I'll believe it when I see it.

NYG95GA wrote: I have to wonder what Juan Pablo Montoya's take is on this. A former World Champion F1 driver, now surrounded by rednecks. If anyone can suss this thing out, I figure it could be him.

JPM was World Champion - how did I miss that??

sobe_death wrote: While I'm excited, I'll believe it when they break ground. Why on earth they chose to build a new facility instead of renovating one of our many already great courses such as Laguna Seca is beyond me. Though it has been rumored that F1 has east-coast fever when it comes to the US

Laguna Seca is too 1) Short 2) Steep - corkscrew 3) Narrow 4) Remote 5) Short of pit / paddock space. etc. Unless your name is Monaco, you don't get any exceptions to the standards required of tracks.

Apparently, Foxworthy was running out of "You might be a redneck" jokes. And now it's time for "Blue Collar F1 Racing with your announcers, Ron White and Larry, the Cable Guy.

it will be interesting to hear "boogity boogity boogity, let's go racin' boys!" to a standing grid start