Their are only a few tracks in the US that could hose the F1 boys. Indy because they did and I think Miller is there or close to it. However Miller's biggest problem is that it is in Salt Lake City.
An F1 race is not just a race, but a spectical. I went to the USGP at Indy 4-6 years it was there. Spectical to say the least. Even then the track in a major city fully capable of larger crowds and with an onwner who ego was big enought to write the checks, still had the air of "hickville". Franly Indiana maybe home of racing in the USA, but does not make a good home for F1.
F1 needs to be in a place like New York (City access), LA or Las Vegas or other comsopolitan metro area.
I think the only place that had the $$$$ do pull it off is Las Vegas. There is no track there suited to this and Las Vegas motor speedway is too far out of town, but it would need to be a purpose build facillity right near the action of the strip. It could be a "street course" in that its not a full time track, but would still need to be purpose build.
They would need to just figure out what to do with the place when no racing is going on? Done well maybe they could also get an NASCAR road couse event and an Indy car event. Maybe even Superbikes/ motor GP/ or AMA bikes. Still it would be used for only major motorsports events since any grass roots stuff would make too much noise for non- major sepectator events. With hotels & casino's looking down on the track surface and very little run off.
So it could happen, but it takes LOTS of MONEY. Something we in the US just don't have now.
I'd love to see F1 run at Nelson Ledges, sans modifications. Have the whole circus come to Cleveland, then watch the teams' abject horror at seeing the pits, then see some wide-eyed stares from the drivers after they come in from their first session on the track.
maroon92 said:
there is only one track that is currently set up with FIA requirements in the USA, and that is Indianapolis. Without major renovation, no other track could host
I could've sworn that Miller was FIA approved...
joepaluch said:
Millers biggest problem is that its in Salt Lake City
What's wrong with Salt Lake?
I don't see any track getting F1 in the US any time soon, but Sebring would be sweet wouldn't it!
But seriously they spent $1Billion for Abu Dhabi, no chance anybody will put up that much cash in the US, especially in this economy.
Keith
SuperDork
11/3/09 1:23 p.m.
I never felt LVMS was far out of town. Unless they actually run the F1 cars down the Strip (ooooooooo!) it's as good as it's going to get.
What about Mosport? It's held F1 races in the distant past, and it was reworked for ALMS a while back. Probably not big enough runoff areas though.
oldsaw
HalfDork
11/3/09 1:29 p.m.
Keith wrote:
I never felt LVMS was far out of town. Unless they actually run the F1 cars down the Strip (ooooooooo!) it's as good as it's going to get.
What about Mosport? It's held F1 races in the distant past, and it was reworked for ALMS a while back. Probably not big enough runoff areas though.
LVMS is only 12 miles north of town.
You're correct about Mosport, plus the lack of pit amenties that meet F1 standards.
joepaluch wrote: However Miller's biggest problem is that it is in Salt Lake City.
Actually I think the only problem with Miller is that it's NOT in Salt Lake City, rather, it's in Tooele which is 30 minutes outside of SLC with minimal accommadations.
Tooele is totally overwhelmed when AMLS or Superbike comes to town, I can't even imagine what would happen with F1 there.