Bernie: F1 Doesn't Need USGP

Bernie: F1 Doesn't Need USGP

• Written by: RACER staff
• London, UK – 6/23/2006

Ecclestone doesn't plan on making exceptions to keep F1 racing in the USA. (LAT Photo)

Formula 1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone cast a shadow over the future of the United States Grand Prix by stating to London's The Times newspaper that the sport does not necessarily need to have a round in American soil.

Next month's USGP at Indy is the final in the current contract between F1 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and a possible renewal is still pending on the event's own success, following last year's six-cars-only debacle.

"It does not matter to Formula 1 if there is no Grand Prix in the U.S.," said Ecclestone. "What do we get from America? Aggravation, that's about all. If you say 'good morning' over there and it's five past 12, you end up with a lawsuit."

If Bernie's words could displease some of the big automakers involved in the sport, such as BMW and Mercedes, which count the U.S. as their largest market, Ecclestone insists that America's commercial importance is relative.

"We have never got any sponsors out there," he added. "The television has never taken off; we have more viewers in Malta than over there.

"Why do we need to worry so much about America? It has never really taken to open-wheel racing. They talk about the big audiences for NASCAR, but we get as many viewers in Italy alone as they do for NASCAR in the States."

While the sport's "supremo" didn't rule out a renewal of the contract with IMS, he made clear that F1 won't make sacrifices to keep racing in the USA.

"If [IMS] wants to continue having a round of the Formula 1 World Championship over there, I am happy to talk to them, which is what I will do when I get there. But I am not prepared to subsidize a race in America. I have a very good relationship with the people in Indianapolis, and I am sure talks will go well."

I am getting tired of his ****! If F1 does not need the USGP, then why did they even go there in the first place?

I will admit that F1 is not as big in America as it is in other places around the world, and it does not take a brain sergen to figure that out. I can tell you that half the problem, IMO, is the stuff he says about our country.

Also, American fans blame F1 for last years 6 car start for the race, it had nothing to do with Indy, and that appears to be where he is trying to put most of the blame.

Indy is the perfect track for F1 in America. The speedway is, arguably, the most historic track in the world along with some of those European tracks.

Bernie wants sponsership from American companies and interest from F1 then put the race there, don't put down the country and keep the race for a good number of years. I will say that since the USGP was added, F1 popularity has gone up.

Ecclestone is alone on this one.

Teams want more US races

problem with American fans in sports (generally) they like sports where an American is the winner... If there are no American winners, the sport loses popularity.. ex. Indy cars, Champ Series... shifted to Nascar... wait till Toyota gets into Nascar and they start winning and more foreign drivers come into play... slowly the whole market will shift again..MotoGP74

I dsagree as to why open wheel is not as big as it used to be. The fact that you have two rival open wheel series makes it hard for open wheel to get a good following. The series split, whenever it happend, is what killed it.

I see your point, partially. Toyota is in the Craftsman truck series, so they are already in NASCAR. Toyota has done very well in the series and it has not lost its appeal to fans at all.

In America, not sure if it is broadcast in other countries, I saw a program called "Wind Tunnel", let me just say that all the callers that had something to say called Bernie a complete idiot and want him removed from his position for his comments about the USGP.

Dave Despain (sp?), the host of the show and one of the most knowledgeable guys regarding all forms of motor sports in the United States, said that his comments are most likely to stir up interest in the USGP and to start the bargaining to renew the contract.