Sad News: No USGP 2008 - Page 2

Thunder22 · #11 07-13-2007, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StumpyPete

Magny Cours will not be missed however, it is a terrible track. Indy has a lot more going for it.

I found Tony George's comment interesting, "In the United States, Formula One is not perceived quite the way it is around the world, It's a tough dynamic, but the future will depend upon recognizing the fact that the United States is a bit different. It's important to figure out how to make it work."

What do you guys stateside think would make F1 work for the US?

I'm going to make some very broad statements here, don't get caught up in the generalizations please, I don't have time to choose my words carefully right now

My take on it is that racing fans in the US and racing fans outside the US are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

F1 is all glamour and technology, US race fans aren't "of that type", they're generally rednecks from the midwest who see racing events as a means of drinking and rooting for a driver to go fastest in a circle. They don't care for the technology in F1 because it's not something that they can bolt onto their Ford/Chevy/Chrysler that is in their driveway.

Bigger than that though, is that US race fans have no connection to McLaren/Mercedes/Renault/Ferrari/etc etc, those are premium brands that the average US race fan can only dream of owning, and to be honest, probably show no loyalty to because it's a constant reminder of what they can't afford.

On the other hand, in US racing, every joe blow race fan identifies with Chevy, or Ford or Chrysler and the sponsors. Joe Redneck drives his Chevy pickup or malibu to Home Depot to buy some Sherwin Williams paint and Tide and then stopping at the Beer Barn on the way home for a case of Bud and some Lay's potato chips. And while drinking said beer and eating said chips will argue with his redneck neighbor who just did the same "to-do" run in his Ford pickup/taurus but to Lowes, for some Dupont paint, case of Miller Lite and Ruffles about whose pickup is better. And depending on who won the race that day, their fan will have bragging rights for the week.

I don't see US race fans sitting at Nobu, drinking Cristal, with their Mercedes and BMW and Ferrari keys on the bar discussing Lewis Hamilton beating Masa by 1.3 seconds because his 2 pit stop strategy was far surperior especially after switching from the hard to soft compund tires, not to mention that his "race day fuel burnoff" strategy was phenomenal!

That's my opinion, I could be wrong.

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X5Flyboy · #12 07-13-2007, 09:48 AM

America is one of the few countries that could have 2 Grand Prix (3000 mile between events) - a west coast & an east coast - non conflicting scheduling is extremely tough though between NASCAR,INDY/CART events, not to mention baseball & football. Location to maximize attendance is critical. Tracks need to be designed as a test for the drivers as well as giving the public a great experience. To make them distinctive as other great tracks around the world. Trying to duplicate Monaco isn't working. It's been a long time since F1 has been promoted in the USA.( An American driver of Schumacher quality might help.)

Thunder22 · #13 07-13-2007, 09:50 AM

1 other thing, the US fan needs a more successful driver to root for than Scott Speed.

StumpyPete · #14 07-13-2007, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gresch

1 other thing, the US fan needs a more successful driver to root for than Scott Speed.

That is a very valid point. The Hamilton effect has had the effect of a massive upsurge in coverage by the UK press, but the US hasn't had a serious driver in F1 for a very long time. There have been lots of other successful drivers from other parts of North and South America in that time just not the US.

Interestingly the US has had more F1 drivers than any other nation - 156, but the last serious player from the US was probably Mario Andretti in 1982 - and he was born in a part of Italy that is now Croatia! I exclude Michael Andretti because his involvement with F1 was an abject failure.

For me the focus has always been on the teams though, which I can understand means nothing in the US - I've followed Williams since 1979, irrespective of who was driving for them. Although I do have a fondness for the Alan Jones and Rosberg (snr) years.

Thunder22 · #15 07-13-2007, 03:22 PM

I'm still annoyed about this....

SANguru · #16 07-13-2007, 03:44 PM

good points Gresch. Completely agree. They also need some talented chicks to drive F1.. IRL has gained some popularity just because of Franchitti's wife and Danica..

Thunder22 · #17 07-13-2007, 04:36 PM

Thinking about it some more, I think taht if they are going to come back to the US, the race needs to be in/around So. Cal and take advantage of the car culture.

SANguru · #18 07-13-2007, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gresch

Thinking about it some more, I think taht if they are going to come back to the US, the race needs to be in/around So. Cal and take advantage of the car culture.

the problem is that there is no world class tracks IMO in SoCal.