No More Canadian Grand Prix!

[skiboats]

First USGP Gone, Now Canada. The Montreal race was a great event. I have been there. Bernie is really making things difficult for North America. Of course it is the biggest market. Mario Theissen, not to happy either. We need a race here in the US.

[Dannyell]

well it is a shame to see canada go...but north america has proved its weakness compared to s america, asia and europe.

Its a shame that these days it's all about money in F1, but IMO they should start replacing tracks like Monaco instead of montreal..but then again there must be lots of $$$ to be made from monte carlo

[FSETH]

F1 wont be big in the U.S. until they;

- Televise races when people are actually awake
- do a better job of marketing the drivers and giving the general public a chance to learn who they are actually rooting for. (NASCAR has done a great job of this).
- Get announcers who are more Americanized. Let's be honest, most Americans do not relate to the European commontators and they are not that great/exciting to listen to. They need to do a better job of with the broadcasts.
-They must race over here

If those four things don't happen, F1 will never really grow into anything substantial in the U.S., IMO.

[vinuneuro]

Indy sucks as a F1 venue. I'm glad they dropped it if it means moving somewhere else. Canada was a big mistake.

The current Speed commentators are great imo. How many American ex-F1 drivers and mechanics are you going to find to commentate. I sure as hell don't want some idiot Nascar guy commentating.

Honestly I don't give a damn if people get into F1 here or not, as long as the tracks raced on are good. Kinda like the fact that F1 and ALMS are relatively small niches here.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by vinuneuro

Indy sucks as a F1 venue. I'm glad they dropped it if it means moving somewhere else. Canada was a big mistake.

The current Speed commentators are great imo. How many American ex-F1 drivers and mechanics are you going to find to commentate. I sure as hell don't want some idiot Nascar guy commentating.

Honestly I don't give a damn if people get into F1 here or not, as long as the tracks raced on are good. Kinda like the fact that F1 and ALMS are relatively small niches here.

I am not suggesting getting NASCAR guys to do the commentary. I am just saying that unless the broadcasts are revamped, put on TV when people are actually awake and they come over here to race it will never be big and you will have to set your DVR's at best to ever see it.

I was just pointing out what a great job that NASCAR has done with their broadcasting and marketing of the drivers. I am not a huge NASCAR fan, but they have made it much more interesting and watchable in recent years compared to what it was in the past.

F1 will have to be Americanized to ever be big here. I know it is huge across the pond, but so is soccer if you know what I mean.

I know it is considered a niche sport here in the U.S., but the thing is that without greater support and a wider acceptance in this country, they will probably not be very excited about setting up a race here. You really do need for it to grow in popularity if you want to have a better chance of them actually putting a U.S. race on the schedule. Otherwise, it will continue to be a small niche sport that you have to get up at 4:00 in the morning to watch and the race will be halfway across the world.

[vinuneuro]

Originally Posted by FSETH

I am not suggesting getting NASCAR guys to do the commentary. I am just saying that unless the broadcasts are revamped, put on TV when people are actually awake and they come over here to race it will never be big and you will have to set your DVR's at best to ever see it.

I was just pointing out what a great job that NASCAR has done with their broadcasting and marketing of the drivers. I am not a huge NASCAR fan, but they have made it much more interesting and watchable in recent years compared to what it was in the past.

F1 will have to be Americanized to ever be big here. I know it is huge across the pond, but so is soccer if you know what I mean.

I know it is considered a niche sport here in the U.S., but the thing is that without greater support and a wider acceptance in this country, they will probably not be very excited about setting up a race here. You really do need for it to grow in popularity if you want to have a better chance of them actually putting a U.S. race on the schedule. Otherwise, it will continue to be a small niche sport that you have to get up at 4:00 in the morning to watch and the race will be halfway across the world.

They're not going to position races for a continent that makes up a tiny portion of the total viewing audience. Who cares if they don't. That's what the DVR is for. And there are races like Fuji that take place not that late in the night, and a few that race in our somewhat early morning.

Considering the North American races sell out every year, there's no reason for them to change anything. Fact is, places like Bahrain, Singapore, Abu Dhabi give Bernie more $$. If the British GP goes to Donnington Park, it'll be the same thing. As far as the USGP goes, it came down to personal dealing between Tony George and Bernie.

If they Americanized F1 on Speed, I'd watch a British feed online. There are certain sports you don't Americanize. Like soccer and F1.

[skiboats]

F1 Does not need to be "Americanized". They do need to have a race here though. I did not think Indy, horrible, as a venue. The track is OK but the city was nice I thought for F1 weekend. They had reasonable attendance. Nothing like Montreal. There it is a F1 frenzy and sells out every year. Over 300000 People. Tell me how many attended Bahrain?

What about all the races at Watkins Glen. There is a lot of history there. To me it was, well, pretty American. I know the track does not meet FIA standards. So find somewhere else.

Just sad to see this happen.

Speeds commentary is fine. I like Hobbs, Windsor & Matchett

[vinuneuro]

Watkins Glen would be awesome.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by skiboats

F1 Does not need to be "Americanized".

I agree that it may not be the best thing for the series as a whole, but my point is that if it is ever going to be big here it has to be Americanized to some degree and marketed much better. Otherwise years down the road you will still be complaining that there is no race in the U.S.

[Dannyell]

A track in the US is great...but Americanized? i doubt it..just because the way drivers are brought into F1...too much of a big risk to take, and not many team are willing to take it.

As for Watkins Glenn ...its turns are too slanted for F1 IMO, plus they would have to do a lot of things to bring its facilities to an F1 Standard...

Id like to see road america, or long beach