Thread: Provisional F1 2009 Schedule

Any idea if Germany gp is on Nurburgring or Hockenheim?

EDIT: it's Nurburgring...

Does the US have a viable GP track? I mean besides Indy what else does the US have to offer except ovals? (And F1 is never going to race on ovals after what happened in monza).

However though I doubt F1 will return to the US. FIA is more interested in hosting a race in either India, South Korea and Russia. Heck they were even going to replace melbourne with one of those three

Originally Posted by davetherocketguy

Don't they realize that there are a good number of us Americans that don't care for the Taxi-Cab-Bumper-Car (NASCAR) series and want to see some real racing?

Sorry...Done venting now.

-Dave

Fine, than watch Indy

There is still a chance for F1 to return to Indianapolis next year. It's the centennial celebration of the track and there were talks of it returning for 2009 at the beginning of the year.

Originally Posted by davetherocketguy

Infineon? Watkins Glen? Bell Isle? Saint Petersburg? I know I'll probably get laughed off the forum for even suggesting those but contrary to popular belief there are more than just oval tracks in the USA. If those aren't up to snuff then what would it take? A few million in renovations to the pits and track? How hard would that be to do IF F1 were to make a commitment to a US track?

Oh I never said that US had only oval tracks. In fact I think the US has some great circuits. ALMS, and Grand-am (Rolex and KONI) fans are fans of those series for a reason

But pretty much every permanent American road course would need serious work to come up to FIA standards (aside from maybe places like the new Utah track). Road America, Laguna, Infinion, Watkins Glen, Laguna and Mid-Ohio would all make great F1 venues if they were up to spec.

For example:
Laguna Seca could not be brought up to F1 spec that easily. It would need much more runoff than it currently has.

Watkins glen would have to replace all the armco and substantially improve the runoff areas in some places.

Quite frankly, those require the sturdy concrete walls, though. The Armco barriers currently there would not suffice. But I don't see the Glen as a valid venue, either, though. The corners are nearly all cambered, and apparently F1 cars don't like that too much. (Everyone was complaining about the banking at Indy, even before the whole Michelin debacle.)

Personally, probably Infinion would be a good sub. But Infinion is not exactly that spectacular of a GP course as is something like Spa.

Originally Posted by davetherocketguy

I think the FIA management is far too snobby to stoop to level of having a race in the US. Ho-well. All of their sponsors will just have to do without all the benefits of having a US race and leave it all to NASCAR and IRL.

-Dave

Although what does South Korea, Russia or India have over an American venture? I dont think snobbishness has much to do with it. After all, they did think about getting rid of Melbourne

Originally Posted by DanicaRules

There is still a chance for F1 to return to Indianapolis next year. It's the centennial celebration of the track and there were talks of it returning for 2009 at the beginning of the year.

Indy's pretty overrated as an F1 track. Much prefer a more suitable venture such as Infinion or Road America

Ecclestone prefers to look at other markets 04/06/08 19:59

Bernie Ecclestone has slammed the brakes on rising speculation that the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis could return to the Formula One calendar next year.

F1 chief executive Ecclestone and Indy promoter Tony George failed to reach a financial agreement for 2008, but it is an open secret that George would like to reinstate the race in 2009 and beyond.

Also admitting the need for a title sponsor, he said recently that the likelihood is only "50-50" that the Grand Prix will be resurrected in time for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's centennial year.

F1's manufacturers and sponsors are also keen to see a US Grand Prix back on the schedule, but Ecclestone has played down the importance of the North American market.

"My motto is 'go east' rather than 'go west'," the 77-year-old told the French language Canadian newspaper La Presse in an interview. "So far I have been proved right about that."

"I am always working on getting the US Grand Prix back, but I do not consider this as fundamental," Ecclestone insisted.

Ecclestone is very demanding and it looks like the South-East and Asia is more willing to invest. The disadvantage of the US probably is that they think F1 needs them.

Originally Posted by FAlonso

Ecclestone is very demanding and it looks like the South-East and Asia is more willing to invest. The disadvantage of the US probably is that they think F1 needs them.

Your right and Ecclestone is wrong. F1 needs a US race. If Ecclestone is going to be too demanding to make a US race happen I am quite positive Tony George and the IRL will happily do without the competition of an F1 race. Where Bernie is going to run into problems is with the F1 sponsors who are probably beating his door down as we speak because there is no race in one of their largest markets - USA.

Personally, I really do not care if they race here. No F1 race here means more money and coverage will be given to the IRL which is a series I enjoy anyways. I just think the FIA is being real stupid.

Indy's pretty overrated as an F1 track. Much prefer a more suitable venture such as Infinion or Road America.

I could not agree with that statement more. I never did like that super long front stretch at Indy followed up with a couple of miles of go-cart track.

-Dave

Originally Posted by davetherocketguy

Where Bernie is going to run into problems is with the F1 sponsors who are probably beating his door down as we speak because there is no race in one of their largest markets - USA.

I just think the FIA is being real stupid.

-Dave

I think you are mistaken. If that was the case then there would be a GP in the US this year. On the contrary, the demands from places in Asia and the Middle East haven't been bigger than this moment for having a GP in their country. And that's where the money is in these hard times.

Ecclestone is the president and CEO of 'Formula One Management' and 'Formula One administration'. So the entire commercial side is his. The FIA is the governing body and only da police from this shite.