Thread: Why is there no F1 in America?

Seriously, how come F1 doesn't happen in America? It would be so much easier to watch on TV because it would be in American time and then I could probably go to a couple races too...

well they just brought back the race in Canada this year. Thats good news. They tried it in Indy but was a fiasco

Wasn't there, until a few years ago? Isn't that the big race when the drivers refused to drive or something? It was a major fiasco and cost Indy a bundle. Wasn't that F1?

There is a long history of F1 races in the USA, I believe it was first held at Sebring, followed by Riverside. But the prime venue until the seventies was Watkins Glen, then for a number of years it was run in Long Beach, then Las Vegas, followed by Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix before settling at Indianapolis.
There was one race at Indianapolis that was a disaster, in 2005, when the Michelin shod cars withdrew from the race as a result of concerns with the tires.
I don't know why there was no F1 race after 2007, I've heard a few different theories but I believe it boils down to politics within the Indianapolis organization and between Bernie Eclestone (The F1 overlord), big money and egos being rubbed the wrong way. There is a glimmer of hope that it might return someday, whether Indy or elsewhere

Actually, I believe there was nothing in '06 because of '05. I remember seeing that, all but 3 or 4 drivers pulled off the course right at the start of the race. That's a lot of bad publicity to overcome, and it did cost the backers a ton of money. They had to refund tickets and I believe they even gave free tickets to something the next year to try and make up for it.

Originally Posted by RainbowWarrior

Actually, I believe there was nothing in '06 because of '05. I remember seeing that, all but 3 or 4 drivers pulled off the course right at the start of the race. That's a lot of bad publicity to overcome, and it did cost the backers a ton of money. They had to refund tickets and I believe they even gave free tickets to something the next year to try and make up for it.

The 2006 race was run, it was a 1-2 Ferrari, won by Schumacher. I believe that Michelin bought a large number of tickets and gave them, or sold them at greatly reduced price, because of the tire fiasco the previous year. The last running of the US GP was 2007, this time it was a 1-2 McLaren with Hamilton the winner.

Fuzzy brain <G>. Obviously, I'm not a devoted F1 fan; I just sort of watch it here and there. I remember the botched race and some makeup being done to the fans. I don't think there's as much 'love' for F1 here as there is in other countries.

Rainbow Warrior, don't let the 'fuzzy brain' get to you. I live in the Indy area and, even though I'm a race fan. There are so many different races happening here all the time that it's sometimes difficult to keep it all straight.

That is really unfortunate that F1 racing would no longer be in the US over a tire fiasco. I mean really now, these people are adults and having these races in the US could bring in a tremendous profit. Why could they not contract their tires with another manufacturer instead?

Originally Posted by spinout

That is really unfortunate that F1 racing would no longer be in the US over a tire fiasco. I mean really now, these people are adults and having these races in the US could bring in a tremendous profit. Why could they not contract their tires with another manufacturer instead?

The fact that there is no F1 currently in the States has nothing to do with the 2005 Michelin fiasco, since there were two subsequent races in 2006 and 2007.
I seem to recall a NASCAR race just a few years later that was a fiasco as well, due to concerns about the Goodyear tires and it ended up being a yellow flag fest for most of the race.