Formula One back to Las Vegas?

[Rich D]

Originally Posted by Flat12-Aircool

Can't spot an F1 circuit here.

It's at the top, marked "New Legends Track"

[Seoigh]

Weren't the mid 1980's F1 races at Las Vegas financial and operational disasters? I seem to recall the circuit was constructed in a hotel parking lot.

[Flat12-Aircool]

Originally Posted by ascarmarshal

It is planned for another part of LVMS complex which extends for quite a distance behind the front stretch

Well according to racingcircuits.net the track you mention is only 1.8 miles long, which for F1 isn't really long enough. However I think that info might be wrong as checking it out on Google Earth it seems to have been extended. Looks like part of the extension go's straight through a Car Park as well lol!

[Dutton]

I'll cope as long as it isn't a street-race. I like street-courses when they are in the style of Monaco (that is, varying turns and the like), but to have one on North American grids? Please, God, no!

The infield of Indy is seriously frustrating, but, for the time being at least, it seems like Indy is the only viable option. Perhaps they could redesign the infield? Keep it simple, but flowing.

[Suze]

Nah they won't design the infield there just for F1....

[kmsport]

Could most you guys give it a go?

[avsfan733]

I hereby officially volunteer Virginia International Raceway for the future home of the USGP. (it helps my parents live nearby and i marshal and know the track like the back of my hand)

think max and bernie read us nutters on 10's?

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by avsfan733

think max and bernie read us nutters on 10's?

They haven't taken any notice so far.

[mooneyda]

As was mentioned earlier on.... Laguna Seca would be a great place to see F1.

[Seoigh]

Originally Posted by Suze

Nah they won't design the infield there just for F1....

They 'might' reconfigure the Indy infield, as F1 paid for the present configuration, though I can'r see them eliminating the golf course!

[Dutton]

Laguna Seca would be class.

So would Elkhart Lake and Watkins Glen.

These tracks are too good to be in (modern) F1, which is rather sad. However, I would rather see them never on the calander that have them butchered.

[Suze]

What do you mean by "too good?" Elaborate...

Unless that's answered by ""I would rather see them never on the calendar that have them butchered." But I think there may be more than that?

[Dutton]

There isn't much depth to it, .

I mean that they are not safe enough for F1's current standards (which is an indirect effect of their positive characteristics as tracks).

However, beyond this, I would think Indy is probably the only venue with a big enough profile to have a chance at providing adequate sustenance: popularity (both TV and track numbers); standard of facilities; Bernie's bank balance; PR points.

I guess, in essence, what I mean is it is too good to be true: a "compromise" of the tracks being moshed by F1-reinvention, in order to make the venues workable from a technical perspective, would be terrible.

Does that answer your question?

[Suze]

aha - now I'm with you. Yes you answered it.

I thought you were saying, in short, that the tracks are "too good" as in "better" than where F1 currently races...

[Dutton]

Well, they are better than a lot of the tracks F1 currently races at.

But, well, that is because they are better than a lot of tracks!

[Suze]

Yes, they've not been Tilke-nised!

[Raglanparade]

Well if you think about it. If F1 were to return to Watkins, they would probably have to change the Esses and the corner at the end of the straight.

If Elkart Lake was used, the first corner would probably have to be something like Imola, and there would probably be a chicane somewhere around the back straight before Canada Corner.

If Laguna Seca was to be used, i dare say that the corkscrew would be messed up.

I think in the interests of Formula 1, they should put it near one of the major major citys. Los Angeles (Long Beach ), Chicago, New York (Kinda Watkins Glen)

[Dutton]

Thing is, though, would as many people from the US go to see it there as would if it is held at Indy?

[RaceFreak]

Regardless of how nice it would be, how nostalgic, how innovative, it seems to me that F1 is dead in the USofA. Tony can't get rid of it fast enough (ie you don't see him counter-manuvering to 'save' the race for IMS). Major sponsors won't touch it with an electric cattle prod after last years disaster. Will the media EVER cover this event without dwelling how screwed-up 2005 was?

If you wanna see F1 in the 'States, get your tickets now. The only reason it's still here now is the contract. Shame.

[jhansen]

Laguna Seca is not even close to being ready. The improvements they have made for Moto GP have helped a lot. But they would need a lot more infrastructure including new garages.

Not to mention, the traffic problem. I can't imagine that Silverstone had half the problems Laguna does. I went last year for the Moto GP race, which had a little under 70,000 people on race day. It was an absolute mess. I think Rossi was even delayed one day trying to get to the circuit.

Laguna is also quite small and not very wide. It would probably be a Hungaroring type track. Although, it does have some overtaking opportunities.

Maybe the new track in Utah has a chance. It is a modern circuit with a wide surface and a long lap (by American standards). Not sure what kind of infrastructure they have though.

The best bet is probably a re-working of the Indy infield circuit.

With all that said, I wouldn't mind a Las Vegas venue. I'd be there for sure!

[LampCord]

Originally Posted by avsfan733

I think it would work quite well...a lot of the casinos are really trying to cater to higher end consumers, of which many international travelers fall into thoose categories. Bring the F1 circus to las vegas and it would be a total hit. Huge money would be thrown down by steve wynn etc to make this a reality.

That's what I was thinking when I first read this. If there is one city that could pull it off in the US its Vegas. They have more money than they know what to do with and an unlimited supply of high spending tourists.

As a track, I love the idea of going to Indy. But as a vacation? Hands down, Vegas. My wife cares nothing about F1 and I could never talk her into tagging along with me to Indy but she would go to Vegas in a heartbeat. I'm sure she could find 'something to do' in that town while I was at the race!

Hmm..., come to think of it, that could end up being a very pricey trip!

[LampCord]

Originally Posted by EERO

... either Laguna or Road America would be terrific ...

I'd LOVE to see the race at either track, but I'm not sure F1 cars would have the clearance for the corkscrew at Laguna Seca.

[Hazza]

It *just* is safe enough for MotoGP, so If thoose boys can hack it so can F1

Elkheart is meant to have a saftey upgrade at some point, and maybe then they could. America has allways been strange, they have theese wonderfull tracks, but choose to race at theese dicky street/road courses...

[Suze]

Didn't they do something to the corkscrew for the motogp boys to make it slightly safer? Thought I watched something somewhere....

[jhansen]

Last year they put in all new curbs, expanded some run-off areas, moved a pedestrian bridge.

This year they are adding a new media center, took out the old one so they could shave off part of the hill near turn 1, shaved off a hump to the approach to the cork screw, and added some more runoff in other areas. I think the track is supposed to get repaved as well IIRC.