Food for Thought

[macdaddy]

http://www.speedtv.com/auto/?lvl=3a&cat=20&id=4758

"Particularly since we will be in Europe... we don’t go into somebody else’s backyard without talking to them and discussing it with them, so absolutely we talked to Mr. Ecclestone about what we’re doing in Europe. We are anxious to work with him in the United States, to help his situation in the United States."

"Spa is a fantastic racetrack," said Pook. "We had several conversations but we decided against it this year (although) it could be on the cards for the future. We must be sure that we do things that create stability. Whether we should be racing at Spa in early May is a question for us. It’s not that we don’t want to be there; we are very humbled by the offer to be there."

That first quote again intriques me. People like R1 who come here claiming to speak "only the facts" sometimes leave stuff like that out. After spending ten quintillion dollars in building the track, destroying his golf course in the process, TG is about to lose his beloved GP. At least that's the way I've been reading things. Seems like Bernie is cashing TG's cheque and celebrating the windfall by taking Pook out for a few martinis. Laughing all the way to the bank.

[macdaddy]

More "food for thought" from SpeedTV:
http://www.speedtv.com/auto/?lvl=3a&cat=20&id=4757

Although I'd like to see the list Pook has, because it doesn't match mine, or their own website's...

By Pook’s count, teams have publically committed to running 15 cars in 2003, three shy of his oft-stated minimum objective for the coming season. But Pook is supremely confident there are at least five more cars in the pipeline.

"[PK Racing] is the 15th racing car with the announcement today. We have 18 signed contracts in hand and we have two more that are in the process of being worked on this week. Those announcements of the next five will emerge over the next 10 to 15 days. Obviously, from our standpoint we’re anxious to get them announced as fast as we can, but we have to respect what they’re doing as teams and the relationships they are trying to build. But, rest assured I would say to you we will definitely have our 18 on the grid when we get to St. Pete, and I believe by the time we arrive here in Montreal, we’ll have more."

[f1manoz]

I don't think Pook subvert the truth!

If he says there will be 20 cars, I believe him.

[Liz]

I think Spa is going back on the F1 calendar in 2004; it could be that they decided a one-off was not worth the trouble it would have taken. Although it would have drawn quite a crowd, I think!

All the scuttlebutt is that Bernie is mightily displeased with the way the USGP is being promoted and how attendence is dropping. (Indianapolis is not exactly an international destination of choice, and then there's the rigged finishes ... ) but where would they move it?

[StuiE]

Originally posted by macdaddy



We have 18 signed contracts in hand and we have two more that are in the process of being worked on this week. Those announcements of the next five will emerge over the next 10 to 15 days. But, rest assured I would say to you we will definitely have our 18 on the grid when we get to St. Pete, and I believe by the time we arrive here in Montreal, we’ll have more."[/i]

WooHoo! Great stuff.

[BootsOntheSide]

"We are anxious to work with him in the United States, to help his situation in the United States."

Until the staged 2002 finish, Bernie's situation in America was superb- the 2000 Indy F1 race was the most-attended F1 race ever. A new circit wouldn't solve the inherent problem thrown up by last year- Americans, perhaps rightly, see current F1 as a staged procession with only a few guys in a position to win.

Maybe Pook is more anxious to have his championship's position in Europe (and the US) enhanced, with Bernie's help, but while Tony George is the man in charge of F1's annual visit, it looks unlikely.

Good stuff with the car count though.

[Liz]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
[B A new circit wouldn't solve the inherent problem thrown up by last year- Americans, perhaps rightly, see current F1 as a staged procession with only a few guys in a position to win.[/B]

Americans (and some other people) also don't like paying huge bucks and driving long distances to be completely shut away from the drivers. So far even NA$CAR gives you hope that you can see your favourite driver up close and personal at the opening of a car wash or Wal-Mart in your own town -- they are everywhere!

[indycool]

Even with the attendance drop in '02, the USGP at Indy is STILL one of the top couple attended F1 races on the circuit.

People have made some noise about Steve Wynn doing something with F1 in Vegas but that's a far cry from any stability.

Indy isn't the best road course in the world, but it's still Indy and, IMO, it's the only place F1 is ever likely to work in the U.S.

[Stephen Green]

Thats a very valid point Liz, even the race officials can't get near the F1 cars!

[Liz]

Max seems to have overlooked that in his rule changes, too.

[veeten]

Instead, how about bringing in a core number of major sponsors and utilize those funds for improving a certain track to FIA standards, say Road America. And that they get full promotional control of the race, within reason.

Seeing as now that F1 is in a cost-cutting mode, this could work in the favor of certain persons (Pook, Bernie) with quite a return for teams, drivers, and the racing public, as it would be run on a proper road circuit with improved amenities.

Remember why Watkins Glen and Long Beach were so well loved and respected... this can happen again.

[Snrub]

Despite CART being weak and no threat to F1, I think CART running at Spa would humiliate F1.

[evo]

In order to bring Road America up to FIA spec, they'd have to destroy it. I hope that never happens.

[3state]

20 cars! happy happy joy joy!!!

indycool, do you not think F1 would work in the North Eastern States or West Coast of the US where they tend to be somewhat more 'cosmopolitan' for a lack of a better word than in the NASCAR and IndyCar heart lands, where the demographic is very different? These are the markets CART is increasingly focusing on in the states, and I suspect, that Pook is providing Bernie with the wealth of CART's experience in these markets in exchange for support and assistance in developing CART in Europe.

[indycool]

3state, I expect you're right on Pook and Bernie helping each other. On the West Coast, F1 wqas successful at Long Beach until it priced itself out of the game. Watkins Glen and Lime Rock are the only top-level East Coast facilities and both would require heavy $$$ to come up to spec. And why would they do it when Bernie gets all the money.

Indy is in reasonable proximity to Mid-Ohio and Elkhart Lake and all their road racing fans. And the Detroit and Cleveland street races, which don't develop road-racing fans, but local event spectators.

Economically, Indy is the only place which can handle it. Unless, as I said, some casino owner in Vegas wants to play and doesn't care what it costs because he'll make it all back in his casino.

Granted, certainly those areas are more "cosmopolitan." But if you had to charge $150 a ticket to make ends meet, you have lessened the market of those who can pay considerably.

[Liz]

Watkins Glen has been declared a historic site and can't be "improved", sad to say. And Connecticut isn't exactly the entertainment capital of the world either.

As one of those who paid $150.00 for a ticket to Fontana in 1999, which was boring to the max (because I don't like ovals) leaving aside the sad events that happened there, I don't think $150.00 is much for a ticket to a really GOOD race. However, I would not pay big money to travel all the way to San Francisco (for example) to sit in a grandstand and watch a pre-arranged race finish and then go home, having seen not a single driver or approached a single car. That would be akin to paying $150.00 to see a movie.

I still think the prime place for a USGP would be the old Praesidio in San Francisco. Get some of those high rollers to bankroll a race there, and the international crowd would come.

[indycool]

Understand, Liz...and race fans will do what it takes. But you and I have $150 to spend for a ticket. Some are richer, some are poorer. But when that $150 is required and someone could go to a good movie for $10 and save some bucks to spend elsewhere, decisions get made like that every day.

[macdaddy]

Here's some more "food for thought", this time brought to us by AutoWeek:

As noted last week, PK Racing brings CART’s official 2003 entry list to 17, one shy of CEO Chris Pook’s guarantee. More than likely, CART will dig into its past to reach the magic number.

No. 18 should come courtesy of Emerson Fittipaldi, who is energetically banging on doors to make it happen. At this point, Emmo is likely to hook up with Pat Patrick, the car owner with whom he won the CART championship, as an owner himself. This joint Fittipaldi-Patrick entrant would essentially be an extension of Patrick’s CART operation (which will field Oriol Servia in 2003) manned by Patrick personnel. A deal is close; an official announcement could come before the end of the week. Bryan Herta is the top candidate to drive, if he can kick in a little sponsorship money.

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=03312387

[macdaddy]

...And now there seems to be rumour that Panoz will be buying Reynard and setting up a "factory" team.

[Flatspot]

I hope it happens. Emmo affiliation would be a huge boost. Things look brighter every day!

[macdaddy]

Patrick's already stated that he has the infrastructure in place for a second car, all that is needed is a sponsor.

[Liz]

I know of another team that will be announced "soon" too.

Further deponent saith not, as she has been threatened with death if she doth.

===========

Indycool, that is my point exactly: that if one is expected to shell out $150.00 for what is billed as a "race" and is essentially a movie, then one will instead stay home and see "The Two Towers" again for $10 and be content. To get people to pay $150.00 you have to offer them value -- and the USGP does not offer sufficient value for most people outside of a day's drive. Pook has proved at Long Beach that he knows what the punters like. And Montreal proved that the punters DO notice that F1 keeps them in their grandstand away from all the action and CWS does not.

Bernie's not a slow learner. Perhaps he will pick up on this clue.

[gaines]

Here in the States you can't pull the kind of **** finishes that Team Ferrari has pulled the past few years and get away with it. It flies in some countries because that's the big dog race in there. In the US, we've got so many big races for so many different kinds of racing that if you want our money you'd better bring investment return or we're not buying. Our racing legends: Foyt, Andretti(uh Mario, not Mikey or John), Mears, Petty, Earnhardt, Waltrip, etc never took team orders to pull over. That's not racing, that's garbage.

As far as a new location for the F1 event, I'd look at Daytona. It's the only place in the country that has the nostalgia that Indy does in the hearts of the American racing fan.

[macdaddy]

From TG's backyard to France's?

[The Snout]

Patrick's already stated that he has the infrastructure in place for a second car, all that is needed is a sponsor.

Top news, just hope Emo can clinch it. Herta, interesting choice for Emo.

...And now there seems to be rumour that Panoz will be buying Reynard and setting up a "factory" team.

I'd like this to be true for sure, any indication where it's coming from ?

Further deponent saith not, as she has been threatened with death if she doth.

Is it Zonta you like Liz ? I have a fullsize poster you can have in exchange for the information.