Hey US we don't need you....that much
I love Bob Kravitz. I don't know why readers seem to give him so much grief. Today's column was right on. He wrote that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway should tell F-1 to take a hike. They should but I doubt very seriously that will happen.
Today was the seventh United State Grand Prix. It was held at the greatest race track in the universe: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But the week was mired with various persons from the F-1--everyone from drivers to administration-- acting as though they have done us a favor by gracing us with their presence.
I have to admit I don't get F-1. I lost any interest in the race when a few years ago Michael Schumacher pulled aside to let his team-mate win. So I don't understand people's fascination with the sport. It seems a little too civilized for racing. Do any of the drivers duke it out in the pits? No. And how can these teams spend upwards of 800 million dollars every two years to field a team. What do these cars do--fly to the moon?
F-1 is probably right. They don't need the US market. But you know the NFL or the NBA doesn't need the international market either. You know why they go after it. The all mighty dollar.
But the race is definitely good for the city. It has an economic impact of 100 to 150 million. That is staggering considering the race is attended by one hundred thousand people. That amount of money spent per person is incredible. Tony George seems like a pretty good guy to me. Not withstanding the 50 million the IMS invested to hold the race, I get the sense that he is willing to swallow his pride and indulge these ass clowns from F-1 for the betterment of the Circle City.
My gut is telling me that F-1 will try to find greener pastures in the US. I have seen a few reports that F-1 is considering Las Vegas. So after a couple of years of running their fancy race in the parking lot of a casino and having an attendance of a 1/3 of Indy they will come crawling back. I hope like Kravitz says in his column today that IMS will then tell F-1 to take a hike.
Today was the seventh United State Grand Prix. It was held at the greatest race track in the universe: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But the week was mired with various persons from the F-1--everyone from drivers to administration-- acting as though they have done us a favor by gracing us with their presence.
I have to admit I don't get F-1. I lost any interest in the race when a few years ago Michael Schumacher pulled aside to let his team-mate win. So I don't understand people's fascination with the sport. It seems a little too civilized for racing. Do any of the drivers duke it out in the pits? No. And how can these teams spend upwards of 800 million dollars every two years to field a team. What do these cars do--fly to the moon?
F-1 is probably right. They don't need the US market. But you know the NFL or the NBA doesn't need the international market either. You know why they go after it. The all mighty dollar.
But the race is definitely good for the city. It has an economic impact of 100 to 150 million. That is staggering considering the race is attended by one hundred thousand people. That amount of money spent per person is incredible. Tony George seems like a pretty good guy to me. Not withstanding the 50 million the IMS invested to hold the race, I get the sense that he is willing to swallow his pride and indulge these ass clowns from F-1 for the betterment of the Circle City.
My gut is telling me that F-1 will try to find greener pastures in the US. I have seen a few reports that F-1 is considering Las Vegas. So after a couple of years of running their fancy race in the parking lot of a casino and having an attendance of a 1/3 of Indy they will come crawling back. I hope like Kravitz says in his column today that IMS will then tell F-1 to take a hike.
posted by The Kid at 6/17/2007
2 Comments:
Las Vegas would be a logistical nightmare for F1. The fact is that we have the best venue in the US for the race. Ecclestone knows this, but he is lobbying for more money.
Did anyone else get sick of hearing all of the F1 drivers bitch about having to race on an oval? Every time I watched the sports segment of the local news, one of the drivers was complaining that Indy is not a traditional road course.
Post a Comment
<< Home