US F1 out!!

[Andy B]

Or so it seems, the company have laid off all their employees the American dream looks to be over.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81819
I'm sure the thought of the American market was the draw here but it could very well have back fired.
Will we now have a full grid at Bahrain?

[FW14B]

I guess we'll see in a few days that this is confirmed and then whether Stefan GP will be given a slot or not.  Either way it is still an embarrassment to all involved.

[Jericoke]

I'm sure the reason for USF1 missing the grid in 2010 (we can still hope for 2011!) is probably a million little things coming together.  F1 is traditionally harsh on new comers, USA is perceived to not care about F1 (I don't know how anyone who does any research can believe this, but perception counts), and the goal posts just don't stay still long enough for any but the most dogged competitors to even figure out what needs to be done.

It's the magic of F1, it's the tragedy of F1.  The groundwork has been laid.  The mistakes have been made.  The door is open for F1 in the USA...

[Scott]

The fact that the team has disbanded does not make it look good for next year or ever.  If there was any hope, they surely would just make a humble announcement and try to at least retain hope among the fans.  Running for the woods (a la Anderson and Windsor) makes it look certainly like the dream is over.   

[PG_Gabriel]

I knew i shouldnt get my hopes up

[lkjohnson1950]

Assuming they had a sponsorship deal with You Tube and apparently two paid drivers, what did they do with all the money? Peter Windsor stated on several occasions that they had more than adequate financing. Could be much more to this.

Lonny

[Dare]

Assuming they had a sponsorship deal with You Tube and apparently two paid drivers, what did they do with all the money? Peter Windsor stated on several occasions that they had more than adequate financing. Could be much more to this.

Lonny

I saw in one story where Lopez wants
his money back.

[FW14B]

Can't say I blame him to be honest.  Going from a race seat to what seems like a test driver role with Campos Meta must be a bitter disappointment.

[Jericoke]

Assuming they had a sponsorship deal with You Tube and apparently two paid drivers, what did they do with all the money? Peter Windsor stated on several occasions that they had more than adequate financing. Could be much more to this.

Lonny

I saw in one story wgere Lopez wants
his money back.

Get in line.  I hardly think he'll be the only creditor.  Not sure how much sympathy a pay driver is entitled to either.

[Alianora La Canta]

I think he's entitled to enough sympathy to at least park him at Campos as reserve driver. If only getting the other 60-or-so employees shafted by this mess what they deserve was so easy...

[cosworth151]

This from an AutoWeek news update I just received:

Team co-founder Ken Anderson has responded to reports of the demise of U.S. F1 by claiming that the reports are exaggerated and said that he still thinks he has a chance of deferring entry into Formula One until 2011.

Anderson made his comments to Autosport.com after it was confirmed that U.S. F1 employees had been told to go home on Tuesday, on what amounts to unpaid leave. Anderson says there was no point in them carrying on with the current car until the situation was resolved.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100302/F1/100309973

[lkjohnson1950]

And I was afraid they would just be embarrassingly slow.

Lonny

[Toolman]

Wow that stinks, I was hoping to be able to catch the US car on camera as the leaders came by.

[Scott]

There's a good blog about the USF1 fiasco.

http://www.stuartcodling.com/

[FW14B]

Interesting blog Scott, thanks for posting it!