Is F1 Turning Its Back on Europe?

[lkjohnson1950]

Nope! Sorry! The Texas cow pasture is a better road course than Indy.  I love Indy, the big oval is totally unique and very special. My earliest racing memories are of the 500, circa '57-'58. But the road course was a compromise and not really very interesting.

[Scott]

I agree that the F1 course at Indy was a compromise, and that it didn't work out that well, especially the transition from the banking to the road track and point-and-squirt corners.  If Indy was serious about building an F1 track, they would bulldoze the golf course and build a proper infield track. 

[cosworth151]

Have you watched any of the MotoGP from Indy? The "point & squirt" as you call it, turns 9, 10 & 11, were completely redone after the 2007 race. There were also plans in place to redo the other end of the circuit, in the area of turns 4, 5 & 6. It would have taken the circuit under the north short chute, where Hulman Blvd. passes under the oval. Some additional trackage would have been outside the oval. It then would have passed through the tunnel under the back stretch and rejoined the existing course at the start of the Hulman straight.

An inaccessible cow pasture in Texas is no Indy. (Note to FIA: It's no Sebring, either). Even if Herr Tilke piled all of the cow dung at one end to make a fake hill. It's still just lipstick on a pig.

[Scott]

Have you watched any of the MotoGP from Indy? The "point & squirt" as you call it, turns 9, 10 & 11, were completely redone after the 2007 race. There were also plans in place to redo the other end of the circuit, in the area of turns 4, 5 & 6. It would have taken the circuit under the north short chute, where Hulman Blvd. passes under the oval. Some additional trackage would have been outside the oval. It then would have passed through the tunnel under the back stretch and rejoined the existing course at the start of the Hulman straight.

No, I didn't realize they had made those changes and planned the others.  It sounds like a much improved track the way you describe it.  I will have to watch the MotoGP race in August when it is there.  I love the idea of taking the course outside the oval to extend it.   

[cosworth151]

The MotoGP course runs anti-clockwise, like the 500 and opposite of F1 and Grand Am. They also use a infield section that replaces the one banked turn on the road course. (Turn 13 on the old F track, turn 1 on the oval)

Indy is currently talking about upgrades to the road course. Maybe Tony has them thinking F1 again!

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/10/mark-miles-indy-road-course-would-be-improved/ 

[John S]

All those changes make the track less historic Cossie, not more.   

[cosworth151]

The oval won't be effected. Does the fact that almost nothing from Tabac to about Anthony Noghes is the same as it was in the 60's mean that Monaco isn't historic?

The schedule I suggested would give F1 the three most famous circuits (Indy, Le Mans, Monaco) and the two oldest existing purose-built circuits (Indy and Monza).

[lkjohnson1950]

Lot of maybes and what ifs in that article. And, Oh Boy, another countdown, playoff, chase to screw up a championship. They do admit the current one is "less than highly regarded".