Malaysia farce

[Alianora La Canta]

That or charge them for the "running" of the race anyway and give the place to somebody else - hopefully by shuffling the races round, making Brazil the finale again and giving Canada/the USA a summer slot.

[Jericoke]

Don't even get started on IndyCar!

Tony George is Bernie and Max rolled into one, but without the charm, business acumen or love of sport.

One of the reasons I became an F1 Fan was because George destroyed open wheel in North America.  He's directly responsible for the rise of NASCAR, and the reason why Americans aren't interested in open wheel racing.

There was a time when the Indy500 was one of the biggest races in the world.  It takes a lot of effort to get the ratings to drop so far.

Bernie and Max are a step up for the North American open wheel fan!

I'd watch a thousand Malaysian GP farces before I watch another Indy500

[cosworth151]

In point of fact, NASCAR's rise started in the 1980's. CART was going the way of CanAm, where one or two teams dominate and fan interest evaporates. Tony tried to work with CART, but in the end HAD to start a new series. It was the only thing that saved open wheel racing here in the States. The proof is that, in spite of all odds, the IRL survived and CART, later Champ Car, is history.

Unlike CART, the FIA and FOM, Tony actually seems to know that, in the end, it all comes down to the fans. IMS excels at this. Most of the Brits, Germans, French, and, yes, even Canadians I've talked to at the USGP said it was far cheaper for them to come to the Indy than to go to their home race.

I know that a race day only, no seat, General Admission ticket to Montreal was more expensive than my 4 day package at the USGP, with excellent raceday seats and parking right outside the Main Gate. One year, they even threw in a free copy of the F1 Yearbook!

Tony George is probably the only chance the fans have against Bernie & Max. He's the only person with the wherewithal to pull the manufacturers together to bring about much needed change.

[Jericoke]

In point of fact, NASCAR's rise started in the 1980's. CART was going the way of CanAm, where one or two teams dominate and fan interest evaporates. Tony tried to work with CART, but in the end HAD to start a new series. It was the only thing that saved open wheel racing here in the States. The proof is that, in spite of all odds, the IRL survived and CART, later Champ Car, is history.

Unlike CART, the FIA and FOM, Tony actually seems to know that, in the end, it all comes down to the fans. IMS excels at this. Most of the Brits, Germans, French, and, yes, even Canadians I've talked to at the USGP said it was far cheaper for them to come to the Indy than to go to their home race.

I know that a race day only, no seat, General Admission ticket to Montreal was more expensive than my 4 day package at the USGP, with excellent raceday seats and parking right outside the Main Gate. One year, they even threw in a free copy of the F1 Yearbook!

Tony George is probably the only chance the fans have against Bernie & Max. He's the only person with the wherewithal to pull the manufacturers together to bring about much needed change.

Show's what I know, lol.

But if the USGP was more affordable than any others, that would be the reason it 'failed' in the eyes of FOM.  F1 is supposed to be the single most glamourous sport in the world, not a good bargain.  Certainly one could argue that it's possible to do both, and given the way F1 venues are dropping, I'm sure one could argue it should be both.

However, if we assume that George was right and CART was wrong, it's still tough to call Indycar the winner.  It's not as strong as CART was before the split.   

Maybe there's a cautionary tale about cost cutting that FOM, FIA and FOTA need to learn.  I hope they do!

[rmassart]

I've seen lots of comments re the time of day the race started, but I fail to see how this is relevant. Does it statistically rain more in Malaysia at 5pm than at 1pm?  I would say the real issue is to schedule the race in spring. They should put it in the dry season.

I know people are getting frustrated at Max and Bernie doing idiotic things to F1 just to appease the sponsors, but you can't expect them to control the weather.

[Scott]

Yes it does.  Most tropical countries have late afternoon rainshowers after hot muggy days.  1pm would be hot, but much less likely to rain on the circus.

[johnbull]

Yes it does.  Most tropical countries have late afternoon rainshowers after hot muggy days.  1pm would be hot, but much less likely to rain on the circus.

Yes but according to Bernie it wouldn't be good for telly.

I have to disagree. The casual viewer will not sit in front of telly to watch a GP on a Sunday morning at 10 or 11 am. but he might do any time in the afternoon, even if he probably ends up snoozing most of the time. And he certainly wouldn't stay there when all the cars come to a standstill like they did Sunday, without any indication when they were going to be racing again.

If they just left all the GPs at a 2pm local time start it would be better for everybody. I don't mind waking at 5am to watch a GP. In fact I prefer it that way because it then gives me all morning to go for a bike ride, or a motorrace, or whatever tickles your fancy.

[Ian]

100% agree with that JB, I love the early start ones because I'm the only one up and so I can watch them in peace. 

[johnbull]

100% agree with that JB, I love the early start ones because I'm the only one up and so I can watch them in peace. 

That's another good reason.

Mind you, nobody interrupts whilst I'm watching a GP. They know what's good for them!!!