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F1 News & Discussions => General F1 Discussion => Topic started by: Dare on February 18, 2010, 01:33:18 AM

Title: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Dare on February 18, 2010, 01:33:18 AM
Then Stefan would get the spot and USF1 would be
in the cornfield for next year as well


17 February 2010


The US F1 team could decide not to compete in Formula 1 this year, according to reports in the Argentinean press on Tuesday. It is also believed that driver José María López could now switch to the Campos team as US F1 sponsor YouTube engages in discussions with the Spanish outfit.

With the futures of Campos and US F1 both having rumoured as uncertain for several months, not least by F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone, Argentina's sole driver for the 2010 season could now switch to Campos and join fellow South American debutant Bruno Senna.



 
López was signed by US F1 last month
According to several reports in Argentina's newspapers, US F1 joint-owner Peter Windsor has informed the father of López that the Charlotte-based operation may miss its first three races and possibly the entire season.

Furthermore, Germany's Motorsport Total claims that YouTube founder Chad Hurley, the primary investor in the US F1 team, has met in London with José Ramón Carabante of Campos and Felipe McCough - Manager of López - with a view to switching the former GP2 driver to the Madrid squad.

The possible absence of US F1 could also open the door for Serbian hopefuls Stefan GP - new owners of several Toyota F1 chassis, engines and gearboxes - which claim that they are ready to race, should a position on the grid become available.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Dare on February 18, 2010, 01:39:42 AM
More from Autoweek,it appears to be over and to make
things worse for Windsor he has lost his Speed TV job


http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100217/FREE/100219906 (http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100217/FREE/100219906)
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: FW14B on February 18, 2010, 08:50:22 AM
I would have sworn last year when announced that this team would have been the one most likely to make the grid.  If it fails it does little to endear F1 to the US at a time when the sport needs all the help it can get there.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: littledave on February 18, 2010, 11:11:49 AM
I think it's a great example of how the US just doesn't "get" F1.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Alianora La Canta on February 18, 2010, 11:48:59 AM
I don't think USF1 skipping 2010 can lead to Stefan GP being on the field as a "substitute team". If skipping a whole season is allowed (it was under the old Concorde Agreement, but only if you forfeited 25% of your bond, which no longer exists as a system), then the grid slots would be kept blank pending USF1's arrival.

This to me has been a case of the wrong people with the wrong attitude. I'm sure there are plenty of people in the USA who could do a better job if only they had the enormous resources USF1 commanded/could have commanded had it got things as right as, say, Virgin or Lotus.

It's worth adding that Peter Windsor left his job at F1 Racing to take on USF1 as well, so he's basically starting from scratch if USF1 goes to the wall. I'm hoping against hope that it is still "if", that these rumours are wrong and Peter Windsor is simply applying the old Midland-spec tactic of ignoring rumours it does not like.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: cosworth151 on February 18, 2010, 12:43:09 PM
I think it's a great example of how the US just doesn't "get" F1.

It's more an example of F1's continuing blunders and snubs of the U.S. The 6 car fiasco here in 2005, Bernie's constant "F1 doesn't need the U.S." blasts, these all get big play in the press over here. So does the fact that F1 pulled the race out of Indy, while giving races to venues that have smaller crowds on race day than Indy had for the Thursday Walk-About.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: littledave on February 18, 2010, 02:18:24 PM
I think it's a great example of how the US just doesn't "get" F1.

It's more an example of F1's continuing blunders and snubs of the U.S. The 6 car fiasco here in 2005, Bernie's constant "F1 doesn't need the U.S." blasts, these all get big play in the press over here. So does the fact that F1 pulled the race out of Indy, while giving races to venues that have smaller crowds on race day than Indy had for the Thursday Walk-About.

Good point.

What I meant was that for an American branded team failing to muster up the financial backing from their huge wealth maye show that F1 is a no brainer in the US
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Jericoke on February 18, 2010, 02:30:24 PM
I guess talking about F1 is a lot easier than running an F1 team.

It's a shame that Windsor didn't understand what he was getting into, I would love an American based F1 team... it could lead to a Canadian based one!
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: judy on February 18, 2010, 02:37:43 PM
Is it because most people in US are more interested in Nascar and Indy series than F1 (of course we have some diehard F1 fans from US in this forum) and this resulted in the failure of USF1 team to get financial backing from the huge wealth in US. I could be wrong but is this the reason for the lack of interest by the big companies in US to provide the sponsorship to the USF1 team. Maybe they are more interested to sponsor for the Nascar and Indy series due to the popularity of the series in US compared to F1.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Dare on February 18, 2010, 02:47:21 PM
The US is going thru a money crisis just like the
rest of the world resulting in sponsorship problems
for all motor sports here
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Jericoke on February 18, 2010, 02:48:23 PM
Is it because most people in US are more interested in Nascar and Indy series than F1 (of course we have some diehard F1 fans from US in this forum) and this resulted in the failure of USF1 team to get financial backing from the huge wealth in US. I could be wrong but is this the reason for the lack of interest by the big companies in US to provide the sponsorship to the USF1 team. Maybe they are more interested to sponsor for the Nascar and Indy series due to the popularity of the series in US compared to F1.

In the USA there is a certain degree of contempt for anything 'European'.  It's not a genuine hatred, but just an idea that if something comes from Europe, it's not intended for Americans. (And vice versa.  Americans don't expect Europeans to appreciate anything American.)  Since F1 is seen as a European Sport, it is easily dismissed by a large number of American fans.

However, what F1 doesn't seem to understand is that the United States has more people than any two European countries put together.  Even if fewer Americans are F1 fans, there is actually a larger fan base there than pretty much any other country in the world.  It's no mistake that Montreal and Indy are two of the highest attended races ever.

In the USA F1 will always be second to NASCAR, and maybe third to Indy (the future of the IRL is certainly up for debate... but most IRL fans will be interested in F1... indeed, there are probably more F1 fans in the USA than Indy...).  Like I said earlier, I just don't think that F1 is interested in having the second biggest piece of pie... blind to the fact that a slice of the American pie is more than most countries can provide.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: judy on February 18, 2010, 03:41:38 PM
 I think there are potential for F1 in US that perhaps F1 is currently not paying much attention to. With the popularity of NASCAR and IRL in US, there is a base of interest in motorsport and maybe F1 did not try to tap into this potential for greater interest. I am not surprise, with Bernie making silly comments every now and then, and introducing F1 race in new venues which do not even have race circuit.

As for financial crisis resulting in lack of sponsorship, I think the crisis is on the road of recovering and perhaps the situation will change before year end.

Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Dare on February 18, 2010, 03:52:58 PM
Is it because most people in US are more interested in Nascar and Indy series than F1 (of course we have some diehard F1 fans from US in this forum) and this resulted in the failure of USF1 team to get financial backing from the huge wealth in US. I could be wrong but is this the reason for the lack of interest by the big companies in US to provide the sponsorship to the USF1 team. Maybe they are more interested to sponsor for the Nascar and Indy series due to the popularity of the series in US compared to F1.

In the USA there is a certain degree of contempt for anything 'European'.  It's not a genuine hatred, but just an idea that if something comes from Europe, it's not intended for Americans. (And vice versa.  Americans don't expect Europeans to appreciate anything American.)  Since F1 is seen as a European Sport, it is easily dismissed by a large number of American fans.

However, what F1 doesn't seem to understand is that the United States has more people than any two European countries put together.  Even if fewer Americans are F1 fans, there is actually a larger fan base there than pretty much any other country in the world.  It's no mistake that Montreal and Indy are two of the highest attended races ever.

In the USA F1 will always be second to NASCAR, and maybe third to Indy (the future of the IRL is certainly up for debate... but most IRL fans will be interested in F1... indeed, there are probably more F1 fans in the USA than Indy...).  Like I said earlier, I just don't think that F1 is interested in having the second biggest piece of pie... blind to the fact that a slice of the American pie is more than most countries can provide.

Contempt for anything European is something new to me and
I bet Cos too.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Jericoke on February 18, 2010, 04:08:45 PM
Contempt for anything European is something new to me and
I bet Cos too.

I'm not trying to start anything, but surely I didn't imagine 'freedom fries', the whole football/soccer thing, or the low box office results for non-Hollywood movies... or even tea/iced tea/coffee.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: cosworth151 on February 18, 2010, 04:20:41 PM
The only place I've heard it is on radical right wing radio. It's surprising how many products over here are touted as "European Style!"

NASCAR is running in front of empty stands. F1 could be moving in on that. As it is, the NHRA seems to be picking up a far chunk of disgruntled former NASCAR fans. ESPN is now showing every one of the NHRA's top level races. Ford has greatly expanded it's profile in the sport, as has Toyota.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: judy on February 18, 2010, 04:46:51 PM
Why is NASCAR running in front of empty stand? Is NASCAR loosing popularity in US? I thought NASCAR is one of the 2 series popular in US, the other being the IRL.

Is NHRA a new series in US? I am sorry that I asked such basic questions as I am not familiar with motorsports in US.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Dare on February 18, 2010, 04:57:36 PM
NHRA is drag racing Judy.It's been around
since the 1960's,at least

                    http://www.nhra.com/


As far as NASCAR and empty crowds,Cosworth
can better answer that than m
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Jericoke on February 18, 2010, 05:20:56 PM
The only place I've heard it is on radical right wing radio. It's surprising how many products over here are touted as "European Style!"

NASCAR is running in front of empty stands. F1 could be moving in on that. As it is, the NHRA seems to be picking up a far chunk of disgruntled former NASCAR fans. ESPN is now showing every one of the NHRA's top level races. Ford has greatly expanded it's profile in the sport, as has Toyota.

One of Canadians' favourite hobbies is stereotyping Americans ;-)

It's true that F1 has blown it in the USA, and continues to pass up no brainer opportunities on a daily basis.  There is room in the USA for F1, but no one in the USA is going to jump through Bernie's hoops (and rightly so!). 

The only way to run an F1 race in the USA right now is for Bernie to run the whole thing.  I don't know if that's a bad idea though.  He could probably get 'stimulus money' to build a brand new race track somewhere in the rustbelt, and have a race under his thumb, just like the Georges or the Frances in Indy and Daytona.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: judy on February 18, 2010, 05:23:05 PM
Dare, Thanks for the info on NHRA.
 
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Scott on February 19, 2010, 12:00:29 PM
Makes me a bit sour after all the confidence and chest pounding Windsor did on the early media tours...I think they're toast.   >:( >:(
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: cosworth151 on February 19, 2010, 01:11:05 PM
Last fall, NASCAR's website reported attendance was down an average of 20% per race over 2008, which was down double digits from 07. According to the Indianapolis Star, TV ratings were down an average of 11%. Prior to leaving the Speedway last year, Joie Chitwood indicated that attendance at last year's Indy NASCAR race was down by 100,000. The Speedway has a total permanent seating capacity of about 257,000.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: judy on February 19, 2010, 01:55:02 PM
Thanks for the info on NASCAR, Cosworth151.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Jericoke on February 19, 2010, 02:32:11 PM
Last fall, NASCAR's website reported attendance was down an average of 20% per race over 2008, which was down double digits from 07. According to the Indianapolis Star, TV ratings were down an average of 11%. Prior to leaving the Speedway last year, Joie Chitwood indicated that attendance at last year's Indy NASCAR race was down by 100,000. The Speedway has a total permanent seating capacity of about 257,000.

How much does Tom Cruise want for 'Days of Thunder II'?
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Dare on February 19, 2010, 02:55:12 PM
Last fall, NASCAR's website reported attendance was down an average of 20% per race over 2008, which was down double digits from 07. According to the Indianapolis Star, TV ratings were down an average of 11%. Prior to leaving the Speedway last year, Joie Chitwood indicated that attendance at last year's Indy NASCAR race was down by 100,000. The Speedway has a total permanent seating capacity of about 257,000.



How much does Tom Cruise want for 'Days of Thunder II'?

Probably less than what they would have to
pay me to sit thru it
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: cosworth151 on February 19, 2010, 02:57:05 PM
I can only think of one thing worse - Stalone doing "Driven II."  :sick:
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Jericoke on February 19, 2010, 03:54:19 PM
I can only think of one thing worse - Stalone doing "Driven II."  :sick:

I actually caught some of that on TV last week.  Watching them race Champ cars through traffic in down town Toronto.  Weird.

And what is wrong with Days of Thunder?  I know it's Top Gun in NASCAR, but Top Gun is a good movie too.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Ian on February 19, 2010, 04:16:36 PM
Only one thing spoils Top Gun for me and thats Tom Cruise.  :sick:
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Willy on February 21, 2010, 07:06:45 PM
I hope they can get it together and take their place on the start grid at season start.

If not, I would surely love the see and hear, Peter Windsor back on the grid walk with a mic in his hand.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Jericoke on February 22, 2010, 01:54:26 PM
I hope they can get it together and take their place on the start grid at season start.

If not, I would surely love the see and hear, Peter Windsor back on the grid walk with a mic in his hand.


How can he have his heart in F1 after this?  Also, how much respect would he get from others in F1?  I think if the team had one disatrous year, he could go back, but to fold up without a single race puts him in a tough place.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Dare on February 22, 2010, 02:34:19 PM
I thought I read where Speed Channel had said
if USF! didn't race Windsor still wouldn't return
to the show.

As long as they don't lose Vaersha and Hobbs
the show will still be great
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Willy on February 25, 2010, 02:56:54 AM
Any word on who may be on the grid with the mic?
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Dare on February 25, 2010, 04:14:09 AM
Any word on who may be on the grid with the mic?


What I found on a Speed TV forum,Willy


Feb 20, 2010 - 4:54AM #1  
Insider
 
  If the USF1 team is gone will Peter Windsor continue in his job doing Formula 1 track interview and commentary on SpeedTV?
 
   No. Speed has contracted with a Brit by the name of Will Buxton to take over those duties. Although, you might see Windsor doing some fluff pieces.
 
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Dare on February 25, 2010, 04:17:34 AM
About Will Buxton
Will Buxton is the Editor of acclaimed virtual publication GPWeek, a weekly online publication bringing you the latest news and insight into the worlds of Formula 1, GP2, MotoGP and the WRC.

A motorsport writer for the last eight years, Buxton also spent three years heading up PR for the GP2 Series, a championship on which he now provides international commentary and analysis for a variety of global television networks as the commentator for the FOM world feed.

Buxton began his career as a journalist while still at University. He cut his teeth covering the University of Leeds (UK) Formula Student team, and whilst writing his Political Studies Thesis on “The Politics of Formula 1″ began writing monthly feature articles for Joe Saward at www.grandprix.com.

On graduation, Buxton was given his first break into full-time journalism by David Tremayne at Formula 1 Publishing’s Official Formula 1 Magazine. Buxton was employed as Staff Writer at the magazine until its closure in February 2004, at which point he embarked on a season as a freelance hack. Taking the old school route, Buxton decided to spend the 2004 season living in a campervan, driving from race to race and staying in the fan campsites at every European F1 event that year. It was to be an unforgettable experience and one which still shapes his writing style.

At the end of 2004 Buxton was offered the role of Press Officer for the newly formed GP2 Series. He leapt at the chance and after one year in the job was promoted to Director of Communications for the championship. He stayed with GP2 until the end of the 2007 season, when an opportunity to return to his first love of journalism arose.

In 2008 Buxton returned to full-time journalism as Editor of the newly launched GPWeek virtual magazine. Under Buxton’s Editorship the magazine quickly established itself as a reliable and entertaining source of motorsports news. Now in its second year, GPWeek continues to go from strength to strength.

Buxton is the FIA Accredited Journalist for Australasian Motorsport News at every Formula 1 Grand Prix, and he is also the commentator for the FOM world feed of the GP2 Series and GP2 Asia Series, championships which remain close to his heart. At the F1 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he made his first appearance as the interviewer in the post-qualifying televised FIA press conference.

Will Buxton is a full member of the Guild of Motoring Writers.
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Alianora La Canta on February 25, 2010, 02:01:50 PM
Will also has a Twitter stream @willbuxton .
Title: Re: 'US F1 could skip 2010 season'
Post by: Willy on March 07, 2010, 01:01:58 AM
Well, he has the right name so he must be great.
We shall see.
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