Jalopnik : U.S. Grand Prix Formula 1 Track, Financier Revealed [Motorsports]

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The mysterious circumstances bringing the U.S. Grand Prix to Austin, Texas and the location of the track were both revealed today. Big-bucks former Vikings/Saints Owner Red McCombs will provide the funding and the track will be out in the sticks. More »


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[Jamesus]

One can only hope this will be a good thing...

[gizzmo]

Originally Posted by Jamesus

One can only hope this will be a good thing...

fuck Bernie and F-1 that's a high priced ticket to watch a parade

[boostedh22a]

I enjoyed the F1 event when it was in town. I actually enjoyed the Porsche race more than the actual F1 race though...haha.

[gizzmo]

Originally Posted by boostedh22a

I enjoyed the F1 event when it was in town. I actually enjoyed the Porsche race more than the actual F1 race though...haha.

yep, bring on ALMS at IMS on the road course

[jonbrewerphoto]

I've got a couple friends who live in ATX. Looks like i'll be paying them a visit soon

[nelson8708]

Originally Posted by gizzmo

yep, bring on ALMS at IMS on the road course

+1 need more road course racing @ IMS

[10ring]

Originally Posted by gizzmo

fuck Bernie and F-1 that's a high priced ticket to watch a parade

This.

[RichieRich]

I will take the "parade" over the other alternative...WWE on 4 wheels...I was over that crap when I was 13.

At least in F1 there are technical innovations, each manufacturer making their own cars, and true differences in the crap teams versus the elite teams.

In WWE, all the crap teams get to "race" right there at the end with the big money teams, cause "IT'S 'CITIN!!!"

[gizzmo]

Originally Posted by RichieRich

I will take the "parade" over the other alternative...WWE on 4 wheels...I was over that crap when I was 13.

At least in F1 there are technical innovations, each manufacturer making their own cars, and true differences in the crap teams versus the elite teams.

In WWE, all the crap teams get to "race" right there at the end with the big money teams, cause "IT'S 'CITIN!!!"

I'll give em techology. However, you can look at the team budgets and just put them in order from highest to lowest and that's your finish order generally. They barely ever pass. It's a parade. It's boring. About the only racing I get excited about anymore is Rally, the woods makes it interesting. Most everything else is becoming spec shit (like Dave said) I'm excited fot the new indy car. I'm hoping that breaks it up a bit.

[Jamesus]

I dunno Bennifer.. I've got to say that the current F1 season is certainly one of the most exciting in recent memory. 4 WDC's banging it out.. 3 of which are in the 5 way race for the driver's prize at the half way point in the season.. Ferrari showing some speed only in the last 3 races.. Red Bull with the dominant car has struggled to convert speed into wins, and McLaren with the 2 most recent WDC's in the drivers seats having arguably the slowest car out of the top 3 teams.. the new points system making it much more enticing to race for position in the closing stages of the race rather than just drive to collect points.. good things are happening that are making the event much more exciting to watch.. not just for the technical gearheads like me.

[Ricersux]

WRC ftmfw....the only racing I really like to watch on tv. I think going to any type of race is always better than watching it on tv tho.

[Yamaha]

I hate to say it, I would rather watch Lemans 24, ALMS, Rolex sports car series, WRC, koni series, continental series, mx5 cup, and runoffs before nascrap or fag-1......nascrap isnt even close to stock car racing, and would be more interesting if the cars were required to be the stock body and drivetrain from a production vehicle with homologations to meet....fag-1 consists of damn near nothing to do with any road vehicle in existence besides the correlation of having 4 round things at the corners....

[rpmk4]

Originally Posted by Yamaha

fag-1 consists of damn near nothing to do with any road vehicle in existence besides the correlation of having 4 round things at the corners....

except for all the technology that makes it into road cars....and f1 hasn't had anything resembling a road car in a long time. i'm not even a fan of f1, but needed to point these out.

[Yamaha]

Originally Posted by rpmk4

except for all the technology that makes it into road cars....and f1 hasn't had anything resembling a road car in a long time. i'm not even a fan of f1, but needed to point these out.

true, developments trickle down, but based off production stuff is what would make it better in my eyes

[RichieRich]

DSG, Paddle Shifters, TPMS, KERS (in hybrids), 7-speed transmissions (just a few that I can think of off the top of my head)....all are direct correlations to "Fag-1" as it was earlier stated. F1 isnt a "spec" series. Each team creates their own car based on the standards, which is very similar to Lemans 24, ALMS, Rolex sports car series, WRC, koni series....LOVE IT!!!! All these forms are WAY better than IRL or Nascrap!!

[gizzmo]

Originally Posted by RichieRich

DSG, Paddle Shifters, TPMS, KERS (in hybrids), 7-speed transmissions (just a few that I can think of off the top of my head)....all are direct correlations to "Fag-1" as it was earlier stated. F1 isnt a "spec" series. Each team creates their own car based on the standards, which is very similar to Lemans 24, ALMS, Rolex sports car series, WRC, koni series....LOVE IT!!!! All these forms are WAY better than IRL or Nascrap!!

all but F1 are better, I'll agree with ya except that


I've tried watching a few of the races this year. it's a friggin parade. the positions change during pit stops or if someone goes off the track, otherwise, parade. It's boring to me.

[mtownneon]

Forget the racing aspect, how is any GP here in the states expected to make any money? What killed F-1 here was that Bat-shit Bernie wants a small fortune in sanctioning fees, a big piece of the gate, controls the TV, marketing, consessions, souveniers, etc. There's almost nothing left for the track owner. The realityof F-1 here in the States is that it's a loser for whoever hosts it. Indy made some the first 2 years but as the novelty wore off, they couldn't get 100,000 butts in the place and Bernie wanted more money to renew the contract. All the best to Red but I think if this goes through, he'll just wind up spending a shit-load of money and never re-coup it.

I would love to see the road course at IMS used more. I went to the Grand Am test and it looked like there was plenty of fan interest, as much as there was for the US GP motorcycle test but the powers at IMS didn't see it that way. Real shame, a 12 or 24 hour endurance race would be killer there. Imagine cars racing down the front stretch at night with nothing but headlights lighting the way? I'd pay to see that! I've also been thinking that having the SCCA Valvoline Runoffs there during the week as the lead up to a race like that would add even more prestige to the event as the best in Amatuer and Professional Road Racing would fight for championships and the right to say they won at Indy.

[10ring]

Originally Posted by mtownneon

Forget the racing aspect, how is any GP here in the states expected to make any money? What killed F-1 here was that Bat-shit Bernie wants a small fortune in sanctioning fees, a big piece of the gate, controls the TV, marketing, consessions, souveniers, etc. There's almost nothing left for the track owner.

And throw in that staying in lowly Indianapolis is beneath him and he actually has a private helicopter that he used to ride to and from Chicago every single night he was forced to come slumming in the States.

Fuck that arrogant bitch.

[Bobzilla]

Originally Posted by mtownneon

I'd pay to see that! I've also been thinking that having the SCCA Valvoline Runoffs there during the week as the lead up to a race like that would add even more prestige to the event as the best in Amatuer and Professional Road Racing would fight for championships and the right to say they won at Indy.

You know how to push my buttons you smooth talker you!