FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[ludo]

Formula 1 needs to come back to the USA. Indianapolis was a great place, yes, but this weekend in Singapore is making me realise, Formula 1 is the kind of series that needs to be somewhere amazing. Indianapolis is a great track, don't get me wrong. But only race fans are really into it. New street circuits like Singapore and Valencia, and of course Monaco really take the cake. I believe if Formula 1 is ever to return to the United States, it cannot be at such a place, or it will remain a mediocre event here. It needs to be somewhere amazing, fantastic, bordering the incomprehensible. Somewhere the idea popped into my head: if F1 is going to be in places that show off the grandeur of the country, why doesn't the US show it off? Formula 1 needs to be in NYC. A race threw Time Square and throughout Manhattan would be absolutely amazing, and the kind of thing no one in the country could ignore. Everyone in the USA is tired of NASCAR because it's old, boring technology driving around in a circle for hours on end. We want a change and want to join the rest of the world (not just in motorsport!). I say bring back F1, and bring it to Times Square!

[bjsulla]

You got a point there. Lately F1 has been used to show off the countries and for sure by the looks of it Singapore is amazing. But is it good racing? Look at Valencia which on paper looked like it was going to be a spectacular race, but instead it was the most boring one of the season (it was the most boring one that I have seen in a couple of years). I don't think that F1 needs more street circuits, I think it needs better racetracks which promotes thrilling and close races. Most F1 fans wants to see a nice race and they don't care too much about the scenery.

If it is possible to have a safe, close and thrilling race on a street circuit I am all in favor of that, but for the moment I think it is quite enough street circuits as it is.

[McLaren Fan]

I agree with you about that, bjsulla. We need good quality tracks. Die hard and casual Formula One fans alike don't really care where the track is (for the most part, for it's nice to races in historic places, like Italy, France or Britain). The main thing they want to see is good racing. Ecclestone doesn't think like this, however, and is so egotistical he thinks that people do think like him. The tracks aren't all to blame for Formula One becoming a little more bland in recent years. Mosley's 1999 regulation changes were the start of things going wrong, where the focus was shifted from mechanical grip to aerodynamic grip, meaning cars could not follow one another because of turbulent air. 2009 should be the start of things going right again, but it could take a few years for the field to be so closely matched as it is now.

Formula One has to return to the US. Indianapolis, however, is awful. The track is poor: the engineers have no trouble setting up the cars and the drivers aren't challenged when going round the circuit. The US has some decent tracks, notably Laguna Seca, but this and others have no chance of being up to Ecclestone and FIA standards. A new circuit in somewhere like New York is the way to go, but I'm not sure I want to see another street race. We're going to start losing the novelty and prestige of them and they normally don't make for close racing.

[Dardas]

I'm happy with street racing plus few of the best racing track, adding proper overtaking is a must. If they will achieve it than just great.
I reckon is going to take few years and most likely there will be few mor GP
But then how much races could be maximum in F1?
I mean for drivers - you know, they need some holidays, rest, etc.

[IceManpjn]

Formula One has to return to the US. Indianapolis, however, is awful. The track is poor: the engineers have no trouble setting up the cars and the drivers aren't challenged when going round the circuit. The US has some decent tracks, notably Laguna Seca, but this and others have no chance of being up to Ecclestone and FIA standards. A new circuit in somewhere like New York is the way to go, but I'm not sure I want to see another street race. We're going to start losing the novelty and prestige of them and they normally don't make for close racing.

Oh, I'd like to see one at Laguna Seca. My favorite part of that coarse is "The Corkscrew" for some reason. I'd also like to see something in New York City, but not a street circuit. Street circuits bore me. If they do something in New York, I'd like for it to be on a brand new, permanent, dedicated race circuit, and one that isn't designed by Hermann Tilke.

[vintage]

even though i dont like it, nascar still seems to be loved by a huge amount of people and it doesnt seem to bore them like it does some of us. indy is not that great of a track, the only reason i like it is because it was so close to where i live, chicago, that i could easily see a race in person. i would love to see them race in laguna, and through times square would be amazing but i doubt would ever happen.

[kerc]

I'd love to see an F1 car tackle the corkscrew at Laguna Seca.

[texasmr2]

I'd love to see an F1 car tackle the corkscrew at Laguna Seca.

[billindenver]

Unfortunately, it isn't just the track that is important. An F1 track must also have the hotels and restaurants etc etc that support and house the several hundred thousand people that an F1 race brings in. It must have the facilities within the track for media, team parking, and fantastic pit garages. It isn't as simple as building a great track....you practically have to build an entire city around that track or build the track next to a MAJOR tourism spot. Otherwise, I would vote for Miller Motorsports park in Utah....very fun track and it is freakin...HUGE. I have to admit I enjoy driving Road Atlanta more, but there is no way RA could support an F1 race. I think Miller could possibly be wide enough at 50 feet wide, 4.5 miles long and 24 turns....

[McLaren Fan]

That looks a good circuit.

[Stealthgate007]

I think we need to see what the 2009 changes bring as far as overtaking and if it suits street circuit more. I'd like to see them have a race in Dallas Texas at fair park, where I believe they had one back in the 70's. But with the USA I think the time zones play a role in racing as well as the travel from Canada.

[billindenver]

That looks a good circuit.

It's too bumpy for F1 (could be resurfaced), and like I said nowhere near enough hotels etc but the layout is fantastic and the pits rival Homestead and Daytona. Here is a video of a lap there (not my video). He got a great start (PCA does a rolling formation start), but probably never been on that track before, his line is horrible in some corners. Still, it shows the track pretty well. Fun track to drive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDgIqdnw2Jo

[McLaren Fan]

That looks a good circuit.

It's too bumpy for F1 (could be resurfaced), and like I said nowhere near enough hotels etc but the layout is fantastic and the pits rival Homestead and Daytona. Here is a video of a lap there (not my video). He got a great start (PCA does a rolling formation start), but probably never been on that track before, his line is horrible in some corners. Still, it shows the track pretty well. Fun track to drive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDgIqdnw2Jo

I see what you mean about the guys driving, and more importantly, the bumps. It's a pity how Formula One works these days. Good quality racing is being sacrificed for nice glass-fronted pit lanes and the like.

[7UpJordan]

Shame the Dallas street circuit from 1984 can't be re-used.

[billindenver]

That looks a good circuit.

It's too bumpy for F1 (could be resurfaced), and like I said nowhere near enough hotels etc but the layout is fantastic and the pits rival Homestead and Daytona. Here is a video of a lap there (not my video). He got a great start (PCA does a rolling formation start), but probably never been on that track before, his line is horrible in some corners. Still, it shows the track pretty well. Fun track to drive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDgIqdnw2Jo

I see what you mean about the guys driving, and more importantly, the bumps. It's a pity how Formula One works these days. Good quality racing is being sacrificed for nice glass-fronted pit lanes and the like.

I would have to agree with that. It seems that they are at least giving some thought to the attempt to bring back some real racing rather than nose to tail follow the leader. At least some effort has been made in that direction the last few years. With that said, there is even more effort going into corporate image crap that you mention. A shame really...