Will Bernie dump the USGP?
06/30/07 A decision on renewing the U.S. Grand Prix contract likely won't be made much before the July 12 deadline, Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Tony George said Friday. George said he has not discussed the future of the event with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone since the June 15-17 race weekend at the Speedway. George said he plans to call Ecclestone on Monday.
"(A decision) will probably come down to the last minute," George said from Richmond International Raceway, where his IndyCar Series will race tonight with the SunTrust Indy Challenge.
George described the chances of the USGP continuing at IMS for a ninth time as "a coin toss."
Ecclestone could not be reached for comment. He was in Las Vegas hearing options for staging a street-course race in that city.
Billionaire developer Steve Wynn, who owns a Las Vegas casino, has been pushing Ecclestone for an F-1 race in the city for at least a decade.
Las Vegas hosted grand prix events in 1981 and 1982, with each playing to relatively small crowds. Indy Star
06/16/07 Tony George has a decision to make following Friday's meeting with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
He can wait for Ecclestone to decide if continuing the U.S. Grand Prix makes economic sense for F-1, or he can walk away from the sport after Sunday's race when the contract expires. It's a tough call, George said.
"How long can we wait before we make a decision?" he asked. "I don't think delaying (an announcement) is in our best interest.
"Obviously, we would like to be in position to announce something this weekend, but that doesn't appear to be the case."
George came away from his 20-minute meeting in Ecclestone's Gasoline Alley office understanding there are many dynamics in play, including lucrative offers from other countries to host F-1 races.
Earlier this week, Ecclestone mentioned India as one of those alternatives. South Korea and Singapore are also standing in line with substantial financial backing from their governments, which George does not have.
Ecclestone's price for the USGP has not been confirmed, but it is believed to be around $10 million per year. Valencia, Spain, reportedly will pay at least $35 million for its new race.
The Star could not reach Ecclestone for comment. Indy Star