A1 GP too expensive?

The A1 Grand Prix is reported to have invested $500 million to get the series started and the teams are spending far more money than the sponsors could possibly hope to get in return. Tony Teixeira, executive director of the series gave the Associated Press these figures.

1. Each 1-car team will spend 'as low as $15 million' to run the season, which is outrageously high given it's a low HP ladder platform.
2. A1 franchises costs from $15-50 million depending on the population and wealth of the competing country.
3. The series expects to make 'a nice profit' by year three, which given how much they are getting for the franchises from the countries, it's quite doable.