Ecclestone on phone about Canada axe

(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone phoned Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay this week, indicating the Canadian grand prix might not be dead in the water.

The F1 chief executive scrapped Circuit Gilles Villeneuve's scheduled 2009 race, as it appears the dispute was over several million dollars in debts.

But with levels of Canadian government subsequently vowing to step in, chief race backer Tremblay revealed he has spoken with Ecclestone about scheduling a meeting.

"If he's phoning us, it's because he has an interest to hold the grand prix in Montreal in 2009," he is quoted as saying by the Canadian Press agency.