Debate: Where should the US Grand Prix be held?
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s contract to hold the United States Grand Prix runs out this year – should it get an extension on the contract? Or should the race be held somewhere else.
The circuit has been criticised for being too unchallenging for the drivers and not worthy of the evocative name ‘Indianapolis’.
But American race fans have had plenty to complain about as well. The 2002 race was reduced to a farce as Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello tried to engineer a dead heat finish.
Three years later only six of the 22 cars started the race after the Michelin-shod teams were forced to withdraw for safety reasons.
The nine different venues that have held the Grands Prix in the United States are listed below. There are many other great tracks in America not yet visited by F1 – such as the fantastic Road America circuit.
The United States also has a healthy appetite for street circuits, which F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is keen to see more of on the F1 calendar.
So what venue would best suit the United States Grand Prix?
Indianapolis Motor Speedway – oval (1950-60)
Sebring (1959)
Riverside (1960)
Watkins Glen (1961-80)
Long Beach (1975-83)
Detroit (1982-7)
Caeser’s Palace Hotel, Las Vegas (1981-2)
State Fair Park, Dallas (1984)
Pheonix (1989-91)
Indianapolis Motor Speedway – road course (2000-)
Related links
- United States Grand Prix 2007 preview
- The ‘backwards’ Indianapolis configuration revealed
- Indianapolis to axe banking from F1 circuit?
- Big in America
- Why the 2007 calendar is too short
- The Ben Evans column: F1 gets streetwise
Tags: f1 / formula one / formula 1 / grand prix / motor sport
salva said on 12th November 2007, 18:13
I love laguna seca :) is an old spirit track, with several nice turns…
james steventon said on 26th December 2007, 4:34
Speaking as a newcomer to the USA from Europe, I have grown quickly
to enjoy oval racing which in Europe is now sadly impossible to find.
In 2000, when F1 returned to the United States, everybody I knew were
excited at the prospect of high banked, 215mph, balls out racing,
which we assumed Indianapolis would provide.
Instead, we were treated to half the oval, and a ‘mickey mouse’ section
inbetween. I would like to know who was responsible for this? The FIA or the American race organisers? For me, this decision was a huge mistake. NASCAR and IRL races all use the full oval course at
Indianapolis, why not F1?
The American F1 Grand Prix would have been a far more dramatic spectacle
had the full course been used, and the public had the full understanding
at just how fast these cars are. On the subject of safety, NASCAR and
IRL races are run to such a high standard there that, to me, safety
could not be that much of a concern. Indianapolis should host the F1 race, but without the terrible infield section which, as you Americans
would say, ‘sucks’!
steve osburn said on 18th July 2008, 16:32
my vote goes to watkins glen. the real home of formula one for 20 yrs. don’t give me the cry about access. indycar was just there, nascar will be there soon and f1 still goes to places like monza and monoco. oh yeah, my bad,ecclestone doesn’t want it there. far too many drivers like the challenge and atmosphere. ask any professional or amateur driver that has ever been there,i.e.;mario,stewart(jackie) this circuit has a lot of history and not just f1. if i had enough, i’d bet that everyone would come out winners, if it were there. but…
emily margaret said on 2nd September 2008, 14:18
Indy.Definitely Indianapolis. Centralized location and large event infrastructure. Interstate 70 is completed and travel to and from the city is much improved. Indianapolis knows how to take care of racing fans.
Chris said on 1st November 2008, 18:53
How about a night race in Vegas? Use the track CC used in 2007, just build a garage area on the front straight and rebuild the train bridge before the last turn and you are good to go. The lighting system they had at Singapore would work great.
steve osburn said on 16th November 2008, 4:24
o.k. it doesn’t really matter where anyone wants F1 in the u.s. the problem is bernie. what with all these new countries with their multi-million dollar facilities and the FEE required by bernie, the countries that have had F1 for decades are being choked out. case in point, spa and montreal to name a couple. how many more are going to be cut to make room for these other countries that have governmental backing? in my opinion, bernie only cares about his bank account. if he really cared about the “show”, as it has been called so much over the years, bernie would be taking a lesser fee, giving a bigger share to the teams and making it a point to visit all the classic circuits of the world.
and yes, i agree that the u.s, a should have two, at least. maybe even three. one on each coast and maybe one in the middle. make all us bloody yanks happy.
JLS said on 22nd February 2009, 3:27
Remember that Salt Lake City held the 2002 Winter Games.
What About Miller Motorsports Park?
And Indy has modified the track with the chicane. Love to keep the tradition.
larry t smith jr said on 4th March 2009, 22:50
oak ridge tn ,usa is planing a circut check out thousandsunsmotorsports.com
austin said on 18th March 2009, 23:44
Sebring would be my best guess because it is a technical track and it would be a challenge to F1 drivers. i would like to see that
austin said on 18th March 2009, 23:46
Sebring would be a great place to host a U.S. grand prix for F1. the track is technical and it would be amazing. I would like o see that
austin said on 18th March 2009, 23:47
Sebring would be awsome to see a formula 1 car go around in. I would like to see that
RadarOne said on 10th May 2009, 0:34
Washington, DC should host the US F1 race. International city, Nations capital and no question the best backdrop of any potential road circuit in the United States. Imagine the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and US Capitol in the shots.
Nobama said on 30th May 2009, 22:23
Miami would be a superb venue for F1 in North America…I know nothing of the facilities available, but it is a lively international city…and, the off track amenities are perfect…think Baby Monaco…the San Francisco area (Laguna Seca) would also qualify for similar reasons
Lefty F1 said on 9th June 2009, 17:23
Grand Prix of Miami is the perfect venue… Street course like Monaco its Miami no complaints from anyone there and its on the water as well and Miami can handle all the press and lodging
Mark said on 13th July 2009, 23:49
US F1 tracks
1. Sebring
expand from 12 to 24hrs for ALMS.
2. Laguna Seca
3. Atlanta