Ferrari Mailing List: Re: US F1 GP

[Hans E. Hansen (FList]

Yup.  That's the one.  The promoters said it would cost around

$100M for infrastructure - grandstands, pit facilities, etc., etc.

But they claimed raising the money was not an issue.

 

Bernie seems to favor NYC, and there has been several proposals

in the general area.  But apparently not enough palms were

greased, and it looks like Bernie may be attaching some Texas

long horns to the hood of his car.

 

Hans.

On Tue, Jun 8, 2010 at 11:07 AM, Larry B <larrybard [at] hotmail.com> wrote:

Monticello?  Driving theri track in a few weeks.  (Along with Dennis)
 

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Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2010 09:07:30 -0700
From: FList [at] hanshansen.org
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] US F1 GP
CC: ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com
To: larrybard [at] hotmail.com

What's funny is that the latest Autoweek has an article

that basically says that an automotive "country club" in

upstate NY will be the site of future F1.  I forget the name

right at the moment.  But it has quotes from letters written

by Bernie, Tilke, etc.  Nearly a done deal.

 

So as of about 2 weeks ago, these NY folks were going

to sleep at night under the assumption that they had it

in the bag.  Then Bernie yanks the carpet out from under

them with the Austin announcement.

 

Given the ruthlessness that Bernie has exhibited, I don't

find it far fetched that this is manuevering for negotiations

for a return to Indy.  Look what happened to Donnington/Silverstone.

 

I wouldn't trust this guy enough to buy a pack of bubble gum

from him.

 

Hans.

On Tue, Jun 8, 2010 at 6:20 AM, <JAshburne [at] aol.com> wrote:

Guys, guys, guys!

 

Shouldn't you guys be planning your drive to Indy in 2012? 

 

Does the Austin group have anywhere near the funding that will be needed to build this track?  Where do they stand on environmental reviews?  How about factoring in delays from any local opposition that is sure to stretch out the permitting and approval of a race track facility of that size?

 

Not to throw cold water on the enthusiasm of the return of F1 to the U.S. but I don't see this group being able to get everything together in time for a race in Austin in 2012, and maybe not ever.  Summer of 2012 is only 24 months away, that is not very much time for a project of this magnitude, even if they already have all of the money to build it in the bank, which I don't think these guys do.

 

Do you guys really think that this is going to happen in 2012?

 

Don't you think that this is more Bernie's attempt to put some pressure on Indy to try to level the playing field since Indy doesn't really need F1 and he needs to try to salvage some sort of a good deal for himself.

 

Just wondering,

 

John