Is that a real expression? If it isn't it should be.

This Looks Fun: Is that a real expression? If it isn't it should be.

It's real and it's spectacular!!

It was dead the moment they announced the new race in Jersey. folks from the north now wouldn't want to go to Texas in the summer for the F1 and the texas folks are probably busy checking nascar.

andhravodu: It was dead the moment they announced the new race in Jersey. folks from the north now wouldn't want to go to Texas in the summer for the F1 and the texas folks are probably busy checking nascar.

The Austin race would have been in the fall to accompany the Brazil race.

Sort of like Rick Perry's presidential run.

Id miss the Moto Gp races at Laguna Seca if this track deal gets done. So on purely selfish reasons Im OK with this.

andhravodu: It was dead the moment they announced the new race in Jersey was going to be in Austin

FTFY. Stupid location to begin with.

That said, I'm betting it's just another negotiation tactic, and it'll get squared away. As much as they don't want to risk what almost happened in Korea, it seems like they've already built too many expectations to walk away without a serious credibility hit.

Then again, I do wonder (just as I do with public stadiums) why a guy who is described as a billionaire needs $25Mil of taxpayer money to support something that he claims will be profitable. If I had $1000 dollars and believed I had a way to turn $25 into a guaranteed even $26, let alone more, I'd make that bet.

But Austin was stupid to begin with. Monte Carlo, Singapore, Shanghai... Austin? That's the best we can do? Sure, it's better than Indy, but Indy at least has racing history to offset its general meh-ness (at best) as a location.

The Jersey one is promising. Hope they can pull it off. Too many egos, too much American jingoism and too little American interest makes it iffy at best, though....

andhravodu: It was dead the moment they announced the new race in Jersey. folks from the north now wouldn't want to go to Texas in the summer for the F1 and the texas folks are probably busy checking nascar.

The race was rescheduled to run in the fall but I started to wonder about Austin F-1 once the New York/New Jersey race was announced. I am not a motor sports fan but would have checked out this race.

Plenty of grand pricks in Texas already, I'd say.

Maybe the FIA arranged New Jersey when they figured out Austin wouldn't work?

Maybe the FIA arranged New Jersey when they figured out Austin wouldn't work?

Ecclestone long expressed an interest in having a race near New York.

My guess is that Bernie simply used the Austin race as a way to leverage more money out of New Jersey. Once the New Jersey deal was done, he no longer had any interest in completing the agreement with Texas.

Red McCombs doesn't usually get taken (he didn't get to be a Billionaire by being stupid) but it appears he did this time.

Dammit. I wanted to buy tickets to the Austin race for my father-in-law for Christmas. He lives in San Antonio and has been a big F1 fan since he was stationed in Germany in the '80s. And with it being around Thanksgiving, we could kill/eat two birds with one stone.

F1 is really awesome to see in person. I've been to the Indy 500 and the old American Gran Prix. The AGP was by far the better event.

mikaloyd: Id miss the Moto Gp races at Laguna Seca if this track deal gets done. So on purely selfish reasons Im OK with this.

Laguna secas contract with motogp is locked in for 5 more years. Indy would lose their gp before laguna.

By the way, if they need a track in america to take austins spot, there's a twisty little road with a corkscrew right down the street from me.

SFSailor: Then again, I do wonder (just as I do with public stadiums) why a guy who is described as a billionaire needs $25Mil of taxpayer money to support something that he claims will be profitable. If I had $1000 dollars and believed I had a way to turn $25 into a guaranteed even $26, let alone more, I'd make that bet.

But if you had $1000 and a sure fire way to turn $25 to $26 but could get some one else to pony up the $25 you would do it instead.


This entire thing is Bernie all over. He wants races that are ever backed by governments as national ego trips or indavidual circits that are so heaverly in debt they need the F1 race to survive. If some one gets uppity or they look like they might make a profit he will talk about pully the rug out from under them to screw more money out of them.

Look at all the attempts to get the British GP away from Silverstone. A track that doesn't need F1 to survive and cannot be bullied is a threat to Bernies power.

FreakinB: SFSailor: But Austin was stupid to begin with. Monte Carlo, Singapore, Shanghai... Austin? That's the best we can do? Sure, it's better than Indy, but Indy at least has racing history to offset its general meh-ness (at best) as a location

As a New Yorker who just got back from a trip to Austin...it's a pretty freaking cool city. I don't say this about many places, but I could see myself living there.

As an Austin native, I can only say this. Stay for a summer, and then see if you still feel that way. Hate to say it, but the city is rapidly becoming like Phoenix. A million people w/ not enough water to sustain the growth.

Eight months out of the year, Austin may be the greatest place in America to live. But during the summer? Yikes...

Some of us predicted this when the deal was first announced. This race was never going to happen.

ok, dense here..... what does Bernie actually do?

The teams have their cars, drivers, manufacturers, etc. The tracks have the infrastructure. Is Bernie just the broker? What does Bernie bring? The TV rights package? Seems like quite the set-up.

It were a stupid idear anyhow cause racing cars ain't no sport.
There was always somethin fishy bout how they were gonna have a hunderd thousand folks git to the track see'in as how the road go'in out there only got two lanes. I reckon it was never mint to happen.

fark y'all. I'm from Texas!

Maurooned: ok, dense here..... what does Bernie actually do?

The teams have their cars, drivers, manufacturers, etc. The tracks have the infrastructure. Is Bernie just the broker? What does Bernie bring? The TV rights package? Seems like quite the set-up.

He brings his eye-candy progeny:

Petra:


and Tamara:




/Actually met Bernie once (albiet briefly) in Indy
//Dude is SHORT
///CSB

SFSailor: andhravodu: It was dead the moment they announced the new race in Jersey was going to be in Austin

FTFY. Stupid location to begin with.

Why is it stupid? I think it's a very clever choice:

* Austin sits in middle of the state with the strongest economy --> $$$ to spend on tickets
* You have a population of over 12 million within four hours driving time --> lots of potential fans nearby
* Austin is used to hosting big events such as SXSW and ACL that attract people from around the world --> Despite not being a huge city Austin can deal with the influx of people
* Austin is untapped for professional sporting events. No MLB, NFL, NHL, PGA, NASCAR, NBA, MLS. The entire central Texas region has one NBA team and hosts a bottom-tier PGA tour stop. --> F1 would be the only game in town
* Austin is a tech mecca and has a highly educated population --> would likely find a decent fan base in a sport that operates on the cutting edge of technology

iamskibibitz: SFSailor: andhravodu: It was dead the moment they announced the new race in Jersey was going to be in Austin

FTFY. Stupid location to begin with.

Why is it stupid? I think it's a very clever choice:

* Austin sits in middle of the state with the strongest economy --> $$$ to spend on tickets
* You have a population of over 12 million within four hours driving time --> lots of potential fans nearby
* Austin is used to hosting big events such as SXSW and ACL that attract people from around the world --> Despite not being a huge city Austin can deal with the influx of people
* Austin is untapped for professional sporting events. No MLB, NFL, NHL, PGA, NASCAR, NBA, MLS. The entire central Texas region has one NBA team and hosts a bottom-tier PGA tour stop. --> F1 would be the only game in town
* Austin is a tech mecca and has a highly educated population --> would likely find a decent fan base in a sport that operates on the cutting edge of technology

Not too mention sponsorship money is easy to come by with all the oil companies and other corporations that have relocated there. I'd love to see this actually happen. It would be so great to have a road course and a dedicated track race in the US.

This pisses me off, but what is Formula 1 without millions of dollars and jealousy and egos?

I hope this is a temporary thing, not doubt by giving somebody their money now rather than after the race, and I can book my tickets. I'd really love to see interaction between Formula 1 engineers and NASCAR engineers, particularly since we might get an Australian V8 Supercar race at the Austin trac (if it gets built)--a US version of that series would be Alternate Timeline NASCAR, which would be great.

HotIgneous Intruder: Plenty of grand pricks in Texas already, I'd say.

Totally agree, really getting tired of people from other places moving here.

andhravodu: It was dead the moment they announced the new race in Jersey. folks from the north now wouldn't want to go to Texas in the summer for the F1 and the texas folks are probably busy checking nascar.

That "new" race has been bandied around for at least 30 years, and they even put it on the schedule in 1983. It's pretty safe to say that one's never happening, either.

andhravodu: It was dead the moment they announced the new race in Jersey. folks from the north now wouldn't want to go to Texas in the summer for the F1 and the texas folks are probably busy checking nascar.

FTFY.

It was never going to happen in the first place. The only question is who got rich running the scam.

This is a late parrot: The Austin race would have been in the fall to accompany the Brazil race.

Last that was announced was that it would be in June.

Trackball: HotIgneous Intruder: Plenty of grand pricks in Texas already, I'd say.

Totally agree, really getting tired of people from other places moving here.


Agreed. All the jerkoffs from Cali are invading over here after destroying their own state.

Lifeless: andhravodu: It was dead the moment they announced the new race in Jersey. folks from the north now wouldn't want to go to Texas in the summer for the F1 and the texas folks are probably busy checking nascar.

That "new" race has been bandied around for at least 30 years, and they even put it on the schedule in 1983. It's pretty safe to say that one's never happening, either.

interesting. But why the charade? I am sure f1 doesn't need the lulz. Atleast one of the race has to happen and it looks like Jersey will get it

JustGetItRight: andhravodu: It was dead the moment they announced the new race in Jersey. folks from the north now wouldn't want to go to Texas in the summer for the F1 and the texas folks are probably busy checking nascar.

FTFY.

It was never going to happen in the first place. The only question is who got rich running the scam.

Wouldnt surprise me if a certain billionaire in texas took an insurance against events like this

Fisty Bum: lunchinlewis: Austin, you're fired!

You owe me a new keyboard. The one I have is now covered in coffee. I will await your cheque.

Also, why wouldn't they have the race at a place like Laguna Seca? It's a proven track with plenty of history.

Laguna Seca would be a deathtrap for F1 cars. They run so fast they had to make Eau Rouge a no-DRS zone at Spa so Petrov wouldn't put his car in orbit. I can only imagine what the corkscrew would look like. Kamui Kobiyashi Maru would literally over-take someone.

steamingpile: This is a late parrot: The Austin race would have been in the fall to accompany the Brazil race.

Last that was announced was that it would be in June.

Nope. Latest plan was to run Jersey right after Montreal then Austin right before Brazil.

Screw those uppity Texans . . . Can we say Road America?

/except peeps who run that place may have their heads further up their asses than those in Austin.
//F1 would NEVER run at Laguna Seca, all that off camber B.S. and redneckery isn't worth shiat

tophergartman: Screw those uppity Texans . . . Can we say Road America?

/except peeps who run that place may have their heads further up their asses than those in Austin.
//F1 would NEVER run at Laguna Seca, all that off camber B.S. and redneckery isn't worth shiat

A good friend of mine works for Road America, and yes, apparently there are a few heads stuck up asses over there.

I volunteer at Laguna Seca, and while I'll give you the off camber, I question your use of the word "redneckery."

FTA: There have been many signs of problems.

The race's original June 2012 schedule was pushed back to November.....


SI writer is an idiot. Of all the troubles listed, moving the race to November was actually a sign of commitment on the part of F1.

Why?

andhravodu: ...folks from the north now wouldn't want to go to Texas in the summer for the F1 and the texas folks are probably busy checking nascar.

That's why.

But yeah, every other sign is pretty negative.

crotchgrabber: tophergartman: Screw those uppity Texans . . . Can we say Road America?

/except peeps who run that place may have their heads further up their asses than those in Austin.
//F1 would NEVER run at Laguna Seca, all that off camber B.S. and redneckery isn't worth shiat

A good friend of mine works for Road America, and yes, apparently there are a few heads stuck up asses over there.

I volunteer at Laguna Seca, and while I'll give you the off camber, I question your use of the word "redneckery."

merkinfortheweekend and I are using Gran Turismo 5 to test the Ferrari 2010 car's performance at Laguna Seca.

First lap: Just driving the racing line. The corkscrew requires you to bring the car to as close to a dead stop as you'll see in F1, with the possible exception of the chicane right before the start/finish straight at Suzuka. Also, the runoff areas would need major, major work. With all that dirt, going off the track would mean insta-retirement (remember, F1 requires you to retire if your engine stalls). And the track is a little too narrow - there would be about as little overtaking as you'd see at Monaco.

Second lap: We tried to see what would happen if you weren't properly aggressive with the braking. Merkin took the corner before the uphill straight a little too close, and we didn't get the speed we hoped for. Our lap 1 ghost rocketed ahead of us (YOUR GHOST IS FASTER THAN YOU; CAN YOU CONFIRM YOU UNDERSTAND THIS MESSAGE?).

Third lap: This time I tried taking the corkscrew with a little less braking than the first lap. I managed to roll the car into the left-hand wall. I could hear my team manager comparing me to Nelson Piquet, Jr.

So this completely unscientific test convinces me. Laguna Seca is not good for F1 driving.

In all honesty, I'm just being greedy and would rather go to an F1 race in my backyard for free than go to Jersey or Texas and pay for it.

That's understandable, right?

CART still holds the lap record.
Zinardi's pass in the corkscrew was the single ballsiest race move I've ever seen.

UNC_Samurai: So this completely unscientific test convinces me. Laguna Seca is not good for F1 driving.

Tell that to Ricardo Zonta (new window)

crotchgrabber: In all honesty, I'm just being greedy and would rather go to an F1 race in my backyard for free than go to Jersey or Texas and pay for it.

That's understandable, right?

CART still holds the lap record.
Zinardi's pass in the corkscrew was the single ballsiest race move I've ever seen.

Your Zanardi quote is worth mention. I've only admired one other driver than Big Z....Derek Bell.

Pushing both of the wildwhorse 917/962 cars to glory commands a level of respect.

/it also helps I instructed Justin's rook year.

No Line For Beer: Nope. Latest plan was to run Jersey right after Montreal then Austin right before Brazil.

Well everything I have found online is that Jersey is a dead deal and only one race in the US for a few years.

tophergartman: Screw those uppity Texans . . . Can we say Road America?

I always wondered if they could redesign the stands at Road Atlanta and have one up there, Im not sure if that track is long enough, it sure is fun though.

Sure, it's better than Indy, but Indy at least has racing history to offset its general meh-ness (at best) as a location.

Know how I know you've never been to Austin?

/Won't even start on Baltimore jokes....

SFSailor: Indy at least has racing history

Yeah the history in that its owner pretty much killed open wheel racing or at the least set its popularity back behind womens field hockey, what a farking douche.

jgk3: Maybe the FIA arranged New Jersey when they figured out Austin wouldn't work?

Ecclestone long expressed an interest in having a race near New York.

My guess is that Bernie simply used the Austin race as a way to leverage more money out of New Jersey. Once the New Jersey deal was done, he no longer had any interest in completing the agreement with Texas.

Red McCombs doesn't usually get taken (he didn't get to be a Billionaire by being stupid) but it appears he did this time.

He got taken by one of the greatest of all time, but I doubt that's much consolation.

Goggles_Pisano: UNC_Samurai: So this completely unscientific test convinces me. Laguna Seca is not good for F1 driving.

Tell that to Ricardo Zonta (new window)

Yes, but that's one car. Imagine cars trying to overtake on the turns. Or the entire grid trying to go into turn one. The race will end up looking like that Indy GP.

jgk3: My guess is that Bernie simply used the Austin race as a way to leverage more money out of New Jersey. Once the New Jersey deal was done, he no longer had any interest in completing the agreement with Texas.

Well according to all the sites I read the jersey race deal is over.