Published: July 30, 2007 11:11 pm            

RIVERS: Who needs Formula One?

Hopefully, MotoGP will be easier to work with.

INDIANAPOLIS — Conversation over lunch on Sunday at the Brickyard 400 was centered around recent major announcements at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The most lively conversation was regarding the termination of the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix.

Formula One brought an international flavor to the famed brickyard at 16th and Georgetown. Sure, there have been many foreign drivers at Indy before the U.S. Grand Prix, but the fan base itself was obviously more diverse than the average bunch that shows up every month of May. It has been said that Indianapolis will experience a loss of about $100 million in revenue because Formula One and IMS could not come to terms. Given the fact that Bernie Ecclestone wanted $30 million from the proceeds, the whole problem with F1 can be summed up in one word — greed.

The now infamous “Michelin incident” which occurred in 2005 where all but six of the drivers pulled off the track after the parade lap because of a tire dispute with the Federation Internationale De L’Automobile, (the sanctioning body of Formula One) was the greatest fear the speedway has had since the first Indy 500 in 1911. Hundreds of thousands of people showed up and then the drivers didn’t deliver a race. How did Bernie respond? He fled the track in a helicopter before the “race” was over. That’s to be expected from a guy who was too good to stay in Indianapolis when F1 was in town. That’s right, Bernie hopped on his chopper and flew to Chicago every night. Apparently the numerous top-level hotels in Indy were not good enough for Emperor Ecclestone. This problem can be summed up with another word — arrogance.

Short of the lost revenue, the general consensus amongst media and many speedway staffers is “good riddance.” Bernie and his boys are just too “high maintenance.” While Tony George’s vision of four major races (including the recently announced MotoGP motorcycle race) was attractive, one has to wonder if we’re better off without the problem child F1 has become. As one long-time IMS radio network announcer said Sunday, we don’t need them, they need us. Just ask the F1 manufacturers. They will tell you that the U.S. market is VERY important to them.

MotoGP to run motorcycle race at Indy

Motorcycle racing will return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time in nearly a century with the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, sanctioned by MotoGP, the world’s premier motorcycle road racing series.

While the Red Bull Indianapolis GP was not intended to be a replacement for the U.S. Grand Prix (negotiations were ongoing long before F1 weaseled out) it will be a welcome substitute for the revenue lost by the absence of F1. It will also be a historic race since motorcycles haven’t raced at Indy since the track opened in 1909.

The Red Bull Indianapolis GP will take place on a new 16-turn, 2.601-mile (4.186 km) motorcycle road course at IMS that will feature the riders traveling counter-clockwise, the same direction as the facility’s oval events.

“We welcome the excitement and passion of MotoGP racing and its fans to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP,” said Joie Chitwood, IMS president and chief operating officer. “The very first motorized race at IMS was on two wheels, so it’s only fitting that motorcycles are returning as we approach the 100th anniversary of the track.”

This new race appears to be destined for success. Support is widespread and many fans are looking forward to a new type of racing at Indianapolis. Once thing is for certain — MotoGP seems to be much more cooperative and respectful than the Ecclestone gang.

        

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