Indianapolis is still a logical venue for a US Formula One grand prix and a return is on the cards, according to the sport's commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone.
"It is [a possibility]," Ecclestone said. "It's only the fact that it's all the wrong crowd and the wrong people ... nothing worked there really, we'd have to have a big change round. But we'd like to get back there."
Asked whether the United States could be back on the calendar as early as next year, he replied: "We can have a look."
Mario Andretti, the 1978 world champion from America, believes Formula One needs to be in the US. "I can't write the cheque, all I can do is support it in every possible way that makes sense because I believe in it so much," he said.
"I was just talking to Bernie and he is well aware of that need. He is pretty switched on, he's just got to figure out a way," added the 70-year-old.
Indianapolis hosted the race eight times until 2007 but Brazil's Emerson Fittipaldi, a former winner of the Indy 500 as well as two F1 titles, said the Motor Speedway had never been the right location.
"To go to Indianapolis was a big mistake," he said. He pointed out that the F1 layout on the oval circuit ran in the opposite direction, with cars cutting across the infield and looking slow in comparison to Indy cars.
I must ask this...
Until 2005's fiasco, the USGP was up with Britain and Australia for the highest attendance on the F1 calender. So why would Bernie call over 100,000 paying ticket-holders the "wrong crowd"? It's not like Rednecks go to an F1 race...
More Tickets sold = MORE MONEY FOR BERNIE
EDIT: I botched the Topic Title (I think). Mario Andretti is only trying to convince Bernie, not really working with him.
Edited by rmac923, 14 March 2010 - 19:52.