34 replies to this topic

[Kucki]

North America has some excellent road tracks, they offer high speed, elevation changes, all types of corners few if any chicanes, and alot of them in very beautiful scenery.

Alot of people often those who dont know much about motorsport outside of F1 think that in North America there are only one or two proper good road tracks and that is Montreal and Indianapolis RC. But the US has much more to offer when it comes to exciting road tracks. Those tracks are of the same spirit as Spa, Interlagos etc. with there flowing fast sections, bumpy and narrow roads with lots of elevation changes, Road Atlanta with some very tricky corners and long straight leading into 2 extremely steep downhill straights, or Mid-Ohio, Road America, rollercoaster rides...

Here are the nominies:

ROAD AMERICA 2 Videos because I couldnt decide which one is better

http://www.youtube.c...c...ated&fmt=22 Bruno Junqueira - Champ Car

Allen McNish - Audi R10 TDI


ROAD ATLANTA

http://www.youtube.c...QHw...d &fmt=22 Leh Keen - Porsche 996RSR


LAGUNA SECA

Ricardo Zonta - Formula 1


MID OHIO

Allen McNish - Audi R10 TDI

Helio Castroneves - IndyCar


MONTREAL

Lewis Hamilton - Formula 1


INDIANAPOLIS RC

Michael Schumacher - Formula 1


MOSPORT

- Allen McNnish - Audi R10 TDI


WATKINS GLEN




SEBRING

Porsche RS Spyder


MEXICO CITY

Juan Pablo Montoya - NASCAR


LONG BEACH

Justin Wilson - Champ Car


PORTLAND

Nigel Mansell - CART


TORONTO

CART


HOUSTON

http://www.youtube.c...U...ated&fmt=22 Champ Car



CLEVELAND

CART


MONTERREY

CART


SEARS POINT

http://www.youtube.c...feature=related Michael Waltrip - NASCAR


VIR

Star Mazda

Edited by Kucki, 08 February 2010 - 22:51.

[Berner]

While I commend your efforts, and the great videos, a suitable track for F1 is much more than the asphalt and the locale. Where will money for upgrades come from? Is there a large enough catchment area from which to draw spectators? Where will they sleep and eat and how will they reach the circuit? Sorry, but I think N.A. is best suited to temporary city street circuits. Ugly, yes, but at least they have people and transport.

[TecnoRacing]

I think you should add Barber/Birmingham to that list as...and perhaps Miller/Utah

But as mentioned, all these facilities would require massive upgrades to the facillites... and too, while it would be great to see F1 at some of these venues...and I hate would hate to see places like Road Atlanta essentially destroyed by miles of asphault runoff...

[Marbles]

I'm not an advocate for where F1 should hold its next N. American race, but having watched Bernie butcher some of the great European tracks I don't want his mits anywhere near Seca, the Glen, or Mosport. Those are three iconic N. American tracks that should not be subjected to the sort of butchery that has befallen Hockenheim.

Edited by Marbles, 08 February 2010 - 23:14.

[Kristian]

I'd love to see F1 cars run at Road America, but sadly it will never happen. Its everything an F1 circuit should be - fast, challenging, overtaking-friendly, gradients, big punishments for mistakes.

[froggy22]

Where is Mont Tremblant?

[Soapy9963]

Road America
FTW

To bad it will never happen. I can dream right? It really has everything that would make a race exciting. To bad it has no infrastructre.

[William Hunt]

If F1 returns to the US then I think it's most likely going to be on a new street track (New York).

[nordschleife]

Thanks a lot, Kucki, that's a great set of videos. That's the way to present a poll in a top user-friendly fashion.

[Craven Morehead]

I'm not an advocate for where F1 should hold its next N. American race, but having watched Bernie butcher some of the great European tracks I don't want his mits anywhere near Seca, the Glen, or Mosport. Those are three iconic N. American tracks that should not be subjected to the sort of butchery that has befallen Hockenheim.

What happened to the once mighty Hockenheim is just brutal.

[Sausage]

The US has some awesome tracks, but most of them would have to be completely butchered to get aproved for F1's insane safety demands. Keep going to Montreal or go Indy again, leave the rest intact for non-pussy series like Nascar, Indy, Lemans, etc.

[mach1na]

I think a Formula One Grand Prix in Las Vegas would not only be spectacular, but more accessible because the city itself is a destination.
Surely the state of Nevada could offer Bernie the concessions he needs to host a GP in Sin City!



http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

I could care less how the track is laid out or even played out for that matter.
To toss my inner racing nerd aside for a minute, I am more interested in the commercial/marketing potential.

C'mon Bernie, make it happen!

[sblick]

My friend said the other day that the CEO or President of Watkins Glen was going to bring his track up to F1 standards for a possible run at an F1 race. My friend couldn't clarify to me if he said FIA standards or F1 standards which is a whole different game. He did say though, that Tilke what not be allowed to work on the track

[slideways]

Anywhere so long as they stop expecting F1 to self fund the event. If South Korea or Turkey can back a race, why on earth can't USA?

[Madera]

Miller Motorsports Park!

That place is the ticket!

Many configurable track layouts.

Close to a modern city.

A beautiful location.

Need's no upgrading.

I would take the drive there for a great vacation.

Edited by Madera, 09 February 2010 - 01:39.

[Kucki]

I'm sorry I forgot Mont Tremblant, Utah and Barber

[Docc]

Hmmm..

Road America..

My favorite track..

But..let's see..

1.Bratwurst
2.Wisconsin farm country
3.Midwestern folksy style
4.Luxury camping at Jaycees..or KA
5.14" Corn cooked in 20 gallon butter vats..
UH..

F1...??

Humble and Subtle..??

Uh...

And my favorite track neutered !!

I'd rather watch on tape delay from Mongolia...

[Rob G]

I'd prefer that they race at Miller instead of most of the other tracks mentioned, again because I'd hate to see the tracks neutered in the interest of excessive safety. One thing that disappoints me about Miller is the complete lack of infield spectator areas. That's an awfully long track to have to walk around the perimeter.

[JacnGille]

The US has some awesome tracks, but most of them would have to be completely butchered to get aproved for F1's insane safety demands. Keep going to Montreal or go Indy again, leave the rest intact for non-pussy series like Nascar, Indy, Lemans, etc.

+1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000

[Rasputin]

In a perfect world, I would concur that Road America should be the ultimate F1 track in NA, but F1 is not so much about racing or sport anymore as razmatazz, supermodels and megabucks. Cheesehead-country might not be the ideal place for that.

The long Beach race of the 70s had a Monaco taste to it, but i guess F1's best chance for US-attention is in New York anyway. If it wasn't for whatever enviro-lobby or property mogul expecting to cash-in, I guess a street race in NYC be possible?

Raz

Edited by Rasputin, 09 February 2010 - 07:10.

[pacwest]

I do not see Las Vegas on the list.

[CSquared]

I'm not an advocate for where F1 should hold its next N. American race, but having watched Bernie butcher some of the great European tracks I don't want his mits anywhere near Seca, the Glen, or Mosport. Those are three iconic N. American tracks that should not be subjected to the sort of butchery that has befallen Hockenheim.

+1. Unfortunately, I have to agree with this. Ideally, it would be great to see F1 back at the Glen, or at Road America or Laguna, but today that would mean destroying much of what we love about these tracks. I'd rather leave them unmolested for the other series that can use them.

MotoGP did some mild damage to Laguna (eg. flatter entry to corkscrew), but I think it was an acceptable tradeoff (because it's a fantastic event :-) ). Indy wasn't too bad as a track, but not a great location. Miller is strangely and sparsely set up for spectators, making it seem much smaller than it is, and is a thoroughly unglamorous location (though they did pull off the Olympics, I guess).

Edit: Forgot to thank Kucki for all the great links

Edited by CSquared, 09 February 2010 - 09:33.

[Kucki]

I also would hate to see the tracks get changed with aspahlt run off areas, lowering the curbs, smoothing out the bumps and the like.

But think about what cars race at these tracks, IndyCar, Champ Car. Formula 1 cars are much safer then these cars, and Formula 1 cars keep improving alot every year with stricter crash tests. A Formula 1 car is the most safe racing car, atleast with Open Wheelers.

Lets say an F1 car is 20 MPH (30km/h) faster on average around a track then a Champ Car/IndyCar, with the added safety features an F1 car has, it doesnt seem that outrageuos to let it go racing on the same track as IndyCar or Champ Car

[Marbles]

You're right, Kucki, that is perfectly reasonable. Unfortunately reason is a concept that F1 has largely abandoned.

[metz]

Where is Mont Tremblant?

Absolutely the most elevation changes and picturesque circuit on the face of the planet.

But for all of Bernie's criteria, one must include Las Vegas. Not a street race. Build a course.
It has money, cheap flights, hotels, space, and is the most decadent city one could go to.

[nordschleife]

A race held in the USA has counted toward the WDC in each F1 season except 1992-1999 (9 years) and 2008+2009(+2010). Will this Second Dark Age last as long?

The 1974 GP of Switzerland was held in Dijon, France. The Grand Prix of San Marino was routinely held in Imola, Italy. To alleviate the suffering of the have-nots surely Mosport could shoulder the burden of the unfortunates for the duration of the crisis. If wounded pride is the impediment, why not mask the shame with the title "GP of North America"?

[MellowBob]

My votes goes to Miller also. I think it's FIA spec also...not too sure.

Edited by MellowBob, 09 February 2010 - 17:39.

[senna da silva]

Miller Motorsports Park!

That place is the ticket!

Many configurable track layouts.

Close to a modern city.

A beautiful location.

Need's no upgrading.

I would take the drive there for a great vacation.

And if the local fans bring their wives you know it'll be a sellout!

[wewantourdarbyback]

The full oval at Indy. F1 needs at least one oval to be the true top test of a driver and car.


Edit: and Laguna Seca of course.

Edited by wewantourdarbyback, 09 February 2010 - 17:46.

[juicy sushi]

Miller Motorsports Park!

That place is the ticket!

Many configurable track layouts.

Close to a modern city.

A beautiful location.

Need's no upgrading.

I would take the drive there for a great vacation.

It's poorly attended, a pretty dull track and gets dust all over the track.

I think some people haven't watched many races at some of these tracks. Laguna Seca is pretty, but very short, narrow and unable to cope with modern open-wheel cars. CART regularly threw up terrible races there year after year, and I can't see F1 being better.

Road America would be amazing, but the facilities would not be acceptable for the F1 fraternity. Mosport is wicked fast, but completely unsafe.

If F1 really wanted to make it big, they need to call up the Hulman-George family, and tell them to cancel IndyCar, and then offer to run the Indy 500 as the USGP. They won't get a major TV audience otherwise, and it's really the only place that can accomodate F1. That said, there is a distinct lack of common sense on all sides, so it would never happen, but then again, they moved Monaco a week early this year, so there is no longer a date conflict...

[domhnall]

My friend said the other day that the CEO or President of Watkins Glen was going to bring his track up to F1 standards for a possible run at an F1 race. My friend couldn't clarify to me if he said FIA standards or F1 standards which is a whole different game. He did say though, that Tilke what not be allowed to work on the track

I think they're adding some tarmac runoffs and installing some new FIA standards curbs, mostly in response to a couple of big nascar crashes there last year. I'm not sure if they're thinking f1 in the long term, but we'll see.

[MellowBob]

Disregarding location, do you really think the only F1 race in the US will be poorly attended? I don't.

[Rob G]

Disregarding location, do you really think the only F1 race in the US will be poorly attended? I don't.

The thing is, you really can't disregard location. When they raced in Phoenix they had almost as many ticket-takers as they had spectators.

[cheapracer]

Daytona seems obvious to me, has everything required and a large local motorsports fan base.

The road course obviously including the bus stop down the back straight.

Full of International racing history too, wonder why it hasn't been there before?

Edited by cheapracer, 10 February 2010 - 04:48.

[juicy sushi]

Possibly because Daytona Beach is a crime-ridden hole and F1 wouldn't stand for the place on safety grounds. If you thought the banking at Indianapolis was a problem, Daytona is much steeper, and the infield road course is a lot further away from being of F1 standard (it might be unable to even get there).