My mail box is testament to the large number of American F1 fans so when I heard about the race at Austin, I did me a Yee-Haw. Even before Pitpass's business editor, Chris Sylt, began his analysis of the finances, doubts had been sewn in my mind by American readers.

It became clear that it would be less hassle for me to get there than a pal in North Carolina, not blessed with a private jet. I can walk to a railway station from whence it is 59 minutes to Gatwick. I can catch a flight to Atlanta, then one to San Antonio and to the bed a buddy in Texas has offered me. It would then be the drive of an hour to the track.

I could have pretty ladies offering me food and refreshment as I read a book or watched a movie while Johnnie Reb from North Carolina faces two long days at the wheel and nights in motels in strange towns. Johnnie Reb has been around the block a few times, he has lived in England, travelled extensively on the Continent and has owned Ferraris. When someone like he complains that Austin, self-proclaimed 'Live Music Capital of the World' is a long way from anywhere, I have to take notice.

Clearly, in Texas, La Scala does not count as live music and nor do the BBC Promenade concerts.

Chris Sylt approaches the subject with hard figures backed by meticulous research. I adopt a different approach and ask if you are going to have a US GP, where is the ideal place?

The only sensible answer is Indianapolis, but since that is out of the question, then you ideally need a centre like Las Vegas or Florida, somewhere where you can turn a trip to see a race into a short holiday. Alternatively, a major city like New York or Los Angles would serve.

Long Beach was a pretty good venue, until Bernie's demands became excessive.

The last place you think of is Texas. There was the Dallas GP in 1984 and a local paper set the tone by rubbishing F1, even though the city was playing host. A hack wondered what was remarkable about a lap speed of 89 mph when his road car could easily top that. Doh!

Less was said about the fact that the track surface began by being substandard before it melted and broke up. The organisers had not taken into account the fact that Dallas gets hot in July, yet they lived there.

Dallas wanted a Grand Prix to demonstrate that it was a 'world-class city' and not just a tedious soap opera. What the world saw was that Dallas could not build a stretch of road that would stand use for a few hours. The race was notable for the fact that the two-hour rule had to be invoked because the track was useless.

At the end of WWII, there were disused military airfields all over Britain and many were used to hold motor race meetings. The BRDC had a wide choice, but settled on Silverstone because it was geographically closest to the centre of England and therefore accessible to the most number of people at a time when the rail network reached almost everywhere.

Austin appears to be a very pleasant city. It scores high in all the surveys about quality of life. Its one big mistake was to change its name from the original Waterloo, a name with real class. Still, it doesn't spring to mind as a venue for a Grand Prix.

For a start, you will have to explain to Texans what Formula One is. Note that I said, 'Texans', not 'Americans'. Texas is not a state, it is a condition. My pal in Texas is not a Texan, he comes from Milwaukee.