Nick Craw, the president of the FIA's senate, has made an official visit to the Austin site which will host the United States Grand Prix from 2012.

The American, who is also the president of the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States, toured the 900 acre site along with members of the event's organizing team in addition to local, city and state officials.

"It will be great," Craw was quoted as saying. "This has some of the most interesting, exciting and different features, drawn from other successful venues around the world. It is a very strong team they've assembled here. I think it's a very good plan and a very solid business model. They've set the bar pretty high."

During his visit to Austin, Craw also held meetings with Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Travis County Judge Samuel T. Biscoe, and the managing partner of Tilke GmbH, Peter Wahl.

"We were pleased to have Mr. Craw and Tim Mayer, alternate FIA delegate, visit the facility site and meet the incredible team assembled to build and operate what we believe will be one of the premiere racetracks on the circuit and a world-class venue," said Tavo Hellmund. "Our team is committed to building more than a race track, we are thinking far beyond the expected and are developing an environment that will provide an entertainment experience for both participants and spectators alike."

"The track design has been developed with the drivers and spectators in mind," added Wahl. "The drivers want to have high-speed corners; that's what they like. We want to force them to faults and errors; otherwise, the race is not interesting for the spectator. When we design a racing experience, we must consider both points of view to have a truly successful event."

According to recent reports, the FIA will consider a proposal in November to return to the former requirement that new Grand Prix facilities pass inspection at least 90 days before a race. "It probably protects everybody's interest a little better than running right up against the event," said Craw. "If the U.S. Grand Prix didn't want that rule, I will lobby against it."

Wahl recently stated that he wouldn't be a fan of a 90-day rule. "We always get a time frame that is very short these days," he said. "If the race was held in May or April, that would give only one year for construction."

Hellmund was equally unconvinced a return to the 90-day rule would be necessary. "While we would love to have the luxury of having a completed track 90 days in advance of the event date," he said, "the schedule, much like the construction schedule for the last five Grand Prix track developments and races added to the schedule, will potentially not afford us this opportunity.

"All of these events have been successful in their own right and it wouldn't make sense to invoke a 90-day mandate now, that would affect only one track in the world - ours."