03/07/2005
NEWS STORY
Indianapolis motor speedway boss, Tony George, has ruled out the possibility of a non-championship F1 race - featuring the teams that withdrew from the recent United States Grand Prix - taking place at the end of the current season.
"There will be no race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this fall," said George, according to the Indianapolis Star.
The idea of a non-championship race, to be held the weekend after the season finale at Shanghai, was revealed at Magny Cours on Saturday by Ron Dennis, as part of a package to appease fans in the wake of recent events and to improve the sport's battered image.
However, Dennis and his fellow team bosses are mindful that the FIA is carefully watching events - with particular regards as to how the teams make good the damage done, before announcing the punishment that will be meted out in September, following last week's hearing in front of the World Motor Sport Council.
At Indianapolis, George made it clear that he is not interested in gimmicks but the long-term future of the United States Grand Prix in North America.
"Our position to Bernie, who is our link to the F1 community, is that the sooner we can get the focus back on the real issues that affect all of us, the better off we'll be."
Meanwhile, in the wake of Michelin's offer to reimburse fans who attended the Grand Prix, and provide 20,000 tickets for the 2006 event, IMS spokesman Ron Green revealed that a formal agreement has not yet been signed. He also concurred with George.
"Priority No 1 is resolving everything from this year's race," he said. "Priority No. 2 is working on an event for 2006."