15/08/2006
NEWS STORY
Reports coming out of the United States suggest that Formula One will return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2007, though it is claimed that the deal is for one year.
"I think it's great," Tom Weisenback, Director of Indiana Motorsports Association, told Indianapolis' Fox59. "It continues to promote the Speedway and Indy as the racing capital."
Following the debacle of 2005, when just six cars contested the race, combined with a general lack of interest in F1 in the US, and comments made by Bernie Ecclestone ahead of this year's race, when the Englishman claimed that F1 doesn't need America, there were fears that the World Championship might no longer include the 'home of the automobile'.
"I think Bernie's a shrewd businessman," said Weisenback, who clearly believes, like many others, that Ecclestone's comments were a ploy. "I think you use every angle possible to get the most out of your company and that's what he does."
Referring to claims that Ecclestone wants F1 to return to Las Vegas, which hosted two races in the early 80s, Weisenback added: "Bernie wanted it on the strip. But Vegas isn't as hungry to snag F1 as track owner Tony George is to keep the race at IMS. I don't think Las Vegas needs the race to continue to keep their registers ringing."