10/07/2008
NEWS STORY
Jim France, Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President of NASCAR and the CEO of the International Speedway Corporation visited McLaren's Woking HQ on Wednesday.
Commenting on his visit, France told the McLaren website: "I am very impressed by what I see here today at the McLaren Technology Centre. I have seen a lot more technology than I would in the garages at NASCAR and IRL level where obviously they are also dedicated racers and working with whatever materials they have. However, I am impressed by the level of manufacturing capability at the McLaren Technology Centre and the development and engineering that goes on at this facility"
Martin Whitmarsh, who accompanied France on the tour, said: "It has been a fantastic opportunity to discuss and compare notes on our differing areas of motorsport. We share many common goals and aspirations and I know that we can learn a lot from each other."
The precise reason for the visit is not known, however, though not a fan of NASCAR, Ron Dennis has admitted that F1 could learn from the series which dominates American motorsport.
"You know one single thing that really, really upsets me?" said Dennis in 2004. "It's every time that I read about NASCAR. It's just amazing, they are just full up. Every race is full up, they've got more income, more television revenue and yet it's as boring as hell. That machine is working and yet we've got a much better show.
Revealing at the time that he and Whitmarsh were to attend a NASCAR event, Dennis added: "I think we'll go and be pretty dismissive of the technology. But I don't think we'll be dismissive of all the things they do and how they've managed to ramp it into such a success.
"The truth is that every single team wants Formula One to be bigger by having more things at the circuit, more things to entertain the public," he added. "We have talked about the whole Formula One village which isn't just about merchandise, it's about simulators and having the drivers attending. It's about a much bigger circus-oriented approach.
"If something is as successful as that (NASCAR) then you are a fool if you don't go and try and understand what the ingredients are."