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15th
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Tomorrow morning, F1 cars will hit the brand new Circuit of the Americas near Austin, Texas.
Once again, the top auto racing series in the world is trying to conquer the top market in the world after several mildly successful attempts. Will it work this time around?
I don't want to sound pessimistic, but I have my share of doubts. First of all, no matter how state-of-the-art it may be, the venue is right next to an international airport and surrounded by endless fields -- not exactly the ideal setting for a race that involves ultra-sophisticated, open-wheel cars.
Moreover, since Austin is close to the U.S.-Mexico border, legions of Mexicans will no doubt make the trip to watch their national hero, Sergio Pérez, in action. However, once the ''newness'' factor is gone, how many will pay between $299 and $499 to sit in the bleachers? (All of these tickets were sold out a few weeks ago.)
During the '70s and '80s, Formula 1 found two hot spots for hosting Grand Prix events in the U.S., namely Watkins Glen (East Coast) and Long Beach (West Coast). Unfortunately, both were abandoned for a number of reasons.
Since then, F1 cars have tried, but failed, to find a home in Dallas, Detroit, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Indianapolis. Why? Blame the culture shock.
It's hard for fans of NASCAR and oval speedways to enjoy races that pit open-wheel cars against each other on road courses, let alone when there's no domestic driver or even a domestic team to identify with. Considering how patriotic and chauvinistic the Americans are, why would they feel excited about cars named McLaren, Williams and Sauber (instead of Ford Fusion and Dodge Charger)? Why would they cheer for unfamiliar drivers with ridiculous and unpronounceable last names such as Räikkönen, Hülkenberg, Grosjean or Kathikeyan?
If Formula 1 really wanted to make a successful return to the U.S., it should have opted for a venue somewhere up in the Northeast or in California, where open-wheel cars and road courses are actually part of the culture.
Maybe I'm wrong. For once, I would like that!
Once again, the top auto racing series in the world is trying to conquer the top market in the world after several mildly successful attempts. Will it work this time around?
I don't want to sound pessimistic, but I have my share of doubts. First of all, no matter how state-of-the-art it may be, the venue is right next to an international airport and surrounded by endless fields -- not exactly the ideal setting for a race that involves ultra-sophisticated, open-wheel cars.
Moreover, since Austin is close to the U.S.-Mexico border, legions of Mexicans will no doubt make the trip to watch their national hero, Sergio Pérez, in action. However, once the ''newness'' factor is gone, how many will pay between $299 and $499 to sit in the bleachers? (All of these tickets were sold out a few weeks ago.)
During the '70s and '80s, Formula 1 found two hot spots for hosting Grand Prix events in the U.S., namely Watkins Glen (East Coast) and Long Beach (West Coast). Unfortunately, both were abandoned for a number of reasons.
Since then, F1 cars have tried, but failed, to find a home in Dallas, Detroit, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Indianapolis. Why? Blame the culture shock.
It's hard for fans of NASCAR and oval speedways to enjoy races that pit open-wheel cars against each other on road courses, let alone when there's no domestic driver or even a domestic team to identify with. Considering how patriotic and chauvinistic the Americans are, why would they feel excited about cars named McLaren, Williams and Sauber (instead of Ford Fusion and Dodge Charger)? Why would they cheer for unfamiliar drivers with ridiculous and unpronounceable last names such as Räikkönen, Hülkenberg, Grosjean or Kathikeyan?
If Formula 1 really wanted to make a successful return to the U.S., it should have opted for a venue somewhere up in the Northeast or in California, where open-wheel cars and road courses are actually part of the culture.
Maybe I'm wrong. For once, I would like that!
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| Photo: Circuit of the Americas |