U.S. Grand Prix to return in 2012 ... in Austin

Number27 · #1 05-31-2010, 04:40 AM

looks like it's official. they mentioned it several times during yesterdays Turkish Grand Prix, but Bernie declined to say a whole lot about it when interviewed by Buxton.

here's a rather lame article to whet your appetite: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor...in-texas_N.htm

apparently it will be Hermann Tilke's company that will design the circuit

.. but hey, maybe he'll pull off a miracle and produce something like he did for istanbul instead of the usual dirge. one can hope at least.

Dan B · #2 05-31-2010, 08:22 AM

Of all the places to put a racing circuit...why Austin?

And on top of that, it's going to be yet another Tilkedrome. Indy was bad enough.

DigMe · #3 05-31-2010, 08:38 AM

A lot of people in Austin are POed that the city is about to drop $25 million on this when there are already a lot of municipal financial issues.

I just hope they don't put the track on the southeast side near my land.

bc

hdracer · #4 05-31-2010, 08:48 AM

It sounds fishy to me. Have you seen the interview that Dave Dispane did with the track owner/promoter? He doesn't even have all the money. Seems flaky to me.Like the US F1 team.

Ripper · #5 05-31-2010, 12:21 PM

I like the idea and really hope it works, I just wish that someone, ANYONE other than Tilke would be designing it. It needs to be something different to really succeed, not another boring track. something with a giant high speed banked left hand turn and lots of elevation changes.

McHaven · #6 05-31-2010, 12:30 PM

I just hope they'll start a MotoGP or Superbike race there too.

jp58 · #7 05-31-2010, 12:34 PM

Ehh... Maybe it'll be a decent track. If they didn't think he had a good idea, then they probably wouldn't have used him. Of course they may have just been a fan of his cookie cutter tracks too...

Blonde Bassist · #8 05-31-2010, 01:55 PM

I'd like to see more of a street race style circuit, maybe a bit wider than Monaco or Valencia, but something to encorouge more driver skill rather than just the faster car. I'd like to see something that would really test the drivers again, not just the same old thing as a lot of the others. Hope it will be a better opportunity than Indy though, that never worked for me.

Passinwind · #9 05-31-2010, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blonde Bassist

I'd like to see more of a street race style circuit, maybe a bit wider than Monaco or Valencia, but something to encorouge more driver skill rather than just the faster car. I'd like to see something that would really test the drivers again, not just the same old thing as a lot of the others. Hope it will be a better opportunity than Indy though, that never worked for me.

Street circuits rarely encourage passing opportunities though. How about something like the old CART Cleveland airport circuit instead? Or just wetting the track intentionally?

The promoter mentioned that elevation changes will be a prominent feature. That's a good start at least. I used to love watching the F1 races at Watkins Glen, where you could walk around and sample different corners during the race. It's be cool if they could incorporate that as a feature too.

Dan B · #10 05-31-2010, 02:16 PM

F1 at Watkins Glen these days would be a nightmare, considering the lack of run-off. Nevermind that the facilities aren't up to par and the track's owners don't want to dump money for an overhaul. Shame because it's a good circuit otherwise.

jrthebassguy · #11 05-31-2010, 02:31 PM

Awesome. Austin is cool enough of a city to host it. Driving distance for me to go, to boot.

Passinwind · #12 05-31-2010, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan B

F1 at Watkins Glen these days would be a nightmare, considering the lack of run-off. Nevermind that the facilities aren't up to par and the track's owners don't want to dump money for an overhaul. Shame because it's a good circuit otherwise.

It was kind of a nightmare back in the day in many ways, actually. Too bad I can't tell any of my stories on a PG-13 website...

Seeing Can-Am or FIA endurance racers or F1 cars there was an amazing spectacle though. If the Austin track manages to provide just a bit of that I might get motivated to go see a race there, but that'll be a pretty tall order.

jp58 · #13 05-31-2010, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passinwind

Street circuits rarely encourage passing opportunities though. How about something like the old CART Cleveland airport circuit instead? Or just wetting the track intentionally?

The promoter mentioned that elevation changes will be a prominent feature. That's a good start at least. I used to love watching the F1 races at Watkins Glen, where you could walk around and sample different corners during the race. It's be cool if they could incorporate that as a feature too.

I love the street circuits, but they really aren't made for passing at all. It would be nice to see someone build a track with some tight corners like off a street circuit, but still have enough wide corners to facilitate passing too.

Blonde Bassist · #14 05-31-2010, 06:39 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8558344.stm Phoenix 1990, thats a street circuit, with a lot of over taking, nuff said i think...

Number27 · #15 05-31-2010, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blonde Bassist

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8558344.stm Phoenix 1990, thats a street circuit, with a lot of over taking, nuff said i think...

everyone hated that track though...

i agree, austin does seem kind of random for a location, but then again whoever heard of Hockenheim before there was a track there... or le mans? i've never been there, but i've heard that austin is very much an up and coming city so i'm sure it'll be a fine location for F1.

another question is.. who are they bumping from the calendar for the next 10 years so they can have the US grand prix? it seems that when they add the indian grand prix next year they won't be taking any of the other venues off. although with 20 total races and the US grand prix coming (not to mention the french grand prix will have to be making a return sooner or later) they'll have to drop something off the schedule. .. surely. so if i had to guess i'd say probably the turkish grand prix. apparently their attendance numbers are some of the lowest, and they have yet to sign a long term contract with bernie. it'd be a real shame because out of all the circuits Tilke has cobbled together the istanbul autodrome is def. the best.

Atoz · #16 05-31-2010, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number27

apparently it will be Hermann Tilke's company that will design the circuit

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Number27 · #17 05-31-2010, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atoz

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

but really... at this point was there ever any doubt? of the current circuits on this years calendar hermann tilke has designed 7, and contributed to the redesign/remodeling of hockenheim, the hungaroring and catalunya. also he had a hand in the early stages of the singapore street circuit and has designed the indian circuit that will host next years indian grand prix (and even though i can't find it in writing i'm sure he must have had something to do with what happened to silverstone). the only other circuits on the formula one calendar have been hosting races for decades... it's like there is no one else on the planet who designs racing tracks.

Atoz · #18 05-31-2010, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number27

but really... at this point was there ever any doubt? of the current circuits on this years calendar hermann tilke has designed 7, and contributed to the redesign/remodeling of hockenheim, the hungaroring and catalunya. also he had a hand in the early stages of the singapore street circuit and has designed the indian circuit that will host next years indian grand prix (and even though i can't find it in writing i'm sure he must have had something to do with what happened to silverstone). the only other circuits on the formula one calendar have been hosting races for decades... it's like there is no one else on the planet who designs racing tracks.

I know... I know. I just think about the way tracks used to be. Yes, a bit more dangerous (Nordschleife, etc.), but they had character, and made for some fine racing.

I wish that some place like Laguna Seca could be upgraded to "F1 standards" without screwing it up. Can you imagine? Great for the fans, and I'm sure the drivers would love it.

Barring that, if the Austin track is to be, I was holding out hope that the circuit would be interesting. Hermann Tilke almost assures that we end up with something sterile and uninteresting, with slow twisty sections and ridiculous chicanes.

Number27 · #19 05-31-2010, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atoz

I know... I know. I just think about the way tracks used to be. Yes, a bit more dangerous (Nordschleife, etc.), but they had character, and made for some fine racing.

I wish that some place like Laguna Seca could be upgraded to "F1 standards" without screwing it up. Can you imagine? Great for the fans, and I'm sure the drivers would love it.

Barring that, if the Austin track is to be, I was holding out hope that the circuit would be interesting. Hermann Tilke almost assures that we end up with something sterile and uninteresting, with slow twisty sections and ridiculous chicanes.

yea. i really wish that the owner of watkins glen would find some funding and update their facilities to F1 standards. also i was hoping to see F1 return to longbeach. Monaco west FTW!

Atoz · #20 05-31-2010, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number27

yea. i really wish that the owner of watkins glen would find some funding and update their facilities to F1 standards. also i was hoping to see F1 return to longbeach. Monaco west FTW!

Ah, yes... the Glen. That would be something as well. LB, too.

BTW... is "Number27" a reference to the great GV?