Where would you want a US GP to be held

[Waris]

Miller Motorsport Park is the best track, though I doubt they could hold an F1 race there. Detroit's pretty cool too. Actually, USA is such a big country with so many good tracks that it needs two F1 races, IMO.

[Captain Hammer]

So it's a country from which there has never been a successful driver, has never had a successful team, and has not only had trouble consistently hosting an event, but has been home to some of the most dismal circuits - Caesars' Palace, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Fair Park - and yet it deserves two races?

Yeah, right.

[Waris]

So it's a country from which there has never been a successful driver, has never had a successful team, and has not only had trouble consistently hosting an event, but has been home to some of the most dismal circuits - Caesars' Palace, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Fair Park - and yet it deserves two races?

Yeah, right.

Calling Phoenix and Indianapolis "some of the most dismal circuits" seems a bit harsh. Moreover, I just said that because I found it hard to pick just one US track. :/

Edit: Also, what, no succesful driver or team? Did you forget Mario Andretti, Phil Hill, Eagle?

[Captain Hammer]

Phoenix consisted almost entirely of the much-loathed ninety-degree corner. Indianapolis has a fiddly switchback in the place of a soul.

As for Andretti, he was Italian-born. He might have raced under the banner of America, but there's a reason why he's described as Italian-American: he was Italian first. Regarding Phil Hill and Eagle, they came too early in Formula One's history to be of any relevance now; they passed through the sport long before the rise in popularity of CART.

[RejectSteve]

As for Andretti, he was Italian-born. He might have raced under the banner of America, but there's a reason why he's described as Italian-American: he was Italian first. Regarding Phil Hill and Eagle, they came too early in Formula One's history to be of any relevance now; they passed through the sport long before the rise in popularity of CART.

He was only in Italy during the war as a small child, after which his family left and moved to the USA. He started racing with his brother Aldo on the then-half mile dirt oval in Nazareth.

Dan Gurney won in his own Eagle, but didn't Richie Ginther take a GP too? Sure it was in the 1960's, but the names are in the books with strong achievements. Mind you, the most influential Americans of F1 were the likes of Tom Jones, Frank J. Dochnal, and Scarab.

[DonTirri]

As for Andretti, he was Italian-born. He might have raced under the banner of America, but there's a reason why he's described as Italian-American: he was Italian first. Regarding Phil Hill and Eagle, they came too early in Formula One's history to be of any relevance now; they passed through the sport long before the rise in popularity of CART.

He was only in Italy during the war as a small child, after which his family left and moved to the USA. He started racing with his brother Aldo on the then-half mile dirt oval in Nazareth.

Dan Gurney won in his own Eagle, but didn't Richie Ginther take a GP too? Sure it was in the 1960's, but the names are in the books with strong achievements. Mind you, the most influential Americans of F1 were the likes of Tom Jones, Frank J. Dochnal, and Scarab.

USA in F1 is like USA in Football.

Random flashes-in-the-pan performances/Drivers/teams, lot of attempt to gain foothold in the country, yet their general sucktitude in the sport has turned them to create their own version of it where they can be good.

[Salamander]

As for Andretti, he was Italian-born. He might have raced under the banner of America, but there's a reason why he's described as Italian-American: he was Italian first. Regarding Phil Hill and Eagle, they came too early in Formula One's history to be of any relevance now; they passed through the sport long before the rise in popularity of CART.

He was only in Italy during the war as a small child, after which his family left and moved to the USA. He started racing with his brother Aldo on the then-half mile dirt oval in Nazareth.

Dan Gurney won in his own Eagle, but didn't Richie Ginther take a GP too? Sure it was in the 1960's, but the names are in the books with strong achievements. Mind you, the most influential Americans of F1 were the likes of Tom Jones, Frank J. Dochnal, and Scarab.

That is true, but I think you're missing his point. There's been very little success for the US in F1 in recent memory. Michael Andretti and Scott Speed were hopeless, and the Indianapolis track was just dull, IMO. Not to mention the farce that was the 2005 USGP.

And yes, Ginther did win a GP, the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix, with Honda.

[ZsoltForever]

The farce that was the 2005 USGP was not the USA's or the track's fault, that was solely in the lap of Michelin. Seems a bit harsh to knock a whole nation for that. And attendance fell after that, but it didn't fall precipitously.

Indy wasn't the greatest circuit of all-time by any stretch, but it wasn't the worst either. And because of its set-up compromises, you'd get some weird results in the field due to the now almost unheard of attrition there. Zsolt Baumgartner scored a point there for crissakes.

Runoff is a major problem at all US circuits. Watkins Glen, for example, is completely unsuitable for modern F1 in its current state. Check out Sam Hornish's NASCAR wreck earlier this week for evidence of that. No way F1 runs on a circuit where a car can easily richochet back on to the track.

[thehemogoblin]

No way F1 runs on a circuit where a car can easily richochet back on to the track.

They're going back to Montreal, and I seem to recall watching Kubica ricochet across the track there.

[DonTirri]

No way F1 runs on a circuit where a car can easily richochet back on to the track.

They're going back to Montreal, and I seem to recall watching Kubica ricochet across the track there.

Not to mention Spa (eau rouge for example), Melbourne (Vettel and Kubica anyone?) AND both Monaco and Valencia (runoffs? what're those?)

[Salamander]

The farce that was the 2005 USGP was not the USA's or the track's fault, that was solely in the lap of Michelin. Seems a bit harsh to knock a whole nation for that. And attendance fell after that, but it didn't fall precipitously.

I didn't say it was their fault, what I meant was that American interest in F1 was diminished after that. Attendance might not have fallen so much, but I'm not so sure about television viewing figures in the country.

[Travis Daye]

I just watched the 1988 US GP, held at Detroit... while that was obviously a rather crappy track (although some fond memories remain from the computer game that my nick was taken from), the commentators mentioned the possibility of the US GP being moved to Belle-Isle for the 1989 season. We all know that somehow fell through and that F1 moved to the equally crappy Phoenix street circuit instead, but it was used by CART and if I remember correctly looked quite nice and produced some good racing...

I'm just not sure if F1 would ever consider going to Detroit, which as far as I'm informed is not too glamorous a place... although Belle-Isle itself might be a bit similar to the Île de Notre-Dame

As far as racing is concerned, I'm quite sure Elkhart Lake would produce the best action. But the remoteness of the place isn't very advantageous (although it never stopped Magny-Cours) and it lacks at least three chicanes and two square miles of tarmac runoff for Bernie to be comfortable.

And we might just as well forget about any circuit not designed by Tilke making it on the F1 calendar.

[bigslydoc]

Lots of interesting ideas above. I wouldn't say they have no good circuits in the US. We have our fair share of rubbish circuits in Europe too. Hungaroring, Barcelona, Magny-Cours, the Valencia Street circuit all spring to mind. To be honest ideally a US GP would be held at Elkart Lake which is one of the world's great circuits, but that probably is not realistic. The most realistic idea is probably a street race in a major city away from NASCRAP-land like Long Beach, Las Vegas or Miami.

[thehemogoblin]

I really really want it to be at Miller Motorsports Park.

[shinji]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miller_Motorsports_Park

Why?

[thehemogoblin]

A) Because it's a new track with good facilities
B) To me, it looks like a good track
C) Utah is only a two day drive away from home

[lostpin]

Two US races? Sure, no problem. One in Canada and one in Mexico...

[DemocalypseNow]

It has to be Laguna Seca hands down.

[Phoenix]

I'd go for Long Beach (I just love that California ambiance) or Infineon. I find Laguna Seca a bit short.

And, getting fictional, I'd suggest a track featured in Gran Turismo 4 called "El Capitan" which was in the Yosemite Natural Park. (Sorry I culdn't find a map).

[DemocalypseNow]

El Capitan = awesome.
I could beat any F1 driver round there
It is a shame the track doesn't really exist
Though I would like Deep Forest Raceway to be built plz!

[Salamander]

And, getting fictional, I'd suggest a track featured in Gran Turismo 4 called "El Capitan" which was in the Yosemite Natural Park. (Sorry I culdn't find a map).

That is a great track. I couldn't find a map of it, but I did find this video. Grand Valley is pretty good as well.

[Cynon]

Miller Motorsports Park, because I'd love to hear commentary like...

"...and here comes the Ferrari into Fast, through Faster, into Gotcha and over to Mabey Y'll Makit!"
"Webber makes a daring move past the McLaren in Agony and clears Hamilton in Ecstasy!"

Fantastic corner names, those...

[gnrpoison]

Long Beach
The Indianapolis Oval (if possible imagine an F1 version of the indy 500)
Laguna Seca

Ceasers Palace (joking)

[Captain Hammer]

Found this, the "'Ring of the Rockies". It might be Tilke-designed, but it's not intended for Formula One, so he's not bound by the usual FIA charter of regulations.

[Salamander]

Found this, the "'Ring of the Rockies". It might be Tilke-designed, but it's not intended for Formula One, so he's not bound by the usual FIA charter of regulations.

That looks awesome.

[AllAmericanReject]

The finest racing circuit in the United States is Elkhart Lake. It is fast, picturesque, has elevation changes, and has three excellent overtaking opportunities, even for today's double-diffuser aerodynamic mess. The kink after the Carousel is one of the best bends anywhere. Unfortunately, they would have to emasculate the track for it to be safe enough for modern F1. Then there are the wildlife issues and the fact that the circuit is located in an area of the country that makes Magny Cours look like a bustling metropolis by comparison.

[chrismcn]

I am a newly converted fan of the oval, since the only time we can see Indy car or Nascar in the UK is in the middle of the night and I haven't had a TV recorder for a few years. I can't suggest a track because I don't have the depth of knowledge but I have to say F1 needs to be in the US/Canada

After watching the Indy Car on an oval yesterday I was blow away by how even a tiny mistake means loosing a place. The field chopped and changed and the race was constantly evolving. Sort of like Moto GP.

Go on Bernie if you want the yanks to watch give them something they understand wheel to wheel and loads of overtaking.

[RejectSteve]

Go on Bernie if you want the yanks to watch give them something they understand wheel to wheel and loads of overtaking.

No, don't!

At the 2005 Japanese GP, David Hobbs described the three big overtaking moves as "worth 200 NASCAR passes." Here's the clincher:the during the famed battle at the front

[watka]

That means Raikkonen's passes that race were worth 19x200 = 3,800 NASCAR passes then.

PS The commentary on that vid beats Brundle and Legard.

[Teapot Ligier]

Yannick had it right earlier -- the only permanent circuit in the US that meets the FIA safety standard is Indy. The others don't even come closer. Making the safety upgrades would be extremely expensive, and in most cases impossible without destroying the character of the track. Laguna Seca is a terrific track, but it wouldn't be once it was converted to FIA standards. (And I have to say, the love for Infineon/Sonoma is absolutely confounding to me. It's a spectacularly ugly, featureless and boring track. They built a circuit in an absolutely beautiful area, and they made it look like a landfill.)

Unfortunately, when F1 comes back to the US it will almost assuredly be a street circuit either around Los Angeles, Las Vegas or New York. Long Beach would probably be the easiest but that's a really lame circuit these days -- they've killed the personality of the old F1 layout. Vegas would be cool if they could somehow incorporate the Strip, but it's so densely built there it's probably impossible, and I'm not sure the casinos would allow the huge traffic problems it would cause.

I have never heard any speculation about this, but I'll throw it out there anyway -- I think you could probably put a terrific street circuit near the water in San Diego.

[Captain Hammer]

Ugh, Vegas is far too tacky for Formula One.

[RejectSteve]

Ugh, Vegas is far too tacky for Formula One.

As tacky as Vegas is, I would not be entirely confident of that statement.

[Waris]

Ugh, Vegas is far too tacky for Formula One.

Whatever track they built this time, surely it can't be more tacky than Ceasar's Palace...

[Bort]

I have never heard any speculation about this, but I'll throw it out there anyway -- I think you could probably put a terrific street circuit near the water in San Diego.

San Francisco street circuit!

[Teapot Ligier]

Ugh, Vegas is far too tacky for Formula One.

Whatever track they built this time, surely it can't be more tacky than Ceasar's Palace...

Absolutely true.

The funny thing is, they couldn't recreate that if they wanted to. The parking lots are virtually gone. Assuming they would do it on the strip, just laying out a track -- good or bad -- would be next to impossible.

They could go the CART route and run it downtown, but that's pretty low-rent for F1, and I'm assuming Steve Wynn would be the main force behind it so it would likely be near the Wynn & Encore.

[Jordan192]

Found this, the "'Ring of the Rockies". It might be Tilke-designed, but it's not intended for Formula One, so he's not bound by the usual FIA charter of regulations.

That looks awesome.

Though they have a surprisingly amateurish website. If it ever gets built, it's going to go so bankrupt, but it would be awesome while it was afloat.