Indianapolis looks set to keep its place on the Formula 1 calendar, according to this week’s Autosport magazine.


The circuit’s seven year contract to host the US Grand Prix ended last Sunday and an extension to the deal had looked in doubt after F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said that the US only gave F1 “aggravation” in the build-up to the race.


Yet despite the Michelin-team boycott in 2005, an estimated 120,000 people turned up on race day at Indy this year to witness an action-packed event.

Now it has emerged that talks are to take place between Indy boss Tony George and Ecclestone to discuss terms for extending the contract.


It is believed that the Speedway’s bosses are very keen to work out a new deal and their positive comments’ over the weekend suggest that this is the case.

“Many months ago Bernie and I agreed to wait until the conclusion of the 2006 event to evaluate our future together,” George was quoted as saying in the magazine.
“We expect to be doing this in the coming weeks.”

Follow up:

While circuit president Joie Chitwood added:

“We’ve made a huge investment in the sport.
“It’s been seven years so far and we’d like to see it continue.
“I think F1 needs a good spot in America and Indianapolis is as good a spot as there is.
“We’ll sit down with Mr Ecclestone and talk about the quality event that this is, the need to continue F1 in America and how much we want to be part of it.”

Chitwood also said it would be a huge blow to the local Indiana economy if the Brickyard lost its F1 race.

“I would be a loss to the community and there would definitely be an effect.
“Most restaurants and hotels say that they enjoy a better economic impact from this event than they do from NASCAR.”

Indeed Autosport reveals that the local business community is estimated to have gained between $750m and $1bn in F1-related income since the first race in 2000.


Source: ITV Sport


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