Meh. It's done. It's not going to happen unless there is a miracle. There is a small chance of 2013 but I find that prospect highly dubious. Most likely, the circut is going to become a clean-up disaster and a half-forgotten after-thought in F1 conversations 10 years from now. "You remember them trying to start a race in Austin?" "Yeah, I wonder what happened?" "Bernie didn't like Texas or something." "Oh."
For one thing, the prize money for each race is paid from the promoter's fee, but you'll probably have a hard time finding out what that amount actually is. This last GP at Watkins Glen in 1980 had an overall purse of 1 milllion US dollars, but that was 31 years ago and pre-Bernie-in-charge. What, you didn't know that each race had a purse? Ya never see that big cardboard check on the podium any more...
Because every race would have Bernie standing atop the podium, cardboard check made out to him in hand!!! Lol
US Grand Prix promoter confident race will not be scrapped despite losing Bernie Ecclestone's support (telegraph.co.uk)
Tis difficult to see things clearly from your knees, lips pressed firmly against Bernie's buttocks ....
Pitpass' latest take on the situation: Austin: There is one way forward Nothing much new, just a fairly sensible summary for a change.
Did Bernie agree to the discounted price of $25million again, hasn't it been mentioned that his normal price is $35million?? Would the state of Texas and the taxpayers being willing to spend $35million after the race? Stick a fork in it.
Interesting read that puts all the players in place in one concise article. Why Austin's Formula 1 failed: Tavo Hellmund, Bernie Ecclestone and the clash of super-rich, super-size egos
:eek6: Sounds a lot like the whining millionaire NBA owners fighting with the whining millionaire players......:incazzato:
In summary: The Devil (Bernie:devil hasn't received his due ($25million) from the corporate welfare (taxpayers:confused5 that the rich guys:goaljnky promised, because each one:ihih: wants it all....
Huge money is at the center, as usual, but don't forget the huge egos. On the US side, I think Epstein didn't like fronting most of the money without also getting most of the press and credit because Hellmund had the contract with Bernie and everyone was paying attention to him.
If this photo had audio, there would be a sinister hehehehehe...FFFFUUUU! jussayin...bring on Jersey!
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone reportedly has given bosses for the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, an extra week to save the 2012 United States Grand Prix. Ecclestone had insisted that Wednesday, Nov. 30, was the Circuit of the America’s final chance. Sources said the circuit’s Bobby Epstein and Steve Sexton met with Ecclestone in London to discuss a solution. Circuit of the Americas has not signed the race contract offered by Ecclestone. Instead, its management drafted and returned a revised version believed to call for a lower sanctioning fee. Not surprisingly, Ecclestone told Autoweek that he was “not interested” in signing the revised version. The extra week will push the decision all the way to the crucial FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Delhi on Dec. 7. “The deadline hasn’t been met, so we are still trying to make it happen,” Ecclestone told the Associated Press on Wednesday. “They need to get some money and a pen. They are struggling to get the financial side sorted out.” He added, “If it isn’t all signed before the World Motor Sport Council meeting, [the race] can’t happen.” Source - Formula One: U.S. GP in Austin gets deadline extension from Bernie Ecclestone - Autoweek
Do they really think they can dictate anything, much less a contract to Bernie...and in public. This is laughable, Bernie will not budge an inch now if he ever would have. :crazy: They need Bernie and F1 more than Bernie and F1 need them. Without an F1 race, the Austin circuit is little more than a pile of dirt.:nonod:
I mean, that sounds good now, but it'll end in tears. Just before race day Team A will take Team B to court to see who has the right to use the Yugo name. And then the umbrella girls will turn out to have been taught how to fake a low IQ score when they haven't really got it. And that rooster decoration - no way that came in under $500 limit. So I'm not getting my hopes up.