Despite suggestions that the US Grand Prix could be set for a return to the
Formula One schedule – potentially even as early as next year –
Bernie Ecclestone has insisted it is not ‘fundamental' that a race is held in the United States.
The US Grand Prix rejoined the
F1 calendar for the first time since 1991 when the feted Indianapolis Motor Speedway stepped into the void in 2000. However, the race's popularity was dealt a heavy blow just five years later when only six cars took the start, following issues over the durability of Michelin's rubber - prompted by a number of tyre failures during practice and qualifying, most notably on
Ralf Schumacher's
Toyota.
Despite some concerns, the US Grand Prix
was held in 2006 but, following last year's event, it disappeared from the calendar after F1 supremo Ecclestone and Indy promoter Tony George failed to reach a financial agreement for 2008 and beyond.
Both George and the sport's manufacturers and teams are keen to see the race return once more – though the former has made it clear that it cannot be self-financing, and that a title sponsor needs to be found if Indy is to be a F1 fixture again.
It has been claimed that the chances of the race being resurrected in time for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's centennial year in 2009 stand at just 50-50, and Ecclestone has done little to suggest otherwise.
“My motto is ‘go east' rather than ‘go west,” the 77-year old told French language Canadian newspaper
La Presse in Montreal. “So far I have been proved right about that.
“I am always working on getting the US Grand Prix back, but I do not consider this as fundamental.”
