When the provisional 2009 Formula One calendar was issued a couple of weeks ago, a couple of things were immediately evident. Firstly, the season had expanded to 19 races with the addition of Abu Dhabi and, secondly, the United States was again absent from the list.
Now, according to the latest update from the sport's commercial supremo,
Bernie Ecclestone, that may be the situation for the long-term.
Speaking to the media over the recent British Grand Prix, Ecclestone confirmed that, despite ongoing talks with Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Tony George, little progress had been made towards reinstating the USGP on the calendar. The pair had failed to find common ground over the financial future of the event, with George claiming that it could not go ahead without some input from an outside benefactor, and Ecclestone unwilling to wait for that support to come forward.
"I spoke to Tony George yesterday. We'll get together and see what we can come up with," the 77-year old, who opened the weekend with the news that the British GP was moving to
Donington Park from 2010, admitted, "but I don't think [there is any chance the USGP will be added for 2009]."
George has revealed that he has been in discussion with a number of potential sponsors with a view to securing the title backer he desires in order for the race to be reinstated on the
F1 calendar.
“It really all depends on finding the right sponsor partners for
Formula 1 to come back,” he told Indianapolis radio station
1070 The Fan earlier this year, “We need to improve the financial performance of the event in order to justify bringing it back, and we won't do that without sponsorship. We're talking to some folks that may have interest, and that could happen as early as 2009 if we can go to Bernie with a proposal.”
Little progress appears to have been made in George's quest, however, and Indianapolis' immediate focus will be on the arrival of
MotoGP, which comes with the backing of
Red Bull - ironically the supporter of not one, but two, teams in
Formula One.
