Ecclestone Says F1 Will Not Subsidize IMS To Host Grand Prix

Ecclestone Feels Losing U.S. Race Would Have Little Impact

There are “severe doubts that” Indianapolis Motor Speedway will renew its contract with F1 to continue staging the U.S. Grand Prix, according to Kevin Eason of the LONDON TIMES. F1 “seemed set to do its best to patch things up” after the ’05 race that saw only six cars compete, “but there is little chance of big concessions” when F1 Management Chair Bernie Ecclestone “has a queue of nations wanting to buy grands prix.” And despite F1’s “desire to crack the U.S., Ecclestone believes that there is enough left of the world to continue racking up profits and adding to television audiences.” Ecclestone: “It does not matter to Formula One if there is no grand prix in the U.S. What do we get from America? Aggravation, that’s about all. ... We have never got any sponsors out there. The television has never taken off; we have more viewers in Malta than over there. If they want to continue having a round of the Formula One World Championship over there, I am happy to talk to them. ... But I am not prepared to subsidise a race in America” (LONDON TIMES, 6/23).