F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone said that "he wants more races" in the U.S., "despite recently expressing a lack of enthusiasm for the country, with Southern California the latest possibility," according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. Speaking at last weekend's title-deciding U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Ecclestone said that he "hoped to add more American venues to a series that is already set for a record 21 races next year." Asked whether he would like another race, he replied, "And third. We'd like four races here. We'd like California. Anywhere where it doesn't rain. A few places have come up. Southern California. We are trying to do another couple of races, if I'm allowed back." Austin, with a purpose-built circuit, is F1's "only current race" in the U.S. The financial structure of the sport "has not helped, with local promoters failing to reconcile their need to make a profit with having to pay hefty fees to the commercial rights holder." Indianapolis "came and went as a venue while a proposed race in New Jersey never happened despite being scheduled on the provisional 2014 calendar along with Mexico, which makes its return this week." Ecclestone said of New Jersey, "We should have done that I suppose. We may still. It's still possible" (REUTERS, 10/25).
