AustinF1

Gene Haas seems to be looking to put a team in F1 for 2015: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112160 Question: What if Gene Haas isn't the one pushing this possible entry? What if it's one of the Stewart-Haas team sponsors? Maybe someone like ...oh I don't know...GoDaddy themselves?

Haas Formula is now 'Haas F1 Team'... http://www.f1zone.net/news/haas-tweaks-name-ahead-of-2016-debut/43169/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

A little something to pass a little time on an F1 off-weekend...a fan's perspective of the 1973 Monaco Grand Prix. Love the ticket sales outta the caravan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVTjpo5T_3M#t=119

Yep. BTW, re: V8SC, I've heard some folks say they aren't coming back because of lack of U.S. interest. I don't think anyone can gauge U.S. interest in V8SC based on that race weekend. COTA barely promoted it at all and what they did do was weak at best. It was also a poor date choice...hot as shit out there. That wouldn't be so bad if there was a shred of shade out there other than at the Main GS, but there isn't. From everything I've been able to read & hear, V8SC feels the market is here and did all they could in an effort to accommodate COTA and come back to Austin. COTA? Not so much. Some are saying they aren't coming back because they couldn't find a second venue to pair with COTA. What I've heard is they that had multiple venues they liked as second venues to add to COTA, but they weren't gonna do it without COTA being one of the two.

Pretty interesting read from Sylt in Forbes, with some nice insights into how much $$ each race can pull down for FOM & for CVC and its investors. I also learned that Hellmund is the only man outside of Bernie who's put on two GPs in different countries: http://www.forbes.com/sites/csylt/2014/08/23/formula-ones-billion-dollar-man/

Continuing the trend, now COTA outsources F1 Fan Fest 2 months before USGP. Fan Fest was one of the things I & most people thought they got right, at least superficially. A lot of people have left recently, including spokesperson Julie Loignon, the 360 Amphitheater event director, & others from what we hear, and now they've changed their food vendor & outsourced Fan Fest. Major moves, just before what's by far their biggest event.

2 months before USGP, COTA outsources F1 Fan Fest: http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/at-the-watercooler/2014/08/exclusive-cota-partners-with-transmission-events.html?ana=twt

ESPN = geniuses...

Road & Track: Sprint Cars are Fundamentally Different from Other Race Cars. Here's how: http://www.roadandtrack.com/racing/race-car/how-sprint-cars-are-fundamentally-different-then-other-race-cars?src=spr_FBPAGE&spr_id=1459_80836914

From the comments on the Miller article: "Bill Borden • 3 hours ago Think you are right and others are wrong? Reverse the situation -- the kid kills Stewart in the same scenario -- and, if you feel the same way, then you are judging the situation on what you perceive to be facts and have reached a logical conclusion. If not then it is time to review your emotional state."

Robin Miller has a few thoughts: Tony Stewart and the tragedy at Canandaigua:http://www.racer.com/latest-stories/item/107403-miller-tony-stewart-and-the-tragedy-at-canandaigua?showall&start=1

It almost looks as if Ward was trying to hang onto that wing. I was going to post a bit on this as I have on some other forums, but you drivers are relating your experiences so well that my contributions would seem pretty meaningless at this point. Thanks so much for bringing some sanity to this madness.

Just a sad incident for everyone involved, including Stewart and his family.

Great posting Mark.

Steven Cole Smith weighs in... http://www.motorsport.com/sprint/news/yes-tony-stewart-did-run-over-a-fellow-driver-who-was-killed-but-know-the-whole-story/

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/10/justice/tony-stewart-hits-driver/

COTA announces FIAWEC Lone Star Le Mans schedule: http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/circuit-of-the-americas-sets-lone-star-le-mans-schedule/?v=2&s=1

3 months before USGP, COTA hires new concessionaire. Is Sodexo out? https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2014/07/21/Facilities/COTA-concessions.aspx

Bernie: F1 to scrap standing restarts: http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/ecclestone-f1-to-scrap-standing-restarts-072914

Ecclestone pays $100M to end bribery trial: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28656050

How Teams Exploit #F1 Rule Loopholes to Gain Downforce: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/08/03/aerodynamic-detail-floor-area/

New CIE video outlines renovations to be done to Circuito Hermanos Rodriguez for the Mexican GP. Wow. Reserved seating capacity of 120K in Grandstands + 30K in General Admission. New & expanded pits & paddock, renovation of the baseball stadium.... Very cool. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXUTef8mM-k#t=233

From what I've heard the government's contribution isn't based on performance, so yeah. No need to cover up the truth.

Steven Cole Smith weighs in from his new gig as top dog at Motorsport.com... http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/confirmed-formula-one-set-for-mexico-in-2015