Formula One’s US exile is over

The novelty of the experience is not limited to the circuit. Formula One returns to the United States after nine years, after having stayed the course since 1950. The last US GP took place at Pheonix in 1991 and was won by Ayrton Senna, the undisputed king of the modern US Grand Prix. The Brazilian won the race five times in six attempts between 1986 and 1991.

The 1991 race was significant as it marked the debut of a certain Mika Hakkinen. The Finn qualified a brilliant 13th in the underpowered Lotus before retiring when the steering wheel came off in his hand. He’ll hope for better luck this time, he’s certainly got a better car.

The Italian speedster’s teammate, Rubens Barrichello, however, expects to feel at home from the off, as so many of his countrymen regard Indianapolis as their second home race due to the number of Brazilian competitors over the years. "Every Brazilian knows Indy as well as their home circuit," he said. "It is the natural place to host the United States Grand Prix and I am really looking forward to being there."

Jacques Villeneuve should also be one to watch. The Canadian is the only representative of North America in the race and he was also the last winner of the Indy 500 in 1995.

The legendary 2-mile oval circuit, which has been used for motor racing since 1909, has undergone a major multi-million dollar facelift that includes a new garage/hospitality suite complex, a new media centre and race control tower. The event’s 200,000 tickets are officially sold out.

But as far as the Americans are concerned, the jury is still out. While more than 300 million viewers from Japan to Germany tune in twice a month from March to October to watch 22 custom-made race cars twist and turn through the streets of Monaco, Sao Paulo and other exotic locales, US audiences have been sparse. After the last Grand Prix in Phoenix subsequent races were cancelled after years of poor attendance. A local ostrich race reportedly attracted a bigger crowd one year, five times larger than the grand prix’s. When a crowd figure of 35,000 was mooted, one local scribe responded: "If 35,000 were here, then a lot of people came disguised as empty seats."

Indy chief Tony George does concede that, "We’ll have to go through an education process with fans, because not all of them will understand what F1 is all about to begin with."

F1 at Indianapolis is the grand prix racing’s last chance to establish itself in America. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is gambling that marrying the most famous US racing track with F1 will finally provide the breakthrough that F1 needs in the States. Ecclestone knows that the US is the biggest commercial marketplace in the world. Therefore it’s vital for F1 to try and maintain a strong presence in America.

Also F1 needs America if it is to justify its claim as being a truly global sport. With a host of American corporate sponsors and competitors F1 needs a highly visual presence in the US. Ford, Philip Morris, British American Tobacco are just some of big names spending millions in the sport. This one had better work.