Circuit of the Americas Development Updates - Page 90

turn1 · #**1781** Posted **Dec 4, 2013, 8:58 PM**

Holy CRAP. I just realized the USGP's the same weekend as the NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway.

the Genral · #**1782** Posted **Dec 4, 2013, 9:14 PM**

And who replaced him? Vettel, who at the time was just a test driver as is Alex Rossi right now. Actually, I think I read or heard he is also a reserve driver for a British team, Caterham. Conor Daly works for a German racing team, don't know which one. With all the US sponsorships of F1, I think we should have at least 2 US teams. Not sure of the rules, but would they be able to set up shop and test / practice at COTA?
Rossi and Daly, yeah I could see that...but only in a US team car, even though driving a car for a foreign team would give them valuable driving experience. The problem with that is I don't think a US F1 start up team would take a chance on a de-seated or reserve American driver, instead, choose a more experienced Europeon driver. I think in that case we have a better chance of seeing an American team comprised of many non-American personnel, including the driver. At least it would be a start.

the Genral · #**1783** Posted **Dec 4, 2013, 9:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by turn1

Holy CRAP. I just realized the USGP's the same weekend as the NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Should affect tv ratings more than attendance. Either way, there's going to be a lot of people coming to Texas or watching events in Texas that weekend.
......said Captain Obvious....

turn1 · #**1784** Posted **Dec 4, 2013, 9:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

And who replaced him? Vettel, who at the time was just a test driver as is Alex Rossi right now. Actually, I think I read or heard he is also a reserve driver for a British team, Caterham. Conor Daly works for a German racing team, don't know which one. With all the US sponsorships of F1, I think we should have at least 2 US teams. Not sure of the rules, but would they be able to set up shop and test / practice at COTA?

They could set up shop at COTA, but all testing is regulated & scheduled, with planned tests scheduled well in advance so that everyone can attend. They've often been at Jerez, Spain. There will be more than one this winter, in Jerez and Bahrain, iirc. So to answer the question, no, they couldn't test at COTA unless a test was scheduled there for everyone, and since our winters aren't especially warm or dry, that's doubtful imho. It wouldn't make sense to try to base a team here, either, because everything F1 is based in Europe. The travel & shipping costs would eat them alive

Quote:

Rossi and Daly, yeah I could see that...but only in a US team car, even though driving a car for a foreign team would give them valuable driving experience. The problem with that is I don't think a US F1 start up team would take a chance on a de-seated or reserve American driver, instead, choose a more experienced Europeon driver. I think in that case we have a better chance of seeing an American team comprised of many non-American personnel, including the driver. At least it would be a start.

I think that was sorta the idea that the USF1 team was going with, but they never really got of the ground.

The best scenario for an American entering F1 would be a driver with an established following, like an IndyCar or Cup driver, but if they're already successful and making money here, they're not likely to risk so much to go live in Europe just to basically start over again trying to make a name for themselves in a series where nobody knows them or gives a damn what they did in America. That's just one reason it's not likely, but there is one way, imho. If a big enough sponsor here wanted to put one of their drivers in F1...

turn1 · #**1785** Posted **Dec 4, 2013, 10:16 PM**

“It’s a foolish move by Formula One,” Gossage said in a terse statement. “Our two NASCAR Sprint Cup races draw the two largest crowds in Texas sports. It isn’t the smartest move to try to compete with that.

“I’m sure regardless of what they say publicly, the folks at the Austin track are pulling their hair out over this one. They don’t have any say over their date.”

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/201...to-go-head-to-head-with-nascar-at-texas/

turn1 · #**1786** Posted **Dec 6, 2013, 8:29 PM**

Hearing through the grapevine now that Dan Allen is out as CFO at COTA. No official confirmation as of yet & no further details.

turn1 · #**1787** Posted **Dec 14, 2013, 10:17 AM**

Statesman: Schwantz MotoGP lawsuit court date set for February 10.

http://www.statesman.com/weblogs/formula...r-motogp-circuit-americas-set-jury-feb-/

turn1 · #**1788** Posted **Jan 12, 2014, 4:58 AM**

OBTW, that court date has been moved back to May. Wonder who wanted that to happen?

Vance found this. So, is this the plan for 2014? No T9 or T11W, and a return of T2 (which makes no sense because the views there sucked):

turn1 · #**1789** Posted **Jan 12, 2014, 6:02 PM**

Looks like that's a current ad but an old rendering from back before they dropped T2 and added T11W, T9, & T6. It will be interesting though, to see what this year's plan is like, given the poor sales in 2013.

Jdawgboy · #**1790** Posted **Jan 12, 2014, 10:00 PM**

I don't see why they can't just build a curved stadium section right at the hairpin turn. From what I saw watching the race, that's where everyone was at with few people staying in the stadium seating and if I had a choice, I'd go watch from the hairpin too. That looks like an awesome view seeing the cars come up on the left side then making that turn and shooting down the straight away.

turn1 · #**1791** Posted **Jan 13, 2014, 12:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I don't see why they can't just build a curved stadium section right at the hairpin turn. From what I saw watching the race, that's where everyone was at with few people staying in the stadium seating and if I had a choice, I'd go watch from the hairpin too. That looks like an awesome view seeing the cars come up on the left side then making that turn and shooting down the straight away.

It's a pretty good view, and one that's really unlike any other out there. That side of the track is quite interesting and varied all the way from 1 to 11, but most people never see anything past 5 or 6 because it's just a long damn way out there. Sales in T5, 9, and 11W were not so good this year.

I agree there are some things they could do that would really take best advantage of the great terrain on the east side, but they aren't even keeping up with basic maintenance right now.

turn1 · #**1792** Posted **Feb 2, 2014, 5:58 AM**

Circuit of the Americas receives $29 million in state funds for Formula 1

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/circuit-of-the-americas-receives-29-million-in-sta/nc84z/

Sorry, it's behind the Statesman's paywall, but you get the idea...

FWIW, we heard some time back that the comptroller paid COTA these funds weeks ago, shortly after the USGP. Don't know why it's just now going public.

Quote:

Circuit of the Americas receives $29 million in state funds for Formula 1
The state comptroller’s office this week paid Circuit of the Americas about $29 million from the Major Events Trust Fund for November’s Formula One race.
That’s down slightly from what Susan Combs’ office paid out for the 2012 inaugural race and slightly less than what organizers had requested.
This story continues on our new premium website for subscribers, MyStatesman.com. ...

turn1 · #**1793** Posted **Feb 5, 2014, 8:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by turn1

Hearing through the grapevine now that Dan Allen is out as CFO at COTA. No official confirmation as of yet & no further details.

Looks like COTA finally took down Allen's photo and bio from their website in the last week or two.

turn1 · #**1794** Posted **Feb 12, 2014, 6:12 PM**

Hey BTW y'all, our Facebook page was nominated for the Statesman Social Media Awards, here:The Link

If you like what we've done here, at Friends of Formula 1 Austin Texas (https://www.facebook.com/FoF1ATX/posts/724931667541651), & on Twitter (@Austin_F1, @FoF1ATX, @vfacundo), go to the link and vote for us...We might get a cool trophy!

lzppjb · #**1795** Posted **Feb 12, 2014, 7:02 PM**

Good luck to y'all in the contest. But I already put in my vote for Friday Night Fanstand (of which I'm a part).

lzppjb · #**1796** Posted **Feb 12, 2014, 7:03 PM**

As for COTA, I'm sad that the Grand Am is not this Spring. I was looking forward to it so much! But it got absorbed and will be later in the year.

turn1 · #**1797** Posted **Feb 14, 2014, 8:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lzppjb

As for COTA, I'm sad that the Grand Am is not this Spring. I was looking forward to it so much! But it got absorbed and will be later in the year.

Actually, Grand Am took over ALMS and became the Tudor United Sportscar Championship. Both WEC and TUSC have COTA on their calendars for September, but COTA's calendar doesn't show them at all. Something weird maybe going on there. Seems almost like COTA's trying to run off all the good racing except F1 & MotoGP. Too bad for all those expensive PSL-holders who were told there would be 5 or more major race weekends per season.

turn1 · #**1798** Posted **Feb 14, 2014, 8:26 PM**

The Comptroller has approved another $1.9M subsidy for this April's MotoGP race.

http://www.statesman.com/weblogs/formula...s-office-approves-19-million-trust-fund/

Oh, and they're asking for $1.9M for the X Games, too.

turn1 · #**1799** Posted **Feb 15, 2014, 2:58 PM**

Now it looks like the defense has delayed the court date yet again in the Schwantz v COTA trial:

Happy Cinco de Mayo.

LoneStarMike · #**1800** Posted **Feb 18, 2014, 12:49 AM**

Flying over COTA after takeoff from ABIA Jan. 22, 2014