BMW's team boss Mario Theissen was candid in his assessment of the prospects, noting that the location of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway wasn't ideal for the sport from a marketing perspective. Other team bosses and manufacturers have also voiced their support for a U.S. race, reports AutoWeek. The hopes for another venue are high as well, with Las Vegas or a coastal location among the top contenders. East and West Coast venues are high in the preference list because those are core markets for several of the manufacturers involved in the championship, including BMW, Mercedes and Ferrari.
The deal for the 2008 U.S. Grand Prix fell through when Eddie George, the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Ecclestone could not reach a financial agreement that was attractive to both parties. The expense of administering an F1 event is notoriously high, and several other events, including the Australian GP are potentially on the list to be cut for the 2009 season, at least in part for reasons of expense in addition to the desire for a night race.
George and others have reportedly not completely given up hope of luring the U.S. Grand Prix back to Indianapolis, however.
