[Appeselve]

USF1 right now is actually harming the F1 story in America...I'm pretty upset about it.

It's really disturbing to me that everything Peter said was going to happen, is actually being pulled off by Virgin Racing, including the idea of embracing new media.

I can't believe that in all that funding for USF1 there isn't 20k or so for a real design firm to executive both the logo and website in a halfway competitive way...

USF1 to me is a bad joke....so so so so embarrassing...

Can't disagree with you there. I suppose with die-hard fans like us, the whole "USF1" concept that Windsor laid out last year has proven to be a big disappointment.

On the positive side, the lack of mainstream coverage may be a blessing in disguise. Since the mainstream American has no idea of USF1's existance, then that's less pressure on them.

[Plulpangepler]

On the positive side, the lack of mainstream coverage may be a blessing in disguise. Since the mainstream American has no idea of USF1's existance, then that's less pressure on them.

Yes, I've been thinking this. As a business student, I've been getting from USF1 exactly what I expected to get. I'd actually be MORE worried if they were a hype machine. For now, I can simply assume they're diligently working away, readying the car, instead of tooting their own horn.

[irrelaAnnekly]

"Supposedly" is the operative word there. Witness the popularity of Alex Zanardi and Juan Pablo Montoya when they ran in the CART series. I don't believe the public here is anywhere as parochial as has been suggested, and not just by you. The problems CART had were much more political in nature and I don't want to get into that here, it's not the proper forum. But I truly don't believe Americans have any problem embracing foreign drivers. Look how well Juan has done building a fan base in NASCAR. If ANY American series is going to exhibit that sort of thinking it would be NASCAR. But fans love him, and they have embraced Marcus Ambrose and "Mad" Max Papis as well.

Gary

That may be true but could anyone name one internationally popular sport besides Olympics which is popular/has ever been popular in the States? You guys obviously want to do your thing, have your anthems and sports catered for you. If it's different, not controlled by Americans and not catered for the American tastes, it won't be popular. It's the same in everything, television is a good example. How many people watch French movies or quality British TV-series over there? F1 will never be popular in the US unless it becomes a US series.

[Appeselve]

Yes, I've been thinking this. As a business student, I've been getting from USF1 exactly what I expected to get. I'd actually be MORE worried if they were a hype machine. For now, I can simply assume they're diligently working away, readying the car, instead of tooting their own horn.

That's the hope, though it'd be nice if they had videos of actual progress they're making on the car. I work in aerospace, and nothing fascinates me more than watching a state-of-the-art project come together.

...and nothing worries me more than silence.

[arindiruppya]

That may be true but could anyone name one internationally popular sport besides Olympics which is popular/has ever been popular in the States? You guys obviously want to do your thing, have your anthems and sports catered for you. If it's different, not controlled by Americans and not catered for the American tastes, it won't be popular. It's the same in everything, television is a good example. F1 will never be popular in the US unless it becomes a US series.

I don't think it'll ever be on the same scale as it is in Europe and the rest of the world. The same thing happens when the Football World Cup occurs every 4 years. America have quite a respectable team, yet only around 1% of the population are aware that its going on. Is football taught in mainstream American schools? I understand its not the people who choose what is delivered through the television networks and I kind of feel sorry that they are restricted to homegrown sports which are in return, broadcasted to the rest of the world.

F1 is a great sport and could benefit greatly by recieving interest in the US, but unless we see a significant change, I doubt we'll see a GP there anytime soon..

[Appeselve]

I don't think it'll ever be on the same scale as it is in Europe and the rest of the world. The same thing happens when the Football World Cup occurs every 4 years. America have quite a respectable team, yet only around 1% of the population are aware that its going on. Is football taught in mainstream American schools? I understand its not the people who choose what is delivered through the television networks and I kind of feel sorry that they are restricted to homegrown sports which are in return, broadcasted to the rest of the world.

F1 is a great sport and could benefit greatly by recieving interest in the US, but unless we see a significant change, I doubt we'll see a GP there anytime soon..

More Americans will become aware of the World Cup as the time approaches (ESPN will see to that). If the US team actually plays well enough to win, then it'll be a hit (see what happened to the US Women's team in the 1990s). Believe it or not, I think I saw a statistic where there are more US children playing in various youth soccer leagues than play little league baseball, american football, etc. Why this hasn't translated to tv numbers, I don't know.

Part of it is also regional. Here in Seattle, the MLS Seattle Sounders FC had a hugely successful inaugural season in terms of popularity and seating at the stadium - Qwest Field - has been increased by about 1/3 from last year. Sounders will cap their season tix at 32,000. I believe the next highest
in the league is Toronto with 14,000.

I think racing has something in common with soccer in this country - once you get people to actually go to the event, they'll become fans. It's getting them to watch in the first place...

[arindiruppya]

I suppose its far too easy to generalise a nation and not take into account the regional variations and tastes.

I really hope USF1 get this car together and make Bahrain I really do. Seeing Virgin today is encouragement IMO, and shows that a car can be designed and built in a very short time. Fingers crossed..

[Meenepek]

More Americans will become aware of the World Cup as the time approaches (ESPN will see to that). If the US team actually plays well enough to win, then it'll be a hit (see what happened to the US Women's team in the 1990s).

And where is women's soccer today?

Believe it or not, I think I saw a statistic where there are more US children playing in various youth soccer leagues than play little league baseball, american football, etc. Why this hasn't translated to tv numbers, I don't know.

That has been true for over 20 years. It is called the Mom Factor. Mothers put their kids in "safe" soccer leagues until the boys reach an age where they tell their moms they would rather play football.

Part of it is also regional. Here in Seattle, the MLS Seattle Sounders FC had a hugely successful inaugural season in terms of popularity and seating at the stadium - Qwest Field - has been increased by about 1/3 from last year. Sounders will cap their season tix at 32,000. I believe the next highest
in the league is Toronto with 14,000.

Wait 3 years then look at Tix sales.

I think racing has something in common with soccer in this country - once you get people to actually go to the event, they'll become fans. It's getting them to watch in the first place...

They have been saying that for years. Who in the US hasn't seen a soccer match for at least a few minutes?

The problem with Soccer in the US is there already are established sports series which dominate the scene and nobody realistically has the $$$ to drive soccer to the top.

The same goes with F1. There are already established series in the US with GREAT marketing departments. They race almost every weekend at a time where people are in front of their TV's. F1 doesn't race every week at a ridiculous hour for Americans.

[Appeselve]

That has been true for over 20 years. It is called the Mom Factor. Mothers put their kids in "safe" soccer leagues until the boys reach an age where they tell their moms they would rather play football.

I think this varies regionally. Here you don't find much in the way of youth football. Soccer leagues are everywhere. Only speaking for me and my son, he tried baseball first and liked it. Then he decided to give soccer a try and absolutely fell in love with it. Why? Because he didn't have to spend most of the game standing around like he did in baseball. I also spent most of his practices talking to the other dads. Never was there a case of Mom putting their kids in the "safe" sport. It was the kids who dictated what they wanted to play.

Wait 3 years then look at Tix sales.

Actually, it may actually go up again in 2011 when Portland and Vancouver enter the league. Many fans are looking forward to the rivalry. In fact, the smack talk has already begun.

They have been saying that for years. Who in the US hasn't seen a soccer match for at least a few minutes?

Herein lies what I believe is the biggest problem. Most have seen a match tv. Some things just don't translate. There's nothing compared to going to a match in a full stadium filled with chanting, singing, drumming, flag-waving passionate fans. It's addicting. There's nothing like it, especially when there are tens of thousands of fans standing the whole game, and sections of the stadium are singing team songs non-stop. TV just can't replicate it - at least not from what I've seen on US-based broadcasts.

The problem with Soccer in the US is there already are established sports series which dominate the scene and nobody realistically has the $$$ to drive soccer to the top.

Some areas are more successful than others, but if you take the US as a whole? You're spot on.

The same goes with F1. There are already established series in the US with GREAT marketing departments. They race almost every weekend at a time where people are in front of their TV's. F1 doesn't race every week at a ridiculous hour for Americans.

You won't get an argument from me on this one. There are those of us who'll get up at 4:30 in the morning to watch a race, but many more would rather sit on the couch at one in the afternoon knowing that NASCAR will be on tv week in and week out.

[DOWNLOADnowADOBEphotoSHOP]

Yes, I've been thinking this. As a business student, I've been getting from USF1 exactly what I expected to get. I'd actually be MORE worried if they were a hype machine. For now, I can simply assume they're diligently working away, readying the car, instead of tooting their own horn.

That is a good point, and my hyper critical blogging notwithstanding, we do hope against all hope that they are going to defy the odds and debut with a bang...

It's hard to contemplate that however, this is ultra cutthroat F1 we are talking about, and I fear there is too much predisposition to going into the "Europe is out to get us" mode...we do not need another Michael Andretti 1993 scenario, not to mention Indy 2005 - they say bad things come in threes so I'm a bit worried....

[v74ClzKY]

Yes, I've been thinking this. As a business student, I've been getting from USF1 exactly what I expected to get. I'd actually be MORE worried if they were a hype machine. For now, I can simply assume they're diligently working away, readying the car, instead of tooting their own horn.

I can think of many timesteams have been more hype, less performance, like Toyota & Honda for example, lots of promise and billions of investment between them, with only 1 win to show for it in EIGHT YEARS.

Infact i agree with Shifter, yes there has been little said from themselves (I mean all we've seen from USF1 are videos of them constructing their tub/safety cell and how they built their nosecone), and that could be a good thing. Also the financial problems surrounding Campos have done a lot to shift the attention away from Windsor's posse which will be an extra help to them.

Also not many people mention that of the 4 new teams, USF1 are the only ones doing everything from scratch. Virgin got the help from Wirth Research, Lotus went into some purpose built facilities in Norfolk under the stewardship of one of F1's most experienced designers, and Campos have gone as far has having their car built for them by Dallara. And starting from the ground up is extremely difficult in todays world, if they even pull it off, then it will be a hell of an achievement since they were accepted just last year.

So they could end up suprising us, and silencing all the doubters in the process.

[Plulpangepler]

I really don't see USF1 being competitive year 1, and I expect them to still be at the tail of the field year 2, however hopefully we will be talking about how they've narrowed the gap. I don't really expect them to move up until the closing rounds of year 2, and hopefully be competitive in the 3rd year. (See: Force India). Now hopefully they are able to stick it out that long, and become the 'fan-friendly' team sometime after Bahrain.

On the Soccer note: about getting people 'to the stadium' I agree, but still wonder. For instance, if I took a fellow 'car guys' to Mid-Ohio with me to see the ALMS race I would expect them to be blown away by the 'in-person' effect...but would they then become regular followers? Chances are they'll eventually slide back to talking about street cars and watching U.S. football. The other problem is younger fans like myself may not have access to the cable/satellite tiers to catch the series year-round.

[rolex-buy]

While I agree with most of what has been said, I think we have a similar problem here in the UK.

A lot of people I know are extremely ignorant about American Football, Baseball, Ice Hockey and Basketball, whereas I watch all of them, some more than others.

Just last year, Five stopped broadcasting it's weekly MLB game, it's weekly NBA game and it's weekly NHL game. All we're left with is one NFL game on a Sunday night and the Superbowl (because a different channel shows the playoffs, we only get one game a week plus the Superbowl (if you don't pay for Sky)).

However it's funny, because in Britain we have a decent Ice Hockey league with 8 teams regularly getting more than 10,000 fans every few nights for a game - similar to other European leagues. Yet it's never on the TV.

Yet, last week, BBC1 broadcasted the Australian Open tennis final. Fair enough, but I'm not sure if they would have done it if Andy Murray wasn't playing. It may have otherwise been on the red button.

I also enjoy NASCAR and to a lesser extent the IRL. But, despite this, something in me just prefers F1 and I think always will too.

I am extremely shocked though, at how little regard even the North Carolina media have for USF1, and regardless of all the jokes we have made and some predictions that they will not be ready, it's still a big surprise.

Maybe F1 is considered too elite. North Carolina is a great sporting state, but a lot of this success has come in 'working men's' sports like wrestling and football and NASCAR.

It will be interesting to see if anything crops up in the media when it's time to race in Bahrain.

[Keeriewof]

Thanks Woody...very insightful (and that seems many times seems to be lacking on these forums.) I agree, I am keeping the faith that USF1 will have everything ready in the next 6 weeks. I just saw a report inidcating another driver close to being signed.

I do not however think that lack of coverage or interest is due to F1 being seen as an "elite" sport. I think it is more simply put, due to geography. We tend to forget how recent global TV and new coverage really is. Lets face it, F1 is centered in Europe. Sure there are races in the middle East and Asia, but what is the real fan following there? Where are the hardcore fans? Just look at the posters in this forum, that should give us a pretty good idea.

In the US, rivalries between States and regions are similar to the rivalries between the countries in Europe. Thats why NASCAR always identifies a driver by their "hometown"...the place he is originally from. Of course all of them live in Charlotte. Same with the NBA, NFL, NHL...the colleges and hometowns of the players are prominent in the introductions.

So the internet and sattelite communications has quickly made the world a much smaller place, but tradition and the things that you become interested in through family and friends live a very long time. So sure you could get NFL games in the UK, but who cares, everyone wants to see the Premier League.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[effebrala]

I would go so far as to say F1 is a minority interest sport everywhere actually. In school (and I'm only talking 10 or 15 years ago here), I would always be getting ribbed for being the only one that preferred F1 over football. Although I know things have probably changed since then thanks to Bernie's PR machine and so on, but football is still the most popular sport in this country by quite some way.

I would guess NASCAR has broke the mould in the US by being more entertainment than sports (although F1 is going down this route at an alarming rate since 2003, which might explain why it's more popular in the mainstream than it used to be, since I actually know other people who follow it now!)

Having said that, I can't think of a single country (including the US) where any form of motor racing is considered the "national sport". It appears to be football in most of Europe and Latin America (and probably most of Africa as well), cricket in the Asian sub-continent, rugby and similar games in Australia/NZ, etc.

[BundEnhamma]

This topic only create new enemies, stay of it.

People in US are humans like us, give them a break.

What do we know of Nascar?

[rolex-buy]

I know a lot of people who occasionally watch the odd Grand Prix, and have heard of most of the drivers, but they won't watch every race, practice, qualifying and everything that most of us do here.

The you get the idiots who say 'I only watch it for the crashes', or 'it's too long'. Which I don't get, because while most of us don't mind the odd tangle or harmless trip into the barriers, the 'too long' excuse is pathetic as most F1 races go on for less time than a football match if you include half time as well.

A lot of people use that for US Sports too. They say they are too 'stop-start', but in football and rugby there are a lot of stoppages. Only difference being that the clock isn't stopped and injury time is played (apart from rugby league).

I think it would be great if more Brits and Americans shared their knowledge about their sports, then they would appreciate them more.

[Meenepek]

Basketball is an American Sport and yet has achieved quite the world wide appeal.

How did they do it?

[rolex-buy]

Basketball is an American Sport and yet has achieved quite the world wide appeal.

How did they do it?

Well for a start a lot of countries play it, and a lot of the world's best players are non-North American.

There are very good European leagues and most countries have a decent structure and good arenas to play in.

[DOWNLOADnowADOBEphotoSHOP]

Basketball is a perfect example.

The NBA calls the winner of that championship World Champions. That claim was made to look ridiculous in the Summer Olympics in 2004.

My point in bringing this up is that over the years in bantering on racing forums I've been in countless exchanges with American race fans whom are arguing vehemently against the idea that F1 is a world championship because as they claim it is "European" and that's essentially comparable to the diversity of people from the various states in America. Hello?

I mean, I'm convinced that I've been arguing with people whom have never traveled outside of the United States because the idea that Europe is essentially same as the United States is ridiculous...

Compare a Finnish drivers to a Spanish driver for example...you are telling me that this comparison would be similar to comparing say a NASCAR driver from California and one from North Carolina? It's absurd.