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Greetings friends:

I have been suspicious from the beginning about USF1.

Point number one: Peter Windsor is a nice fellow and does a decent, I wouldn't say outstanding, job on Speed Channel, running up and down the grid, BUT...

He's no Flavio B. Not only does he not have a yacht the size of the Queen Mary; I doubt he has even a row boat. What does this have to do with his qualifications to field an F1 team? MONEY, friends, CASH. It's clear that to be a team principal you need LOTS OF IT to cover those unexpected things that turn up from time to time, like wings falling off your car or engines suddenly giving up the ghost.

Point number two: they (Peter and his partner) kept SAYING they had no cash problems, but they also kept saying their income stream preferred to be anonymous. Yeah. Sure. People are dumping the tons of CASH needed to start up a a team, but they don't want anyone to know who they are? Give me a break!

Point number three: The U.S. is stumbling rapidly into irrelevance (notice that even NASCAR couldn't run their signature event last week! I mean what kind of 'SUPER' speedway isn't ready for the biggest race of the year? Simple. One without a CASH FLOW!

Alas, they are tearing down grandstands all over the U.S. (I think it would have been better to invite the homeless in to fill the stands for the races and give them someplace to keep warm).

Racing here is about to return to the glory (and gory!) days of thirties and forties with teams dragging their cars to run down venues on ratty old trailers. The 'World of Outlaws' will succeed the IRL --and racing will be fun and limited to those who love it. Sponsors? Yes. Places like Mary's Diner and Fred's Auto Parts.

In fact, I'll risk a prediction here: before 2012 the Michigan International (and that's a real joke!) Speedway will be sold for scrap. You heard it here first.

I'm pleased that the BRDC managed to save Silverstone for the next 10 years, but I hope they aren't skimping on the racing surface! You know Bernie will bail on you as soon as he can talk Burma (excuse me Myanmar or whatever) into building another Tilke park! All he needs is for you to stumble and he's disappeared and F1 with him.

How can there be no French Grand Prix this year? Korea (Korea!!) is supposed to replace it!?!?:roll:

It would be great for there to be a Team USA in F1, but until we can attract someone like the founder of Oracle (who funded and won the America's Cup last week while they were lounging around at Daytona interviewing everyone they could find ) IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN!

Meanwhile, Ferrari keeps on managing to build and sell great cars AND turn up for F1 races with great cars, great drivers, and great teams.

I shudda been born in Maranello!

Maybe we'll get the rumored Balkan team now; the one who supposedly bought out Toyota? I hope so. For my sake, not Bernie's!

jim watt embarrassed & saddened by it all.

Excellent post Jim as usual and indeed a sad story is developing with USF1 but all hope isn't lost yet and I am sure that they are trying their best to keep the operation afloat.

There is even talk about a merger between the 2 struggling teams Campos and USF1, that would be a good compromise if it works

But why did is this allowed to happen ? How can 2 of the 3 new teams fail to make it ? Remember Lotus was only added when BMW pulled out.
When (according to the FIA) more than 10 applications were lodged and the FIA selected the best 3, how can two of the best three fail. Obviously the selection process is flawed.
And why is it that neither Lotus Racing nor Stefan GP weren't accepted in the first place. Lotus Racing have done a superb job building a car in such a short time and Stefan GP continue to amaze as they take all the risk of buying a chasis design, building and car then testing it even though they are not guaranteed a place for the first race which is less than a month away!!

I am still hoping to see 13 teams on the grid in Bahrain but it is looking more likely to be 12 or even 11.

The US F1 team tells the media that they are not gone and that more information about the team will be provided soon. Lets hope they do survive. Full story

According to the latest reports, the future of the USF1 team is in the hands of the FIA. USF1 have asked the FIA for permission to miss the first 4 races of the season and they are expecting a reply from the FIA. If the FIA declines this request, then the team will not make it.

Full story

The Stefan is ready to go.

Be it on steel wheels at the moment

And still faster ...........

Reports are emerging that the USF1 operation has closed down. More as the information becomes available

Ed wrote:Reports are emerging that the USF1 operation has closed down. More as the information becomes available

Game Over At USF1

According to the above article by SpeedTV.com's Adam Cooper, the end has indeed arrived for USF1 as team members were told earlier today to pack up and go home as USF1 appears to be headed to the scrap-bin of history.

FWIW, it was a long shot for the team to be ready; the fact that they're exiting stage left adds yet another nail in the proverbial coffin for F1 w/in the United States(and to a lesser extent, another nail in the coffin for AOWR as well...... )

The fat lady has indeed sung on USF1........................


Anderson Finally Sacks USF1 Employees
Formula One race team closes shop

Both articles essentially say the same thing, that the curtain has indeed fallen on USF1.