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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2013 SPORTS F1 still chasing American dream AUSTIN: A year after making a splashy return to the an important market that I think we have to treat it Even in Austin, known as “The Weirdest City In told Reuters he would like to see grandson Marco, United States, Formula One’s American dream has as a new market. Texas,” F1 had to battle for attention with a college who currently races on the IndyCar series, give F1 a yet to come true with the glamour sport unable to “I know there have been lots of races in the States football showdown between the University of Texas shot but has no desire to be involved. captivate a market it has long coveted. before but we have never cracked the States in the and Oklahoma State stealing the buzz during “I have no interest in creating a team, the only While motor racing fans across the globe way we should have done and I think the opportuni- Saturday qualifying then going head-to-head thing I would be interested in seeing is my grandson planned their Sunday around the US Grand Prix, for ty is there and all of the stakeholders, the commer- against the NFL goliath on Sunday. Marco getting some proper testing and evaluation,” Americans it was just another event on an action- cial rights holders, the teams, the promoters all of us Three day attendance was announced at 250,324, Andretti told Reuters. packed day of National Football League (NFL) games should be working together and harder to make a drop of 6 percent from last year’s inaugural event “That in itself could be interesting but I agree and NASCAR. The Circuit of the Americas carved out sure we demonstrate to the great US public what a but remains one of the most well-attended events with Bernie, you don’t necessarily have to have a of the south Texas scrubland, one of the most popu- fantastic sport Formula One is. on the circuit. team but if you have a driver representing the US lar stops on the calendar for paddock regulars and “I think it is reasonable to say we are not doing The main reason for a lack of interest in the with a top team it would make all the difference in praised by drivers, teams and spectators alike, was enough.” Unable to find a permanent home in the United States is that F1 is almost devoid of American the world as far as press interest.” supposed to provide the launching pad for a new United States, Formula One has been forced into a content with no US teams or drivers on the starting American Alexander Rossi could be the next era for F1 in the US but has so far failed to take off. string of unsatisfying one-night stands with Austin, grid. Attempts to form a US-based team with a fac- American to appear on the F1 starting grid after When Formula One returned to the United States the Texas capital, becoming the 10th venue to host tory in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2010 failed and leaving home at 16 to pursue his F1 dream in in 2012 after a five-year hiatus F1 commercial supre- the series after Sebring (Florida), Riverside there has been no American driver on the circuit Europe. A winner in F1 feeder series GP2 and cur- mo Bernie Ecclestone stood in the paddock and (California), Watkins Glen (New York), Phoenix since Scott Speed left in 2007. rently a reserve driver for Caterham, Rossi made enthusiastically outlined a coast-to-coast vision for (Arizona), Dallas (Texas), Detroit (Michigan), Las Even Ecclestone has acknowledged that in order brief appearance in Austin during the first practice the sport in America with races in Austin, New Jersey Vegas (Nevada), Long Beach (California) and for F1 to grow in the United States they need to session but it is still uncertain when, or if, a full-time and Los Angeles. Indianapolis (Indiana). develop an American driver who can win or, at the F1 seat will ever come. A year later, talk of a race in Los Angeles has dis- Americans have had a long-standing love affair very least, be competitive. “It doesn’t matter if you win every junior champi- appeared while the elfin Ecclestone breezed with the automobile but the romance of Formula Mario Andretti, who handed out trophies after onship in America you have to go to Europe and through the Austin paddock on the weekend avoid- One, which sets hearts of motor sports fans around Sunday’s race won by Sebastian Vettel, remains start all over again and prove to them (F1 teams) ing questions about a New Jersey race that is strug- the world aflutter, has never managed to get pulses America’s best known F1 driver 35 years after he you can race in Europe and compete against the gling to get off the ground. racing in the United States. claimed the series drivers’ championship. Europeans,” Rossi told Reuters. “We can always do more,” said McLaren team The Circuit of the Americas, the only purpose- No American has won a Formula One race since. “That’s just the way the sport is. Formula One is a principal Martin Whitmarsh, noting that the US is a built F1 track in the United States, has provided an Andretti’s son Michael followed his father to Europe European-dominated sport and they don’t believe major market for many F1 sponsors especially car attractive foundation for the sport in the US but one and competed briefly in F1 for McLaren alongside anyone deserves a chance unless they won and makers such as Ferrari and Mercedes. “This is such promoters have since been unable to build on. the triple World Champion Ayrton Senna. Andretti competed in Europe.” — Reuters Macau GP quenches thirst for speed, danger MACAU: Lewis Hamilton calls it the world’s “coolest street circuit” and some of the greatest names in motorsport such as Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher have savored its super-fast straights and treacherous corners, but for many the Macau Grand Prix is all about the danger. Each year fans flock to the southern Chinese territory to see motorcycles and cars flirt with barriers at breakneck speeds as they hurtle around the 6.2-kilometre Guia street circuit. The racing festival marked its diamond jubilee this month, with 13 races spread out over two weekends, and while there were plenty of spectacular spills on both two wheels and four, there were no fatalities. It was a different story last year, however. Kobe Bryant Hong Kong driver Phillip Yau crashed and died on the frighteningly fast Mandarin Bend, and Portuguese motorcycle rider Luis Filipe de Lakers eagerly await Sousa Carreira was killed when he smashed into a wall at high speed during qualifying. Adderly Fong, who clinched the 2013 Audi R8 LMS Cup return of ace Bryant title this year, was good friends with Yau. “I was speaking to him on the Monday, told LOS ANGELES: While the Los Angeles Lakers Though several backup Lakers players such him I was going to go see him on Thursday, then have made a better start to this season than as Meeks, Jordan Hill, Xavier Henry and Nick decided to not go and watched from the hotel many had expected in the absence of Kobe Young have all flourished at times this season, Bryant, there is no question that their 15-time D’Antoni knows the team have badly missed the instead,” the 23-year-old told Reuters. All-Star shooting guard has been sorely missed. steel, late points and sheer grit provided by “It happened right underneath the hotel.” The Lakers have lurched between a few sur- Bryant. “He’s a presence, no doubt, and we need Fong said thinking about the danger would hold drivers back. “It’s like stepping into a coliseum prising wins, most notably against the Los that presence, especially at the end of games,” MACAU: Carlin team’s Jazeman Jaafar of Malaysia (front) and other drivers power their cars in with walls and grandstands. It’s a gamble each Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets, and sev- D’Antoni said of the Lakers, who are 5-7 this sea- this file photo during the Formula Three Macau Grand Prix. — AFP eral disappointing losses, where they suffered son and occupy 12th place in the 15-team time, like walking into a casino - you’re taking due to the lack of a dominating presence in the Western Conference. chances and you don’t know what the conse- the track,” he said in a news conference ahead of wall hard in qualifying this year and a video of final quarter. “But we’ve got games to win and there’s quences will be. the festival. his dramatic crash went viral. Bryant is widely regarded as one of the going to be a bunch of them before he comes “When you step into a racing car everyone “The two accidents could happen either in For those on two wheels, the barriers come greatest closers in the game and his teammates back, so we’re going to have to do our business.” should be prepared for the worst, but you have Macau or anywhere in the world,” he said, uncomfortably close. British rider Dean are eagerly awaiting the return of the ‘Black Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, may be to put it in the back of your mind, because death adding that safety “is always our first priority.” Harrison’s bike and body sustained damage Mamba,’ who has been sidelined since mid-April well short of game fitness at the moment but he is the only thing that causes fear and when you Since its humble beginnings as a motorized when he highsided during the Motorcycle Grand with a torn left Achilles’ tendon.

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