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What the FIA Does
RECEIVED Tue., Nov. 23, 2010
Dear Editor,
Richard Whittaker covered the Formula One story very well with a couple of minor misconceptions [“How Do You Formulate a Grand Prix?”, News, Nov. 19] The FIA is definitely not the “ruling body for motor sports.” The FIA has virtually no presence or authority in the U.S. NASCAR, IRL, SCCA, NHRA, IHRA, AMA, SCTA, NASA, Monster Trucks, Tractor Puller's, and other sanctioning bodies in the U.S. and the venues at which they compete are completely independent of the FIA. It is important to understand that both Daytona International Speedway and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway provide two different venues at their locations. Each has an oval and a road course. The road course at Indianapolis was upgraded at great expense in order to qualify as a F1 track. The major change required to make Indianapolis qualify for a F1 event was to build enclosed pits/garages to protect the F1 drivers from the fans.
There is no way that the course at Monaco could be graded higher than the one at Indianapolis.
I and a lot of my friends are enthusiastically supportive of F1. We all realize the value it will bring to Austin and the surrounding areas.
But Formula One is governed at the whim and fancy of one individual. Someone should talk to Tony George about his dealings with that person.
Richard Whittaker covered the Formula One story very well with a couple of minor misconceptions [“How Do You Formulate a Grand Prix?”, News, Nov. 19] The FIA is definitely not the “ruling body for motor sports.” The FIA has virtually no presence or authority in the U.S. NASCAR, IRL, SCCA, NHRA, IHRA, AMA, SCTA, NASA, Monster Trucks, Tractor Puller's, and other sanctioning bodies in the U.S. and the venues at which they compete are completely independent of the FIA. It is important to understand that both Daytona International Speedway and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway provide two different venues at their locations. Each has an oval and a road course. The road course at Indianapolis was upgraded at great expense in order to qualify as a F1 track. The major change required to make Indianapolis qualify for a F1 event was to build enclosed pits/garages to protect the F1 drivers from the fans.
There is no way that the course at Monaco could be graded higher than the one at Indianapolis.
I and a lot of my friends are enthusiastically supportive of F1. We all realize the value it will bring to Austin and the surrounding areas.
But Formula One is governed at the whim and fancy of one individual. Someone should talk to Tony George about his dealings with that person.
Dalton Wall
