USA Grand Prix; Let's try it one more time ...

a little over 30 points separate the top 4 drivers
with only 8 races to go

Formula 1 is the ultimate in motor racing. There's no denying it. But somehow it has evaded arguably the biggest car-junkie country in the world, the United States. Dominated by NASCAR, Formula 1 has had a hard time establishing itself as an authority in motor racing. Maybe it's because the teams are all foreign, maybe it's because when the US hosts a Grand Prix it's only a single race, maybe Americans can't follow a sport that lasts more than 6 months, maybe they don't like finesse driving that includes hard braking, acceleration and the occasional right turn. Regardless, many Americans have entered the sport in different ways; some as drivers, some as team owners. And those that have entered the sport can appreciate the highest level of engineering, skill and discipline involved.

Michael Schumacher,
a living legend in motor racing

Formula 1 is not as difficult to understand as many people fear. The competition begins in March and ends in November. This year there are 20 races, but that changes every year depending on the amount of countries that bid to host a Grand Prix. Each country can only host one Grand Prix. For the past few years it has begun in Australia and ended in Brazil. Every race is considered a race "weekend"; 2 practices on friday, 1 practice on saturday, qualifying later that saturday and the race is on Sunday. During the practice rounds, teams make adjustments to perform better in each race; type of tires, number of pit stops, fuel quantity, aerodynamic modification, account for weather, etc. There are several teams, or constructors, each with 2 drivers competing. Drivers collect points for finishing order in every race and, at the end of the season, the driver with the most points wins the championship. Also, the team that has the most points wins the constructors championship. Points are earned like this;
1st : 25 points
2nd : 18 points
3rd : 15 points
4th : 12 points
5th : 10 points
6th : 8 points
7th : 6 points
8th : 4 points
9th : 2 points
10th : 1 point

Sebastian Vettel
current World Champion

Michael Schumacher holds a record 7-time Formula 1 World Championships, followed by Alain Prost with 4. This season, there is a record of 6 world champions competing in one single season, 4 of them in a strong position to repeat a championship. The defending champion is Sebastian Vettel, the youngest driver to ever win a championship at 23.

The US have hosted several Grand Prix. Dating back to the beginning of the last century, Savannah, GA actually hosted what can be considered as the first US Gran Prix. Wisconsin, California had Santa Monica, Long Beach and Riverside host it, Sebring, Detroit, Phoenix and Indianapolis. Only a few of those were considered Formula 1 Grand Prix. Now, after a 5 year hiatus, Formula 1 returns home to Austin, TX at the Circuit of the Americas. The race looks promising in every way, including the much sought after American destination of Austin, TX (really?). The effort involved in making this Grand Prix happen should be considered as one final push to spark Formula 1 interest. Before Austin was selected to host it, there was a rumor that looked at having a city circuit, like Monaco, in Las Vegas. This would've been the ultimate effort to draw attention to the sport in this country. Imagine for a second a night time city circuit in Las Vegas, having hundreds of thousands of people watching from the hotels on the strip, on the gambling capital of the world? Of course, at this moment we can only hope for that, and pray that Austin brings it this November.

tight turns and elevation changes make for a promising Grand Prix in Austin, TX
16, 17, 18 November