Jun.17 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone awoke to a hostile American media on Sunday morning after suggesting that formula one can live without its annual visit to the States.
The F1 supremo, who earlier described the US grand prix as "not vital", had declared at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday evening that his American hosts "haven't done anything" to get behind his series, which in decades of history and eight years at its current venue has failed to break the US market.
Ecclestone, 76, was speaking after three meetings with Indy's Tony George this weekend failed to result in the extension of the expiring GP contract.
A writer for the local Post-Tribute responded: "Yeah, Bernie, you can go to Russia or India, but in what country does Ferrari, your biggest car owner, sell its most cars?
"That's America, in case you had a brain freeze."
Even a writer for the usually supportive Indianapolis Star headlined that "Arrogant F1 should hit road out of Indy".
"I've got advice for (Tony) George. Learn how to say 'Bite me' in all the languages of today's F1 drivers.
"They are the Guests From Hell. And it's time for them to leave.
"Let me mention something to F1: Nobody outside of Indy cares about this race. And the truth is, very few inside of Indy care about this race."
A journalist for ESPN, the dedicated sports-related network, even described Ecclestone as a "man who looks like a geriatric Harry Potter".
Written: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 08:08:17
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