Stirling moss expressed his opinion that F1 should completely be revised in order to conquer America's motorsport fans. "I watch a grand prix because it's an important thing to me, it is my bag, But if I was a motorsport fan in America I don't see why I would particularly care about Formula One when I have so many more exciting series right on my doorstep. NASCAR is something quite different and, in my mind, more exciting.
It's amazing to see those cars lapping Daytona at around 200mph and the whole crowd gets very animated, creating a fantastic atmosphere. We're talking about heavy cars going at very high speed and bumping each other, you can see why it's so popular - it really has tremendous colour and energy.
Maybe the drivers aren't as talented as in F1, and in many respects it's more amateur, but that means it has more charm. To put it in perspective, for Formula One races, I've got a pass where I can go just about anywhere in the circuit but I never see any of the drivers, because they're cocooned in their motor homes or their garages. They come out for one signing session a weekend but in NASCAR you see them selling merchandise and engaging with the fans, it builds a much stronger rapport and a much stronger product.
Put it this way, I feel that it's my obligation to try and sign as many bits and pieces as possible when I go and meet the fans, that's an important thing to me. As a celebrity, you have to realise that you are in the position you are in because of people's support and that means you are public property to some extent.
...The hope is that you build up a relationship with the fans and that ultimately gives you something saleable. I think F1 is at last waking up and realise just how marketable it is, especially in the USA.
I mean you have to ask yourself, why would one go to an F1 race when one can sit at home and watch it? You certainly get a better idea of what is going on with a TV set and Martin Brundle to explain. For F1 to work in the USA the whole system needs a complete revision, but in F1 more than anywhere, it is very difficult to roll back the years and make things more interesting."
The other issue for Austin is the track. They more or less have a blank canvas but I'm not confident they will get it right. When I raced in the USA we were competing on real road circuits like Watkins Glen and I think that was popular because it was fast and dangerous. But even if F1 wanted to, I'm not sure it could go back there now because of the emphasis on safety. That has its obvious advantages, but as I've said before in this column, I think wrapping everything in cotton wool has ruined what was a very good sport. From my point of view motor racing simply has to be dangerous by definition.
I'll wait until 2012 to pass my final judgment on Austin but frankly I'm not very optimistic.
