New sponsor crucial for US GP return

The Indianapolis event is absent from the calendar this year for the first time since 2000, with George and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone having failed to reach agreement over a new deal last winter.

Although there has been some speculation in recent weeks that the race could return to the schedule as soon as 2009, George is more cautious about the situation.

He has made it clear that unless the event can attract enough sponsorship interest to make it financially viable then there is little hope of a return.

Although circuits get no revenue from race title sponsors or trackside advertising, it could be possible for George to change the financial terms that Ecclestone wants if he can bring sponsors to the table.

Speaking in an interview with Indianapolis radio station 1070 The Fan Radio, George said that he hoped that talks with potential sponsors could result in a package being put together to present to Ecclestone.

"It really all depends on finding the right sponsor partners for Formula One to come back," said George about the future of the event. "We need to improve the financial performance of the event in order to justify bringing it back.

"We won't do that without sponsorship. So we're talking to some folks that may have interest, and that could happen as early as 2009 if we can go to Bernie with a proposal."