US Grand Prix Crowd Still the Biggest

Ferrari's domination has hit ticket sales for Sunday's U.S. Grand Prix but the race will still draw the biggest one-day crowd of the Formula One season, organisers said on Monday.

"We expect the crowd (on race day) to be in the 140,000 to 150,000 area for this year," said Indianapolis spokesman Fred Nation, adding that the total three-day figure would be "north of 200,000".

"We passed the 100,000 mark a couple of months ago but it will be down from last year."

The figure compares with 175,000 race day tickets sold last year and more than 200,000 for the inaugural Grand Prix at 'The Brickyard' in 2000. The latter figure remains a record crowd for Formula One's modern era.

Indianapolis, with massive grandstands along the main straight, is the world's biggest spectator sporting facility with permanent seats for more than 250,000 people and far greater crowds for the annual Indy 500.

Nation said that the one-day figure would still be twice the attendance at the last race at Ferrari's home circuit of Monza and well ahead of any other Formula One race. He said the comparative drop-off on last year was due to a number of factors, notably the economic downturn, lingering concern after the September 11 attacks on the U.S. last year and the "lack of drama in the Championship".

The absence of an American driver or a U.S. team in a sport that gets little television exposure in the country was also "something of a hindrance."

Ferrari and Michael Schumacher have won both championships, Schumacher sealing his record-equalling fifth crown more than two months ago and in record time. Ferrari have won 13 of the 15 races so far. Indianapolis hosts the penultimate round of the Championship which ends in Japan on October 13.