US GP interest pleases Indy chief

After more than 100,000 fans turned up for last weekend's race at Indianapolis, just a year on from the farce caused by the mass withdrawal of Michelin teams, track officials are convinced that is is worth continuing to hold the Grand Prix.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Joie Chitwood told the Indianapolis Star on Friday that they were delighted with the way this year's event had gone.

"It's clear there's a good level of interest in Formula One here; it's a matter of how we tap into it," he said. "I think Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a great draw, but we need willing partners.

"It was a very good weekend, something we really needed. I don't think last year's problems hurt one bit. In fact, that might have heightened the interest."

Indianapolis owner Tony George is due to travel to London in the next few weeks to discuss a new Formula One contract with Bernie Ecclestone. Both parties have made it clear that they want to continue, pending the successful outcome from negotiations.

Some sources have suggested that there is even the possibility of a new deal only being for one year though. This is because there are likely to be more attractive financial terms on offer to tracks once F1's new Concorde Agreement kicks in from the start of 2008.