Five years after F1 stopped racing in the U.S., it went racing once again at Austin, and 10 years later the event is a highlight on the calendar.
When the checkered flag fell on the final United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis in June 2007, Formula 1’s relationship with America couldn’t have been much lower.
“Incredible,” COTA chairman Bobby Epstein reflects from behind his desk. “It went by fast, and I think if we had drawn where we wanted to be at the end of 10 years, this would probably have been our goal. The path to get here would probably not have been drawn the way it happened, but we’re pretty happy with it. One of the things you can’t buy in terms of big events is history or tradition.
Despite the struggles that COTA has sometimes faced, especially when it comes to putting on a grand prix that features a hefty race-hosting fee, Epstein insists he never felt like he wanted to cut and run because of the way fans were responding to the event and making it a regular part of their sporting calendar.
“We always felt like we were going to get a five-year extension because we built this to be here for Formula 1 and I think it’ll be here for a long time,” says Epstein. “So we were always invested in the circuit. I think we can just focus on delivering a great experience.
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