Feb.25 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has given the ‘USF1’ concept the thumbs-up, British principal Peter Windsor admitted during the launch of the American formula one team on Tuesday
“He said, ‘Great, get it done,'” Windsor, a former team manager and now full-time grand prix reporter and writer, said of his conversation with the sport’s influential chief executive
The main media interest about USF1 so far has been the possible identity of the two American-born drivers to occupy the cockpits next year
Racing great and 1978 world champion Mario Andretti joined the USF1 broadcast and insisted his 21-year-old grandson Marco would be an ideal candidate
But Marco, who tested for Honda a couple of years ago and is currently testing his Indycar in Florida, commented: “It would be risky because it’s such a new team, that’s all I would say.”nnIt also emerges that Scott Speed, the most recent American to contest grands prix, has “no interest” in leaving his current NASCAR career to return to F1, the Californian newspaper Berrynessa Sun claims
Graham Rahal, the son of Bobby Rahal, was also mentioned by the USF1 chiefs on Tuesday
Windsor, and his USF1 partner Ken Anderson, confirmed that the former $48m FIA entry bond barrier to starting a team is no longer required, while admitting that the global recession is actually a help to their plans for a low-budget, small-staffed team
“For those out there that say, ‘Where’s all the money? Where’s the huge facility? Where’s the money pouring out of the sky?’ … that isn’t going to happen with USF1,” Windsor, who has only sought investors wanting to buy small portions of the team, explained