September 10, 2004

by Anthony Underwood

At the close of the 2004 Olympic games American athletes had won 103 total medals, winning the most gold (35), and silver (39), and second highest winner of bronze (29). Watching the games, it was very clear that America produces top-notch athletes, capable of winning against athletes from all over the world. With that being said, it brings back the age-old motor sport’s question, "Why aren’t their more American’s racing and winning across the pond?"

Each year the World Driving Championship is given to the top driver in the Formula One racing circuit. Competitors come from all over the world, but primarily Europe and South America. Sadly, there has not been an American driver in Formula One Racing since Michael Andretti drove briefly for McLaren in 1993.

Geography is not the reason America is not represented in Formula One. The reason that America is not represented in Formula One is commercial (money). In order to get an American into a top Formula One seat, there has to be American Corporate interest. There won’t be corporate interest until there is fan interest. Most Americans aren’t even aware of the sport. On the other hand every red blooded American male dreams of owning a Ferrari. Yet somehow we lose that desire when it comes to racing; we lose the aspiration to drive a Ferrari and gain the desire to drive a Chevy. I have personally driven Chevrolets and they are good cars, but if we were to write down our mental list of must have dream cars, would the Monte Carlo be on your list?

Like any professional sport, it takes huge amounts of money to compete in Formula One. Talent is a great asset, but the money sponsors give the Commercial Director (there’s that "C" word again, remember it) for the team, makes the budget. Even budgets for the small teams are astounding to say the least. Minardi, the lowest ranked team’s budget was $80 million. This is a meager sum compared to the 2003 budget of Ferrari at $500 million or the rumored $1 billion spent by Toyota last season.

Corporate America has not supported the effort of an American driver making his way to the sport. If our corporations would flex their power we should easily have one of our own top drivers in one of the top cars. For example in July of 2003, Williams-BMW and Anheuser-Busch signed a sponsorship deal estimated to be worth about $80 million over five years. Now, imagine if that money had been placed in a driver sponsorship instead of a team sponsorship. I am sure any Commercial Director of a Formula One team would take notice of any driver capable enough to get a company to place $80 million in his talents and give him an opportunity to show what he can do. Careers in Formula One are made this way, driver A has cash and a team X needs cash, so driver A is now the driver for team X. Jaguar has been a team noted for such practice, this season. Oddly enough, Ford Motor Company, a very large American company, owns Jaguar.

Do you think they could open a few doors for the American boys?

There is a company aiding young American drivers to reach the pinnacle of F-1 motorsports. Red Bull, an Austrian company that makes an energy drink, has taken it upon itself to fund, find, groom, and lead the way for American drivers. Each year Red Bull scouts the country, holding tryouts and run offs until they get a crop to send across the pond. Once there, they support and aid these men and women to live the dream of standing atop the podium and seeing the American flag raised as our anthem is played. In July, it was all Americans atop the Renault Formula 2000 Series podium with Scott Speed and the Red Bull teammates, Colin Fleming coming in second, and third Dominique Claessens. This race at Spa-Francorchamps should show us that given the right chance, our boys could and can do as well as any other.

This past Sunday Scott Speed wrapped up the Eurocup 2005 Formula Renault 2000 championship. And when he's asked what his ultimate goal is, he's quick to answer: "I'm thinking about Formula One. American drivers have had troubles in the past with Formula One, so I want to be next to try. But before that I have to serve my apprenticeship. I'm lucky enough to have partners who give me help, so I want to pay them back without putting too much pressure on myself. In any case, I want to thank my team for a wonderful season. It feels great to win!" That is a very cool thing for an American driver!

But, we are brought back to our question, "Why aren’t their more American’s racing and winning across the pond?" It’s a simple answer; there is a lack of interest and lack of interest! As we all know that means lack of funding. In America, if it doesn’t have fenders or Earnhardt on the door, many fans just do not know it exists. NASCAR denominates what Americans think of racing. If you don’t agree let’s compare NASCAR Neilson TV rating figures to say CART and IRL, and just for fun you can combine CART and IRL together. That fact alone would destroy any argument about NASCAR not being "King" in America.

Speed Channel is working hard to change this. It used to be that in order to see a Formula One race you must stay up until 2 a.m. just to watch a cheap tape delayed version of it all. Even then, it was time condensed. Thanks to Speed Channel, long gone are the crazy show times and poor broadcasting of the World‘s most sophisticated motorsport. Now it is all-live, and enhanced by live practice, and a qualification sessions broadcast. In the broadcast booth the level of professionalism has been upped as we now have David Hobbs, a former Formula One driver. In addition, there is Steve Matchett, a former Race mechanic for Benetton Formula One team and Bob Varsha a veteran broadcaster of many years. These three make watching the race an experience and not just a blip on the tube. They bring insight and color to the sport that it had lacked for years.

Maybe you see the situation. If you do, I know you're asking, what can you do to bring the level of exposure higher to the American racing fans and help along the young Americans aspiring to be the next World Champion.

Support is the easy answer. NASCAR learned long ago how to sell fan loyalty to drivers and the sport to corporate America. We as fans have to sell corporate America on the vision we have of seeing an American in one of the top three teams across the pond. This is accomplished by supporting the races when they are aired on television, or they are in our country, buy products that are sponsoring drivers and teams.

After all, who did not enjoy seeing Jeff Gordon turning laps at Indy, a few fast corners off the pace? This guy has just a few laps. Imagine if his young, diamond in the rough, counterpart is out there in a cornfield. An American waiting for his chance to better the world’s best.

You can contact Anthony Underwood at.. Speed News Now