Long Beach, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas, Indianapolis and Phoenix are all of the U.S. cities to have hosted a Formula One Grad Prix on U.S. soil.
Now you can add Austin, Texas to that list.
Beginning in 2012 Austin will host the F1 U.S. Grand Prix on a specifically built race track no further than 10 miles from the airport and no shorter than three miles in length.
The long term deal (until 2021) was announced today and marks the first time a race track will be specifically built in the United States to host a Formula One race.
"The visibility and prestige of this event will spotlight our state on
an international stage," said Austin city officials and Texas Comptroller Susan Combs in a statement.
According to the Associated Press:
"The race was dropped after an eight-year run at Indianapolis Motor
Speedway from 2000-07 with mixed results. The most notable blemish
occurred in 2005 when 14 of 20 drivers pulled off the track just before
the race started as a protest over concerns about tire safety."
"You don't put Austin in same sentence as Monaco or Singapore, but
everyone was blown away," Tavo Hellmund, managing partner of race promoter Full Throttle
Productions said. "Austin has grown up … I
think they fell in love with the city. It isn't a one-trick pony where
we're going to set up a street course."
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