Bernie Ecclestone thinks he can hold a Formula One race in Austin the same weekend there's a Texas 500 NASCAR race in Fort Worth? Well, it isn't the craziest thing he's done or said lately.
The Associated Press reports that Bernie's really gotten under the skin of Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage. Not that Gossage thinks the Texas 500 is under threat in the big scheme of things. He told AP:
"I can't say I was surprised because Bernie Ecclestone does a lot of foolish things. The thing he unfortunately doesn't recognize is there is an 800-pound gorilla when it comes to major American motorsports. The 800-pound gorilla is NASCAR."
Don't forget, this is Texas, too.
Ecclestone, on the other hand, thinks Nov. 2 is a fine day to hold an F1 race at Circuit of the Americas, which is roughly three hours from the NASCAR race. He says the "NASCAR crowd is a different crowd" to F1, and he's probably right. Bernie added there was a tight schedule to deal with too.
So, no, he's not apologizing filling Texas with another racing event in November.
Photo: Getty Images
Hat tip to Subiesanchez!
Bernie Ecclestone Says F1, NASCAR In Texas On The Same Weekend Is OK