IMS hopeful for Formula One's return

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH/IBJ) - Could Formula One return to Indianapolis? Track officials certainly hope so.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway spokesman Chris Schwartz told The Indianapolis Business Journal Monday that IMS officials would like to see Formula One return to the Brickyard.

"IMS officials have maintained an open, informal dialogue with F1 officials since the last USGP in 2007," said track spokesman Eric Powell.

"We feel we are the best-suited venue for F1 in the US, and would welcome the series back to Indianapolis," Powell said.

Formula One ran eight races in Indianapolis before pulling out in 2007. Sunday’s edition of the UK newspaper Guardian quoted Formula One president Bernie Ecclestone as saying “It’s only the fact that it’s all the wrong crowd and the wrong people … nothing worked there really, we’d have to have a big change round… But we’d like to get back there.”

Formula One pulled the plug on an Indianapolis race after crowd size plummeted to levels that were half of the series’ inaugural race at IMS.

 Powell was quick to point out there were no ongoing negotiations "As far as negotiations are concerned, however, there is nothing happening at this time," he said.

The Indianapolis Buisness Journal is a 24-Hour News 8 news gathering partner.