Americans in F1

[Pints]

Another thread on here has got me thinking. The USA has a few million citizens (possible understatement) and quite a few followers of single-seater racing.

Given they're able to produce more Olympic champions than you can shake a stick at, why is it that the last time an American won an F1 race was back in 1978 with Mario Andretti at the wheel?

I realise that oval racing dominates over there, but I can't help musing as to why they've had nobody on the top step in F1 for well over 30 years.

[VladD]

I don't really know how many single seater feeder series they have, but I don't think it's many. I'm just not sure how big motorsport is in the US. I lived in San Diego for three and a bit years and I didn't come across too many motorsport enthusists. American Football and basketball were huge though.

[Pints]

I thought it was quite big in the more southern states.

I've never been though, so this is all hearsay.

[Life Saab Itch]

There was a guy called Dane Cameron who came over here and cleaned up a few years ago. He's totally dropped off my radar now.

After 1 practice, 2 qually and 3 races his tyres looked like new. You could still see the moulding marks on them.

I think he won 4 of 6 races in that series and came second in the other two.

America does produce the talent, maybe not the national level road racing experience (ie the equivalent of British F3 etc).

[AJS-]

Because it isn't a film?

[chuno]

Cos they're all too fat?

I think the weight of kers etc would be the last thing the team would need to worry about. LOL

[anonymous-user]

Americans don't like to travel outside of U.S?

Tiger Woods hates leaving the US, as does Phil Mickleson. Infact a lot of U.S golfers don't ever leave the U.S.

Could be the same for racing drivers?

[Melman Giraffe]

Dubai said:

Americans don't like to travel outside of U.S?

Tiger Woods hates leaving the US, as does Phil Mickleson. Infact a lot of U.S golfers don't ever leave the U.S.

Could be the same for racing drivers?

So we won't see Phil or Tiger at The Open this year!! Thats a shame!!

[Eric Mc]

For most Americans who want to be successful race drivers (sic), these days F1 does not feature hihg in their priorities.

[Pints]

Eric, you're not suggesting it's easier to be "world champion" if you're the only country participating, are you?

[Charlie Foxtrot]

It isn't like NASCAR or whatever are small poorly funded race series. They're probably quite content as they are.

[Presuming Ed]

If your American its probably far easier to get into Nascar and earn just as much as a top line F1 driver without having to go overseas as a teenager and driving cars that are a little alien

[FourWheelDrift]

There have been more American Formula One World Champions than there have been French Champions.

Number of Champions by nationality

United Kingdom - 10
Brazil - 3
Finland - 3
Australia - 2
Austria - 2
Germany - 2
Italy - 2
United States - 2 (Phill Hill & Mario Andretti)
Argentina - 1
Canada - 1
France - 1
New Zealand - 1
South Africa - 1
Spain - 1

[EDLT]

Maybe they don't view F1 as the pinnacle of motorsport. Given what happened in the last race there, and the way F1 is heading, I can't blame them.

[davepoth]

Charlie Foxtrot said:

It isn't like NASCAR or whatever are small poorly funded race series. They're probably quite content as they are.

Yep. They earn as much doing NASCAR as they would hope to earn doing F1 unless they were in a top team, with the bonus that they can be in their own bed within 3 hours of each race. And they get to do doughnuts when they win.

[grumbledoak]

F1 has been a disaster in the US. Remember the last debacle? Why would they try?

[DSM2]

Life Saab Itch said:

There was a guy called Dane Cameron who came over here and cleaned up a few years ago. He's totally dropped off my radar now.

After 1 practice, 2 qually and 3 races his tyres looked like new. You could still see the moulding marks on them.

I think he won 4 of 6 races in that series and came second in the other two.

America does produce the talent, maybe not the national level road racing experience (ie the equivalent of British F3 etc).

Getoutta here!!!! (As an american might say)

He never raced in other than a Club championship and the easy ones at that, then went back to the USA.

You're referencing FPA which is hardly known for being a serious proving ground, is it?

Oh, and I sense an exaggeration; I challenge anyone to use a set of tyres for 6 sessions and still have the moulding marks visible, unless you refer to the outer beads which haven't touched the ground due to camber etc?

[timmybob]

F1 isn't seen as the premier motor sport over here, so a talented driver is likely to end up in one of the US based series. F1 is easier to get into for the Europeans as many of the teams are based there, and the other formula do act as feeder series.
In this months Car and Driver (don't laugh - I don't have a lot of choice) there is a brief interview with someone who tried to get into racing in Europe about 20 years ago as a young driver, but found it too difficult as an outsider with no connections or history other than stateside

[FourWheelDrift]

It's only in the 1990s that American drivers started to disappear from F1. Before that in the 1980s, 70s and 60s there were an abundance of names. Amongst whom were Mario Andretti, Phil Hill, Peter Revson, Richie Ginther, Eddie Cheever, Mark Donahue, Maston Gregory, Dan Gurney, Ronnie Bucknum, Jim Hall, Pete Lovely, Brett Lunger, Lance Reventlow, Harry Schell, Carroll Shelby, Danny Sullivan and Michael Andretti & Scott Speed the last ones in the 90s & 00s.

It all seemed to go in the commercialised world of the 1990s. Which would back up the lack of sponsorship for young drivers mentioned above, odd then that most of the big money sponsors are so involved in the US in other sports. The US does seem to be very insular with it's sports.

[Teppic]

davepoth said:

Yep. They earn as much doing NASCAR as they would hope to earn doing F1 unless they were in a top team, with the bonus that they can be in their own bed within 3 hours of each race. And they get to eat doughnuts without having to worry about getting too fat to race.

EFA.