AUGUST 17, 1998

Indianapolis waits...

INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY boss Tony George and Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone are entering the final stages of their negotiations to agree a deal which will see Formula 1 cars racing on an infield circuit at Indianapolis in the Spring of 2000.

Ecclestone says that George is very keen on doing a deal and that money is not the problem. Ecclestone is convinced that F1 will have no trouble filling at least 250,000 seats at Indianapolis which would be the biggest ever Formula 1 crowd for a race - and a very good way in which to launch Grand Prix racing back into the United States.

Ecclestone wants a long-term deal - probably a guarantee of a minimum of five years at the Speedway.