AUGUST 18, 2001

Tony George in Hungary

INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY owner Tony George turned up in Hungary to have a look at the circuit and to have a number of business meetings with Formula 1 people, including F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. George also had a long meeting with the Arrows team. This may have been about TWR's supply of Nissan Infiniti engines to George's Indy Racing League but it could possibly have been about the 50% shareholding in the team which is up for sale.

It is no secret that Formula 1 needs a little more American involvement if it is to make it big with the US public and the search is on for an American driver or an American team.

"Formula 1 was at its height in popularity in the United States when Mario Andretti was racing," said Bobby Rahal. "Indianapolis will certainly speed up that gain in popularity but ultimately I think its going to take either an American team or an American driver."