Indianapolis is ready to cash in on Las Vegas’ Formula One misfortunes

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998 | 10:17 a.m.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George has scheduled a news conference Wednesday, at which he will announce the famed Brickyard is adding a Formula One race in 2000.

Although nobody at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway would confirm a deal has been struck between F1 president Bernie Ecclestone and George, the Sun has learned that the international racing series will return to the United States at Indy in September 2000.

"That is my understanding after having talked with Bernie Ecclestone last week," said promoter Tommy Baker, who headed a failed attempt to bring an F1 race to Las Vegas.

Baker added that the only reason Indy is getting the coveted race is because his group's unsuccessful effort to get a similar deal approved in Las Vegas left Ecclestone with little time to consider other cities.

Atlanta and San Francisco also made bids to land the F1 date, and Baker had been working on a deal to run the race in Southern California after his attempt failed here.

"This race goes to Indy only because it got canceled in Las Vegas," Baker said.

"In my talks with Bernie Ecclestone last week, he still has concerns about Indy and those things didn't concern him in the case of Las Vegas and they wouldn't have concerned him in the case of Southern California.

"But after what happened in Las Vegas, he said 'We lost some real valuable time.' Losing that valuable time is now not affording Bernie Ecclestone to consider any other candidates. He and I felt Las Vegas was going to happen because it should have happened and it's a terrible loss for Las Vegas -- they'll figure that out."

Baker spearheaded an attempt to develop about 160 acres of government-owned land at the south end of the Strip with an 18-hole golf course and F1 road course. After several delays, the Clark County Board of Commissioners awarded the contract to local golf course developer Billy Walters.

Baker maintained at the time, and reiterated his belief Monday, that meddling from "private interests" doomed his proposal.

"We were totally blindsided in Las Vegas in what was a step-by-step, methodical process with the best people with a terrific plan," Baker said. "Yet, we still got blindsided because of private interests and it's too bad for Las Vegas."

Baker claimed that Las Vegas Motor Speedway co-owner Bill Bennett hindered Baker's efforts to bring the F1 race to Las Vegas by putting pressure on the county commissioners.

"Bill Bennett and his Speedway have a relationship with the Indy people," Baker said. "There's no question that they will be getting an annual piece of the action from Indianapolis ... in response to their successful efforts to get the commissioners to turn two blind eyes to doing something right for our town.

"The only guy in Las Vegas who's going to prosper from the Formula One effort (going to Indy) will be Bill Bennett."

Bennett, who also owns the Sahara Hotel, was not in his office Monday and was unavailable for comment.