Baker speaks positively about chance for F1 race in Las Vegas

Monday, June 29, 1998 | 9:59 a.m.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George said this weekend he hopes to bring Formula One racing to the legendary Brickyard by the year 2000, ahead of his rivals in other American cities.

But Tommy Baker, president of the locally based United States Grand Prix, still believes his group is on the verge of landing a coveted F1 race in Las Vegas.

"We love the posture that we're in today," Baker said of his group's proposal to build an 18-hole golf course and 2.2-mile F1 road course on Clark County-managed land on the south end of the Strip.

"I think we're doing great on the process here. I think, without a doubt, we have a project that is incredible for the city. We're doing the right thing and we're on track (to bring F1 to Las Vegas.)"

The Clark County Commission in May gave the three applicants vying to build a golf course at the south end of the Strip up to 90 days to address significant issues raised by staff.

Baker said the delay has only helped his group's efforts to land the development contract for the 155-acre parcel of land.

Circus Circus Enterprises, which at first raised concerns over the proposed development near its Mandalay Bay Resort, has since backed the project, Baker said.

"I can assure you that the people at Circus Circus like what we're all about," Baker said. "We've had enough time with them so that they are up to speed in a positive frame of mind."

Baker additionally revealed that any objections the Bureau of Land Management may have had about a proposed race track on the federally owned land soon may be moot. Baker said there is a bill before Congress that, if passed, would transfer ownership of the land to the county and take the BLM out of the picture.

Baker said he believes talks between George and F1 president Bernie Ecclestone are merely a case of the latter covering his bases in case the Las Vegas deal falls through.

"Bernie is certainly not putting people off who need to speak to him about their interest in having a race," Baker said. "As he told me when we spoke last, 'I hope we get Vegas but at the moment, you've got absolutely nothing.'

"We don't have a senator, we don't have the governor, we don't have somebody from Clark County -- nobody -- (telling Ecclestone) 'We want you bad.' It's unfortunate ... but Bernie has made the decision and has made it clear that Vegas, as we have it packaged now, is the best possible scenario for Formula One returning to America."

Formula One has not raced in the United States since 1991, when the popular international series ran on the streets of Phoenix.

In addition to George, Ecclestone also has met with the mayor and other officials from San Francisco, who actively are seeking an F1 race in their city.

If Baker's group, in conjunction with Sig Rogich and golf course developer O.B. Sports, wins the development contract, Ecclestone has said he would grant Las Vegas a season-ending Formula One race beginning in 2000.

Ecclestone also has put Baker in touch with Normand Legault, president of the Montreal Grand Prix, and the two parties have agreed to allow Legault and his team to put on the Las Vegas F1 race.

"Normand Legault and his operations most likely are going to be merging with our production efforts because Bernie Ecclestone is so wanting to personally make sure things are done as he sees fit," Baker said.

"Normand Legault and his crew will likely be taking over production responsibilities and lend their expertise in that area to this race and they will come in here with 20 years of experience."

The arrangement would be unique to F1 racing in two respects: Ecclestone never before has chosen a race management team for any of the series' other races and it also would mark the first time F1 officials in different countries have worked in tandem on a single event.