F1 braced for uncertain return to the Brickyard

Formula One faces an uncertain reception when it returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend for the US Grand Prix with many fans still bitter over last year's fiasco.

After a tyre controversy sparked a boycott that reduced the 2005 race to six cars, American F1 fans will not quickly forget the sight of the 14 cars running on Michelins retiring after the parade lap over safety issues.

Angry spectators packed into the sprawling "Brickyard" were quick to express their unhappiness, showering the track with litter and loudly booing as Michael Schumacher's Ferrari took the chequered flag in the hollowest victory of the seven-times world champion's career.

Three days of bickering culminated into a farcical race that resulted in a huge black eye for F1, which has struggled to capture the attention of American motor sport fans.

A year later, the fallout continues to be felt with the two principals in dispute, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, continuing to snipe in the build-up to Sunday's race.

With the contract for an American race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway up for renewal, Ecclestone has taken a hard line stance, saying F1 does not need a race in the US.

"It doesn't matter to F1 if there's no US Grand Prix," Ecclestone told reporters. "I'm not prepared to subsidise a race in America.

"We've never got any sponsors out there and the television has never taken off - we have more viewers in Malta than over there."

With China, India and Russia among countries lining up at Ecclestone's door eager to land an F1 race, Ecclestone has made it clear he will not offer US organisers any concessions to help smooth over last year's debacle.

Ecclestone's hard line position, however, does not reflect the view in the paddock where most teams are not only eager to have one race in the US but would actually like two.

"We like racing in the US," Ferrari boss Jean Todt said.

"Just to recall that Ferrari has its biggest market in the US so for the visibility of Ferrari and F1 we think it's important to do this race."

Drivers are confident, if not eager, to see a race survive in the US.

"The people that were part of last year, they were obviously not very happy, but what we felt in the previous seasons is that they are fascinated by Formula One," said Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso, who will be bidding for a fifth straight win on Sunday.