Chris Pook has confirmed he is involved with plans for a second formula one race in the United States.
Pook is a British businessman who championed the famous Long Beach street event for F1 before heading the Champ Car series.

It has been reported this week that, alongside Austin’s inaugural United States grand prix in 2012, Bernie Ecclestone is in talks for another race amid the New York skyline.

A recent proposal for a site in Jersey City was ruled out, but reports suggest another location in New Jersey is on the cards.

Pook, also involved with F1′s Watkins Glen race in the 70s and subsequent events in Detroit, Las Vegas and Dallas, confirmed that he is working on a New Jersey F1 project.

He said he could not give details, like the proposed site, because of a non-disclosure agreement.

F1 chief executive Ecclestone told the Austin newspaper American-Statesman: “There are no agreements (for a second race). We haven’t finalised anything.”

In the midst of reports that New York was Bernie Ecclestone’s favoured location, the sport announced late on Tuesday that Austin, Texas will in fact stage its first race in 2012.

The 10-year contract is for a “purpose-built” facility, F1 chief executive Ecclestone said in a statement, although details including an actual site, cost or race date were not released.

A report of the AP news agency said the venue would be built “within 10 miles” of Austin airport.

The promoter is Full Throttle Productions, headed by Tavo Hellmund, who Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs revealed has a “30 year relationship with Mr Ecclestone”.

“We have been diligently working together for several years to bring this great event to Austin, the State of Texas and back to the United States,” said Hellmund.

“We realise that over the last 30 years there have been one or two missing pieces from the previous editions of the formula one United States grand prix,” he added.

Never on a purpose-built circuit, previous US grands prix have been held at Watkins Glen, Long Beach, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas and Phoenix.

Between 2000 and 2007, the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted the event, and spokesman Fred Nation on Tuesday questioned whether the “business deal” between F1 and Austin is a sound one.

“Since 2007, we have been asked many times about having formula one return, and our answer has been the same each time: if the business deal is right, they are welcome back.

“If such a deal is in place in Austin, we wish both the city and formula one success for a race in the United States,” he said.
(GMM)