The success and many failures of F1’s attempts to race in America

Since its inception in 1959, several permanent tracks and city streets in the US have played host to Formula 1 races — the Indianapolis 500 was even part of the F1 World Championship. But only six different tracks can claim they hosted the official United States Grand Prix (US GP). Each fell away for one reason or another until 2012, when F1 arrived at the Circuit of the Americas. Over a decade after its inaugural event, one might wonder why this particular locale has succeeded where others have failed. A glance back through the history books to the lost US GPs better reveals why they are no more.

1959 – Sebring International Raceway

The United States Grand Prix first appeared on the F1 schedule in December of 1959, serving as the season finale.The 42-lap race around the iconic Florida road course featured a 19-car field that included six Americans. Among those representing the red, white, and blue, were Phil Hill, Harry Schell, Harry Blanchard, George Constantine, Phil Cade, Rodger Ward, and Bob Said. While modern US fans clamor for an American F1 star , this race alone had a future F1 World Champion [Hill] and that year’s Indianapolis 500 winner [Ward].

A young driver would take the first US GP win: Bruce McLaren. The founding father of what would become one of the sport’s most prestigious race teams was just 22 years old when he won this race, driving a Cooper T51. The dramatic finish had Jack Brabham leading at the white flag, only to run out of fuel. His car crawled to a stop just a few hundred yards shy of the finish line, allowing McLaren to take the checkered flag.

It wasn’t all bad for Brabham. He got out of the car and pushed it across the line to finish fourth, which was still enough to earn him the 1959 Formula 1 World Championship. 

Despite the excitement, the US GP never returned to Sebring for the same reason so many races fade into the annals of history — financial viability. The crowd was nowhere near that of the 12 Hours of Sebring and event organizer Alec Ulmann was lucky to break even.

1960 – Riverside International Raceway

Ulmann returned in another attempt to host the US GP, taking his idea to the other side of the country in California. And so, for the 1960 season, F1 raced into Riverside.

The change of coastlines didn’t do much to help as attendance, again, was an issue. For whatever reason, US…