Steve, I don't think it will hurt the A1 event much, but I doubt it will attract a big crowd to begin with. Simply put single seater racing just isn't drawing crowds, be it Champ Car, IRL, F1, etc. they are all struggling to put butts in seats over here. Yes F1 could resort to the sort of stunts that the IRL is using to pull spectators in, like giving away two tickets if you purchase a pack of Marlboros. But thats not going to fly for long. With my refund check from the Speedway came an offer for two free tickets to next years GP if I purchase two at regular price, sounds a bit desperate to me.
Even with the crowds the GP had been pulling in before this years debacle, the place always looked strangely empty for the GP, even with 100,000 people there. Probably because the vast majority of the 350,000 seats were empty.
Fax