I’m not meaning to beat a dead horse with a fairly consistent stream of pieces on how America is lacking the amount and type of awareness of Formula 1 for the USGP to be a long-term success.
But for the race to fill stands beyond a year or two, when it’s an unusual attraction, more people need to know about and be fans of F1 in America.
And a big part of that, since blogs like this one can’t reach everyone (yet!), is for major sports media to start caring about the sport.
And I fear that’s a long ways off.
But… Bernie’s mugging is the kind of coverage that gets U.S. coverage. Exhibit one: ESPN:
Associated Press
LONDON — Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone suffered a minor head injury when he was attacked outside his London office this week and robbed of jewelry worth $314,000.
.
The 80-year-old Ecclestone was treated at a hospital after being punched and kicked by four men following his arrival at the offices of Formula One Holdings on Wednesday night, London Police said Friday.
.
Ecclestone was released from the hospital.
.
Police are investigating but no arrests had been made.
Right now, that story is on ESPN’s front page. But, you’ll note, it’s an AP story. So even this doesn’t get a staffer out of bed on “Black Friday.”
Whether the piece would have made the site on a bigger — even normal — news day is another issue.
Bang the drum, people. There needs to be more fan demand of F1 news.
