A quote from Bernie

[GRW1983]

I know this is F1-related, but I couldn't help notice this from Bernie in an Autosport article regarding the US Grand Prix at Austin in 2012.

"Regarding an American driver, we have tried that lately but obviously what's missing is the right attitude. You can race successfully in the US without the huge effort you need to succeed in F1. But to have someone like Danica Patrick in F1 would be a perfect advert".

The perfect advert for what??? Answers on a postcard please... :p

[nigelred5]

DP?.....pass the mylanta please....


That attitude comment sounds pretty harsh on Scott Speed.

[beachbum]

Bernie had a very different tune in 2005.

"women should be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances" (http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?series=irl&id=2092194)

The man is senile.

[nigelred5]

Maybe he's just looking for someone his size. He sees her for what she is, a marketing machine noone can touch in this openwheel market. He knows she's essentially the ONLY household name in the American open wheel market at this time that gets non-racing people to tune in, and even that is now waning since her nascar results have exposed her true driving talent....

[harvick#1]

Bernie is off his meds again

[Easy Drifter]

Note: F1 is on its summer break.
Note: There is not much news coming out.
Note: Bernie comes out with one of his usual provocative comments.
Note: F1 gets publicity from Bernie's comments.

And you call this senile?
I call it Bernie being his usual clever self. :D

[Chris R]

Nigel has it right - Bernie sees her for what she is - and who would not want a reasonably competent driver who is a marketing machine and let's face it that is what she is - she is a "safe" driver with as much (or little) talent as the rest of the mid-lower field and it is not at all out of the question that she can win a race in her series (not to say she could win a F1 race)...

He DOES NOT say he wants HER to be an F1 driver..... He wants someone LIKE her.... (probably a little earlier in her career arc)...

Bernie is not senile - and if he is I wish I were that senile!! ;)

[anthonyvop]

Note: F1 is on its summer break.
Note: There is not much news coming out.
Note: Bernie comes out with one of his usual provocative comments.
Note: F1 gets publicity from Bernie's comments.

And you call this senile?
I call it Bernie being his usual clever self. :D


Bernie is the single greatest marketing genius in all of motorsports of the past 30 years....Bar none.

[Lee Roy]

The perfect advert for what??? Answers on a postcard please... :p

For What??? Just watch this thread get more posts than any other.

[TURN3]

For What??? Just watch this thread get more posts than any other.

Correct, but because she is a joke, not serious race car driver. Maybe Axl Rose was right when he said bad publicity is better than no publicity. I think that depends. When you're the side show at a 3 ring circus I wouldn't want any extra attention if I were Danica. The hill downward is a steep one for somebody that never should've been on top of it.

[garyshell]

Bernie is the single greatest marketing genius in all of motorsports of the past 30 years....Bar none.

Bernie is the single greatest genius at making money for Bernie, if that happens to mean F1 benefits that is only an aside to him. Bernie looks out for Bernie, period. He has never made a single decision where F1 benefited and he didn't.

Gary

[Lee Roy]

Correct, but because she is a joke, not serious race car driver.

Correct. But attention IS attention. That's all I'm saying. This thread will be at least 5 or 6 pages long before it dies.

[anthonyvop]

Bernie is the single greatest genius at making money for Bernie, if that happens to mean F1 benefits that is only an aside to him. Bernie looks out for Bernie, period. He has never made a single decision where F1 benefited and he didn't.

Gary

Racing is a business. F1 is the biggest business in Racing. Bernie is F1. What is good for Bernie is Good for F1.

What is the problem?

[garyshell]

Racing is a business. F1 is the biggest business in Racing. Bernie is F1. What is good for Bernie is Good for F1.

What is the problem?

My point is Bernie could care less if it is good for F1 as long as it is good for Bernie. Decisions are not made about what is or is not good for F1.

Gary

[anthonyvop]

My point is Bernie could care less if it is good for F1 as long as it is good for Bernie. Decisions are not made about what is or is not good for F1.

Gary

And my Point is Bernie is F1. So what is good for Bernie is good for F1.

BTW I reject any notion that you have any insight into the Psyche and Motivation for Bernie's Actions.

I do accept that you are just another of the long list of jealous, Bernie haters.

[garyshell]

BTW I reject any notion that you have any insight into the Psyche and Motivation for Bernie's Actions.

I do accept that you are just another of the long list of jealous, Bernie haters.

And I reject any notion that you have any insight into my Psyche and Motivation. Hater, most assuredly. Jealous, not by a long shot.

The man is a slimy little weasel, willing to extort millions of dollars from national governments to host a race while pulling the rug out of other communities that had long supported F1. And why? To make more money for Bernie, certainly not to expand the fan base in any way.

Gary

[Jag_Warrior]

Bernie has a cruel sense of humor. Why even mention a person who has never won a road course race in her life, now tends to qualify and finish at the tail end of the IRL field and had trouble finding the starter switch in a stock car? Can you imagine how long it would take to teach her what even half the buttons and switches on an F1 car's steering wheel did???!!!

Bernie talking about this media character being in F1 is like talking about Paris Hilton going to Harvard. It's just mean and cruel! Bad Bernie. Bad! :D

Plus, when (not if) she fell on her face, he'd probably chuckle and use it as an example of how weak American open wheel formula car racing has become. "You can race successfully in the US without the huge effort you need to succeed in F1." And he's right. But there's no need to use a muppet like The Danica to rub our noses in it.

[glauistean]

Bernie is the single greatest marketing genius in all of motorsports of the past 30 years....Bar none.

It would be a madman to disagree with that. He has created an absolute utopia for the race fan.

[anthonyvop]

To make more money for Bernie,

You have a problem with that?



certainly not to expand the fan base in any way.



Really? So in your world of F1 Europe isn't a saturated market and Asia & the Middle East are just vast, impoverished wastelands.

If I was to highlight Bernie's greatest Accomplishment it is his expansion of the fan base.

He took a fairly popular European Sport and turned it into the most Popular sport on the planet not counting special events like the Olympics and World Cup.

[Easy Drifter]

I don't often agree with Toy but he has Bernie pegged.
He also realizes when he has gone too far but sometimes too late. About the only smart thing Tony George did was call his bluff and then the Cdn. organizers faced him down. He did cancel our GP for one year but then settled for less money.
Bernie has definetely made F1 the huge success it is today and made millions for himself but also for the team owners who stuck with him from the beginning.
Sir Frank Williams was basically broke for years. Ron Dennis was a mechanic at Coopers.
And yes Bernie was a failed racing driver and originally a used car salesman.
I do not like him as a person but sure respect what he has done.
I am probably one of very few on here who has met and talked to Bernie and had to actually deal with him from my days with the Cdn. GP. At the time he owned Brabham.

[nigelred5]

He's got two years to keep the 11,12 and 13th teams in business to buy her a three race deal in F1 so she's in the field for the USGP. He could care less if she finished a lap, he would really only need her there to generate media interest leading up to the first race in Austin, then can easily explain her uncompetetiveness on the bottom end equipment. She'd be no worse than Milka is in the Indycars, and probably less of a hazard on the track.

[V12]

Typical Bernie, way to generate a few column inches during F1's summer break I guess.

Anyway, F1 is re-instating the 107% rule from next year, so it would be a non-starter.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Bernie is a piece of work. I won't go out on the limb of hero status for him that Tony has....

I find him a detestable little troll...but he know show to get ink. By mentioning Danica, we are not ignoring what he said....and that was his point.

Getting press is easy, doing right by the sport? Hard....because as Gary says, he hasn't done anything for f1 where he didn't make money off it and I do think at times he could have hurt the sport's credability. Then I realize he always finds new suckers....and I wonder...

Just look no further than these dopes putting money into this operation in Austin Tx. They will build a great facility, the USGP will be a great success for a few years..and then all the sudden, the price to have the race will go up....and extortion Bernie will reveal himself....

Having him take races away from places like France (home of the first GP) or play games in the UK ( Silverstone vs Donington...how is the people putting money into Donington feeling about that now?) is just a bit much.

OH yes, and his steadfast refusal to not broadcast a HD feed for F1 is just stone age. Bernie....regular people can still watch it but those with HD just might like it MORE...but alas...it doesn't put money in his pocket and costs money..so he wont do it...

[anthonyvop]

as Gary says, he hasn't done anything for f1 where he didn't make money off it

As opposed to The France Family, the MLB owners or the NFL? Altruism is nice when applicable but every major sporting series is driven by profits.


Just look no further than these dopes putting money into this operation in Austin Tx. They will build a great facility, the USGP will be a great success for a few years..and then all the sudden, the price to have the race will go up....

If they don't know that going in then who's fault is it?


and extortion Bernie will reveal himself....

What you call "extortion" I call business negotiations


Having him take races away from places like France (home of the first GP) or play games in the UK ( Silverstone vs Donington...how is the people putting money into Donington feeling about that now?) is just a bit much.

Business is business. The venue for the French GP was unprofitable for various reason. So F1 is suppose to take a loss to satiate your nostalgia?
The owners at Donnington have nobody to blame but themselves. They entered into a deal that they had no hope of achieving.


OH yes, and his steadfast refusal to not broadcast a HD feed for F1 is just stone age. Bernie....regular people can still watch it but those with HD just might like it MORE...but alas...it doesn't put money in his pocket and costs money..so he wont do it...

Why should he invest in HD when the overwhelming majority of TV viewers don't have it? F1 has contracts with over 50 networks and stations around the world. Most don't have HD capability. It makes perfect business sense to hold off on a HD upgrade until it is economically viable. BTW F1 TV numbers still remain strong despite no HD.

[NickFalzone]

Bernie bringing up Danica is a decent little bit of publicity for her primary racing series, IndyCar. Particularly as it suggests the drivers in this series could hack it in F1. I don't really know much about Bernie as I've never been into F1 beyond very casual-fan status, but I do think that he has apparently managed his series very well as it seems to be as strong as ever.

[maxmach]

Well, we know who Tony would play in the movie "Wall Street". "greed is good". Short term it is for business, long term not so much. Very rarely is "maximizing" short term profits compatible with long term profits.

[Jag_Warrior]

Maybe once or twice a year I utter these words: "I agree with Anthonyvop." Considering some of his positions on other topics, it ain't always easy. But I have to agree with what he said in the post above (http://www.motorsportforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=830491&postcount=24).

True, Bernie has made himself a billionaire... by making Formula One the most viewed form of motorsport in the world, as well as the second most viewed sport in the world. He is an annoying little man at times (Bernie, I mean... not Anthony ;) ). But can anyone imagine us being on this board wondering how many more breaths the IRL was going to take if a man like Bernie had been running the show for the past 15+ years? I don't know if Bernie plays poker or not. But I do know that F1 didn't suffer the split that many expected. F1 is back at Silverstone, which will soon be a better venue for fans (and the teams) than it's ever been. And F1 will still be racing at its crown jewel, Monaco, for the next 10 years. There are ride buyers in F1 but the top teams seem to be able to find new sponsors at the drop of a hat, pay the best drivers that are on the market... and even be able to pay a £50 million fine when they get caught doing something wrong. To be the most popular F1 driver, you have to actually perform at the highest level, not just spread your legs while draped across the hood of an old car. The top F1 drivers are treated like royalty where ever they go and make tens of millions in salaries and endorsements (with Lewis Hamilton predicted by many to be a racing billionaire by the time he retires). And from what I've read, the state of Texas is going to chip in $250 million over the next 10 years just to get the U.S. Grand Prix. Meanwhile, the IRL is working to find locations in the U.S. that will allow it to race and get paid enough of a sanction fee to make the trip worthwhile. Has anyone offered to build the IRL a dedicated track? Given AOWR's current state, just that thought would be considered pure fantasy. But at least three groups across the U.S. tried to put together deals to throw wads of money at Bernie's circus.

But no, we didn't have a Bernie or a Bill France, Jr. We had an Andrew Craig, a Tony George, a Joe Heitzler and a Kevin Kalkhoven. The ratings that Long Beach use to get were pretty much what the Indy 500 gets now. The clowns that we've had have run this car into the wall so many times the wheels have all but fallen off now.

One cannot complain about socialism and then criticize Ecclestone for what he does. Bernie IS capitalism. If I was going to write a book about capitalism, I'd probably devote a chapter each to Bernard Ecclestone, Donald Trump, Michael Milken, Warren Buffett, et al. I wouldn't claim that they were good people. I would just point to their talent for utilizing capital from outside sources to make money. As they say, "you can hate the game, but don't hate the playa."

As for Bernie's comment about Danica Patrick, it has nothing to do with her (on track) "talent". On road and street courses, she clearly has very little of that. But if he could convince her to wear a see-thru driving suit and no underwear, he'd probably arrange for her to have an F1 "test" on Friday practice day (and he'd have every camera in the known universe there to cover the "event"). But she's placing 20th +/- in IRL races now and has never won a road course race in her entire life. She'd barely make it in GP2 with her current road course performances. She'd easily be laughed off the grid in F1. Unless she brought an 8 figure check, no one in F1 would give her the time of day. IMO, Bernie was just being Bernie with that comment.

[BT46B]

Bernie had a very different tune in 2005.

"women should be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances" (http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?series=irl&id=2092194)

The man is senile.

I always knew he was a ***** - giving him the title of senile is extremely benign. The old coot.

[stephenw_us]

The assertion that Bernie isn't looking out F1 is absolutely ridiculous...no one has done it better....and to think that claim is made on an IndyCar forum....wow...talk about clueless.... :rolleyes:

[garyshell]

The assertion that Bernie isn't looking out F1 is absolutely ridiculous...no one has done it better....and to think that claim is made on an IndyCar forum....wow...talk about clueless.... :rolleyes:

Bernie only looks out for F1 in ways that benefit Bernie. Name one thing he has every done that didn't FIRST line his own pocket.

Gary

[anthonyvop]

Bernie only looks out for F1 in ways that benefit Bernie. Name one thing he has every done that didn't FIRST line his own pocket.

Gary

So?

Isn't that just about everyone?

I run my businesses to benefit me 1st. Anyone who doesn't is a fool.

[stephenw_us]

Bernie only looks out for F1 in ways that benefit Bernie. Name one thing he has every done that didn't FIRST line his own pocket.

Gary

Do you even understand the series you are talking about or are you just blowing hot air?

Let's just start with the recent Hockenhiem deal...read up on that and then we can talk about the Paul Ricard purchase...or the fact that he works for CVC, or better yet how he told Indy to take a hike and is now building a real circuit...or the fact that F1 is one of the top leagues in all of sport because of his leadership...Bernie emerged from the paddock...not some bull riding league or the nepotism lottery.... :rolleyes:

[garyshell]

Do you even understand the series you are talking about or are you just blowing hot air?

Let's just start with the recent Hockenhiem deal...read up on that and then we can talk about the Paul Ricard purchase...or the fact that he works for CVC, or better yet how he told Indy to take a hike and is now building a real circuit...or the fact that F1 is one of the top leagues in all of sport because of his leadership...Bernie emerged from the paddock...not some bull riding league or the nepotism lottery.... :rolleyes:

As a matter of fact yes I do. I have been following F1 for over 40 years.

I didn't say the F1 is not better off under Bernie's wing. I only said he makes sure his own pockets are lined first period.

I don't remember comparing him in any way to the folks who do or have run the IRL. Those are just specious comments that have nothing to do with the point at hand.

Gary

[garyshell]

I run my businesses to benefit me 1st. Anyone who doesn't is a fool.

If you had stockholders I am sure they'd love to know that.

Gary

[anthonyvop]

If you had stockholders I am sure they'd love to know that.

Gary

If it is a corporation then any sane person would want what is best for the corporation.

Why all the jealousy?

[garyshell]

If it is a corporation then any sane person would want what is best for the corporation.

Why all the jealousy?


Yes, they would. But my point, which you very well know, is that Bernie does not make decisions based on what is good for the company. He makes decisions on what is good for Bernie. You have been drinking Bernie's koolaid and seem to think the two are the same thing.

What makes you think that you know I am jealous? Trust me, I am not jealous of that little weasel. I may be jealous of some folks, but most assuredly he is not one of them.

Gary

[stephenw_us]

Yes, they would. But my point, which you very well know, is that Bernie does not make decisions based on what is good for the company. He makes decisions on what is good for Bernie. You have been drinking Bernie's koolaid and seem to think the two are the same thing.

What makes you think that you know I am jealous? Trust me, I am not jealous of that little weasel. I may be jealous of some folks, but most assuredly he is not one of them.

Gary

I see you don't want to discuss the fact that Bernie reports to a board of directors, or the recent agreement he brokered with hockenhiem where his FOM shares the risk, or I suppose any of the other successful deals such as the long term Silverstone deal, Monza, Monaco...all deals that secure the future of the sport...we could talk about Canada and Austin or the Codemasters F1 game or Korea or India...but your not going to do that are you?

Your trotting out the base diatribe du jour with a slice of americana cheese ala every other thread over at TF or st..yawn...

You represent a brand of american motorsports fan I for one would just assume be quareenteed onto TF...

Same old same old...

[garyshell]

I see you don't want to discuss the fact that Bernie reports to a board of directors, or the recent agreement he brokered with hockenhiem where his FOM shares the risk, or I suppose any of the other successful deals such as the long term Silverstone deal, Monza, Monaco...all deals that secure the future of the sport...we could talk about Canada and Austin or the Codemasters F1 game or Korea or India...but your not going to do that are you?

Your trotting out the base diatribe du jour with a slice of americana cheese ala every other thread over at TF or st..yawn...

You represent a brand of american motorsports fan I for one would just assume be quareenteed onto TF...

Same old same old...

No, I am not going to get into a debate with you. I think he is a weasel. No amount of discussion is going to change that, nor is it going to change your love fest with him. And frankly Scarlett, I don't give a damn where you'd like to see me "quareenteed". (BTW the word is quarantined.)


Gary

[stephenw_us]

No, I am not going to get into a debate with you. I think he is a weasel. No amount of discussion is going to change that, nor is it going to change your love fest with him. And frankly Scarlett, I don't give a damn where you'd like to see me "quareenteed". (BTW the word is quarantined.)


Gary

That's what I thought...per usual the names people call others during their diatribe slinging rants always befit the originator of the name calling.

[garyshell]

That's what I thought...per usual the names people call others during their diatribe slinging rants always befit the originator of the name calling.


I just had to laugh at your more eloquent wording of the playground gem: "I'm rubber and you're glue so what bounces off me, sticks to you."

Whatever. Bernie's still a weasel in my book.

Gary

[anthonyvop]

Yes, they would. But my point, which you very well know, is that Bernie does not make decisions based on what is good for the company. He makes decisions on what is good for Bernie. You have been drinking Bernie's koolaid and seem to think the two are the same thing.


Give me just one example of and action of Mr. Eccelstone that befitted him but hurt F-1!



What makes you think that you know I am jealous? Trust me, I am not jealous of that little weasel. I may be jealous of some folks, but most assuredly he is not one of them.

Gary

Could have fooled me.

[garyshell]

Give me just one example of and action of Mr. Eccelstone that befitted him but hurt F-1!

I am just going to leave the thread to you and stephen to have your little love fest with the weasel.



Could have fooled me.
Apparently an easy task, since all I have said is how much I loath him. How you go from that to jealousy, is a figment of your own imagination.

Hope you and stephen have a nice time here.

Gary

[anthonyvop]

I am just going to leave the thread to you and stephen to have your little love fest with the weasel.



With that answer it just proves that your reaction to Mr. Eccelstone is a purely emotional one.
I gave you an open platform to show us all how evil Bernie is but you wouldn't or more probably couldn't.

Now that we all know your hatred of Bernie is an emotional one we just have to find out which emotion.

Seeing as you have not given us any reason to believe that you have interacted with Bernie the only logical conclusion is jealousy on your part. You either are jealous of Bernie's success or you are just another of those who are jealous of anyone successful.

[garyshell]

Seeing as you have not given us any reason to believe that you have interacted with Bernie the only logical conclusion is jealousy on your part. You either are jealous of Bernie's success or you are just another of those who are jealous of anyone successful.


Thank you Dr. Freud, I see that in addition to your credentials as a "reporter" you are now a licensed shrink as well. Sadly, you do both about as well.

Gary