Refresh my memory please

[ringo-r]

brief intro (skip if you want)

I'm just a race fan. I could quote someone somewhere else that I just like seeing the green flag drop and the cars and drivers go race. I'm not a tech fan. Many times I couldn't tell you who has what chassis or what power plant (well, now it's easy). And up until recently, I haven't paid full attention to the politics of racing.

my question:

I seem to recall that when CART first starting taking their races outside the US that FIA didn't take too kindly to that and went as far as threatening sponsors that if they sponsored a CART event that their sponsorship would not be welcome in F1.

Do I recall that correctly? If so, who were the personalities involved? Specifically, what role did Bernie Ecclestone play? Who else?

Were there legal suits brought against FIA as a result? Did they win?

[paul-collins]

FIA was involved, too, as they threatened that any driver who raced at Surfer's would lose their superlicense...

[Jordi]

As far as I can recall, they went on despite FIA's warnings. The only agreement was that CART would not race on road courses in certain places...

[racerkeke]

That was the Concorde Agreement, which in essence was an agreement to split up the world market by type of racing venue. Surfer's, because it pre-dated (and precipitated) the agreement, was grandfathered in as a CART venue. All other non-North American CART races had to be ovals, which is how we ended up at the Rio "roval" (gotta push the envelope, doncha know).

My understanding is that the Concorde was dropped after the EU charged the FIA (and specifically Bernie) with creating a monopoly. But cracks had appeared in the agreement before then, specifically in regards to Mexico, because the FIA considered Mexico non-North American and CART (and geographers everywhere) said, "Hey, wait a minute..." I believe the Agreement was finally laid to rest in April of 2000, but Monterrey may already have been on CART's schedule for 2001 by then.

keke

[Tenoch]

The way FIA sued CART into leaving Rio or showing up at the roval, can't Cart just sue the IRL for trying to race on road courses.

[macdaddy]

The IRL tried to sue CART last year over St. Petersburg!

[corkholio]

ISC tried to sue to prevent the Miami Autocross from taking place last year.

[macdaddy]

Thanks... I was just gonna mention that it wasn't the IRL per se, but the ISC. And I stand corrected about the city! The memory just ain't what it used to be!

[ringo-r]

Thanks racerkeke, Jordi, and Paul-collins;

Check my recollection of these events:

About the time that CART started expanding overseas interest is about the same time that F1 ceased in the US.

About the time Tony started his "all oval" series is about the time he also started planning and construction of an F1 track.

I have a suspicious mind and I don't trust Bernie.