New Jersey to host F1 Grand Prix in 2013

Formula One will boast two US races from 2013 when the Grand Prix of America will debut in New Jersey, governor Chris Christie announced on Tuesday. "I'm pleased that New Jersey will play host to Formula One beginning 2013, bringing one of the world's most popular and exciting sports right to our backyard," said Christie, who added that talks over "a number of months" had yielded a deal to hold the event for a decade. The race will be a 3.2 mile road race, run on existing roads through Port Imperial and at the top of the Palisades in Weehawken and West New York. "Up to 100,000 people are expected to attend each race, starting with practice Friday, qualifying on Saturday, and racing on Sunday," Christie said. Race promoter Leo Hindery said he looked specifically at this part of New Jersey rather than nearby New York because "it was never gonna work" in the Big Apple. Christie, who recently announced he would not seek the nomination to be the Republican candidate in next year's US Presidential election, said that the race would open up his state to the world. "People from the whole world will come to New Jersey to see this unique and exciting course," Christie said. Authorities said the race will not receive any subsidies from either local or state government, and Christie said he had no concerns that the course laid on existing streets would pose any safety hazard. "I have no concerns," Christie said. The mayors of Weehawken and West New York municipalities, Richard Turner and Felix Roque, said the new race "will bring significant economic impact to our towns and local business, totalling several hundred million dollars to the region." Formula One's last appearance on US soil was in 2007. The elite racing series' return to America is planned for next November in Austin, Texas, where the new Circuit of the Americas is being built for the purpose. However, the Texas race -- announced in 2010 -- has faced criticism from state lawmakers opposed to the deal to use public funds to develop the project. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the famed Indianapolis 500, hosted a US Grand Prix from 2000-2007, an eight-year run that had its problems. In 2005, 14 of the 20 drivers withdrew just prior to the start of the race to protest concerns about tyre safety. Prior to arriving at Indianapolis, Formula One had run in the US in Long Beach, California, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas and Phoenix on a variety of street circuits. F1 and Indianapolis went their separate ways when they couldn't come to financial terms and other agreements to extend their contract.