Montecarlo cannot be replaced by Laguna Seca any more than Princess Stephanie can be replaced by the Prince of Belair. At most, they could complement each other to prove that:
a. tradition is a value in itself and
b. comedy gets more spectators than tragedy (frankly, I don't like Monaco that much, if you follow my drift: I agree with Dukeage in considering it an
event, where racing gets a distant second place and bussiness is all over the first place).
On the other hand,
I heartily agree with the concept of the US needing a venue. For example,
the country with more visitors to F1 Technical is the US, followed by England, Australia and Canada, if I remember well the data. So, it's unexplainable to me why Bernie doesn't lend us a hand to keep visitors satisfied.
Going back in time, some people here (hey, oldies, raise your hands!) could remember that, in times of yore, when the 1988 US GP site was chosen, Phoenix won the deal over Laguna Seca. Some of the ancients, through trembling lips, with their raspy voices, might also say to you that "Phoenix wasn't exactly a success, son..." and they could add pesimistically: "... and, young man, take in account that the economy was in a better shape", before dying of a heart attack.
The truly pesimistic would mention that Laguna Seca is owned by Mazda ("... perhaps if Toyota went into it, kid"...).
Some jokers could add (hi, Shrek!) something about ant paths (I think ant paths are beautiful, but I'm kind of weird).
Now, I would not be myself if I were not adding my voice to that chorus of complainers: I respectfully think Laguna Seca looks wonderful in a simulator, but I assume the real thing is different. The track seems to have plenty Gs for you, if you use an F1 car optimized for racing and not merely to break last record in a demo.
The track has few curves because of its length, not to mention the horrible levels of downforce you need to dial in this track (or in Montecarlo, btw).
To nitpick even more, the current track record is 1:07:xx by Castroneves.
Zonta (in a Toyota F1) did 1:06:something and Bourdais did the 1:05 lap that mkw111 mentions (welcome to the forum, mkw!), but those were not official times as far as I know: you cannot set an official track record during an exhibition, you have to be racing.
Finally, allow me to disenchant many of you, if I still haven't:
Last time I checked (three years ago!) the list of FIA circuits in the United States was this one:
Category 1:
Indianapolis
Category 2:
Denver
Laguna Seca
Lime Rock
Miller Motorsports Park
Portland
San José
Sears Point
Sebring
Category 2 tracks cannot hold F1 races, so, for the moment, it's Bill France or nothing, recognizing I have no idea if Laguna Seca was improved to Category 1 between 2006 and 2009.
Improving a Category 2 track to Category 1 is not that simple: braking distances (and thus, safety areas requirements) increase to the square of the racing speed and the right hander after the Corkscrew has trees that are... what? 15 meters away from the track?
FYI, these are the kinds of cars that can use Cat. 1 tracks (so, it means Indy):
GRADE CATEGORIES OF CARS THAT CAN RACE IN CATEGORY 1 CIRCUITS
Cars Grade 1: Formula 1
Cars Grade 1T: Formula 1 testing
Cars Grade 2:
- Single seater racing cars of Groups D (FIA International Formula) and E (Free formula) with corrected cylinder capacities over 2500 cm³, excepting Formula 1 Sports Cars of Groups C and E including SR1, SR2, LMP1, LMP2 and those with corrected cylinder capacities over 2500 cm³
- FIA GT Championship
- Historic cars of Groups F1/4 (TGP and F1 of periods G, H, I), TSRC 17, 18, 29, 30, 41, 42, 47 and 48 (Two-seater Racing Cars, over 2000cc, of periods G and later) and all cars of Period Z excepting Group B and WRC
Now, at Sebring, Sears Point, Miller, Laguna Seca, Lime Rock, Portland, San José and Denver you can race in those cars:
GRADE CATEGORIES OF CARS THAT CAN RACE IN CATEGORY 2 CIRCUITS
Cars Grade 3:
- Single seater racing cars of Groups D and E with corrected cylinder capacities up to 2500 cm³ excepting cars in Grades 1 and 2 above
- Sports Cars of Groups C and E excepting cars in Grade 2 above
- Cars of Groups B, GT1, GT2 and similar cars of Group E, excepting cars in Grade 2 above
Cars Grade 4:
- Single seater racing cars of Groups D and E with corrected cylinder capacities up to 2000 cm³
- Sports Cars of Groups C and E with corrected cylinder capacities up to 2000 cm³ excepting cars in Grade 2 above
- Cars of Groups N, A and SP and similar cars of Group E
- Historic cars to Appendix K regulations not included in Grade 2 above
Cars Grade 5: Alternative Energy Vehicles
So, mkw111, I say: "no soup for you! Go back in line!".
