Formula One needs American drivers to crack market - Cheever

Bernie Ecclestone has acknowledged that finally cracking the US market will be difficult for Formula One.

The F1 chief executive plans to take his sport first to Texas next year and then to New York the season after, with the last US Grand Prix having been held at Indianapolis in 2007.

"We've been there, years ago, and it's a little bit like the rest of America, they want to see a profit before they start something and it's not easy to do that," he told Al Jazeera.

Eddie Cheever

Photo by: Dave Dyer

"We've got maximum two races in America, and when you consider the country is as big as Europe and we've got (eight) races in Europe, it's difficult.

"If we had a lot more races there and a lot more television, it would be ok," added Ecclestone.

Arizona born Eddie Cheever, who raced in F1 in the 70s and 80s, thinks the key is to have some American drivers on the grid.

"There would be a lot more success with American drivers," he is quoted by CNN.

"Just having one driver won't do it," Cheever said. "Maybe having one in F1 would galvanise F1 in America so more young drivers wanted (to race there).

"Almost all of the young drivers in America want to be in NASCAR and we need more to want to get to F1."