Aldenhoevel says Caeser's Palace has signed a contract with FICA to run a United States Grand Prix in Las Vegas for each of the next four years. No other racing will be done at the site; the track will be torn down and reconstructed every fall.

"The course is constructed over 2.2 miles of track and it covers 75 acres of ground," Aldenhoevel explains. "Much of that ground is our parking lot and we need it back as soon as possible."

It is not surprising that no other racing will take place at the track--Caeser's Palace is not a racing organization, it is a casino. The Watkins Glen Grand Prix Corporation is solely a racing organization, however, and if it is to survive it will survive by promoting auto races. Hence, this year's Indy-style event.

"Actually, this year's race was much more exciting than the past few Grand Prix have been, from a pure racing point of view," says Franzese. "Rick Mears won an awfully good event that had four or five lead changes and real good racing. But what goes on around the Grand Prix is more exciting than the race itself."

The Corporation is hoping the last-minute nature of the Indy race and general confusion surrounding it ("The hardly promoted at all"--Franzese) led to the disappointing turnout. "We have Can Am, Trans Am, Formula Atlantic, Six Hour Endurance and Indy-Style races scheduled for next year," Currie said. "The race track is still running."

And he believes that racing at Watkins Glen can survive and flourish without the Grand Prix--which he is not expecting back.

****

And so this weekend the world's top drivers and the whole of the International Circus Show that is Formula One racing set up shop in Nevada for what is officially termed the United States Grand Prix of Las Vegas. While Aldenhoevel may stress that the event has nothing to do with the traditional U.S. Grand Prix, the comparison is inevitable. Meanwhile, 2500 miles east, Franzese is not nearly as pessimistic as Currie regarding the return of Formula One racing to Watkins Glen.

"I think a Grand Prix will come back, but it all depends on prize money," he says and reiterates that he feels two million dollars is unreasonable. "I would have to say the Grand Prix weekend is twice as big as any other around here. Everyone misses that."