Page 17 - ATODAY

SPORTS A17
Thursday 10 March 2016

Circuit of the GETTING
RIPPED
Americas: U.S.
Lillard’s 41 lead Blazers to OT win
Grand Prix will
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard reacts after hitting
run in 2016 a shot during overtime of an NBA basketball game against
the Washington Wizards in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, March 8,
JIM VERTUNO 2016. Lillard scored 41 points as the Blazers won 116-109.
AP Sports Writer
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Associated Press
U.S. Grand Prix will run Page 19
in 2016 after months of
speculation that its finan-
cial struggles could scuttle
Formula One’s only race in
the United States.
Circuit of the Americas
President Bobby Epstein
said race officials had paid
Formula One its rights fee
last week.
“We’re excited,” Epstein
said Wednesday. “I’m
proud of our team and
those who stuck with us up
to this point.”
Epstein said he got a
“good job” message from
Formula One commercial
boss Bernie Ecclestone,
who had predicted the
Oct. 23 race would run but
gave no wiggle room to
track officials to meet their
financial obligations.
Epstein also the “subject to
confirmation” asterisk next
to the race on the official
Formula One calendar
should be removed soon.
Losing the race would have
been a blow to Formula
One’s efforts to expand
in the American market.
Formula One didn’t race
in the U.S. from 2008-2011
and its return to a special-
ized facility was seen as a
major move to gain a long-
term foothold in a country
where NASCAR is the most
popular motor series by far.
And the 2016 season will
include Haas F1, the first
American-led team on the
grid in 30 years.
The race has enjoyed a
prominent late-season
place on the Formula One
calendar, which has made
it an important stop in the
season championship.

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