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Austin's COTA smashes record for biggest Formula 1 race ever as sport tightens grip on US market

Austin saw the biggest F1 race in history on Sunday at Circuit of the Americas. (Formula 1/Twitter)
Circuit of the Americas chair Bobby Epstein wasn't willing to give up specific attendance numbers for the Austin track's United States Grand Prix over the weekend, but he still assured Austonia that the race was "the biggest sporting event in the world this year."
The weekend's broadcast reported the three-day event saw 400,000 attendees, smashing a previous record held by the British Grand Prix for the most racegoers in Formula 1 history. Around 140,000 looked on as 24-year-old rising star Max Verstappen beat seven-time champ Lewis Hamilton by just over a second on Sunday.
While the star-studded, hard-fought Sunday race may be a blow for NASCAR, which normally reigns king in U.S. territory, the USGP signifies a new age of national interest in Formula 1.
"We had several hundred thousand people over the course of 3 days, the biggest single-day and biggest overall event for us," Epstein told Austonia via email. "It has turned into the largest annual event in Texas and one (of) the largest in the U.S. Much bigger than the Super Bowl."
And with 110 million television viewers to the Super Bowl's 96.4 million this year, Epstein isn't wrong (though record Super Bowl viewership peaked at 114.4 million in 2015.)
Welcome back everyone! 🙌
It was fantastic to see over 400,000 fans join us across the weekend for some brilliant racing 🎉
We're blown away by the support, and we hope you all enjoyed the show 🤘#USGP 🇺🇸 #F1pic.twitter.com/wqlBetMYQX
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2021
Those high television ratings are aided, in part, by television itself: even with nearly two years without F1 motors rumbling on the COTA track, the sport soared in popularity as Netflix documentary "Drive To Survive" gained traction in the States. The show, which gives viewers a sneak peek of driver's lives behind the helmets and hurrah, became a "pandemic passion" for many, including F1 fan Tracy Fives.
With stars like Shaquille O'Neal standing at the Grand Prix podium (and serving up beats as DJ Diesel for the postrace party) and celebs including Chris Bosh, Megan Thee Stallion and Ben Stiller in the audience, it's no surprise that the high-end event has caught the awe of new American fans. Pair that with a neck-and-neck rivalry between Verstappen and Hamilton and entertainment-filled bonanzas, and fans who may have never watched racing before are quickly getting hooked.
A spectacle of speed and sound. #USGPpic.twitter.com/l1fy7UZ7Ac
— Circuit of The Americas (@COTA) October 25, 2021
And those 36 million stateside supporters will soon be rewarded: a new Miami track, complete with yacht-side race viewing, will be christened with the Miami Grand Prix come 2022.
Formula 1, a European-born race that has seen intermittent success in the U.S., now recognizes the States as its fastest-growing market—it's even looking into adding an American driver in the next few years.
What will this mean for COTA? America's first purpose-built F1 track was built before the hype, and it's had plenty of ups and downs since its opening in 2013.
Most recently, Epstein and crew caught steam for not reaching a deal yet on another 10-year-contract after the first contract expired this weekend. A yearly $25 million stipend from the state requires that the USGP be the only race in the U.S. in order to receive their check, and another state report found inconclusive evidence on whether the race is as financially beneficial to the area as Epstein claims.
After a tough 2020 in the pandemic, Epstein knew he needed to create a world spectacle—and he delivered. With record-breaking ticket sales and a successful weekend behind him, Epstein told ESPN he would be "surprised and disappointed" if the track didn't secure another deal.
"We've proven this is an event that now has tradition, is something you can't buy, and it takes years to establish," Epstein told the New York Times just before race day. "When you find a formula that works, you don't want to lose that. Anything that would stop the momentum of that would be potentially irreversibly detrimental. Given that we start with that as a point of agreement, I'm fairly optimistic this will continue for a long time."
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Popular
(Uvalde ISD)
Fourteen students and one teacher are dead after a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas—a small town an hour and a half west of San Antonio—on Tuesday afternoon.
Abbott said the suspect, an 18-year-old male, is believed to have been killed by the police. The Uvalde Police Department said the shooting began at 11:43 a.m. Tuesday.
“What happened in Uvalde is a horrific tragedy that cannot be tolerated in the state of Texas,” Abbott said. “He shot and killed—horrifically, incomprehensibly—14 students, and killed a teacher.”
Texans are grieving for the victims of this senseless crime & for the community of Uvalde.
Cecilia & I mourn this horrific loss & urge all Texans to come together.
I've instructed @TxDPS & Texas Rangers to work with local law enforcement to fully investigate this crime. pic.twitter.com/Yjwi8tDT1v
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 24, 2022
According to University Health Hospital officials, a 66-year-old woman and 10-year-old girl arrived in critical condition. Uvalde Memorial Hospital reportedly received 13 children for treatment and two individuals who were already deceased.
The shooter prompted a lockdown at the elementary school of just under 600 students, with San Antonio Police sending SWAT, and Eagle chopper and Crime Scene Investigators.
According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, President Joe Biden has been briefed on the tragedy and “His prayers are with the families impacted by this awful event, and he will speak this evening when he arrives back at the White House.”
This is the U.S.'s 213th mass shooting of 2022.
(Austonia/Tesla/Ford)
“Especially here in Austin, there's a really, really high interest in electric vehicles and keeping that zero-emissions goal in mind,” said Rachel Reid, a spokesperson for General Motors. "And then just like anywhere in Texas, trucks are something that people use in their daily lives for things from carrying different furniture or anything from a job site or even just having the family in the backseat and being able to carry something along with them.”
Pickups play a major role in Texas culture, so much that the Texas Standard notes auto companies sometimes approach their marketing strategy by the regions of North, East, West and Texas. So, here’s a look at the pickup options in the coming years if you’re looking to go electric.
Production site and release schedule
The Silverado is being made at the company’s first fully dedicated EV assembly plant in Detroit, Michigan. Known as Factory ZERO, it’s named as such to reflect the company’s vision of a world with zero crashes, emissions or congestion.
The Cybertruck, meanwhile, will be produced at Giga Texas. At the recent opening of the factory in southeast Travis County, CEO Elon Musk addressed delays on the truck and said it would be out in 2023.
Orders are closed for the 2022 F-150 Lightning, but 2023 versions are just around the corner. They are being produced at Ford's EV center within their Rouge Complex in Dearborn, Michigan
Cost
The Silverado has an estimated MSRP starting at $39,900 with a reservation cost of $100. Depending on which feature options are added, the truck could end up costing around $80,000.
The Cybertruck also requires a reservation cost of $100 and a final price varies by the number of electric motors. So the price ranges from $39,900 for a single motor and $69,900 for a tri motor.
This year’s F-150s ranged in price from $39,974 to $90,874.
Autonomous features
You’ll have to be at the wheel and alert no matter which car you choose since no vehicle is fully autonomous.
Chevrolet has compatible roads that drivers can use their driver-assisted technology, known as Super Cruise which includes adaptive cruise control, lane centering and hands-free operation with an attentive driver.
The Cybertruck order site doesn’t appear to have many details on what its tech will include, but Tesla has previously made plans to launch a new self-driving computer with the pickup.
The more expensive Lightning models have Blue Cruise available, which is Ford’s hands-free driving system that can be used on prequalified sections of divided highways. It includes a driver-facing camera to ensure the driver has their eyes on the road and Ford has said there’s potential for future enhancements.
Charging time and range
If you’re looking to take some road trips outside of Austin, then this is one of the critical factors you’ll consider while EV shopping.
The Chevy is estimated to reach 400 miles of range. With a 10 minute charge on a fast charger, it’ll be able to get about 100 miles of range.
It will vary by battery pack, but the Environmental Protection Agency shows the Lightning as capable of traveling between 230 and 320 mile range.
It’s yet to be realized, but Tesla is currently boasting the highest of the three with up to 500 miles of range on its Cybertruck.
Screens and storage
Of course, there are things you can do to keep busy while charging.
Generally, Tesla screens can display navigation, apps and a media player where you can access the radio and streaming services.
When it comes to loading up the vehicle, the Cybertruck flexes enough storage in the back for a motorcycle that you can transport up with a ramp.
The Silverado has a screen above the wheel that functions as a traditional dashboard and another larger screen. Chevy also replaced the space up front where an internal combustion engine would be with a “frunk.”
The Lightning also has a frunk, with Insider listing it as one of the reasons it’s perfect for road trips.
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