Indy Car can’t afford to lose Long Beach to F1

Q: My overseas friends are curious about Formula 1 possibly returning to Long Beach. I have told them repeatedly that Chris Pook said he would never do business with Bernie Ecclestone. Since the end of Champ Car and rise of the IRL, we all know Chris is no fan of the IRL. However, he is making motions (as reported in the local media) about bringing F1 back to SoCal. I find it hard to believe IndyCar would let F1 take one of its premiere races without a fight. Is Chris really serious about this or is he hedging his bets by playing one rival against another? Does the possibility of F1 at Long Beach rise if Bernie Ecclestone actually retires this year as he has alluded?
Charlie in Texas

Racer's Robin Miller: First off, I've known Pook for 40 years and I've never heard him say he wouldn't do business with Bernard (that's what he calls Ecclestone). They're pals. And IndyCar has no control over the fate of Long Beach. Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe are the co-promoters of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach and their contract with the city expires after 2015, so if Ecclestone is allowed to make a bid (that hasn't been decided as yet) he could win back the race he started. Obviously, losing Long Beach would be fatal to IndyCar.