Texas to F1: We have the money

The owners of Texas' Circuit of the Americas (COTA) slammed Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone's demands for staging the US Grand Prix as "unrealistic and unfeasible," as they made a last-ditch bid Thursday to save next year's race. The proposed race in Austin had been thrown into serious doubt in recent weeks but COTA issued a statement in which it claimed to now be prepared to pay Formula One the $25 million sanctioning fee that would allow the event to go ahead, Sky Sports reported. Ecclestone said earlier this month that if the fee were not paid by Thanksgiving, the race would be canceled. However, COTA also hit out at the race agreement that was sent to them and instead sent UK tycoon Ecclestone its own version in return, which it has now requested him to sign. COTA founding partner Bobby Epstein said, "We have been ready to send Mr. Ecclestone a sanctioning fee check for some time now. He hasn't received it yet because the new contract presented to us two weeks ago contained unrealistic and unfeasible demands. "We have signed and returned a contract similar to what we anticipated receiving." But Ecclestone stood his ground when talking about the subject trackside ahead of Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix. He said, "The truth is they're not complying with the terms and conditions of the contract. As we make the contract we will award the event, or not award the event. They're not awarding anything to us. "They know what it [the contract] is exactly. They've been messing around now for four months. They've had two different partners arguing, and in the end none of them have the money." Asked whether the race would happen in 2012, Ecclestone said, "I doubt it." But Pitpass.com reported that he'd said there was "absolutely" a chance the race could take place in 2013. When the "unrealistic and unfeasible" remark was put to Ecclestone, he said, "Yeah, well they shouldn't sign it. My advice to them is don't sign it, and they probably won't get the opportunity."