CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR team co-owner Gene Haas wants to field a U.S.-based Formula One team.
Haas says F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone does not believe Haas has enough money to own an F1 team. Haas says he’s not deterred by Ecclestone’s warnings, and the challenge is part of the attraction.
Haas through Haas Racing Development has paid a $5,000 application fee to F1’s governing body. Haas is co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing’s NASCAR team. He also owns CNC machine manufacturer Haas Automation and the Windshear wind tunnel in North Carolina.
He says he’s trying to double his machine sales profits to $2 billion a year and can only do that globally. Haas believes owning an F1 team can help that effort.
