India's F1 story on right track: Ecclestone

The bright lights at the unveiling ceremony of the inaugural Indian Grand Prix's title sponsor may have had him shielding his face but Formula 1's commercial boss, Bernie Ecclestone, managed to get his point through. Vinayak Pande reports. Know the man on the fast track

The bright lights at the unveiling ceremony of the inaugural Indian Grand Prix’s title sponsor may have had him shielding his face but Formula 1's commercial boss, Bernie Ecclestone, managed to get his point through.

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"Everything is on schedule. There is no problem with the GP," Ecclestone said. "The circuit will be fine and will be completed on time."

The 80-year-old Ecclestone did concede that F1 would not be able to match cricket's popularity, but hoped it would get close in a few years. "We will never match cricket, but if we try, we will get close," he said. He felt that because of F1, job opportunities would increase. "Not just that, India shall be able to do business worth millions," he said.

The Buddh International Circuit is to be inspected by F1's governing body, the FIA, on September 1, who will ultimately give the go-ahead for the race.