8 minutes into the first practice session, two cars seriously damaged. Chassis destroyed. Loose drain covers. Practice session canceled, officials on track for inspections.
Locals seem to be 20 to 1 against the event. There has already been a massive impact on ability to get to work on the Strip, and now the race is here, it will be worse. Taxis and Ubers are refusing to take people to the Strip, they are stuck in traffic too long.
F1 people came into town like prima donnas. Said they would pay all expenses, then went to the County to cover half of the cost later. Demanded every business along the course pay a large fee based upon their building capacity. Threatened to build walls to block the view unless the juice was paid. Ticket prices and other costs (food, lodging) were through the roof, now they are, for the most part, way down.
Comparing Vegas to backwater third world places (Sochi, Long Beach, lol) isn't that appropriate. Normal traffic flow on the main arteries where the course was being built is just too heavy to take out of service.
This race hasn't helped the tourist industry, it has hurt it. Hotels increasing their rates initially by a factor of 4 to 10 hasn't helped. Now they are giving rooms away. Everything associated with F1 forgot the adage "You can shear a sheep any number of times, but you can only skin him once."
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