After this week's building rumors that US F1, the Charlotte-based Formula 1 program established by Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson, was on the verge of shutting down, fuel was added to the fire when the team's website went off line. However, the team has since released a statement indicating that it was continuing its efforts to prepare for the 2010 season, although its announced plans to compete with Argentine driver Jose Maria Lopez remain in a state of flux.
"The web server is down and is being repaired as this is written," the team said in its statement. "We are not gone, as many have reported." The team said it would offer more information about its plans "soon."
Meanwhile, Lopez's father met with the team to discuss its financial situation, and says he gained an "understanding" of the team's situation as a result.
"We would like to inform you that yesterday, Jose Maria Lopez Sr., together with (managers) Felipe McGough and Victor Rosso, visited US F1 headquarters in Charlotte to be in contact with the team's directors," Lopez said in a statement to the Argentine media, adding that he and his management group left the meeting "with a clear understanding of the team's current situation," and are now en route to London.
"Arrangements were made to have different meetings, one of them with the managers of the FOM, whose president is Bernie Ecclestone. The result of the meeting has been positive," Lopez's statement added.
It has been rumored that the Argentine government had put up some of the purported $8m to buy Lopez's ride with the team, bolstered by the appearance of Argentina's president at the announcement of Lopez's signing with the team, However, the government has denied that any public funds were spent on Lopez's behalf.