Las Vegas' decision to build a golf course is welcome news to race fans in Indianapolis, which is hoping to lure the Formula One series back to the United States.

After much study and procrastination, officials in Clark County accepted a bid to build a 27-hole golf course on a 200 acre site near the Las Vegas strip. They rejected a plan to build a race course which would host a Formula One race. Circus-Circus, which operates several casinos near the site, opposed the race track plan.

The Vegas decision leaves Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Dallas and San Francisco as the front runners to bring Formula One racing back to the United States. Fred Nation, a spokesperson with IMS, says Speedway president Tony George met earlier this month with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone to talk about reviving the U.S. Grand Prix at Indy.

One of the key issues in negotiations is the timing of the race. George wants to avoid any conflict with the Indianapolis 500, which is held in May, and the Brickyard 400, which is held in August. He would prefer the race be held in the fall. Formula One officials are hoping to combine the U.S. race with the Canadian Grand Prix to cut down on travel costs for the teams. If George is successful in his securing a fall date, its possible the Canadian race could be moved from its traditional June date.

The last time the United States held an Formula One race was through the streets of Phoenix in 1991.

Source: John Marchesan, TSN