26 October,2011 01:30 PM IST | | ANI
McLaren Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton reckons that this month's Indian Grand Prix is set to be a "big deal" in cricket-crazy India.
The race, the 17th of the 2011 season, will be held at the Buddh International Circuit near New Delhi on October 30,
"I've been to India a few times before - we've done a few Vodafone promotional days there. The last time was just crazy. We did a demo run in Bangalore and were expecting 5,000 people to turn up. But on the day there were around 40,000 fans - it was just incredible," the Sun quoted Hamilton, as saying.
"You can't believe how many people are aware of Formula 1 and how many are looking forward to the race next week. There's already a great deal of knowledge about the sport - I think it's going to be a big deal," he added.
Hamilton further said that India's madness about cricket is understandable because of its successful cricketing history, but feels that the country's sports lovers are going to take F1 to their hearts.
"I think the whole country is ready for something new and exciting," he added
