DARLINGTON, S.C. -- NASCAR owner Gene Haas said Friday he has been granted a license from Formula One's governing body to start a U.S.-based entry in the global series, perhaps as early as next season.
Haas received documents from the FIA on Thursday and the organization confirmed the application had been approved.
"If he wants, he can join next season, it's up to him,'' FIA spokesman Matteo Bonciani said.
The last attempt for an American Formula One team came in 2010, but the entry lacked funding and development to join. Funding is not expected to be a problem for the deep-pocketed Haas, owner of CNC machine manufacturer Haas Automation and the Windshear wind tunnel in North Carolina.
Haas co-owns a NASCAR team with Tony Stewart that fields drivers Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Danica Patrick and new addition Kurt Busch. Haas pays for Busch himself.
"Obviously, we're extremely pleased to have been granted a Formula One license by the FIA. It's an exciting time for me, Haas Automation and anyone who wanted to see an American team return to Formula One,'' Haas said in a statement.
Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone said at last weekend's Bahrain Gran Prix that the U.S.-backed team led by Haas would likely join the series next season. Now it's official.
"Now, the really hard work begins. It's a challenge we embrace as we work to put cars on the grid,'' Haas said.
Haas' team would be America's first F1 entrant since Penske Racing competed from a base in England from 1974 to 1978. And it would be the first U.S.-based F1 team since Mario Andretti raced for Parnelli Jones Racing from 1974-76. The last American team competing in F1 was run by Carl Haas (no relation to Gene) and Tedd Mayer in 1985-86.
Haas founded his NASCAR team based in Kannapolis, N.C., in 2002. Seven years later, he brought Stewart aboard in a co-owner role to bring legitimacy to the team and help get the cars to Victory Lane. Stewart has delivered.
Haas also operates the Windshear, one of the world's most sophisticated wind tunnels for the testing of car aerodynamics, which would aid any new F1 entry. He said Haas Automation, one of the largest machine tool builders in the world, currently does $1 billion in annual sales, and he believes entering Formula One could help him double that number.
"It's not that we're trying to individually sell machines. We're trying to make people aware of Haas Automation as a company,'' he said.
He added: "We're just trying to bring our awareness up and Formula One is even more important because half our sales are outside the country. So we think Formula One would be a really great way of bringing us awareness and increasing our sales.''
His team would be based in North Carolina, next to the existing NASCAR shop.
"We want to be an American team. We think that has the most sizzle to it,'' Haas said in January.