Ecclestone told me, however, that had Legault paid what was owed, the contract would've been honored and the city wouldn't find itself in this position.
He did say he loves Montreal, all of F1 loves Montreal, and he'd like to see it back some day but after my near seven-minute interview, it was clear the race was done for 2009.
The merchants of Montreal aren't giving up so easily. A last-ditch pitch is being made by business leaders to the F1 car manufacturers such as Honda, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes and Ferrari to help bail them out, either with financial backing or working as mediators between the city and the F1 to secure a new deal.
Time is running out, though, and while Ecclestone is sorry merchants stand to lose out, he says what was being offered was more than fair.
The conversation ended not long after that, and my surprise still lingers that I got the call back. Persistence pays, and you can't spell persistence without pest.
I'll remember that if I have to get Ecclestone back on the phone, should the race ever return to Montreal.
To hear my interview with Bernie Ecclestone you can click here.
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