Las Vegas-based Dimopoulos Law Firm, in collaboration with co-counsel JK Legal & Consulting, has filed a class-action lawsuit against the Las Vegas Grand Prix and its owner, Liberty Media. Formula One fans are seeking a minimum of $30,000 in damages after being forced to leave the venue early Friday morning, just before the start of the second practice session.

The frustration arose when those who had purchased tickets for the race's opening night witnessed only nine minutes of action on Thursday before Carlos Sainz Jr. ran over a water valve cover, causing damage to his Ferrari. Subsequently, race officials had to inspect the course, resulting in a 2 1/2-hour delay for the second session, which eventually began at 2:30 a.m. local time on Friday. To compensate for the delay, the practice session was extended from one hour to 90 minutes.

In an attempt to appease disappointed fans, race officials offered a $200 discount at the official gift shop, but this discount was only available to those holding single-night tickets for Thursday. Sadly, the majority of the fans held three-day passes, leaving them ineligible for the compensation.

F1 President Stefano Domenicali and Las Vegas Grand Prix CEO Renee Wilm released a joint statement on Friday, explaining the decision to close the track to spectators for safety and legal reasons. They reminded fans of other events, such as concerts and other Formula 1 races, which have been canceled in the past due to weather or technical issues. The statement further expressed hope that people would understand the situation.

With a staggering $500 million investment, the Las Vegas Grand Prix represents a significant gamble for the Formula One organization. The funds were allocated towards projects like road repaving, fencing construction, and extensive promotion. The unique aspect of this grand prix is that it takes place on the streets of Las Vegas, alongside the city's iconic landmarks.

However, the street closures associated with the race have caused frustration among some locals. Wade Bohn, the owner of a 24-hour convenience store, pointed out that the course construction has hindered visitors' access to his business. Bohn expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, "We didn't need the F1. I mean, we're out here on an island by ourselves, just drowning." He further raised concerns about the newly built Flamingo Road bridge, which was created for the race but is now open to general traffic even when the grand prix is not underway.

The fate of the bridge remains uncertain, as the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that it may either become a permanent fixture or be disassembled once this year's race concludes. Currently, Formula One has a three-year agreement with the city for the grand prix, with the option to extend for an additional seven years.

As residents and tourists share their opinions on the disrupted practice session, Las Vegas native Jeff Toco commented, "Hopefully F1 learns a lot from this first year, and they'll get a lot of things ironed out to where next year and the years to come, it will be smoother." Toco emphasized the need for improvements to ensure a more enjoyable experience for race attendees in the future.

The class-action lawsuit filed by disgruntled Formula One fans highlights the dissatisfaction caused by the early evacuation and disrupted practice session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. With the desire for fair compensation and hopes for smoother operations in the future, the outcome of the lawsuit could shape the race's future in Las Vegas.