OT: Racing 2009 (Spoiler Alert)

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:22 pm

Bernie is under the delusion that he'll get an F1 race either in midtown Manhattan or on the Las Vegas strip. Indy was the perfect place for F1 somehow he disagreed and took his toys home with him.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:57 pm

Rodster wrote:Bernie is under the delusion that he'll get an F1 race either in midtown Manhattan or on the Las Vegas strip. Indy was the perfect place for F1 somehow he disagreed and took his toys home with him.

Incorrect, actually.

IMS parted ways with F1 since the sanctioning fee continued to climb every year, with no concession for the importance of the U.S. market or the damage done by the tire situation in 2005. Combine that with the very limited amount of revenue that promoters receive in the current F1 economic structure, and the race no longer could be a profitable venture.

IMS is not a non-profit entity.

Amazing how Monaco's annual sanctioning fee is $0 yet China's is $50 million.

Take care,
PK

fletcher21 · Post by **fletcher21** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 10:33 pm

Why not bring an F1 race to Road America, Road Atlanta, or any of the other awesome true road courses we have here? If F1 ever wants a decent fanbase here. they have to have a race here for sure.

Smurfy · Post by **Smurfy** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 11:48 pm

If my fading memory is correct, that question came up when F1 first went to Indy. I think the main argument made against Road America was that it wasn't up to Formula One safety standards - much like Monaco

Isn't the location of Road America is also supposed to be a bit of a problem? In cities like Montreal you have great access to the track from the downtown hotels.

As flawed as the Indy road course is, I can appreciate that it's the natural place to hold a major open wheel racing event in the States.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:16 am

fletcher21 wrote:Why not bring an F1 race to Road America, Road Atlanta, or any of the other awesome true road courses we have here? If F1 ever wants a decent fanbase here. they have to have a race here for sure.

Impossible.

First, neither Road America nor Road Atlanta has infrastructure that's up to F1 standards. Both tracks would need to make multimillion-dollar upgrades to their paddock and pit complexes. Both probably would need to make track alterations for bigger runoff areas or asphalt runoff areas required by the FIA.

And for what? So they're guaranteed to lose money, with the obscene annual F1 sanctioning fee piled upon the debt the track accrued due to infrastructure improvements?

No way.

Fletch, track promoters in F1 only make money on ticket sales, concessions and parking. Bernie Ecclestone gets all of the hospitality proceeds, corporate sponsorship and TV money. It's almost impossible for a track without government funding -- which isn't going to happen in the U.S. -- to make money on an F1 race in America.

Plus both tracks are located in the boondocks. That simply doesn't cut it for an American venue. F1 considered IMS -- which is located 5 miles from downtown Indianapolis, the 14th-largest city in America -- a backwater. So what do you think it would consider rural Wisconsin or rural Georgia?

It's a shame, as Road America and Road Atlanta are two of the finest natural road courses in America. But F1 will never run at either track, at least as long as Bernie is alive.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:56 am

I feel bad for Casey Stoner. He admits that his wrists hurts like hell and he can only do 4-5 laps at a time and he has no more strength to do more. He did say he was testing at Sepang which is physically demanding.

I remember hearing the Eurosport guys last year commenting that it was real risky having wrist surgery and it cut short another bikers career because of a wrist injury.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73133

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:59 am

Rodster wrote:I feel bad for Casey Stoner. He admits that his wrists hurts like hell and he can only do 4-5 laps at a time and he has no more strength to do more. He did say he was testing at Sepang which is physically demanding.

I remember hearing the Eurosport guys last year commenting that it was real risky having wrist surgery and it cut short another bikers career because of a wrist injury.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73133

The career of American Kevin Schwantz, the 1993 World Champion, was shortened due to the same wrist injury that Stoner suffered.

Amazing that Stoner was second fastest despite the injury. Stoner has a hot wife -- he must not be beating off enough with the wrist for therapy.

Suzuki was 1-4 with Capirossi and Vermeulen -- could a new power be rising?

Colin Edwards was seventh, a solid showing. Nicky Hayden was 11th on the Ducati -- uh-oh.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:02 am

Yeah Casey's wife for one fine looking grid girl.

edit: It looks like the IRL has put the technical changes on hold till 2012. Smart move on their part given the state of the economy.

johnvon314 · Post by **johnvon314** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:52 am

pk500 wrote:
Amazing how Monaco's annual sanctioning fee is $0 yet China's is $50 million.

Monaco is the one place rich enough to tell F1 to go jump in the ocean (literally in this case). Too bad since they could probably pay the sanctioning fee for every track on the F1 schedule and not break a sweat.

John

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:13 pm

If you look at the DSP thread of sporting venues people want to see a sporting event, Monaco appears on a few.

I'm a motor racing zealot, and the only event I'd ever want to see in Monaco is the Monte Carlo Rally.

Monaco is rivaled perhaps only by the original Nurburgring as a driving challenge. But it is a horrible racing circuit, terribly antiquated for today's cars. There's almost zero overtaking, so the greatest competition of the weekend is qualifying.

Plus many journos have told me that getting around Monaco during the GP weekend is a logistical nightmare. And that's even before you consider the stratospheric prices for damn near everything, from a bottle of water to a hotel room.

Sorry, I'll pass. Put me on the hill at the top of Eau Rouge at Spa in mist, with a basket of hot fries and mayonnaise, and I'm in heaven.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:32 pm

Mosley confirms that USF1 are in talks with the FIA. He also said he expects 24 cars on the grid by 2010.

"Mosley admitted the governing body had been approached by the American group looking to enter Formula One as USF1.

The FIA boss said the team are to be taken seriously.

"Yes, they have," Mosley said when asked if the team had approached the FIA. "They are serious people but they are the same as everyone else, they need the costs to come down if they are to be competitive.

"They are recommended by Nick Craw, our man in the States who knows a lot of people. You have to take it seriously."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73135

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:37 pm

Stuck says 'USF1' team reports good news

"Last year, we reported speculation that the prospective American team was in talks with Honda, after Ken Anderson attended the Montreal race and met with team chiefs Ross Brawn and Nick Fry.

With Honda's Brackley-based team now for sale, Stuck said it would make sense for Anderson and his reported business partner Peter Windsor to now enter talks to take over the outfit.

"(Buying) Honda would be better than Toro Rosso, because of the superior infrastructure," he said."

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 2553.shtml

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:57 pm

Rodster wrote:Stuck says 'USF1' team reports good news

Well...that's nice, Hans. I've got a lot of respect for Stuck as a driver, but if sites are reduced to reporting his opinions on matters such as this I can only conclude that nobody else is saying anything much.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:02 pm

Simo is right: This is all just wishful thinking from the F1 community in a time of economic crisis and bad news.

Definitely file USF1 in the I'll Believe It When I See It drawer.

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:26 pm

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73166

Is a 2006-spec Xsara better than a 2008-spec Impreza? It'll be interesting to see how well Petter Solberg goes, and very good to see him back in action.

fletcher21 · Post by **fletcher21** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:17 am

I read this in a YouTube video... Wondering if pk or anyone else on here can confirm this. It was posted in 2008:

The IRL will soon be racing at road america as they will add more road/street tracks to the schedule.

Think about it, next year the IRL will use paddle shifters and supposedly in 2009 will take 10 inches from the wheelbase. Do these sound like the actions of a series commited to ovals.

^^^
I'd LOVE for this to be true. Ovals bore me to a large degree. Daytona/Talladega/Indy/Pocano and such are nice, but I'm a road racing fan at heart. Part of the reason I love F1 so much. Is it true that the Irl is gonna be focusing on road courses more, or was this just internet speculation? I also read they will be going back to turbos, which would be pretty bad ass also.

fletcher21 · Post by **fletcher21** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:29 am

I'm looking for a place to watch current racing videos besides YouTube.. Is there one that puts together highlights of F1 and WRC anywhere online? Speed channel used to have an awesome WRC show, but I haven not seen it in a long time. The only racing channel I have is Speed, and Speed might as well be known as the Nascar network.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:14 am

fletcher21 wrote:I read this in a YouTube video... Wondering if pk or anyone else on here can confirm this. It was posted in 2008:

The IRL will soon be racing at road america as they will add more road/street tracks to the schedule.

Think about it, next year the IRL will use paddle shifters and supposedly in 2009 will take 10 inches from the wheelbase. Do these sound like the actions of a series commited to ovals.

All false.

1. Road America is an attractive venue, but it's not on the IndyCar Series schedule in 2009.

2. The IndyCar Series changed to paddle shifters for the 2008 season. Already done.

3. The wheelbase is not shortening. The basic equipment package will remain unchanged until 2011 or 2012.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:14 am

Fletch:

You have a PM.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 4:37 pm

I'm so jonesing for racing season to start i'm watching the Bud Shootout race.

Jeff Gordon pulled off an incredible move to snake his way thru a wreck at full speed.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 5:41 pm

Surprisingly, I enjoyed the Shootout. The COT's seem to be moving around more, which places a higher premium on driving. Plus it was amazing to hear guys actually breathe the throttle again at Daytona due to the new plate package.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:17 pm

Explain the new plate package PK. I heard the Fox guys briefly mention that the drivers now have throttle response when in a pack.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:15 pm

Somehow, I think this is the voice of God, brought to Earth at Indianapolis:

<embed src="http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.co ... Play=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="480" height="400" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></embed>

Take care,
PK

fletcher21 · Post by **fletcher21** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:24 pm

I always loved the intro Paul Page did before the 500 on tv

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:29 pm

I know this is OT but to me the only one I could ever assign Voice of God status to is Bob Shepard, PA announcer for the NY Yankees.