OT: Racing 2010 (Spoiler Alert)

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 6:31 pm

For some reason I find Peter Windsor's television work to be filled with an insufferable smugness, and a lot of his written work doesn't appeal to me either. Then again, he probably isn't that keen on me either.

If the information Rod linked to on the Autosport forums turns out to be the truth (and I say that knowing that quite a lot of the folk on the Racing Comments board can't really do the whole 'coherent thought' thing), and USF1 fail through mismanagement and the odd bit of nepotism, that'll be a crying shame for all those on the factory floor. The sentence of most interest in the ESPN link, which is largely made up of stuff that happened in Europe last week and presumably got lost somewhere over the Atlantic, is this one:

"Former F1 drivers Ralf Schumacher, Kazuki Nakajima and Jacques Villeneuve have all been linked to the new team, which will test at the Portimao circuit in the Algarve later this month."

Jacques bloody Villeneuve?

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:13 pm

GB_Simo wrote: "Former F1 drivers Ralf Schumacher, Kazuki Nakajima and Jacques Villeneuve have all been linked to the new team, which will test at the Portimao circuit in the Algarve later this month."

Jacques bloody Villeneuve?

Who are they linked with Adam, Campos, USF1 or Stefan GP?

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:55 pm

Good shout, mate. I was relying on people having read your link there. And on you having read it too, come to that...

Stefan GP. The understanding I have is that Nakajima absolutely will be driving for them, though.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:59 pm

GB_Simo wrote:Good shout, mate. I was relying on people having read your link there. And on you having read it too, come to that...

Stefan GP. The understanding I have is that Nakajima absolutely will be driving for them, though.

Did I mention i'm an illiterate who can't read.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:56 am

Another F1 car this season with the horrible-looking engine cover fin:

Sorry, that does not look like a formula car. It's FUG-LY.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:16 pm

I kinda like that engine cover PK.

Btw here's Swift's Indycar proposal, it kinda looks like a cross between the Batmobile and Speed Racer's Mach 5. Btw I like it too.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81362

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:40 pm

Very batmobile-like.

I hear the new delta wing designs are pretty far out, but no images yet.

I think it would be pretty fun to see a unique chassis in Indycar.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:46 pm

Naples39 wrote:Very batmobile-like.

I hear the new delta wing designs are pretty far out, but no images yet.

I think it would be pretty fun to see a unique chassis in Indycar.

Delta Wing model is being unveiled tomorrow at Chicago Auto Show. Just remember one thing about the Delta Wing: It never has produced a car that has run a single lap on a track. Swift, Dallara and Lola are proven chassis manufacturers.

There was another company in the early 2000s that promised an innovative IRL chassis and never ran a lap on track. Does anyone recall the Falcon?

The difference between then and now is that it's pretty certain that the ICS will remain a single-chassis series. So does the League put all of its proverbial eggs into a basket with an unproven chassis manufacturer just because it looks cool?

Will be interesting to see unfold.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:15 pm

Bringing things around in a little circle, am I right in thinking that the Falcon project involved a certain USF1 big cheese? Not that I'm suggesting anyone might have a bit of previous for proposing things that never turn a lap, obviously.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:21 pm

Alright, it's nothing to do with Colin Chapman's company, but nevertheless, green and gold is absolutely the right way to do this:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81365

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:32 pm

GB_Simo wrote:Bringing things around in a little circle, am I right in thinking that the Falcon project involved a certain USF1 big cheese? Not that I'm suggesting anyone might have a bit of previous for proposing things that never turn a lap, obviously.

Ah, yes: Mr. Ken Anderson. He partnered with former Ford worldwide racing boss Michael Kranefuss on the stillborn Falcon project.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:34 pm

GB_Simo wrote:Alright, it's nothing to do with Colin Chapman's company, but nevertheless, green and gold is absolutely the right way to do this:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81365

Like the gold wheels, too.

Smurfy · Post by **Smurfy** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:24 pm

GB_Simo wrote:Alright, it's nothing to do with Colin Chapman's company, but nevertheless, green and gold is absolutely the right way to do this:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81365

I'm not a Formula 1 tech-head, but doesn't that chasis design look a little bit out-of-date?

toonarmy · Post by **toonarmy** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:45 pm

GB_Simo wrote:Alright, it's nothing to do with Colin Chapman's company, but nevertheless, green and gold is absolutely the right way to do this:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81365

Tremendously fabulous look. I don't think Colin would object. I hope Lotus are in for the long haul. I know Lotus are there in name only, but that name belongs in F1.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 10:32 am

Yet another car with an engine cover fin, the Red Bull.

Guess I should stop b*tching, as it has become de rigeur: Those hideous fins AND my whining.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:57 pm

Good gawd please IRL do not use the Delta Wing, please. This thing looks like a real Batmobile. If they do go the Delta Wing route I wonder if all the drivers will be made to wear a Batman costume.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81386

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:04 pm

Ha, I've just signed in to post the same picture and ask where Robin is going to sit...

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:11 pm

Man that thing looks hideous even from the side. I'm looking forward to PK using his PR skillz to sell us Eskimos, ice cubes. Come on PK quit hiding.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:41 pm

No PR spin needed from me. I don't work for Dallara, Swift or DeltaWing. I work for IMS.

This is just one of the four chassis designs under consideration by the IRL, as far as I'm concerned. The public are making their voices heard on the three unveiled so far, and that's valuable input.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:50 pm

Man, that damn thing looks like an SR-71 Blackbird, not a IRL car...

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:20 pm

Teal wrote:Man, that damn thing looks like an SR-71 Blackbird, not a IRL car...

Ha! I wrote the same thing on PK's facebook page. Glad to see an update on a classic 60s design, even if it's from a different field.

Smurfy · Post by **Smurfy** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:38 pm

I personally don't care how good or bad a racing car looks so long as it's fast and promotes racing. If the Williams FW26 had dominated the 2004 season you wouldn't have heard any complaints from me.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:56 pm

I read an interview with Patrick Head recently in F1 Racing in which he was rather less than complimentary about FW26. Seems not even Williams fully understood what the purpose of that nose was, and knowing how it fared in comparison to FW25 (which might well have carried Montoya to the title in 2003 had it not been for that tyre ruling and a ridiculous piece of stewarding at Indy) makes the car seem still more peculiar with distance.

Now, about those new teams missing 3 races. Nuh-uh:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81382

You're keeping up with this, right? It's taking some doing, isn't it? I've spent a week waiting to write about it, but I haven't got anything like the time to keep on top of the constant revisions I'd need to be making...

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:11 pm

Wow that Delta Wing is pretty bizarre! With the solid silver paint job it looks straight out of 60's sci-fi, among other things.

I wonder how it will perform with no front wings and the two front wheels so close together? If it's cheap for the teams promotes good racing I'm open to it, but it really is hokey looking.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:24 pm

Naples39 wrote:Wow that Delta Wing is pretty bizarre! With the solid silver paint job it looks straight out of 60's sci-fi, among other things.

I wonder how it will perform with no front wings and the two front wheels so close together? If it's cheap for the teams promotes good racing I'm open to it, but it really is hokey looking.

My immediate question upon first seeing the DeltaWing: How the hell is that thing going to get through the hairpin at Long Beach?