OT: Racing 2010 (Spoiler Alert)

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:16 am

Hideous, just like all the rest. Plus F1 designers are lemmings these days. If one team creates an "innovation," all eventually will follow.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 4:49 pm

pk500 wrote:Hideous, just like all the rest. Plus F1 designers are lemmings these days. If one team creates an "innovation," all eventually will follow.

Just as with such innovations as the rear-engined car, the monocoque, the engine as a stressed member, the ground effect. Twas ever thus and ever thus shall be, as long as the feature brings some benefit. All that's changed is the impact of it.

Saddled with a set of regulations that specify which bit of car should act along which plane, that you're not allowed to put any bodywork there thank you, that the engine should have this displacement and this many cylinders and by the way you're using these tyres and that's an end to it, maybe a shark fin is as innovative as they can be these days. Clearly the current-spec cars aren't the top of the evolutionary chain - if they were, they'd be able to do all sorts of crazy outlandish things like overtaking each other on the track - but I'm not sure how far off the beaten track the designers are allowed to stray these days. There are minds in Formula One, and I think of Adrian Newey as a first example, who'd surely be capable of producing something genuinely innovative if the scope was there to do so.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 6:26 pm

After a year of going cold turkey, some this Tuesday I'll have my beloved Speed TV back! While looking to save some money, we got a great deal through Verizon that will save us over $50 a month over Comcast. I'll be getting a DirecTV dish installed Tuesday and I'll finally be able to see my racing again (much to the dismay of my family!) Of course, I missed one of my boy Rubens best seasons ever last year, but it'll be good to be back. Got lots of Grand-Am to catch up on. And F1. And Australian V8's. And ALMS...

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 8:47 pm

What you missed in V8 Supercars last year, Grant, was Jamie Whincup retaining his title. What you're going to see this year, by the look of things, is Whincup doing the same thing again. Pound for pound, Jamie's one of the best in the world at the minute, which is why those Castrol Rankings we spoke of a few pages back have him as the worlds 106th best driver hang on a minute...

On Saturday our pals at Stefan GP released this statement:

"Stefan GP would like to inform the public that the containers we sent on the beginning of February arrived in Bahrain. During next week we will show our Stefan Formula One car to the press as the final evidence that should put us on the grid in Bahrain.

"In case we don't receive the chance to compete in Bahrain, and also when some of the teams fail to show up, somebody should have trouble explaining what has happened to all of us.

"And the dreamers from the USA will have to explain their actions, because they are deliberately weakening F1, dreaming about a perfect world and fairytales of success. And success doesn't come by talking but with hard work and a lot of guts."

Today, this:

"SGP would like to re-confirm its desire and, importantly, its ability to compete in the whole of the FIA 2010 Formula One World Championship.

"It recognises that this can only happen with the consent of the FIA and the FOM, but has faith that the Formula One 'family' will make the correct decision in the end.

"There will be no more press releases on this subject and we look forward to being allowed to show everyone our team in Bahrain."

Notice that not only is the more recent release far more concilliatory in tone, it also displays a better mastery of the English language, almost as if someone had suggested the statement to them and then been involved in drafting it.

Edited because I wasn't finished: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81780

Are we in for a fun time this year or what?

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 8:51 pm

I hope SGP gets the grid slot that was reserved for USF1 because those boys are a sham. Enough is enough, USF1 is a mirage although I was hoping they would make the 2010 grid.

Smurfy · Post by **Smurfy** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:59 pm

In my natural role as local grouch, I have to say that I have few expectations for an enjoyable Formula 1 season for 2010. Those blasted double-diffusers remain this year don't they?

Perhaps a good sex scandal involving Jean Todt and Michelle Yeoh could change my opinion. Nah, I'm too much of a grouch to believe that.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 5:35 pm

Aye, double diffusers remain, but it might be worth reviewing how much overtaking you saw in the early part of last year when only 3 teams had them. All a bit of a smokescreen thrown up during the appeal case, that. In my opinion, based on absolutely no empirical data whatsoever.

You might well find that certain teams are great over one lap, some great over a long run and others decent everywhere. That alone ought to generate a bit of excitement, and I still can't split them at the front so I remain really quite excited.

Turns out USF1 had James Rossiter signed up, bringing another 8 mil, and still couldn't make the numbers add up. Apparently they're asking to be deferred until 2011, and while I do feel for the staff there, I see no reason at all to grant that request. Eddie Jordan, who hasn't been wrong about a major issue for some time now, says Stefan GP are going to be in Bahrain. Not sure about that, but we'll know soon enough.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 5:45 pm

Rossiter is coming to the IZOD IndyCar Series, which is cool. He was a very solid shoe in British F3, Euro F3 and Renault World Series.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 7:54 pm

pk500 wrote:Rossiter is coming to the IZOD IndyCar Series, which is cool. He was a very solid shoe in British F3, Euro F3 and Renault World Series.

With KV, is that right? Or still unconfirmed? He'll do a solid enough job, I'm sure, though I was a bit surprised he had the backing together to go with USF1 to start with. Always felt that if he was going to break into F1 he'd have done it a couple of years ago.

I'm looking forward to seeing how Sato goes this season. His judgement isn't always fantastic but he's a real racer. I'm a bit upset that he didn't get any of the several F1 rides he was chasing over the winter, in fact.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:03 pm

Rossiter almost certain with KV.

Sato will win a road or street course race this year. He'll also keep the Dallara carbon fiber ovens burning all summer in Italy.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:46 pm

I was just catching up on Indycar news and noticed the new website is looking sharp!

http://www.indycar.com/

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:21 am

I can't wait to see Sato in Indycar, I've always liked him.

And I'm sitting here waiting for the DirecTV guy to show up. Mere hours to getting Speed TV back...!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:46 am

Gurantsu wrote:I can't wait to see Sato in Indycar, I've always liked him.

And I'm sitting here waiting for the DirecTV guy to show up. Mere hours to getting Speed TV back...!

You won't get IndyCar on VERSUS, sadly ...

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:28 pm

Who is broadcasting Indycar this year? Why did Versus lose it?

And the Directv guy is here now. Soon... very soon...

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:45 pm

Versus isn't on Direct TV.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 2:11 pm

Really? That's odd, why the heck isn't it there? Some sort of agreement with another provider?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 2:15 pm

Gurantsu wrote:Really? That's odd, why the heck isn't it there? Some sort of agreement with another provider?

Rights' fees dispute between VERSUS and DirectTV. Started last September, with a quick resolution expected. Instead, the dispute continues to rage with no end in sight.

So, you'll see five of the 17 races this season, on ABC: St. Pete, Kansas, Indy, Watkins Glen and Toronto.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 5:21 pm

The inevitable apparently is reality: USF1 has shut down.

http://www.racer.com/team-us-f1-shuts-d ... ACER_DAILY

VERY weak that neither Windsor nor Anderson was at the factory when the announcement was made to the remaining employees. I've lost any respect I had remaining for those two.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 11:31 am

I saw DirecTV still has Versus listed, but when you go to it it displays the message about Versus being owned by Comcast, and they raised their fees too high and DirecTV refuses to pay them. Hopefully they'll get it all straightened out. Still glad I'm getting rid of Comcast, the expensive bastards.

No surprise about USF1, but what a huge embarrassment. F1 shy's away from the US enough as it is, nothing like making us even more undesirable in their eyes.

I wonder if Windsor will go back to being the pit reporter for Speed?

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:57 pm

Our boy Ken Block is running 9th in the Rally of Mexico.

"Monster World Rally Team driver Ken Block has surprised himself with his pace on the opening loop of Rally Mexico stages - the American holding ninth overall after SS4."

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 5:58 pm

Scary wreck for Keselowski at the Cup race today, catching air on the frontstretch at Atlanta after Carl Edwards got into him.

NASCAR's parking Edwards for the rest of the day, but it isn't like it matters since he was already 100+ laps down. He should be on the sidelines for at least a couple races for that bush league move. Intentionally spinning a guy at 180+ is ridiculous.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 9:18 pm

Another case of 'roid rage for Edwards. The guy simply can't keep his temper in check and is a menace when he has the red mist.

Tony Stewart is right: Edwards is the Eddie Haskell of NASCAR. Mr. Nice Guy during interviews and an absolute tool in the car and in the garage.

You're spot on, Dave. NASCAR should park Edwards for Bristol.

miget33 · Post by **miget33** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 1:46 am

Nascar will look closely into the incident, and then put Edwards on Double-Secret Probation.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:02 am

Edwards admits the crash was deliberate. As they like to say in the South, "That boy ain't too bright".

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81919

"Carl Edwards has admitted openly that he intentionally caused Brad Keselowski to crash in the closing laps of Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta.

Edwards later wrote on his Facebook page explaining the reasoning behind his on-track antics at Atlanta.

"My options," he wrote. "Considering that Brad wrecks me with no regard for anyone's safety or hard work, should I: A) Keep letting him wreck me? B) Confront him after the race? C) Wait till Bristol and collect other cars? or D) Take care of it now?

"I want to be clear that I was surprised at his flight and very relieved when he walked away. Every person has to decide what code they want to live by and hopefully this explains mine."

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 9:03 am

So apparently his code is "Be A Dumbass".

Yet another reason why I don't watch NASCAR, the WWE of motorsports.