OT: Racing 2012 (Spoiler Alert)

[GB_Simo]

That's awesome. I just about remember watching some DTM/ITC races from that era but until I watched that clip, I didn't fully appreciate exactly how bloody quick they were.

Elsewhere, did anyone notice that Jarno Trulli was still racing? And how long will it take for new BTCC commentator Toby Moody to literally, physically explode with excitement during a live broadcast? I'm really looking forward to hearing Toby take on that job.

[pk500]

Tobes will be superb. He's as nice and enthusiastic in person as he is on the telly. One of my absolute favorite people I've met in MotoGP.

[Dave]

I figure this is as good a time as any to comment that it is a damn shame NASCAR ruined the Daytona 500 qualifying process.

[Gurantsu]

Why is that? (I haven't been paying attention to it).

[Dave]

Why is that? (I haven't been paying attention to it).

The top 35 in points are locked in automatically and there are ways for people like Danica Patrick (this year) and Steven Wallace (last year) to inherit the points from the previous year and guarantee a spot in the Daytona 500.

I'm sure I'll screw this up, but in the old days the top two qualifiers were locked in and there were 5 or so provisionals handed out based on last year's points. But spots 3-37 were completely up for grabs based on what happened in the qualifying races.

[pk500]

Spot-on, Dave. The Twin 150s now are nothing but events to fill TV time and maul fast race cars. Nothing else.

[Gurantsu]

Wow. And i was even thinking of watching it this year. Pass.

[Rodster]

Whoa did you guys see the Montoya crash?

He slammed into the back of one of the trucks carrying jet fuel. It looks like he lost control of his car in some freakish way. Now there's a fire on the track.

[Jimmydeicide]

Yea unbelievable Rod. Lets see if the track is any good now.

[Rodster]

200 gallons of jet fuel on that part of the track. It was on fire so it could have damaged that part of the track.

Montoya reported something was vibrating on his car in every gear. Right before the crash he said something broke and BAM hi nails the truck carrying the jet fuel.

[wco81]

Does Danica bring ratings? She hasn't ever won a race so there must be a reason she's still sponsored?

Heard that her career was going nowhere until she did some cheesecake spread on FHM.

[Rodster]

Does Danica bring ratings? She hasn't ever won a race so there must be a reason she's still sponsored?

Heard that her career was going nowhere until she did some cheesecake spread on FHM.

I'm sure Danica supporters will disagree with me but IMO she's overrated and has been for a long time especially when she raced in the IRL. She won 1 race in her career and IIRC she was in some top notch equipment driving for Andretti Green Racing.

She brings tons of marketing and hype. She got into a few wrecks this weekend mostly not her fault but i'm always amazed how she gets pissed at everyone one who hits her like they are supposed to treat her like she's Wayne Gretzky and are not supposed to come anywhere near her car.

The first wreck in the Nationwide Series as the commentator mentioned she could have saved the car from extensive damage. She didn't and as he said he hopes she learns that lesson. In Nascar there's a helluva of rubbin and banging, ask Tom Cruise.

IMO Danica has always done enough to raise the eyebrow that hey she's good bit never took it to the next level and won more races with drivers around her were winning races and multiple Indy 500's. I think she'll do OK and race in a competent manner but I don't think she'll be a serious threat to any Championship. But her sponsors don't care as shes bringing in serious marketing and money to the Team.

[FifaInspected]

My interest in racing took a dive when Cart / IRL split. I loved Cart, went to events, wrote drivers etc.. I also have many great memories of watching stock car racing with my father back in the day of Petty, Allison, Yarborough, Pearson etc...

I watched a lot of the race last night and found myself wanting to like it but struggled to find a gripping reason to. Has Nascar become more about the wrecks than the race? What am I missing? It seems as if there's a huge lack of respect between drivers and guys have no problem putting someone into the wall and at times it appears as if it's the last man standing who enters victory lane. Since Nascar's popularity has peaked a few years ago, it's almost as if they are selling a different product.

[Jimmydeicide]

Its a commercial merry go round thats for sure and the amount last night rivaled an NFL game.

[wco81]

Heard the claim that really, it's only the top handful of NASCAR teams which are going to win, simply because they have the better equipment and the higher budget.

No driving skills can make up for the fact that it's not a level playing field.

Is it as big a gap as Porches against Hondas?

[bdunn13]

Its a commercial merry go round thats for sure and the amount last night rivaled an NFL game.

Yeah, but they play defense in NASCAR.

[Gurantsu]

So me and my friends are already planning for our trip to the Baltimore Grand Prix this year, we're going to try to get a hotel near the track and split the cost, hopefully we can get some guys together to help share the cost. I'm really excited to see my boy Rubens race there, looks like I know what team shirt to buy this year! I have seen him race at Indy a few times (and even win, although that was when Michael "accidentally" pulled over for a photo opportunity.) Last year was a fantastic event, and even though I know there have been some problems with the last promoters, hopefully the new ones will do just as good a job, and be able to pay their bills as well!

Anybody else planning on going? We'll have to try to meet up somewhere if anyone is (Baltimore is a great city so tons of places to meet and hang out.) Also, if anyone is interested in sharing our hotel room give me a shout out. I figure at this point we have 3 definite guys going. And hey, as long as there's floor space there's room to sleep... I can't say enough how well everything went last year, just a fantastic event.

We're planning on going to the New Jersey Motorsports Park too, for the Grand Am race hopefully. However, to save money for the Baltimore race we're just going to go one of the days instead of the whole weekend.

[GB_Simo]

Supposing - hypothetically, of course - that someone had just been told it would cost £25 a month extra to get Sky Sports F1 added to a TV package and had invited Virgin Media to take that offer, fold it until the edges were sharp and shove it up their arses...would anyone know a solid, reliable, trustworthy place to access some kind of live stream for said F1 events?

I am, as I'm sure you know, asking for a friend.

[Rodster]

Supposing - hypothetically, of course - that someone had just been told it would cost £25 a month extra to get Sky Sports F1 added to a TV package and had invited Virgin Media to take that offer, fold it until the edges were sharp and shove it up their arses...would anyone know a solid, reliable, trustworthy place to access some kind of live stream for said F1 events?

I am, as I'm sure you know, asking for a friend.

Here --->> http://atdhenet.tv/
Here --->> http://www.rojadirecta.me/
Here --->> http://www.firstrowsports.eu/

[GB_Simo]

Cheers, Rod. My friend has asked me to mention that he saw a NASCAR race on Front Row the other week and it was Pop-Up City when he first loaded the site up - I take it you've never had any problems with malware or the like?

[pk500]

Cheers, Rod. My friend has asked me to mention that he saw a NASCAR race on Front Row the other week and it was Pop-Up City when he first loaded the site up - I take it you've never had any problems with malware or the like?

Use Google Chrome with Adblock Plus extension, and you'll be safe.

[Gurantsu]

Welcome to my nightmare Adam.

If it wasn't for Speed channel, I'd dump our TV altogether.

[pk500]

The ingenuity of Formula One engineers never ceases to amaze. Check out how Mercedes is circumventing the F-duct ban:

https://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2012/03/ ... -wing-drs/

[Rodster]

The ingenuity of Formula One engineers never ceases to amaze. Check out how Mercedes is circumventing the F-duct ban:

https://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2012/03/ ... -wing-drs/

I wonder how long it will take for the FIA to crackdown on that? Not because it may or may not be illegal but because all the top teams will start b*tching to the FIA that it's unfair.

And if Mercedes came up with that idea I wonder what the design genius Adrian Newey conjured up to hide it from the FIA.

[F308GTB]

A different sort of car slated for Le Mans this year?

http://jalopnik.com/5892845/this-is-not-a-rocket-ship