Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

[solovsfett]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

Tomas Scheckter to KV racing for the Indy 500.

I hope it leads to more races

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

So Sauber gets busted for an illegal radius on their rear wing and I was shocked to read not all the cars are inspected equally every weekend, only some of the cars are. I would have thought as much rule bending that goes on in F1 they's inpect all the cars every race. Apparently RBR has another flexing front wing, but, like last yr, the FIA is too dumb to figure out a test to bust them.

Watch for my letter in Miller's mailbag. I took out the &$%%^$* stuff, I don't recall them printing that kind of language, so I cleaned it up a bit.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

Q: The telecast was a load of crap. On the first restart, Power goes into the first corner 1st next to Dario, then a few corners later, he's 4th.HOW ABOUT A FREAKIN REPLAY TO SHOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM? COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a pass for the lead for heaven's sake! On the next re-start, Power goes from 4th to 6th. HOW ABOUT A FREAKIN REPLAY TO SHOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM THEN? Then, after a round of pit stops, he's back into 2nd, no explanation (that's where in lap/out lap info is critical). Why was Power suddenly no match for Franchitti? How about some info or insight? The F1 telecasts are 100% superior to the Indycar ones.

Tim from Juneau WI

RM: Always Bad Coverage strikes again. How do you miss THE PASS of the race at the front? Because you suck at what you do. My friends in LA claim it was the worst telecast ever but my question is how would you be able to tell since they're all awful? Will’s car was knocked around pretty good in the race (by Simona on a restart, actually) and wasn’t bad-fast like it was earlier in the weekend.

Hey, I got printed again!

 

[MattS]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

I just read Millers mailbag a few minutes ago and was going to post about you letter. Good job! What is that three times now?

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

I just read Millers mailbag a few minutes ago and was going to post about you letter. Good job! What is that three times now?

Thanks. That's 2 for sure. I LOL'ed at Miller's "Always Bad Coverage" line.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

I must be dense.

what is the appeal of this ****? http://motorsport.nextgen-auto.com/Raikkonen-to-drive-limited-schedule-for-Kyle-Bush-Motorsports,20908.html

and then you have Lewis Hamilton also saying that Nascar could be in his future.

why?

because it's safer?

I just don't get it

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

I must be dense.

what is the appeal of this ****? http://motorsport.nextgen-auto.com/Raikkonen-to-drive-limited-schedule-for-Kyle-Bush-Motorsports,20908.html

and then you have Lewis Hamilton also saying that Nascar could be in his future.

why?

because it's safer?

I just don't get it

Me neither. You go from the pinnacle autosport on the planet to basically a sedan spec series that frowns mightily on innovation. Kimi deserves a drive in F1, but there just aren't enough top spots open for a guy of his talent, so I suppose he's trying to find something to do. For Lewis to say anything is just idiotic. I bet Kimi would take Lewis' seat in a heartbeat.

In other news, Jay Penske and PT are together for 5 races.

 

[MattS]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

Excellent F1 race today besides first for Vettel. Nobody had anything for him but after that the McLaren, Ferrari, Renault , Weber battles were great. Not too shabby for Schumi either. Good to see him be at least racey at times.

The Red Bull cars are so far ahead of anyone else. They were the class of the field even though they had their KERS systems onboard but due to failures were not using them. Amazing that even with the weight disadvantage and the loss of ~80 HP they were still the best car on the track.

That airborne ride by Petrov was....WOW! And a hard enough landing to break his steering column. Whoa.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

I was too tired to stay up for the F1 race. ****, I'm hoping for anyone but Vettel right now.

Alabama - once again versus missed quite a bit of on-track action. TK really had an excellent race and I was happy for him, Servia, De Silvestro and Kimball to have top 10's. decent track. I missed the inaugral race so I hadn't seen the layout previously. I wonder how big the crowd was, it was difficult to tell on tv.

Marco with a quiet 4th place. Power, Dixon, Franchitti 1-3, I'm going to have to assume these are the top chargers along w/Briscoe for the championship.

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

Excellent F1 race today besides first for Vettel. Nobody had anything for him but after that the McLaren, Ferrari, Renault , Weber battles were great. Not too shabby for Schumi either. Good to see him be at least racey at times.

The Red Bull cars are so far ahead of anyone else. They were the class of the field even though they had their KERS systems onboard but due to failures were not using them. Amazing that even with the weight disadvantage and the loss of ~80 HP they were still the best car on the track.

That airborne ride by Petrov was....WOW! And a hard enough landing to break his steering column. Whoa.

It's unfortunate Kubica is not with Lotus to enjoy the success so far this year. Two weeks ago it was Petrov for third and yesterday it was Heidfeld. Next week is China. Not sure who is going to be able to defeat Red Bull.

 

[MattS]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

It's unfortunate Kubica is not with Lotus to enjoy the success so far this year. Two weeks ago it was Petrov for third and yesterday it was Heidfeld. Next week is China. Not sure who is going to be able to defeat Red Bull.

Yes, in a way I do feel bad for Kubica. It's his own choices that got him to where he is though. I am pretty sure that if I worked my butt off to get a F1 ride I wouldn't be messing around rally racing during the off season. There is plenty of time to do that crap after the F1 career is over. It would be interesting to see what he could do in the Renault as I think he is a better driver than Petrov or (slightly better) Heidfeld.

McLaren right now is the only team that I can see that has a decent chance to unseat Red Bull. Ferrari with some luck can pull a podium, but otherwise it's all Red Bull #1 and McLaren #2.

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

........McLaren right now is the only team that I can see that has a decent chance to unseat Red Bull. Ferrari with some luck can pull a podium, but otherwise it's all Red Bull #1 and McLaren #2.

Right now, I agree with you in placing Red Bull #1 and then McLaren Mercedes in 2nd. I am not giving up on Ferrari. They lost ground over the winter in car development but I still think they will be able to challenge Red Bull before the season is over. They certainly have the two drivers to do it in Alonso and Massa.

 

[MattS]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

Right now, I agree with you in placing Red Bull #1 and then McLaren Mercedes in 2nd. I am not giving up on Ferrari. They lost ground over the winter in car development but I still think they will be able to challenge Red Bull before the season is over. They certainly have the two drivers to do it in Alonso and Massa.

I'm not giving up on Ferrari either. I just think right now they have the #3 or #4 car in the paddock. However, if there is one thing that Ferrari can do better than pretty much any other team is develop a car during the season. They simply have the most resources of anyone.

As far as drivers go...in the dry weather they have IMO the #1 (Alonso) and the #4 (Massa) drivers in F1. And in case anyone is wondering, here are my top 10 current dry weather drivers:

1. Alonso
2. Hamilton
3. Vettel
4. Massa
5. Button
6. Weber
7. Sutil
8. Rosberg
9. Schumi
10. Heidfeld

Please note this list is just off the top of my head. I reserve the right to change my mind upon further review.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

I would beg to differ a bit on Robert Kubica. I think it's great when drivers race in other series and it shows their competitiveness and desire to be the best of the best. It's a shame about Kubica's accident, and Jim Clark as well in a non-F1 race, but for me personally I enjoy seeing drivers try out other series before they get too old to prove themselves.

If I could go back in time the 60's would be it w/F1 pilots at Indy, Indy guys like Gurnee in F1, and Indy guys racing at daytona

.02

 

[MattS]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

I have no issue with Kubica wanting to drive in other series it was just my personal view if I was in his shoes. I think I might try my hand at other racing while doing F1 if it was a top series. But it was and it seems stupid to jepordize a F1 career for a Italian rally race. Like you say, Indy would be cool, or WRC, or glup, even Daytona but some regional rally race....not worth it.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

Right now, I agree with you in placing Red Bull #1 and then McLaren Mercedes in 2nd. I am not giving up on Ferrari. They lost ground over the winter in car development but I still think they will be able to challenge Red Bull before the season is over. They certainly have the two drivers to do it in Alonso and Massa.

Ferrari is WAY behind, and then they have to climb up over McM just to tussle with RBR, and Renault, er Lotus, is right there too. I'm a huge Ferrari fan, but it looks really bad at this point.

Drivers driving other series......racing in inheritently dangerous, so I'd say just drive in whatever you want whenever you want, just realize bad things could happen at any time. At least he's not a pansy like the crapcar guys who say open wheel cars are too dangerous.

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

I would beg to differ a bit on Robert Kubica. I think it's great when drivers race in other series and it shows their competitiveness and desire to be the best of the best. It's a shame about Kubica's accident, and Jim Clark as well in a non-F1 race, but for me personally I enjoy seeing drivers try out other series before they get too old to prove themselves.

If I could go back in time the 60's would be it w/F1 pilots at Indy, Indy guys like Gurnee in F1, and Indy guys racing at daytona

.02

You bring up some sad memories. I was at Hockenheim in 1968 on the tragic day that Jim Clark died in a Formula 2 race. In addition to your examples, Dan Gurney raced and won the 24 Hrs. of LeMans in 1967 with co-driver A.J. Foyt. Those were truly the glory days of motor racing (except for the lack of safety measures).

 

[joecct]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

You bring up some sad memories. I was at Hockenheim in 1968 on the tragic day that Jim Clark died in a Formula 2 race. In addition to your examples, Dan Gurney raced and won the 24 Hrs. of LeMans in 1967 with co-driver A.J. Foyt. Those were truly the glory days of motor racing (except for the lack of safety measures).

I know what you mean. I wonder if they would ever race again on the Nordschleife?? Could they bring it up to modern safety standards?

Or maybe Schumi and Sir Jackie taking a ride around in a GT car and talking about the course as the drove it.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

Ferrari is WAY behind, and then they have to climb up over McM just to tussle with RBR, and Renault, er Lotus, is right there too. I'm a huge Ferrari fan, but it looks really bad at this point.

Drivers driving other series......racing in inheritently dangerous, so I'd say just drive in whatever you want whenever you want, just realize bad things could happen at any time. At least he's not a pansy like the crapcar guys who say open wheel cars are too dangerous.

maybe Briatore (sp?) was right in that Ferrari should focus on 2012?

I agree w/you on the nascar thing, I'm mystified partly by the stance those drivers take. I mean #1 Indy hasn't had a fatality since what Scott Brayton? what year was that, 98? Greg Moore in Oct 99 was the last I can think of for non INDY 500 races, along w/Gonzalo Rodriguez the same year. what a devastating blow that was for Penske for that year and the future.

F1 hasn't had a fatality since Senna/Ratzenberger in 94 so...it's dangerous yes, but not like it was in Mario/AJ/Jim Clark/Fangio/Donahue/R Petersen/Villeneuve days that's for sure

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2011, hurry, before we downsize your engines....

You bring up some sad memories. I was at Hockenheim in 1968 on the tragic day that Jim Clark died in a Formula 2 race. In addition to your examples, Dan Gurney raced and won the 24 Hrs. of LeMans in 1967 with co-driver A.J. Foyt. Those were truly the glory days of motor racing (except for the lack of safety measures).

glory days indeed! I must have forgotten that A.J. was w/Dan Gurney for LeMans...****....now I want a time machine. where's doc brown?