What's new
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!

Dario Franchitti will no longer race. Aside from the recent and not so recent losses of drivers in racing crashes, this is one of the saddest racing stories in years for me. I had no idea his injuries were this serious, as all of the surgeries mentione were those on his ankle injury. Hopefully this guy finds a way to be involved with open wheel racing in a big big way.

agreed!

I love the fact Dario quoted Greg Moore "See You Up Front!"

I'm sure he'll get a position with the Chipster somewhere or Indycar, maybe in the television booth even.

Now...who replaces him? Does TK move up from the "B" Team or would that upset the relationship with Charlie Kimball and the team? Does Josef Newgarden get a look there? Justin Wilson?
 
Re: Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!

I agree. I was just being a bit of a drama queen for effect... :-)

Fair enough. I am looking forward to Ricciardo being in the RB and seeing what he can do. I don't think he is yet anywhere near Vettel's class of driver, but it will be fun to see if he can do more to challenge Vettel than Webber did.

And I should mention that I very much like Webber, but never though he was anything but an average F1 driver. Not that being an average F1 driver is a bad thing to be.



You nailed this one!

I am on a roll. Now for my next prediction....I am going to say that Vettel wins Austin and Brazil!! ;) I really hope that Heikki can run well in the Lotus. I always thought he was quick but just not ready to handle the pressure of the McLaren seat. Maybe now with some more maturity he can do better.



And that is sad news for Dario. I always thought he was an excellent Indycar driver and a likable person. I am happy for him that he is smart enough to take his doctor's advice and walk away while he still can. As for a replacement.....I would like to see Newgarden get it, even if it is with the "B" team and TK moves up to the "A" team. I think Josef is quick but lacks the resources to really show his talent.



I finally got around to watching the Vettel interview with Mario and Will Buxton. Vettel comes off better in that kind of setting than he does in other interviews I have seen him in. Definitely not as arrogant. It was almost refreshing to watch him. He did show nice respect to Mario which was nice.
 
Last edited:
Re: Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!

After a long fog delay the FP1 got underway and I am pleased to see Rossi do well. He beat out regular Caterham driver Pic, and more importantly was quickest of the backmarker drivers. A solid showing by Alexander!
 
Re: Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!

Big changes coming for next year's engines in F1. Nice to see the reset button being hit for engines and new chassis designs. Otherwise we would be looking at another runaway season for Red Bull (still may happen). I would think Mercedes may have a slight advantage in engine development as they have had turbo's in production cars for decades. May see engine issues in races as there is another component being added that is subject to failure.
 
Re: Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!

I would think Mercedes may have a slight advantage in engine development as they have had turbo's in production cars for decades.

Renault has a history with turbo engines as well (and they've been making production turbo engines for about as long).

You might sooner say that Ferrari are disadvantaged than that Mercedes are advantaged. They had a turbocharged engine in the mid-80's but otherwise, at a cursory review, appear to be normally aspirated.
 
Re: Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!

Vettel's on record now hoping these new engines are loud and powerful and for once I agree with something he says;) The sentiment is the new engines may not be as loud (lower rpm's) as the cars of prior years and the quickness may not be there. Guess we'll see.

In other news, Paul Page is the new voice of INDY on radio! http://www.indystar.com/story/sport...paul-page-returns-as-indy-500s-voice/3812917/

good move Indycar, good move
 
Re: Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!

I read this morning that the FIA and NASCAR have scheduled to have races on the same weekend in Texas. It will be interesting to see how attendance is at both. My guess is that both will do OK as I don't think there is a ton of overlap in the respective fanbases.
 
Re: Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!

I read this morning that the FIA and NASCAR have scheduled to have races on the same weekend in Texas. It will be interesting to see how attendance is at both. My guess is that both will do OK as I don't think there is a ton of overlap in the respective fanbases.

So what side of that equation is sending the 2nd tier series?
 
Re: Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!


I'm an idiot... I was thinking that NASCAR was going to race in Austin... I didn't realize that they were talking about the NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway...

Yea, very little crossover between the two venues...
 
Re: Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!

I read this morning that the FIA and NASCAR have scheduled to have races on the same weekend in Texas. It will be interesting to see how attendance is at both. My guess is that both will do OK as I don't think there is a ton of overlap in the respective fanbases.

it will be interesting but what I find really funny is Eddie Gossage's remarks - http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.co...y-f1-to-go-head-to-head-with-nascar-at-texas/

well Eddie, if the slow taxi cabs will fill up your stands why are you even remarking on this? hmmmm? I think he's worried about it, esp since finally the U.S. public is tiring of slow tin tops racing in circles each weekend, at least if the declining attendance for taxicar this season is any indication.

Indycar in Houston, F1 in Austin, let lone star J.R. do some promo for Houston and Mario do promo for both and watch the taxicab crowd blow a fuse:)
 
Re: Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!

I wouldn't think there'd be much overlap between the crowds, but I suppose you never know.
 
Re: Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!

So...the word is Ryan Briscoe has the inside track to the Ganassi #10 car. How terribly disappointing. I like Briscoe but he's underperformed everywhere he's gone.

I would choose one of Sam Bird, Conor Daly, Paul Di Resta (I think Sergio Perez is off the table, correct?).
 
Re: Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!

Saw on Fox Sports that F1 will award double points in the last race of the season.

BIG Whoop.
 
Re: Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!

Apparently the France family has taken over the FIA. Gimmicks galore! Double points on the last race. Fixed car numbers. A spending cap! And Ferrari goes ballistic in three...two....one....

All dumb and idiotic moves.
 
Re: Open Wheel Racing 2013...year of the driver swap!

Apparently the France family has taken over the FIA. Gimmicks galore! Double points on the last race. Fixed car numbers. A spending cap! And Ferrari goes ballistic in three...two....one....

All dumb and idiotic moves.

Fixed car numbers was the way it used to be. Ferrari used to be 27 and 28. Always. I'll give them that.

And I'm ok with a spending cap- having the biggest spenders win more often than not isn't that interesting. I'm certainly no closer to drinking that horrible tasting energy drink, but not seeing less engineering be capable of even competing, well.... (it's one of my pet peeves with Miatas and CSP SCCA based autocrossers, too)

But double points, and moving the season finale to the middle east? Yea, all that points to is that F1 isn't what it used to be.... which equals less of what I am interested in spending my time and money watching.
 
Back
Top