The problem with this statement is the word "know". I certainly don't know and nobody following this thread knows. In fact, unless your Kimi himself or someone intimate with the Ferrari camp, it's likely nobody know. At this point in time, everything that has been said about Kimi already having a signed contract with Ferrari from last year is pure speculation. I'm not saying it won't happen. In fact, there is certainly a good possibility Kimi will go to Maranello. But there remains a few variables and until they've been revealed, the only thing we know are rumors.

As for "pit-strategy" races being boring, let's try to keep in mind the sport has become so technically advanced that it's likely we'll never see the overtaking found in the exciting races of the past. Pit-strategy is simply an integral part of modern Formula 1 where the competition is so close that often turns into a chess match of sorts with the winner being the guys who have the better strategy. I think there can be plenty of excitement to be found in that. Believe me, I was on the edge of my seat when Alonso went in for his second stop and Michael started pullin' off his trademark blistering laps to make up time, ultimately taking P1 after his subsequent second stop. Absolutely brilliant!

Fantastic result for Michael, Ferrari and Formula 1 at the European Grand Prix. This year is going to get more interesting as the weeks go on. Can hardly wait for this weekend. Unfortunately, it's back on CBS

 

Guys,
I have two tickets to the 2006 USGP for sale. Paddock stands (main straight, across from the pits), Sec 25, Row SS, Seats 11-12. The face value is $85 per ticket. Please PM me if you are interested. Thanks!

Aaron

 

You realy should consider using the tickets. Local word here is that F1 will not be Back Home Again in Indiana. I was at the first and I plan on being at the last.

Word is that the motorcycles would be way too fast so no race there. What needs to be done IMHO is to get the nascar Daytona Spec Racers and their support series to run a 6 hour enduro. A lot of the IRL teams also have Daytona Spec Racers (there is nothing prototypical about the Daytona Prototypes). Heck maybe we could get Tony Nuzzo to run this event?

 

I am going, these are extra tickets for people that cancelled on me. I can't wait!

Aaron

 

Looks like I'm going to be able to make it to Indy this year.

I'm going to build a layover on the way home from out-of-town business . . . unfortunately I'll definitely miss the Thursday walkabout and will not arrive until early Friday morning . . . but I do hope to make at least the afternoon practice session on Friday.

In light of my late arrival . . . I was hoping to seek some advice from the more chiseled Indy vets on our board. I know there have been several postings here before, but I have a couple of specific questions:

Question 1:
Friday: I land. I rent (vehicle). I drive (to the circuit). I park.
Is this going to be a nightmare . . . Traffic and Parking . . . Assuming I arrive mid-morning . . . am I against the 8-ball on this?

Question 2:
Many of the nicer hotels downtown are already sold out according the Indy website. Any advantage sticking closer to the circuit?

Question 3:
I've noticed there's a Comfort Inn relatively close to the circuit that does not appear sold out. This gives me pause. For good reason?

Thanks for any advice you guys can offer.

 

Friday the traffic is very light, you will have no problem getting in.
We usually stay in Southport, which is a 15-20 minute drive to the track, even on raceday. If you stay farther away, you may find a slightly better price.
I can't wait for the USGP, what a fun weekend, even last year!

Aaron

 

CutNthrust,

If at all possible, arrive earlier. On Thursday June 29th, IMS offers a FREE morning pit lane walkabout for race ticket holders. It is friggin awesome. Check out some of my posts from last year's F1 discussion thread (and my gallery) for photos of cars, crews, etc. I've gotten autographs from several F1 pilots: Fernando Alonso, Jarno Trulli, Alan McNish, David Hobbes all during the walkabout.

This is the true highlight of USGP weekend. At no other F1 venue are fans allowed this opportunity. (unless you want to pay $3,000 per ticket for Paddock Club access).

MGC

 

Ugh. That's the sad part of my story. I was so looking forward to Thursday, unfortunately my schedule won't allow it. On the bright side I guess my job is somewhat financing the trip, anyway.

I've still got my fingers crossed that this won't be the last . . .

 

Did anyone catch the race today? Nothing too exciting, but a good race for Alsono. Glad the Schumi took second... beats the thrid place that he was staring at with Fisci in front. All in all a good race, but nothing really exciting happend.

I won't get to go to Indy this year. I've never been to an F1 race... I tried to go last year, but thankfully, I didnt!

 

Spain was a flashback to last year - Alonso running away and hiding. MSchu remained on form with a nice 2nd, but from what I saw didn't have anything for Alonso. Massa's 4th proves that Ferrari has climbed back at least to be the 2nd best package on the grid.

Who has the 3rd best package, though? Honda? McLaren?

What has become of the Juan Montoya who made such a splash in his F1 debut passing MSchu in Brazil? He didn't make into the final qualifying session this week?!

Most importantly, why does CBS insist on buying rights to any of the F1 races? The ratings have to be tiny, so I can't imagine there is much of a monetary incentive. Are they trying to kill the small following F1 has in the states by exposing people to F1 only when it is accompanied by these idiotic announcers?!

 

Well McLaren have not look too good this season. Certainly JPM is not running too well. Some think he's not going to finish the season w/ McLaren. I don't really know about that, but I think he's going to be struggling to keep a seat there if he doesn't start driving like he needs a job next year!

 

...I think Ferrari lost - could not find - mechanical grip and had to resort to a fair amount of down force to generate competitive cornering speed; the Renaults were very good in every part of every corner. Ferrari certainly did not have the ability to make up any ground while on the straights. But like many things, just speculation.

The engine rule is still nuts

 

To me the real question is not Renault or Ferrari, it is with how close to these two Honda, Toyota and McLaren are. On any given weekend, the boys nipping at the heals of Herr Schumi and Alonso are from the land of the rising sun. Not since the glorious days of the Turbo and the Honda V-12 have I seen the resurgence of the Japanese manufacturers. Great to be here and see this re-awakening. I predict a Honda or Toyota win before the season is out.

EDIT: Why'd he say that? '06 marks the first year of the "new formula" with 2.4 ltr. V-8 power. As such all players are basically in the same boat, and the chances of innovation rather than evolution producing greater hp for any given manufacturer are higher the first year or two of new formulas. Recall Brabham's success in 1966 and 1967 with their Aussie V-8, before Ford-Cosworth's DFV obliterated the competition from 1968 on. Now look at budgets. Toyota's is unbelieveably huge, Honda's is growing, plus their participation in other forms of motorsport will certainly lead to some cross-over in technology transfers. Also both Toyota and Honda are now full participants, providing chassis as well as engine R&D (as are Renault and Ferrari - see a pattern here?). Their drivers are all experienced, and with the exception of J. Button, all proven race winners. Factor in a little bit of luck / weather, and you could easily have a Trulli, Barrichello, R. Schumacher or Button on the highest step of the podium.

 

I would be surprised if your prediction came true. Perhaps a huge accident at the first corner in Monaco, or a deluge in Brazil, will bring one of them to the top of the podium, but not a hard-fought victory over Ferrari or Renault.

As far as future success for Toyota and Honda, here is an amazing statistic from Peter Wright's fantastic book Ferrari Formula 1 about the F1-2000 car and Ferrari winning the championship in 2000:

Between 1980 and 2000 only five F1 technical directors led teams to championships:
Patrick Head (Williams)
Gordon Murray (Brabham and McLaren)
John Barnard (McLaren)
Adrian Newey (Williams and McLaren)
Ross Brawn (Benetton and Ferrari)

(Interestingly, none of the five came from engineering backgrounds. They learned by experience in the British racing environment.)

After last year, we can add Bob Bell for Renault for a total of 6 different championship-winning technical directors in 25 seasons! To me that speaks volumes about how difficult it is to win in F1, and that Red Bull was smart to pay whatever they had to pay to get Newey to leave McLaren and join them.

 

Based upon your ability to pick not only who finishes first but also finishes fourth . . . it would be hard to completely discount your prediction on this one, even though I just don't see the Toyota capable of such a miraculous feat.

 

...tires, tires, tires...

 

How many more races are not on Speed this season? Is Monaco on CBS?!

 

Sadly... and I do mean sadly it is. Only one more race on CBS after this, can't remember which one, but its not the US GP, might be Canada or GB.

Daly, for all his experience, gives new meaning to the term mundane. Varsha... well, I'm sure he'd at least seem to be better if they added a third like Waltrip.

 

Bob Varsha is on Speed. Daly's partner on CBS is Ralph Sheehan.

 

Yup, Monaco and Silverstone are both being butchered on CBS...

 

Not certain that I get who you're referring to here . . . do you mean Ralph Sheheen? The guy who has only one inflection . . . out of breath and high pitched?

I can personally say that I don't particularly care for the idea that these broadcasts have to be constantly covered with non-stop lip flap. I could not believe that one moment from Spain where they held on the wing camera from Fisi's Renault and those two sat there without saying anything almost an entire lap. I thought they were experiencing some sort of technical difficulty.

Is this all a product of Monday Night Football, circa 1970's . . . where the focus of the broadcast was not the event but the "personalities" in the box? Geez. Broadcasting . . . particularly sports broadcasting . . . has way overshot the master of ceremonies at the town fair.

At least the trio on Speed appear to not be so focused upon "themselves" (a trait Daly wears on his sleeve) and god forbid F1 come to the point where it's color commentated solely by this sort of yuckety hucksterism.

I so appreciate the fact that when Varsha, Hobbs, and Matchett are on . . . that I feel as they are simply sitting back and taking it all in just like we are . . .

IMHO, Less is definitely more.

 

indeed...

 

Daly and Sheehan at least have some motorsports experience... Ralph called the WRC on Speed and Daly is/was a race driver...

Still like Speed the best!

 

No doubt my rant would be better directed toward the network producers who drive the style of the show as opposed to the poor bloke just trying to keep his job.

 

I'm sure that CBS is at least trying to get some knowledgable announcers for F1 broadcasts. Hence Derek Daly. Remember, it took ESPN, SpeedVision and Speed Channel several years to properly develop its crew of Varsha, Hobbes and Matchet.
I can recall some years ago Varsha teamed with Daly, so at least CBS is showing some signs of life by picking up his services.
IMO what CBS needs isn't so much a former F1 driver, but a former F1 mechanic, someone keen on the strategies of pitstops, fuel levels during quali, tire choices, aerodynamics, etc. This isn't NASCAR simple full course yellow - we all dive for the pits- racing. Given a proper fountain of F1 knowledge, CBS's team could actually make the races interesting for the average viewer.