It has been a while since you saw a F1 race then! ESPN hasn't had coverage since the Mid 1990's!

I would assume that you meant to type SpeedVision/Speed...


But I agree with you 100% on the other issues!

 

Sorry for the brain fart. Yes, I meant Speed, not ESPN (though ESPN would still be better than CBS).

 

The most discussed topic in North America regarding F1: passing.

I have to say that I don't personally share this pov. Whereas I would like to see a Villeneuve/Arnoux wheel banging dice every GP, I also recognize that moment is special for a reason and that if it happened every race we'd take it for granted. I personally don't agree that passing is everything.

I do think there is room for improvement . . . right now the cars are simply too upset by "dirty" air. On the other hand, much as Eddie Irvine once said, I'll take one pass such as Hakkinen's move on Schumacher at Spa over a dozen rather meaningless jockies for position any day.

 

I do not want to see banging and passing like NASCAR (can I use that acronym in this venue without incurring the wrath of greater forces?). I would just like to see good drivers in competitive cars have more opportunites to make bold but not wreckless moves. However, I agree with those who advocate penalties for arrogant, stupid, or dangerous maneuvers. MS deserved what he got for Monaco and did not endear himself to many as seemed to expect us to believe his account. We all suffered for what probably would have been a better race had he and his team just accepted that he might lose the pole.

 

I'm not so certain about Max' split rear wing . . . but if these guys could push each other with their front wings right up under the other guy's gearbox we'd definitely have more excitement.

I miss the good old days of powerslides and taking some backend into the faster corners.

 

I totally concur with this statement. Passing just wouldn't be the same if there were tons of it. Obviously dirty air is a culprit, but it's much more than that, too- brakes, tires, aerodynamics, track designs, etc… But also there are far too many differences in speed amongst thee cars out there. These cars are so touchy to set-up that half the time these cars follow each other around in the speeds they are capable of… and just don’t have the speed to overtake the car in front of them half the time. So it becomes a race of strategy with fuel loads and pit stops. I am accustom to it now and don’t moan about lack of passing. F1 isn’t for everyone… and it’s not an “American” sport in the least…so you will find much more criticism here in the states than anywhere in the world.

 

I've gotta agree with saakey. I've developed quite an appreciation for contemporary Formula 1; where strategy now plays a decisive role.

I can't even begin to manifest into words the sheer suspense that overcomes me when the race leader dives into the pits while P2 continues his lap, attempting to pull off a few extra laps at a blistering pace, only then pulling in for his stop in the hopes he built just enough time for him to overtake the leader through the intricate balance or fuel/pit/driver skill/tire wear strategy.

Most sports fans in the US simply don't appreciate this kind of sport. It's far too technical and there isn't enough passing. It's kinda like soccer; it's slow paced and not enough scoring. The typical US fan likes lots of passing and lots of scoring. I personally don't share this trait with my countrymen.

 

I for one would hope that the FIA goes with a tire manufacturer that is not in the series today.
That way no team will have an advantage when the new tire rules kick in next season.

That out of the way, I still lean back to a single element wing with a simple wickerbill / Gurnee flap
on the trailing edge for the rear wing only. Get rid of all the barge boards, heat extracting chimneies, etc.
Kind of like back in the early 1990's before groved tires. Doing so regulates aero grip to minor role and
requires the manufacturers to design a car that has mechanical grip.

I would also try to re-design the camera pods so that they could not be used for downforce.
Or better yet mold them into the drivers helmet.

Another thing to think about might be to make all the teams field 3 cars. for the race and 4 cars for practice

 

If Bridgestone is choosen as the sole tire supplier of Formula 1, I too would be worried about the current Bridgestone teams having an advantage. It will make for an interesting decision no doubt.

 

Just to spice things up a bit, what if FIA required that all F1 races had to take place in wet conditions. Rain, or if none, artificial rain as in watering down the course. Wet weather is the great equilizer in modern F1. Where else could an Alain Prost in a Williams be challenged by an Eddie Irvine in a Jordan? Remember Senna at Donnington? Schumi at Spa? Barrichello at Nurburgring? One of my favorite F1 memories was wheel to wheel in the rain at Spa with Alesi and Mansel while Bob Varsha waxed poetic about this being a scene out of Grand Prix (the James Garner movie). Yep, gimme a wet race and I'm content.

 

I check the weather forecast before every race - always wishing it will rain. I always get my hopes up when I see clouds on the horizon during a race....."please rain, please rain, pleeeeeeeeeese rain!"

I don't think I go along with the "all races should be wet races" idea, but it would be cool if they had the ability to water down at least some of the tracks during a race. To make it interesting the rain/no rain call as well as the timing would have to be made random, but give us wet conditions during at least a third of the races. Now that's entertainment!

 

Is it just you guys or does it seem as though it's been a couple years since the last time it rained during race day. Do you remember the rain at Interlagos a few years back when Fisi was awarded the win driving his Jordan!! Now, maybe that was a little bit too much rain. But it sure can shake things up a bit

 

ok, i just read this and now i'm kinda PO'd.

is it IMS's fault that shumi handed the race over? is it the US's fault that Michelin didn't come prepared to run last year? i don't think so. i do think for Bernie to come out and say that the US has caused him problems is irresponsible. why would he come out and say this right before the race? if you ask me, he's trying to alienate the US fan base (and doing a fine job of it). if he's not, then he's just a dumba$$. i guess we already knew this tho.

 

With comments like that from Ecclestone and the debacle that was last year's U.S. GP, my hopes that F1 will remain alive in this country and that more Americans will get on board appear dim. I agree with STLMINI and I concur with J-Stylez's comments on the suspense and excitement surrounding the pit stops and the hot laps. I find it very encouraging that these comments are coming from someone in the heartland. As this thread has indicated, there is much to the strategies and subleties of F1 that most Amercians may never understand or embrace. However, I believe that many factors must come together to produce a quality race that will interest more of our countrymen. I do not want to concede to the world that we are simply a NASCAR nation.

Also, J-Stylez, I am a big soccer fan, too and I believe that Amercian interest in the quality soccer that is played at the World Cup level is growing (even without much scoring), so I am encouraged on that front.

 

STLMINI, you're right, it's not America's fault for last year's debacle. It was just a cruddy situation. Personally, I think Bernie should look at the reaction given by the US fans with some different lenses. They weren't just upset; they were flippin' pissed. To me, this shows that the Formula 1 fans that show up to IMS every year are very passionate. This is a good sign, not a bad sign. It's up to the individuals that run F1 to apologize to that strong fan base and pledge their confidence in them by sticking it out here. I mean, can you imagine what could have happened if the infamous "6 car race" had taken place at Silverstone?! It would have been pandemonium. And it would have been a similar reaction everywhere else. Bernie's assessment of USGP fan is wrong, though I can imagine his frustration with the lack of sponsorship from US corporations.

Support and enthusiasm for Formula 1 in the United States is truly at a grass-roots level right now. F1 abandoned the US back in the 90's and due to the dominance (though I still find this hard to accept) of NASCAR during that hiatus, the mass following as all but forgotten F1 and it's simply going to take some time for it to recover.

PMC, thanks for your encouragement. Our nation and our people are very diverse and have many different stories/backgrounds. Even those in the heartland (like myself) have a true love and passion for F1 and yes, even soccer. I threw a party in full cooperation with Red Bull North America here in Omaha to inaugurate the 2006 Formula 1 World Championship. This event was open to anyone and encouraged the attendance of individuals that had little knowledge of the sport. As you are well aware, the race took place in Bahrain and was televised live on Speed. We started the party at midnight and partied all through the night until 5 a.m. when we promptly turned our attention to the race. Red Bull Corporate got news of what we did and come to find out, Nebraska has been the ONLY state to throw such a party...there is hope. If we can do this sort of thing in Nebraska, imagine what can be accomplished in larger areas! PMC, STLMINI and to all who follow this thread, let's keep the passion and hope alive!

PS: I love soccer and I love the World Cup and even though the US team looked terrible in 2006, it will simply drive us to work harder for 2010 in South Africa. We got four years guys, let's get some things worked out!

 

J-Stylez, great response. I like the idea of your F1 party; I may try that. I actually enjoy the time difference and dedication it takes to follow all of the races; I just wish they were all live on Speed.

 

Amen brother!

 

Bernie's just playing hardball with his comments about F1 in America. It's all politics and posturing, as usual.

Bernie is all about the bottom line, and the bottom line is sponsorship money and broadcast-rights money. He's going to take F1 to whatever countries provide the most money, and that does not include the US.

TV viewership is nil, so there is no broadcasting money and American corporations aren't going to spend any sponsorship money.

We don't allow tobacco advertising, so countries like Bahrain and Hungary take precedence when the schedule is set.

Heck, we can't even provide a decent race track.

 

I agree with bee1000n, unfortunately. I attended the last F1 race at Watkins Glen; that is a nicer track and venue than IMS.

 

Bee1000n's on the ball. this is just a negotiating tactic. On our side Joie Chitwood and Tony George have been saying things like F1 "owes" the IMS for the USGP's less than stellar financials. they want a subsidized formula race. Bernie just wants to Maximize his earnings. Truth be told, I've attended 12 GPs, and about the most "interesting" thing that ever happened was last year's FIAsco. Remember what they say about there being no bad publicity.

 

Go Alonso !

 

"Allez Regie !
Go Alonso"

It is refreshing to hear from an F1 fan who is not a MS worshipper. Feranando is already looking to the F1 championship and beyond Renault (which should make for an interesting 2007 season); absent complete disaster, Kimi and MS will not catch him this year but may give us some excellent racing as they try. Good, maybe great, driver on a great team with a great car; even if you are a fan of the competition, you must grant Alonso and Renault their due accolades.

 

great race today - best of the year so far. sooooooo glad to have watched it on speed instead of CBS.

go kimi!

 

Absolutely!

 

Thursday Pit lane Walkabout.

Practice Friday on Speed.

Saturday, Qualifying on Speed,
get my picks in for NAM Pick Six Challenge,
MINI car cruse 4 - 6pm downtown,
MINICCI/D&R picknick at 7.

Sunday 9AM at the Indy zoo for police escort into IMS,
Park on the back stretch of the oval,
Watch the race live with Free Michelin tickets
then when ever get home in Avon to watch the tape of the Speed broadcast.

It is going to be a FANTASTIC weekend!