That would be (to use Felipe's favorite word) FANTASTIC! Actually, I think he pronounces it "fantathtic".....

I'll send you a pm. thanks

 

F1 night race given green light

Formula One will stage a night race for the first time in its history in 2008.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/moto...ne/6911269.stm

 

...then, at the end of lap 30, they will throw a yellow and invert the field!

Man I better not say that too loud.

 

Scandals, night racing.... I feel like I'm watching the beginning of the end of F1.

 

Autocourse

I was looking at pre-ordering the new Autocourse annualy from Amazon, and lo and behold: Instead of Kimi on the cover, it's Lewis bloody Hamilton.

Just pisses me off. Traditionally, the new world champion is always on the cover of Autocourse. Here's to hoping that it was wishful thinking on the publishers part, and Kimi wil be on the cover when it's actually released.

 

eh, scandals have always been there.

as for the night racing, well...I'll hold off on judgement. It can't be any worse than the Pheonix races.

 

Do you REALLY think they would put Hamilton's photo on the cover?
How many years has AUTOCOURSE been published and how many times have they had someone OTHER than the WC on the cover?
Relax and breath deeply........
Don't worry, your beloved Kimi will be on the cover.

 

Kimi's not my beloved anything. I've got quote a collection of Autocourse going back a few decades. All of them have the WDC on the cover.

 

Or summer races in Dallas, or a race track set up in Caesar's Palace's parking lot.

 

"Former world champion Fernando Alonso has left McLaren after agreeing an early release from his contract.

McLaren and Alonso have had an acrimonious relationship this season and a team statement said that both parties had "agreed to move on". Alonso is free to join another team in 2008, and his agent said neither party would pay a financial penalty.

Red Bull and Renault are the favourites to sign him, and BBC Sport understands Red Bull are the more likely option.

Alonso's relationship with McLaren soured following a series of rows with team boss Ron Dennis this season. "I know there have been suggestions of favouritism within the team but in the end I was always provided with an equal opportunity to win."

McLaren described the split as a "mutual parting of the ways", adding: "Both parties believe that this was the right decision.

Alonso said: "Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out. I continue to believe that McLaren is a great team. "Yes, we have had our ups and downs during the season, which has made it extra challenging for all of us, and it is not a secret that I never really felt at home.

"I know there have been suggestions of favouritism within the team and people say a lot of things in the heat of battle, but in the end I was always provided with an equal opportunity to win."

Dennis added: "He is a great driver but for some reason the combination of McLaren-Mercedes and Fernando has not really worked out, and in the end we reached a stage where none of us could find a way to move forward."

It is not known who will replace Alonso as Lewis Hamilton's team-mate, but Williams's Nico Rosberg and Renault's Heikki Kovalainen are the favourites. McLaren have allowed one of the finest drivers of his generation to slip through their fingers to ensure they hold on to another

Alonso finished 2007 tied on points with team-mate Lewis Hamilton and only one adrift of Raikkonen. He joined the team this season on a three-year contract worth a total of 50 million euros (£34.7m). But he spent much of his time at McLaren under a cloud.

His initial misgivings about the level of support McLaren were giving to Hamilton, who was in his debut season this year, soon degenerated into a series of rows with Dennis. These became public in the course of the spy scandal that rocked the sport this season, when McLaren were fined $100m (£49.2m) and thrown out of the constructors' championship after being found guilty of being in possession of confidential Ferrari documents.

Alonso became central to the story when, in a row with Dennis at the Hungarian Grand Prix in August, he threatened to reveal incriminating e-mails to governing body the FIA. Although Alonso soon apologised, Dennis had already phoned FIA president Max Mosley himself, starting the chain of events that led to McLaren's punishment.

McLaren boss Dennis and Alonso had a difficult relationship. Following those events, the relationship between Hamilton and Alonso also deteriorated, with both saying they would rather not partner the other again for another season. Both men later said the antagonism between them had been overplayed by the media.

It has been widely speculated that wherever Alonso ends up next season, it will be for only a year before moving to Ferrari. Ferrari last month extended Felipe Massa's contract to 2010, which appeared to end the possibility of Alonso joining in 2009 because Raikkonen is also contracted to the team for another two years.

But Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is known to be a fan of Alonso, and said after the conclusion to the championship last month: "Alonso is world-class in every sense. I have appreciated very much his sportsmanship. He lost by one point and I believe it wasn't his fault."

It is possible that a vacancy could be made for Alonso by paying up Massa's contract at the end of next season."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/moto...ne/7074737.stm

 

Good for Fred . . .

Despite his petulance I still like him . . . I can't fathom why . . . I guess his driving is simply too sensational to ignore

However, I can't see him at Ferrari. Would he really place himself in another situation where he is not the clearly designated No. 1?

 

Luca once said he'd love to have him at ferrari, so of course everyone seems to lock onto that, forgetting that Kimi and Felipe are locked in.

If he goes to Renault or Red Bull, and turns those cars around, that should settle at least one argument.

 

I think Renault has shown real significant improvement thru the 2007 season, and Alonso is a good developement driver - if he gets the personal #1 attention he feels he deserves, he and the team will flourish. I also heard he was prohibited from joining a "factory" team so that may put him at Red Bull, who would love to have him.......................but wouldn't this just be the same situation with Mark and/or David C as to who would be the #1 guy?

At any rate, a lot of seats are going to be changed this fall, it'll be interesting to see who lands where............

Another team I think is being overlooked and will be a real factor next season is BMW. Two good seasoned drivers and a team that keeps getting better every race, they're going to be in the thick of it next year..........

 

There was a rumor that Ronidiot was going to forbid Alonso from joining a "factory" team, but nothing I've read yet has verified this.

If I had been Fred, I would have told Ron to either let this be a clean, no strings split, or life will continue to be miserable at McLaren because I wouldn't be going anywhere.

 

McLaren lost their appeal!

 

That cat is so funny

 

While we are waiting for Alonso to drop the bomb, does anyone have any ideas on hotels for the 08 Canadian GP that won't break the bank?

 

Any thoughts about the 10 year engine freeze to begin this season?

 

I'm more interested in what other driver assists might get the hook. Love to see launch control get yanked. The starts would be so much more interesting!

 

Alonso's options are drying up fast!

Red Bull says no way Jose, cause he wants a one year contract.

Which tells me MaxN is probably right, he's got an '09 deal at Ferrari.........

Toyota hired Timo Glock........

BMW and Williams are happy with their drivers, TYVM...........

Renault is still a possibility, but they don't want a one year deal either......

Toro Rosso is set with the two Sebastian's..........

Ferrari's set for '08 with Massa and Kimi........

Super friends Aguri is set, and I think Fred would sit out a year than go that far back on the grid anyway, same with Spyker.....

So, who's left? Honda.............and Renault...........

Neither wants a one year driver deal, so now what does he do? Go back to McLaren? Would they even consider that? Seems he's painted himself into a corner..........

 

He goes to NASCAR.

 

I think his break with McLaren was pretty final.

I hope Fred's not counting on Ferrari. Things seem kind of fluid over there. They have Kimi, and now Schu is acting like he wants to drive again.

The boy better sign PDQ.

 

Hmmm.....seems like Fred is interested in Ruben's seat. Had a seat fitting today....

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/291120...t-fitting.html

Maybe Ross B wants to be on a winning team again and having Fred around will make that happen.

 

Fred could do worse than to help build a team with Brawn.