Oh, that is sweet! So I take it you don't need to enter s sweepstakes to get free tickets and a chance to meet Danica...you can do that on you own? :-p
"The No. 43 car once driven by "King" Richard in all but three of his 200 Sprint Cup victories will be added to the Gillett stable as a fourth car, while the No. 45 car once driven by second- and third-generation drivers Kyle and Adam Petty will cease to exist."
"Chevrolet chose the 2008 Bologna Auto Show as the venue to take the wraps off its Cruze WTCC, a racing version of the sedan that will compete in the 2009 World Touring Car Championship."
"Now we know why Formula One team bosses were surprised by how much progress they made at cost-cutting talks in Monte Carlo this week. The reductions announced by the teams and the governing body, the FIA, today are startling. "
As for yesterday, Honda has cut F1 but not Motorcycle Racing team. Pedrosa and Dovizioso have been confirmed as the official pilots for next season MotoGP.
"Foxsports.com is reporting that a deal has been struck to merge Petty Enterprises, one of the most famous and longest running teams in NASCAR, with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. And by merger we mean swallowed up completely."
"Most teams - with the notable exception of Ferrari - are testing in Portugal over the next four days as they pit their new-look cars against each other on the track for the first time.
And it promises to be a fascinating few days as we see which technical departments have responded best to the challenges posed by this season's radical new rule changes - the biggest in the sport for 25 years."
"1938: German race car driver Bernd Rosemeyer drives his Auto Union streamliner to the unheard-of speed of 268.432 mph on a stretch of autobahn between Frankfurt and Darmstadt. Never before has anyone driven so fast, and never again has someone gone so fast on a public road."
"Ferrari is unique among car manufacturers. Automakers go racing so they can sell more cars. Ferrari sells cars so it can go racing. It's been that way since the first road-going Ferrari, the 166 Inter, was built in 1949. More than 36 percent of the sale price of every Ferrari that leaves a showroom goes directly to the F1 team. It used to be 100 percent before Ferrari partnered with Fiat in 1969."
Ferrari considered engine building an art, and to race someone else's engine — as builders like Colin Chapman and Bruce McLaren did with great success — was the ultimate heresy. Ferrari had names for such people — Garagiste! Assembliatore! — and he used them like epithets.
It should be. The team will continue with the same crew, both pilots and mechanics. The car fulfils the specs for this season, the new engines too. FIA should be interested in not loosing any valuable actor in this crisis time. FIA acts sometimes quite wrongly but always looking forward to keep the business moving.
BTW, Race Teams have had some meetings altogether to suggest their own innovations, both about car mechanics and race rules; as always, they consider latest FIA changes to be sort of foolish. Race Teams wish exert more control on the incessant changes FIA (actually Bernie Ecclestone) introduces from season to season to "cut expenses" and "improve the show". Race teams consider the current race rules are not understandable by the public; they consider too so many yearly mechanical changes oblige to spend much more money in research and development before the season than which is intended to be spared during the season.
All in all, Bernie Ecclestone does not want loose control on F1 and constructors want to gain it for themselves.
Thanks for that insight, Jose. It seems like every sport has never-ending issues with the governing bodies (and it really gets fun when a split happens and you wind up with competing organizations).
this weekend. Brawn GP being ahead other teams after preparatory trials and accused of founding a loophole in the regulations which allows them to run a taller diffuser.
"In Tokyo, one of the largest cities in the world, there are endless places to race. There are drag spots, drift spots and highway circuits where you can race for hours around the city. And there are insanely fast cars everywhere. Supras, Skylines, Silvias and Chasers, even the occasional American muscle car."
"TALLADEGA, Ala. – Seven fans sustained minor injuries after being struck by flying debris when Carl Edwards' car went airborne into the safety fence on the final lap of the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday."
Not only Ferrari but Red Bull and Toyota as well, and for the same reasons: the chaos FIA introduces changing F1 rules year after year.
In particular, FIA announced that each team should reduced its budget down to 45,000,000 Euros for both, next season car development and next season itself. This means less money for materials but also firing many excellently skilled engineers and other team employees.
Ferrari and others argued that this money and much more has been spent this season just to develop FIA fancies, e.g., KERS system (brake kinetic energy stored in a heavy battery) which has eventually revealed to be a nightmare for the teams. Only two teams used it last weekend in Barcelona.
FOTA (F1 association of constructors) is discussing this situation in a meeting scheduled for next May 24, one week before Monaco GP. Deadline to register car/teams for next season is next May 29.
As I understand the issue, the FIA is wanting to institute a "salary cap" for the teams, which, theoretically, levels the playing field for all competitors.
Only one of the four professional sporting leagues in the US does not have a salary cap at all - baseball. There are teams that spend less than $50 million on salaries and other teams that spend over $300 million.
I guess the question is -- do the teams share in the revenue equally? Again, baseball teams have their own local revenue streams (TV rights, mostly) .. the team in New York City can negotiate a much larger contract for TV rights than the team in Minneapolis.
Problem is the "salary cap" won't be of equal height for all teams. Those adopting KERS and other FIA technical recommendations will be allowed to wear top hats, those not following them will get only berets. And FIA changes its recommendations year after year like only a capricious child can do. For instance, when teams asked FIA early last summer if diffusors would be allowed, FIA say they would not. Then Brawn Mercedes took advantage of an ambiguous regulatory clause and Brawn Mercedes cars came with diffusors that were declared legal even after the protest of the teams that had renounced to them.
It's only the old fight between FIA and FOCA fight to control F1. In this case I favour FOCA, yet it is true a sort of counterweight is necessary to keep balance for the sake of F1 and the so called "little" teams. If only FIA decisions hadn't consistently got the fidgets :sick:
I can't say I've been too impressed with how the owners of the Tour de France run that race either.
When I lived up north, the local softball leagues had a huge falling out, complete with lawsuits. This is probably more of the same, just with bigger dollar amounts.
Hardly can I understand what happens in that circus since recently. Is it as if all of them would together kill the chicken of the golden eggs.
If only, one can tell everyone is speaking about F1 now: bad publicity still is big publicity, or whatever the saying goes. Though FIA and FOCA have managed in the past to stop fights before disaster, may be this time they cannot do it.
Regards, Jose PS: Here is the post eventually, where it belongs. (I posted it other thread by mistake!!)
Yep, this is a culebrón. I hope most can understand this word; for those who cannot, a culebrón is an endless series of ridiculous quarrels were not for the money involved. Sort of that "Dallas" series which ended being filmed in the USSR or in Russia, I cannot remember anymore. :confuse:
Waiting for Ferrari's decision. Could them make up a solid scape to continue in F1 with honnor? I read something on it last weekend. But, sincerely, I did not pay much attention to it. Looked like smoke made to distract all and everyone.
Comments
Petty Enterprises to merge with Gillett (CNN)
Honda is looking to cut costs by $216 million. Honda also has eliminated workers and reduced production to cut costs."
Formula One Presence Is Victim of Honda Cost-Cutting
More on the Audi's pullout and its effect on diesel engine development:
Audi To Bow Out Of U.S. Race Series That Helped Develop TDI Diesel Technology
Chevrolet Cruze WTCC (Inside Line)
F1 teams agree on drastic cost cuts (Telegraph)
MotoGP 2009 provisional entry list released
On the other side PSA Group may be entering F1 circus next season.
Regards,
Jose
Details here:
American Honda withdraws from AMA roadracing for '09 (Sport Rider)
Detroit Grand Prix Called Off
The Final Days of Petty Enterprises: Team Set to Merge with Gillett Evernham Motorsports
here's bono driving in honor
http://www.mywrcireland.com/viral/id/57c0531e732
Dakar Rally 1st. Week
Official Site
Regards,
Jose
And it promises to be a fascinating few days as we see which technical departments have responded best to the challenges posed by this season's radical new rule changes - the biggest in the sport for 25 years."
Renault and Williams unveil new cars for Formula One season (Telegraph)
Ferrari F60
(Video recorded from Massa helmet in Mugello early this month. I am sorry the article is written in Spanish. Enjoy the pics!)
Regards,
Jose
Jan. 28, 1938: The Passing of the Silver Comet (Wired)
Feb. 18, 1898: Enzo Ferrari Gets the Green Flag (Wired)
Regards,
Jose
Ross Brawn plus 2.4 litre Mercedes-Benz FO108W
Regards,
Jose
BTW, Race Teams have had some meetings altogether to suggest their own innovations, both about car mechanics and race rules; as always, they consider latest FIA changes to be sort of foolish. Race Teams wish exert more control on the incessant changes FIA (actually Bernie Ecclestone) introduces from season to season to "cut expenses" and "improve the show". Race teams consider the current race rules are not understandable by the public; they consider too so many yearly mechanical changes oblige to spend much more money in research and development before the season than which is intended to be spared during the season.
All in all, Bernie Ecclestone does not want loose control on F1 and constructors want to gain it for themselves.
Regards,
Jose
link title
Good season to the teams and to all of the followers/watchers!
Regards,
Jose
Tokyo: Underground Street Racing Paradise
7 fans injured at Talladega Superspeedway (Yahoo)
video link
"Officers said they have seen a drastic reduction in illegal street racing since Beat the Heat started in 2007.
"We used to have races in the warehouse district almost every Friday, Saturday night. They've completely stopped," Bradley said.
Racers told Local 10 that they actually prefer the track.
"It's better and it's safer," one racer said.
The next Beat the Heat race is May 23 at 7 p.m. at the County Line Drag Way on Okeechobee Road."
Florida Officers Battle Drivers in Legal Street Races (Officer.com)
In particular, FIA announced that each team should reduced its budget down to 45,000,000 Euros for both, next season car development and next season itself. This means less money for materials but also firing many excellently skilled engineers and other team employees.
Ferrari and others argued that this money and much more has been spent this season just to develop FIA fancies, e.g., KERS system (brake kinetic energy stored in a heavy battery) which has eventually revealed to be a nightmare for the teams. Only two teams used it last weekend in Barcelona.
FOTA (F1 association of constructors) is discussing this situation in a meeting scheduled for next May 24, one week before Monaco GP. Deadline to register car/teams for next season is next May 29.
Regards,
Jose
Regards,
Jose
Only one of the four professional sporting leagues in the US does not have a salary cap at all - baseball. There are teams that spend less than $50 million on salaries and other teams that spend over $300 million.
I guess the question is -- do the teams share in the revenue equally? Again, baseball teams have their own local revenue streams (TV rights, mostly) .. the team in New York City can negotiate a much larger contract for TV rights than the team in Minneapolis.
How true is this for F1?
It's only the old fight between FIA and FOCA fight to control F1. In this case I favour FOCA, yet it is true a sort of counterweight is necessary to keep balance for the sake of F1 and the so called "little" teams. If only FIA decisions hadn't consistently got the fidgets :sick:
Regards,
Jose
When I lived up north, the local softball leagues had a huge falling out, complete with lawsuits. This is probably more of the same, just with bigger dollar amounts.
Londontimes
Regards,
Jose
If only, one can tell everyone is speaking about F1 now: bad publicity still is big publicity, or whatever the saying goes. Though FIA and FOCA have managed in the past to stop fights before disaster, may be this time they cannot do it.
Regards,
Jose
PS: Here is the post eventually, where it belongs. (I posted it other thread by mistake!!)
Regards,
Jose
You can even Ask Dub Schwartz!
The internecine war has turned out to be more entertaining than the actual racing. :P
Waiting for Ferrari's decision. Could them make up a solid scape to continue in F1 with honnor? I read something on it last weekend. But, sincerely, I did not pay much attention to it. Looked like smoke made to distract all and everyone.
Regards,
Jose
Culebrón? Can you make mine a double?
Ferrari returns to the fold — as all other teams, FOTA announced today — by signing the agreement to keep racing next year in F1.
Regards,
Jose