| TimStevens | 04-07-2006 01:29 PM |
Speaking up's one thing... puffing up your chest and mouthing off when you're wrong is another.
[img]http://www.jrj-socrates.com/Cartoon%20Pics/Warner%20Brothers/Major%20Looney%20Toons/Henery_Hawk_300.gif[/img]
Lemme yat 'em!
[img]http://www.jrj-socrates.com/Cartoon%20Pics/Warner%20Brothers/Major%20Looney%20Toons/Henery_Hawk_300.gif[/img]
Lemme yat 'em!
| artkevin | 04-07-2006 01:31 PM |
He sounds like a d*ck but he's being honest so I give him props. Its not so much what he said that bothers me more of who he said it to. DC by all accounts is a stand up guy and even without that he is basically the leader of the team. STR and RB are considered to be in the same stable. I wish Speed would have said that to someone else but hey, it happens.
One thing that I bring to others when talking about SS's attitude is that Lance Armstrong isn't really that nice of a guy either. He's a hero and a warrior and that's what American's want. If Speed preforms his attitude shouldn't get in the way too much.
One thing that I bring to others when talking about SS's attitude is that Lance Armstrong isn't really that nice of a guy either. He's a hero and a warrior and that's what American's want. If Speed preforms his attitude shouldn't get in the way too much.
| Ferg | 04-07-2006 01:32 PM |
Henry Hawk! :lol:
I'd like to know what DC said to him, if anything, to provoke the response before I pass any sort of judgement.
I'd like to know what DC said to him, if anything, to provoke the response before I pass any sort of judgement.
| BriDrive | 04-07-2006 01:34 PM |
Its hard to judge the Speed's comment without seeing/hearing/reading the whole conversation between DC et al.
All we have is the dramatic "sound byte" insult...I'm not going to over react or define my impression of him or his US ambassadorship status based on that....
BriDrive
All we have is the dramatic "sound byte" insult...I'm not going to over react or define my impression of him or his US ambassadorship status based on that....
BriDrive
| finnRex | 04-07-2006 01:35 PM |
[QUOTE=artkevin]One thing that I bring to others when talking about SS's attitude is that Lance Armstrong isn't really that nice of a guy either. He's a hero and a warrior and that's what American's want. If Speed preforms his attitude shouldn't get in the way too much.[/QUOTE]
I agree that if Scott Speed performs, his attitude shouldn't get in the way too much.
BUT, to say something this early on in his F1 career, and to say it to DC ain't cool. He is yet to prove himself, being as he is still yet to score a point. Also, like you said, DC is a stand up guy on all accounts. To say something as classless like that to DC is just garbage.
I do respect his "fight", but he'll have to do a better job of picking his battles.
(something I could use some practice on as well :lol: )
Mika
I agree that if Scott Speed performs, his attitude shouldn't get in the way too much.
BUT, to say something this early on in his F1 career, and to say it to DC ain't cool. He is yet to prove himself, being as he is still yet to score a point. Also, like you said, DC is a stand up guy on all accounts. To say something as classless like that to DC is just garbage.
I do respect his "fight", but he'll have to do a better job of picking his battles.
(something I could use some practice on as well :lol: )
Mika
| BriDrive | 04-07-2006 01:35 PM |
---------------------
<never mind> :rolleyes:
<never mind> :rolleyes:
| Ferg | 04-07-2006 01:42 PM |
Nice! What do I win? :)
I'm giving Speed plenty of time to adjust to the F1 universe, and if along the way he pisses off a few people that's fine with me. Like I already said, there's too many choirboys in the sport already, so the occasional "**** off" between drivers is a bit refreshing honestly.
Now had he said it during the news conference.
I'm giving Speed plenty of time to adjust to the F1 universe, and if along the way he pisses off a few people that's fine with me. Like I already said, there's too many choirboys in the sport already, so the occasional "**** off" between drivers is a bit refreshing honestly.
Now had he said it during the news conference.
| StuBeck | 04-07-2006 02:51 PM |
I think its a good thing he has a prsonality, that will pobably keep him in the team longer if his speed can't do it (althought he's starting to thrash Liuzzi so that might not be an issue.) I honestly odn't think his statement is that bad, although the context matters more then anything. He sort of reminds me of Irvine getting into the arguement with Senna at the '93 Jap GP where Senna got drunk, tried to hit Irvine, and Irvine fell off the chair he was on...that was made to be a lot more then it really was too (most just think Senna hit Irvine directly after the event.)
Toyota is talking about leaving the sport, which I'm honeslty not that surprised at. They haven't done much while spending the crapton of money they've spent, so agreeing to be in the sport for another 6 years at 300mil a year doesn't make sense.
Toyota is talking about leaving the sport, which I'm honeslty not that surprised at. They haven't done much while spending the crapton of money they've spent, so agreeing to be in the sport for another 6 years at 300mil a year doesn't make sense.
| Ferg | 04-07-2006 03:07 PM |
[QUOTE=StuBeck]He sort of reminds me of Irvine getting into the arguement with Senna at the '93 Jap GP where Senna got drunk, tried to hit Irvine, and Irvine fell off the chair he was on...that was made to be a lot more then it really was too (most just think Senna hit Irvine directly after the event.) [/QUOTE]
There's an audio recording of that exchange floating around the net somewhere, but I can't seem to find it.
Funny stuff.
:lol:
There's an audio recording of that exchange floating around the net somewhere, but I can't seem to find it.
Funny stuff.
:lol:
| StuBeck | 04-07-2006 06:14 PM |
I heard Irvine's account of it on a program about Senna, maybe in 99. It was pretty funny cuz he was talking about the entire thing and how he got Senna pissed by just staying calm the entire time and correcting him on what he had done. apparently Berger got the whole thing started by getting Senna wasted :lol:
| meebs | 04-07-2006 10:41 PM |
[QUOTE=BriDrive]Its hard to judge the Speed's comment without seeing/hearing/reading the whole conversation between DC et al.
All we have is the dramatic "sound byte" insult...I'm not going to over react or define my impression of him or his US ambassadorship status based on that....
BriDrive[/QUOTE]
Nail on the head... What's with everyone bashing on the guy's "attitude" when we hear only one side of the story? Buying into the sensationalism of it would fall right in with "ignorance" of the sport, I would say... :lol:
Sometimes even Rick James needs to be put in check. :disco:
All we have is the dramatic "sound byte" insult...I'm not going to over react or define my impression of him or his US ambassadorship status based on that....
BriDrive[/QUOTE]
Nail on the head... What's with everyone bashing on the guy's "attitude" when we hear only one side of the story? Buying into the sensationalism of it would fall right in with "ignorance" of the sport, I would say... :lol:
Sometimes even Rick James needs to be put in check. :disco:
| Bonzo | 04-08-2006 12:14 AM |
I agree on hearing both sides of the story. Even if Speed mouths off it's still OK. It's entertainment! :banana: I have yet to find many drivers with the fire in the belly to be all calm and collected. I'd prolly do the same damn thing.
Keep the fire burning Scott.
Keep the fire burning Scott.
| JoD | 04-10-2006 12:55 PM |
Where is everyone? :(
Maybe a little funnay from Planet f1 will bring everybody back....
Schumi's Secret Diary: Melbourne
Friday April 07 2006
He is the driving force behind Ferrari, the undisputed king of F1 - and he has an exclusive column here on Planet-F1...
Hello tifosis.
It doesn't seem so long ago that I was talking to you before the grand prix at Monza. Some of you may be remembering that my manager Willi Weber announced I would be telling everyone what I was doing with my career by March 2006 and now we are in April and I am not telling anyone yet.
There is a good answer to this. Ask Sabine.
Last time I gave you my insight we did not have such a problem with our piston rings. And this is piston us off, believe me. What with our only-a-little-bit flexible wings and the engine vibration, the Ferrari 248F1 is not quite the kind of car Rory Byrne would have produced for us, though I am very careful not to mention this loudly except in the ear shots of Ross and Jean.
They are working all they can to cure the mechanical problems, and the other driver problem also. Felipe Massa is young and unused to Ferrari speak. When Jean came on the radio in Malaysia to tell him that he was very marginal on fuel - code for slow down and let The Schum come past - he kept on going faster and faster.
Now after Australia he will have to pay more attention as he has caused many repair problems crashing the car twice. I know I also had a small impact with the barrier, but my accident was caused by a well-known track bump (unlike Christian Klien who is a well-known movable bump).
The Australian officials were not appreciative of my suggestion to remove it from the track afterwards; one of them said to me: "So |Schumi, you mean Sato and Ide can steer round it and you can't."
I said, "Yes, but they have half an hour to see it coming."
It was part of my quest to become 50% funnier in 2006, but I am not so sure they appreciated my humour.
It was very funny to read that Max Mosley thinks Flavio Briatore is the best example of an F1 boss. Quite honestly and obviously Jean Todt is the best example of a team boss because he does not lose his temper like a drunken woman on a Saturday night. Flavio likes making the deals yes and he is very funny when you can understand what he is saying, but he is not good at keeping his temper.
Only last weekend he was telling Fisico unspeakable things on the radio in Italian (so Pat told me afterwards at Melbourne Airport) this is not good for motivation. And of course he is remote controlled by Bernie Ecclestone. Now that Eddie Jordan has retired, Bernie has only one glove puppet to play with. Perhaps that is why Max thinks he is such a good boss. That and the fact he is not called Paul Stoddart.
It was a big surprise to me that Mike - The Doberman - Gascoyne has been sacked by Toyota. The last time I heard he was travelling to Germany every day by plane, which is never the best way to commute to work, both for the environment and also for his family. Though I imagine his Frequent Flyer points must have been very good indeed.
From conversations with Ralf I think he wanted to take some of the factory and put it in England, but Toyota wanted to keep it in Cologne. It is not good for their future because there are only a limited number of great technical directors. I can easily see him moving to McLaren - though he would have to become more like Mike - the lovable Colly dog - Gascoyne working for Ron - the ****zu - Dennis.
As for my future, I am looking forward to a storm-back at Imola. It will be fitting and touching if I can pay tribute to Ayrton by beating his pole record at the track he is most remembered at. It will also stop people asking me THAT question I hate the most, along with: "What do you think of Valentino Rossi?"
Anyway, back to my quest at being 50% funnier
Here's a good one: Why do Elephants have big ears?
Shall I tell you why?
Because noddy wouldn't pay the ransom money.
Yes, I didn't understand it either, but Ross laughed.
The Schum
Maybe a little funnay from Planet f1 will bring everybody back....
Schumi's Secret Diary: Melbourne
Friday April 07 2006
He is the driving force behind Ferrari, the undisputed king of F1 - and he has an exclusive column here on Planet-F1...
Hello tifosis.
It doesn't seem so long ago that I was talking to you before the grand prix at Monza. Some of you may be remembering that my manager Willi Weber announced I would be telling everyone what I was doing with my career by March 2006 and now we are in April and I am not telling anyone yet.
There is a good answer to this. Ask Sabine.
Last time I gave you my insight we did not have such a problem with our piston rings. And this is piston us off, believe me. What with our only-a-little-bit flexible wings and the engine vibration, the Ferrari 248F1 is not quite the kind of car Rory Byrne would have produced for us, though I am very careful not to mention this loudly except in the ear shots of Ross and Jean.
They are working all they can to cure the mechanical problems, and the other driver problem also. Felipe Massa is young and unused to Ferrari speak. When Jean came on the radio in Malaysia to tell him that he was very marginal on fuel - code for slow down and let The Schum come past - he kept on going faster and faster.
Now after Australia he will have to pay more attention as he has caused many repair problems crashing the car twice. I know I also had a small impact with the barrier, but my accident was caused by a well-known track bump (unlike Christian Klien who is a well-known movable bump).
The Australian officials were not appreciative of my suggestion to remove it from the track afterwards; one of them said to me: "So |Schumi, you mean Sato and Ide can steer round it and you can't."
I said, "Yes, but they have half an hour to see it coming."
It was part of my quest to become 50% funnier in 2006, but I am not so sure they appreciated my humour.
It was very funny to read that Max Mosley thinks Flavio Briatore is the best example of an F1 boss. Quite honestly and obviously Jean Todt is the best example of a team boss because he does not lose his temper like a drunken woman on a Saturday night. Flavio likes making the deals yes and he is very funny when you can understand what he is saying, but he is not good at keeping his temper.
Only last weekend he was telling Fisico unspeakable things on the radio in Italian (so Pat told me afterwards at Melbourne Airport) this is not good for motivation. And of course he is remote controlled by Bernie Ecclestone. Now that Eddie Jordan has retired, Bernie has only one glove puppet to play with. Perhaps that is why Max thinks he is such a good boss. That and the fact he is not called Paul Stoddart.
It was a big surprise to me that Mike - The Doberman - Gascoyne has been sacked by Toyota. The last time I heard he was travelling to Germany every day by plane, which is never the best way to commute to work, both for the environment and also for his family. Though I imagine his Frequent Flyer points must have been very good indeed.
From conversations with Ralf I think he wanted to take some of the factory and put it in England, but Toyota wanted to keep it in Cologne. It is not good for their future because there are only a limited number of great technical directors. I can easily see him moving to McLaren - though he would have to become more like Mike - the lovable Colly dog - Gascoyne working for Ron - the ****zu - Dennis.
As for my future, I am looking forward to a storm-back at Imola. It will be fitting and touching if I can pay tribute to Ayrton by beating his pole record at the track he is most remembered at. It will also stop people asking me THAT question I hate the most, along with: "What do you think of Valentino Rossi?"
Anyway, back to my quest at being 50% funnier
Here's a good one: Why do Elephants have big ears?
Shall I tell you why?
Because noddy wouldn't pay the ransom money.
Yes, I didn't understand it either, but Ross laughed.
The Schum
| artkevin | 04-10-2006 01:28 PM |
My favorite parts:
They are working all they can to cure the mechanical problems, and the other driver problem also. Felipe Massa is young and unused to Ferrari speak. When Jean came on the radio in Malaysia to tell him that he was very marginal on fuel - code for slow down and let The Schum come past - he kept on going faster and faster.
The Australian officials were not appreciative of my suggestion to remove it from the track afterwards; one of them said to me: "So |Schumi, you mean Sato and Ide can steer round it and you can't."
I said, "Yes, but they have half an hour to see it coming."
They are working all they can to cure the mechanical problems, and the other driver problem also. Felipe Massa is young and unused to Ferrari speak. When Jean came on the radio in Malaysia to tell him that he was very marginal on fuel - code for slow down and let The Schum come past - he kept on going faster and faster.
The Australian officials were not appreciative of my suggestion to remove it from the track afterwards; one of them said to me: "So |Schumi, you mean Sato and Ide can steer round it and you can't."
I said, "Yes, but they have half an hour to see it coming."
| JoD | 04-10-2006 01:29 PM |
[QUOTE=artkevin]
The Australian officials were not appreciative of my suggestion to remove it from the track afterwards; one of them said to me: "So |Schumi, you mean Sato and Ide can steer round it and you can't."
I said, "Yes, but they have half an hour to see it coming."[/QUOTE]
That was friggin hysterical. Best line of the whole darned thing. :lol:
I also enjoyed him calling Christian Klien a "movable bump". Nice.
The Australian officials were not appreciative of my suggestion to remove it from the track afterwards; one of them said to me: "So |Schumi, you mean Sato and Ide can steer round it and you can't."
I said, "Yes, but they have half an hour to see it coming."[/QUOTE]
That was friggin hysterical. Best line of the whole darned thing. :lol:
I also enjoyed him calling Christian Klien a "movable bump". Nice.
| Ferg | 04-10-2006 01:33 PM |
[QUOTE=JoD]Ron - the ****zu - Dennis[/QUOTE]
:lol:
Sorry for the lack of posting Jody, slow week for F1.
:lol:
Sorry for the lack of posting Jody, slow week for F1.
| Bonzo | 04-10-2006 01:36 PM |
JoD, thanks for the read. It was funny and a side of Shuey not many (including myself) see. Assuming he wrote that. I guess he's not that bad of a bloke. ;)
| JoD | 04-10-2006 02:48 PM |
[QUOTE=Bonzo]JoD, thanks for the read. It was funny and a side of Shuey not many (including myself) see. Assuming he wrote that. I guess he's not that bad of a bloke. ;)[/QUOTE]
Actually Bonzo - Planet F1 puts out these "Sekret Schumi Diaries" every few races. I continue to post them when I come across them as they are always a good laugh. I think some brilliant mind over there writes these. (Although if Schumi really did write them himself, I have a new level of respect for the man.)
Ferg - No worries about the lack of posts. It's not your fault they aren't crankin' out the fun in the sport in the off weeks.
Just missed all my F1 buds on this forum... :D
Actually Bonzo - Planet F1 puts out these "Sekret Schumi Diaries" every few races. I continue to post them when I come across them as they are always a good laugh. I think some brilliant mind over there writes these. (Although if Schumi really did write them himself, I have a new level of respect for the man.)
Ferg - No worries about the lack of posts. It's not your fault they aren't crankin' out the fun in the sport in the off weeks.
Just missed all my F1 buds on this forum... :D
| Bonzo | 04-11-2006 12:03 AM |
hehe, I guess I can keep on dissing Shuey, since it seems to be a ghost writer. :p
| meebs | 04-11-2006 12:13 AM |
OT but interesting. I have a left handed desk calander that has birthdays and other lefty trivia. Today the trivia was "racing lefties".
Senna
Johnny Herbert
Karl Wendlinger
Valentino Rossi
Senna
Johnny Herbert
Karl Wendlinger
Valentino Rossi
| JoD | 04-11-2006 08:11 AM |
[QUOTE=Bonzo]hehe, I guess I can keep on dissing Shuey, since it seems to be a ghost writer. :p[/QUOTE]
Dis away, my friend. I'll join in with you... Down with the red evil, I always say. :devil:
*Prays every day that Kimi won't go to Ferrari* :(
Dis away, my friend. I'll join in with you... Down with the red evil, I always say. :devil:
*Prays every day that Kimi won't go to Ferrari* :(
| Ferg | 04-11-2006 09:56 AM |
Still not much going on this week...
[QUOTE]Red Bull boss demands more from Klien
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, April 11th 2006, 09:05 GMT
David Coulthard's hopes of remaining at Red Bull Racing next year have received a major boost from team owner Dietrich Mateschitz - who has claimed that Christian Klien is the one under pressure to keep his seat.
Although Klien has outqualified Coulthard twice so far this season, having achieved that feat eight times last year, Mateschitz has said that he still expects more from the young Austrian driver.
Speaking about speculation suggesting that Red Bull still want Klien to become stronger in comparison with Coulthard, Mateschitz said: "That is correct. We need two strong drivers. The benchmark is the race.
"If you look at 2005, David got 24 points and Christian nine. Even if you consider that Klien did not compete in four races, that remains the position.
"We expect from a young driver that he shall be as quick as David. It has to be the goal for Felipe Massa to be as quick as Michael Schumacher, and Nico Rosberg must equal Mark Webber, at the latest in his second year.
"If we invest say 50 million dollars *into a wind tunnel, into Ferrari engines and to get Adrian Newey, and the benefit of all this makes the car one second quicker, it simply cannot be that a driver loses that second in comparison with the other.
"So the logical consequence will be that we need the quickest driver we can lay hands on for 2007, when we shall run with the first car under the guidance of Adrian Newey. I expect that the Ferrari engine will be reliable then. The driver cannot be the weakest link."
Mateschitz admits that Red Bull are looking around at the drivers' market at the moment and, although he acknowledges that Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso are the best three in the sport, he suggests that beyond them there is probably no better answer for his team than sticking with Coulthard.
"After those three there is a slight gap and then you have drivers such as (Juan Pablo) Montoya and so forth," he said. "But bluntly, they are second choice.
"Our long-term plan is to have one or more drivers among our talent search programs being able one day to be among the best four drivers in the world. The effort to find such a driver is quite big. Can it be Klien? (Scott) Speed? (Vitantonio) Liuzzi?
"Perhaps it is too early to tell. Then we have (Michael) Ammermueller, (John) Edwards and (Neel) Jani. Sebastian Vettel is on loan to BMW for two years.
"But we all know how quick David Coulthard can be, when he is fully motivated. He still has it and he is extremely keen on driving a Newey car again."
When asked whether he would rank Coulthard in the same bracket at Montoya, who has been strongly linked with a move to Red Bull Racing, Mateschitz said: "Yes, I do."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]BMW set to adopt seamless shift
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, April 11th 2006, 10:03 GMT
BMW-Sauber are set to follow the example of McLaren, Honda and Williams and adopt a seamless shift gearbox for the start of next season, autosport.com has learned.
The seamless shift system allows drivers to change gear without any break in the delivery of power. This can be worth up to a few tenths of a second per lap - which adds up to several seconds over the course of an entire Grand Prix distance.
McLaren and Honda were believed to be the first teams to adopt the system, despite some suggestions that the technology could be clamped down on because it was viewed by some as a form of illegal Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).
However, with the FIA happy with the systems, Williams followed suit at the start of this season and have put their seamless shift technology into action.
Now, BMW-Sauber are likely to be next to adopt the system. BMW technicians in Munich are already working hard at developing a seamless shift gearbox as part of their work to create the full powertrain on the 2007 car.
BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen has confirmed that the work on the seamless gearbox is underway but has made it clear that even if the company get the system working well this year it will not be run before the start of the 2007 season.
"It would have been too much investment to introduce it for 2006 already," he said.
Theissen has also confirmed that BMW will stick with a titanium gearbox casing for the foreseeable future, despite the obvious benefits of a carbon fibre unit.
"The difference in weight with carbon fibre is minimal," he explained. "We are talking about one kilogramme here, but it is much more complex and costly to build a carbon fibre gearbox."[/QUOTE]
11 days until San Marino. :D
Don't forget to check out the [url=http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=980143]->Motorsport Results from Around the Globe<-[/url] thread to keep track of guys like Lewis Hamilton, Mika Hakkinen, and Sebastian Vettel.
[QUOTE]Red Bull boss demands more from Klien
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, April 11th 2006, 09:05 GMT
David Coulthard's hopes of remaining at Red Bull Racing next year have received a major boost from team owner Dietrich Mateschitz - who has claimed that Christian Klien is the one under pressure to keep his seat.
Although Klien has outqualified Coulthard twice so far this season, having achieved that feat eight times last year, Mateschitz has said that he still expects more from the young Austrian driver.
Speaking about speculation suggesting that Red Bull still want Klien to become stronger in comparison with Coulthard, Mateschitz said: "That is correct. We need two strong drivers. The benchmark is the race.
"If you look at 2005, David got 24 points and Christian nine. Even if you consider that Klien did not compete in four races, that remains the position.
"We expect from a young driver that he shall be as quick as David. It has to be the goal for Felipe Massa to be as quick as Michael Schumacher, and Nico Rosberg must equal Mark Webber, at the latest in his second year.
"If we invest say 50 million dollars *into a wind tunnel, into Ferrari engines and to get Adrian Newey, and the benefit of all this makes the car one second quicker, it simply cannot be that a driver loses that second in comparison with the other.
"So the logical consequence will be that we need the quickest driver we can lay hands on for 2007, when we shall run with the first car under the guidance of Adrian Newey. I expect that the Ferrari engine will be reliable then. The driver cannot be the weakest link."
Mateschitz admits that Red Bull are looking around at the drivers' market at the moment and, although he acknowledges that Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso are the best three in the sport, he suggests that beyond them there is probably no better answer for his team than sticking with Coulthard.
"After those three there is a slight gap and then you have drivers such as (Juan Pablo) Montoya and so forth," he said. "But bluntly, they are second choice.
"Our long-term plan is to have one or more drivers among our talent search programs being able one day to be among the best four drivers in the world. The effort to find such a driver is quite big. Can it be Klien? (Scott) Speed? (Vitantonio) Liuzzi?
"Perhaps it is too early to tell. Then we have (Michael) Ammermueller, (John) Edwards and (Neel) Jani. Sebastian Vettel is on loan to BMW for two years.
"But we all know how quick David Coulthard can be, when he is fully motivated. He still has it and he is extremely keen on driving a Newey car again."
When asked whether he would rank Coulthard in the same bracket at Montoya, who has been strongly linked with a move to Red Bull Racing, Mateschitz said: "Yes, I do."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]BMW set to adopt seamless shift
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, April 11th 2006, 10:03 GMT
BMW-Sauber are set to follow the example of McLaren, Honda and Williams and adopt a seamless shift gearbox for the start of next season, autosport.com has learned.
The seamless shift system allows drivers to change gear without any break in the delivery of power. This can be worth up to a few tenths of a second per lap - which adds up to several seconds over the course of an entire Grand Prix distance.
McLaren and Honda were believed to be the first teams to adopt the system, despite some suggestions that the technology could be clamped down on because it was viewed by some as a form of illegal Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).
However, with the FIA happy with the systems, Williams followed suit at the start of this season and have put their seamless shift technology into action.
Now, BMW-Sauber are likely to be next to adopt the system. BMW technicians in Munich are already working hard at developing a seamless shift gearbox as part of their work to create the full powertrain on the 2007 car.
BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen has confirmed that the work on the seamless gearbox is underway but has made it clear that even if the company get the system working well this year it will not be run before the start of the 2007 season.
"It would have been too much investment to introduce it for 2006 already," he said.
Theissen has also confirmed that BMW will stick with a titanium gearbox casing for the foreseeable future, despite the obvious benefits of a carbon fibre unit.
"The difference in weight with carbon fibre is minimal," he explained. "We are talking about one kilogramme here, but it is much more complex and costly to build a carbon fibre gearbox."[/QUOTE]
11 days until San Marino. :D
Don't forget to check out the [url=http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=980143]->Motorsport Results from Around the Globe<-[/url] thread to keep track of guys like Lewis Hamilton, Mika Hakkinen, and Sebastian Vettel.
| Ferg | 04-11-2006 11:13 AM |
Cue dramatic music...
[QUOTE]Toro Rosso plan to keep V10 in 2007
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, April 11th 2006, 14:57 GMT
The controversy over V10 engines in Formula One looks likely to continue into next year after Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz suggested that his Scuderia Toro Rosso team were unlikely to change to V8 power-units before 2008.
Toro Rosso have been on the receiving end of growing criticism from rival teams about the performance of their V10 engines, which some believe have an advantage over V8s.
Autosport.com revealed at the Australian Grand Prix that Super Aguri and Midland F1 had written to the FIA asking for Toro Rosso to be excluded from scoring points in the constructors' championship because of the engine situation.
A further letter of support from a number of other teams is expected to follow in the next week - with growing anger that Toro Rosso may be gaining from a rule-exemption that was only voted through to keep Minardi afloat.
Mateschitz has said, however, that he is unimpressed with the complaints from rival teams - and especially suggestions that his company should easily be able to fund Toro Rosso's switch to V8s.
"That is absurd," he said, when asked about claims that Red Bull should fork out for a supply of V8 engines. "We simply were the successors of Minardi and there was no other way than to take over the current contracts, including the V10 with Cosworth.
"I would rather today than tomorrow switch to a V8, but it is simply not possible.
For me, it has been proven that the air restriction and the rev limit of the V10 work. But some teams have to get used to the idea that Toro Rosso is not Minardi. You cannot expect this team to be backmarkers forever."
When asked whether his comments meant the plan was for Toro Rosso to continue with V10 engines, he said: "Yes, we have a contract in place until the end of 2007.
"If we alter that into a V8 contract, we have to make sure with Cosworth boss Kevin Kalkhoven that we would get equal treatment to Williams."
The letter from teams that is due to be sent to the FIA before the San Marino Grand Prix is understood to request that the FIA further restrict the performance of V10s in a bid to encourage Toro Rosso to switch to V8s.
The FIA has always said that it will change the rev-limit or air restrictor size of the V10 if it felt the performance of the older engines needed pegging back.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Toro Rosso plan to keep V10 in 2007
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, April 11th 2006, 14:57 GMT
The controversy over V10 engines in Formula One looks likely to continue into next year after Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz suggested that his Scuderia Toro Rosso team were unlikely to change to V8 power-units before 2008.
Toro Rosso have been on the receiving end of growing criticism from rival teams about the performance of their V10 engines, which some believe have an advantage over V8s.
Autosport.com revealed at the Australian Grand Prix that Super Aguri and Midland F1 had written to the FIA asking for Toro Rosso to be excluded from scoring points in the constructors' championship because of the engine situation.
A further letter of support from a number of other teams is expected to follow in the next week - with growing anger that Toro Rosso may be gaining from a rule-exemption that was only voted through to keep Minardi afloat.
Mateschitz has said, however, that he is unimpressed with the complaints from rival teams - and especially suggestions that his company should easily be able to fund Toro Rosso's switch to V8s.
"That is absurd," he said, when asked about claims that Red Bull should fork out for a supply of V8 engines. "We simply were the successors of Minardi and there was no other way than to take over the current contracts, including the V10 with Cosworth.
"I would rather today than tomorrow switch to a V8, but it is simply not possible.
For me, it has been proven that the air restriction and the rev limit of the V10 work. But some teams have to get used to the idea that Toro Rosso is not Minardi. You cannot expect this team to be backmarkers forever."
When asked whether his comments meant the plan was for Toro Rosso to continue with V10 engines, he said: "Yes, we have a contract in place until the end of 2007.
"If we alter that into a V8 contract, we have to make sure with Cosworth boss Kevin Kalkhoven that we would get equal treatment to Williams."
The letter from teams that is due to be sent to the FIA before the San Marino Grand Prix is understood to request that the FIA further restrict the performance of V10s in a bid to encourage Toro Rosso to switch to V8s.
The FIA has always said that it will change the rev-limit or air restrictor size of the V10 if it felt the performance of the older engines needed pegging back.[/QUOTE]
| artkevin | 04-11-2006 11:47 AM |
I think Mateschitz likes peeing down people's legs. He's within his rights to stick with the V-10 as far as I can see. If he has the contract w/ Cossy and there no rule to make him change why should he? Kind of funny to me.
Anybody else having a hard time signing into Auosport this morning? :mad:
Anybody else having a hard time signing into Auosport this morning? :mad:
| Ferg | 04-11-2006 12:10 PM |
No problems for me Kevin. Weird.
Have you gotten your first issue yet?
Have you gotten your first issue yet?
| artkevin | 04-11-2006 12:31 PM |
Not yet
<-- crosses fingers.
I had them confirm my login and password but I can't get into the system. I might have to fly to England and slap the hell out of someone.
<-- crosses fingers.
I had them confirm my login and password but I can't get into the system. I might have to fly to England and slap the hell out of someone.
| JoD | 04-11-2006 12:40 PM |
[QUOTE=artkevin]Not yet
<-- crosses fingers.
I had them confirm my login and password but I can't get into the system. I might have to fly to England and slap the hell out of someone.[/QUOTE]
You should probably slap some people at F1 Racing then too.
While you're in Europe - could you just hop over to Switzerland and bring Kimi back for me?
okthanksbye
<-- crosses fingers.
I had them confirm my login and password but I can't get into the system. I might have to fly to England and slap the hell out of someone.[/QUOTE]
You should probably slap some people at F1 Racing then too.
While you're in Europe - could you just hop over to Switzerland and bring Kimi back for me?
okthanksbye
| StuBeck | 04-11-2006 12:49 PM |
Well if they have a contract and an engine which they know is realiable why should they stop running the engine just to appease those who are slower then them?
| JoD | 04-11-2006 12:57 PM |
Found this pic on McLaren's website. Thought it was nifty and decided to share. See - I can love others than Kimi... (It's JPM's car - according to their site) :D
[IMG]http://www.mclaren.com/f1season/2006/australia/images/garage.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.mclaren.com/f1season/2006/australia/images/garage.jpg[/IMG]
| artkevin | 04-11-2006 01:03 PM |
Good find I love just about any shot that shows the rear suspension.
Took me awhile to figure out what in the world is going on in that shot. They are taking off the engine cover so it was screwing w/ the angles and there are no rear wheels bolted on. Gave me a headache! It is JPM's car, black TV camera T bar.
Took me awhile to figure out what in the world is going on in that shot. They are taking off the engine cover so it was screwing w/ the angles and there are no rear wheels bolted on. Gave me a headache! It is JPM's car, black TV camera T bar.
| Ferg | 04-11-2006 01:08 PM |
Thanks for clearing that up Kevin, it had me scratching my head as well.
A little bit if testing news.
[QUOTE]Gene on top at Barcelona
Tuesday, April 11th 2006, 16:43 GMT
Spanish driver Marc Gene finished on top of the times on the first day of this week's testing at the Barcelona circuit, where 10 teams are expected to carry out their preparations for the start of the European season.
Gene led a closely-matched filed of cars, the Ferrari test driver finishing less than seven tenths of a second ahead of the sixth quickest man.
Although a very cold morning hindered the teams early on, the sun shone through and most squads enjoyed a productive day of work. The track, however, was very dirty following last weekend's round of the European truck racing championship.
Gene and teammate Luca Badoer carried out testing duties for Ferrari, both men working at the wheel of the 248 F1 car. Gene focused mainly on engine work while his Italian teammate concentrated on set-up.
The Ferrari drivers caused a red flag each when they went off the track.
Nico Rosberg was second quickest for his Williams team after a strong performance in the afternoon, when he focused on long runs at the wheel of the FW28. Rosberg's morning was not as smooth, however, and he was slowed by some exhaust problems.
The German worked alongside the team's test driver Narain Karthikeyan, fourth fastest today.
The Red Bull team had both their racing drivers in action, with Christian Klien finishing as fifth quickest after completing the least number of laps today. Klien had a troubled day, causing two red flags, the first one following an engine failure.
His teammate David Coulthard finished at the bottom of the times after spinning off when he was about to do a quick run late in the session. The Red Bull duo were split by Toro Rosso's Neel Jani, who enjoyed a productive day.
"We had no problems with our car and there were few interruptions for red flags, so we were able to run pretty much constantly throughout," said Toro Rosso's general manager Gianfranco Fantuzzi.
"Our programme focused on set-up work, evaluating different brake materials and assessing different aero downforce levels."
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Gene Ferrari (B) 1:16.122 100
2. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:16.313 96
3. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:16.391 98
4. Karthikeyan Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:16.440 96
5. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:16.691 50
6. Jani Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:16.795 89
7. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:17.151 51
All Timing Unofficial[/QUOTE]
A little bit if testing news.
[QUOTE]Gene on top at Barcelona
Tuesday, April 11th 2006, 16:43 GMT
Spanish driver Marc Gene finished on top of the times on the first day of this week's testing at the Barcelona circuit, where 10 teams are expected to carry out their preparations for the start of the European season.
Gene led a closely-matched filed of cars, the Ferrari test driver finishing less than seven tenths of a second ahead of the sixth quickest man.
Although a very cold morning hindered the teams early on, the sun shone through and most squads enjoyed a productive day of work. The track, however, was very dirty following last weekend's round of the European truck racing championship.
Gene and teammate Luca Badoer carried out testing duties for Ferrari, both men working at the wheel of the 248 F1 car. Gene focused mainly on engine work while his Italian teammate concentrated on set-up.
The Ferrari drivers caused a red flag each when they went off the track.
Nico Rosberg was second quickest for his Williams team after a strong performance in the afternoon, when he focused on long runs at the wheel of the FW28. Rosberg's morning was not as smooth, however, and he was slowed by some exhaust problems.
The German worked alongside the team's test driver Narain Karthikeyan, fourth fastest today.
The Red Bull team had both their racing drivers in action, with Christian Klien finishing as fifth quickest after completing the least number of laps today. Klien had a troubled day, causing two red flags, the first one following an engine failure.
His teammate David Coulthard finished at the bottom of the times after spinning off when he was about to do a quick run late in the session. The Red Bull duo were split by Toro Rosso's Neel Jani, who enjoyed a productive day.
"We had no problems with our car and there were few interruptions for red flags, so we were able to run pretty much constantly throughout," said Toro Rosso's general manager Gianfranco Fantuzzi.
"Our programme focused on set-up work, evaluating different brake materials and assessing different aero downforce levels."
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Gene Ferrari (B) 1:16.122 100
2. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:16.313 96
3. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:16.391 98
4. Karthikeyan Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:16.440 96
5. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:16.691 50
6. Jani Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:16.795 89
7. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:17.151 51
All Timing Unofficial[/QUOTE]
| JoD | 04-11-2006 01:15 PM |
[QUOTE=artkevin]Good find I love just about any shot that shows the rear suspension.
Took me awhile to figure out what in the world is going on in that shot. They are taking off the engine cover so it was screwing w/ the angles and there are o rear wheels bolted on. Gave me a headache! It is JPM's car, black TV camera T bar.[/QUOTE]
IBnewpaintingorsomethinglikeit?
Jeebus - I didn't even realize that was the camera. I was looking for it and didn't even see it... Eh - my bad. Glad you liked it anyway...
Took me awhile to figure out what in the world is going on in that shot. They are taking off the engine cover so it was screwing w/ the angles and there are o rear wheels bolted on. Gave me a headache! It is JPM's car, black TV camera T bar.[/QUOTE]
IBnewpaintingorsomethinglikeit?
Jeebus - I didn't even realize that was the camera. I was looking for it and didn't even see it... Eh - my bad. Glad you liked it anyway...
| Ferg | 04-11-2006 04:21 PM |
So Carlin is on board...
[QUOTE][B]Carlin confirm Formula One entry
[/B]
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, April 11th 2006, 20:01 GMT
Multiple British Formula Three champions Carlin Motorsport have confirmed that they are one of the 22 teams who have submitted an entry to the 2008 Formula One world championship.
The team, which last weekend celebrated their 100th victory with success in the opening round of the British Formula BMW championship, have made no secret of their ambitions to make the move into F1 in recent seasons.
Team boss Trevor Carlin was Jordan's sporting director for the start of the 2005 season but left the team after getting disenchanted with their financial situation.
That appeared to have put a temporary end to Carlin's F1 ambitions but, with new low cost regulations coming into force in 2008, Carlin have once again seen an opportunity to make the move.
"We believe that the introduction of the new initiatives by the FIA in regard to sporting and technical rule changes for the future of Formula One have been designed to allow successful junior teams such as Carlin Motorsport to make the previously difficult step up to Formula One," said Carlin in a statement issued on Tuesday night.
"The proposed cost reductions should bring the necessary budgets within our reach.
"We are well underway with building an appropriate infrastructure and have firm commitments from key people who are experienced in F1 design, marketing, management and operations. They will join us if our entry is accepted.
"We have also agreed the purchase of an established facility in the south of England, for design and specialist production and a composite facility near our base to handle the major workload.
"We realise that there is considerable competition for the entry and the team's credentials are our success in racing. We are confident that the requisite finance will be available from our existing contacts if the entry is accepted."
The team are set to join Prodrive, BCN Competicion, Racing Engineering, Eddie Jordan and Craig Pollock in battling for what could be just one vacant slot in the 2008 championship.
Carlin have helped a number of drivers on their way to F1, including Narain Karthikeyan, Takuma Sato, Anthony Davidson and Tiago Monteiro. The team won the 2001 British F3 title with Sato, the 2003 championship with Alan van der Merwe and the 2005 crown with Alvaro Parente.[/QUOTE]
So....
[QUOTE] Teams we know of...
Ferrari
Williams
Red Bull
Toro Rosso
Midland
Super Aguri
BMW-Sauber
McLaren
Renault
Toyota
Honda
Teams we know submitted entry for 2008...
European Minardi (Paul Stoddart)
Prodrive
Direxiv (McLaren B Team?)
Eddie Jordan
Racing Engineering
BCN Competicion
Carlin Motorsport
Craig Pollock **
DAMS
FMS International **
** rumored
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Carlin confirm Formula One entry
[/B]
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, April 11th 2006, 20:01 GMT
Multiple British Formula Three champions Carlin Motorsport have confirmed that they are one of the 22 teams who have submitted an entry to the 2008 Formula One world championship.
The team, which last weekend celebrated their 100th victory with success in the opening round of the British Formula BMW championship, have made no secret of their ambitions to make the move into F1 in recent seasons.
Team boss Trevor Carlin was Jordan's sporting director for the start of the 2005 season but left the team after getting disenchanted with their financial situation.
That appeared to have put a temporary end to Carlin's F1 ambitions but, with new low cost regulations coming into force in 2008, Carlin have once again seen an opportunity to make the move.
"We believe that the introduction of the new initiatives by the FIA in regard to sporting and technical rule changes for the future of Formula One have been designed to allow successful junior teams such as Carlin Motorsport to make the previously difficult step up to Formula One," said Carlin in a statement issued on Tuesday night.
"The proposed cost reductions should bring the necessary budgets within our reach.
"We are well underway with building an appropriate infrastructure and have firm commitments from key people who are experienced in F1 design, marketing, management and operations. They will join us if our entry is accepted.
"We have also agreed the purchase of an established facility in the south of England, for design and specialist production and a composite facility near our base to handle the major workload.
"We realise that there is considerable competition for the entry and the team's credentials are our success in racing. We are confident that the requisite finance will be available from our existing contacts if the entry is accepted."
The team are set to join Prodrive, BCN Competicion, Racing Engineering, Eddie Jordan and Craig Pollock in battling for what could be just one vacant slot in the 2008 championship.
Carlin have helped a number of drivers on their way to F1, including Narain Karthikeyan, Takuma Sato, Anthony Davidson and Tiago Monteiro. The team won the 2001 British F3 title with Sato, the 2003 championship with Alan van der Merwe and the 2005 crown with Alvaro Parente.[/QUOTE]
So....
[QUOTE] Teams we know of...
Ferrari
Williams
Red Bull
Toro Rosso
Midland
Super Aguri
BMW-Sauber
McLaren
Renault
Toyota
Honda
Teams we know submitted entry for 2008...
European Minardi (Paul Stoddart)
Prodrive
Direxiv (McLaren B Team?)
Eddie Jordan
Racing Engineering
BCN Competicion
Carlin Motorsport
Craig Pollock **
DAMS
FMS International **
** rumored
[/QUOTE]
| artkevin | 04-11-2006 05:12 PM |
Would Pollock's team be considered American? If not, any bets on an American team in those 11?
| StuBeck | 04-12-2006 03:18 PM |
I don't think any American's are going to enter, although Gurney might possibly still be up for creating a team.
| bitterWRX | 04-12-2006 08:09 PM |
[QUOTE=JoD] See - I can love others than Kimi... (It's JPM's car - according to their site) :D
[/quote]
There is an easier way to tell. It doesn't have the orange camera/GPS unit on the top of the car.
Orange = Driver 1 = Kimi
Black = Driver 2 = JPM
:)
[/quote]
There is an easier way to tell. It doesn't have the orange camera/GPS unit on the top of the car.
Orange = Driver 1 = Kimi
Black = Driver 2 = JPM
:)
| JoD | 04-12-2006 08:17 PM |
[QUOTE=bitterWRX]There is an easier way to tell. It doesn't have the orange camera/GPS unit on the top of the car.
Orange = Driver 1 = Kimi
Black = Driver 2 = JPM
:)[/QUOTE]
Thanks hon! I'm familiar with that trick. For some reason, when I looked for the camera, I didn't even see it. I don't know if I just thought it was something else or not.
I actually got to hold Kimi's camera last year at the walkabout. They were showing us some of the stuff off the car. That thing was deceptively heavy.
On a side note - I also got the"K" decal from Kimi's name off the side of his winning car from the Canadian GP!!! They were peeling off his name to change it to the West branding, and were just going to throw it away. I asked for it, and they gave it up. Also got some gold suspension tape from his car. Cheesy, I know, but when you're obsessed ' you'll take what you can get!!! :banana:
Orange = Driver 1 = Kimi
Black = Driver 2 = JPM
:)[/QUOTE]
Thanks hon! I'm familiar with that trick. For some reason, when I looked for the camera, I didn't even see it. I don't know if I just thought it was something else or not.
I actually got to hold Kimi's camera last year at the walkabout. They were showing us some of the stuff off the car. That thing was deceptively heavy.
On a side note - I also got the"K" decal from Kimi's name off the side of his winning car from the Canadian GP!!! They were peeling off his name to change it to the West branding, and were just going to throw it away. I asked for it, and they gave it up. Also got some gold suspension tape from his car. Cheesy, I know, but when you're obsessed ' you'll take what you can get!!! :banana:
| nick735 | 04-12-2006 10:21 PM |
I spoke with kimi's father on the phone last summer when i was at hockenheim. :p My uncle, who is finnish, is good friends with kimis parents and has had them over for parties from time to time over the summer. I also have a kimi sweatshirt and poster that was given to my uncle from his parents, and later given to me. :banana:
| bitterWRX | 04-12-2006 10:51 PM |
[QUOTE=JoD]
I actually got to hold Kimi's camera last year at the walkabout. They were showing us some of the stuff off the car. That thing was deceptively heavy.
On a side note - I also got the"K" decal from Kimi's name off the side of his winning car from the Canadian GP!!! They were peeling off his name to change it to the West branding, and were just going to throw it away. I asked for it, and they gave it up. Also got some gold suspension tape from his car. Cheesy, I know, but when you're obsessed ' you'll take what you can get!!! :banana:[/QUOTE]
:lol: That is a very nice souvenir.
BTW, how did you get to participate in the walkabout? Is there an extra fee?
I actually got to hold Kimi's camera last year at the walkabout. They were showing us some of the stuff off the car. That thing was deceptively heavy.
On a side note - I also got the"K" decal from Kimi's name off the side of his winning car from the Canadian GP!!! They were peeling off his name to change it to the West branding, and were just going to throw it away. I asked for it, and they gave it up. Also got some gold suspension tape from his car. Cheesy, I know, but when you're obsessed ' you'll take what you can get!!! :banana:[/QUOTE]
:lol: That is a very nice souvenir.
BTW, how did you get to participate in the walkabout? Is there an extra fee?
| JoD | 04-13-2006 12:06 AM |
[QUOTE=nick735]I spoke with kimi's father on the phone last summer when i was at hockenheim. :p My uncle, who is finnish, is good friends with kimis parents and has had them over for parties from time to time over the summer. I also have a kimi sweatshirt and poster that was given to my uncle from his parents, and later given to me. :banana:[/QUOTE]
OMGHi2U!!! Seriously - I need those connections. I have a tattoo of his helmet for pete's sake. Artkevin did a fantastic painting for me that I REALLY want Kimi to sign. I would absolutely die and go to heaven if I could meet him some day. You are so very lucky to have something so special!! I would love to hear more stories - please feel free to PM me with them!
OMGHi2U!!! Seriously - I need those connections. I have a tattoo of his helmet for pete's sake. Artkevin did a fantastic painting for me that I REALLY want Kimi to sign. I would absolutely die and go to heaven if I could meet him some day. You are so very lucky to have something so special!! I would love to hear more stories - please feel free to PM me with them!
| JoD | 04-13-2006 12:09 AM |
[QUOTE=bitterWRX]:lol: That is a very nice souvenir.
BTW, how did you get to participate in the walkabout? Is there an extra fee?[/QUOTE]
No extra fee at all! Usually how it works is, you just use your race ticket to get in. It goes from 8-noon or so on Thursday. I'm always there at the buttcrack of dawn so I can be one of the first in line. Then when they open the gates, I do a flat out sprint to McLaren's garages (which are going to be very far away this year - I need to practice!) and park it there for 4 hours. Other people actually "walk about" but I feel no need.
Last year I got some great souvenirs, and the year before, I got to watch about 30 practice pit stops from 5 feet away. That kicks some serious tail!
BTW, how did you get to participate in the walkabout? Is there an extra fee?[/QUOTE]
No extra fee at all! Usually how it works is, you just use your race ticket to get in. It goes from 8-noon or so on Thursday. I'm always there at the buttcrack of dawn so I can be one of the first in line. Then when they open the gates, I do a flat out sprint to McLaren's garages (which are going to be very far away this year - I need to practice!) and park it there for 4 hours. Other people actually "walk about" but I feel no need.
Last year I got some great souvenirs, and the year before, I got to watch about 30 practice pit stops from 5 feet away. That kicks some serious tail!
| nick735 | 04-13-2006 01:28 AM |
[QUOTE=JoD]OMGHi2U!!! Seriously - I need those connections. I have a tattoo of his helmet for pete's sake. Artkevin did a fantastic painting for me that I REALLY want Kimi to sign. I would absolutely die and go to heaven if I could meet him some day. You are so very lucky to have something so special!! I would love to hear more stories - please feel free to PM me with them![/QUOTE]
I dont really have too many cool stories to tell lol. My uncle's firm,who designs and fabricates the interior of ultra-luxury cruise ships, actually built kimis garage. From what I hear its nicer and larger than most homes. I guess he didnt have many exotic cars though, mostly older cadillacs! Now can you picture little kimi driving around in a 20' black cadillac convertible?! :lol:
I dont really have too many cool stories to tell lol. My uncle's firm,who designs and fabricates the interior of ultra-luxury cruise ships, actually built kimis garage. From what I hear its nicer and larger than most homes. I guess he didnt have many exotic cars though, mostly older cadillacs! Now can you picture little kimi driving around in a 20' black cadillac convertible?! :lol:
| Student Driver | 04-13-2006 11:50 AM |
[QUOTE=nick735]I dont really have too many cool stories to tell lol. My uncle's firm,who designs and fabricates the interior on ultra-luxury cruise ships, actually built kimis garage. From what I hear its nicer and larger than most homes. I guess he didnt have many exotic cars though, mostly older cadillacs! Know can you picture little kimi driving around in a 20' black cadillac convertible?! :lol:[/QUOTE]
Only if it had spinners. And curb feelers since he will not be able to see them.
:)
Only if it had spinners. And curb feelers since he will not be able to see them.
:)
| Ferg | 04-13-2006 12:22 PM |
I want to see Kimi's magical garage! :banana:
I'm a bit suprised about the Caddies, although I guess if your day job is driving a Grand Prix car, even the most WOW supercar would seem a bit pedestrian. You can also fit many more strippers in a Cadillac than you can in a Zonda or whatever, regardless of how friendly they are with each other.
Sorry for the lack of posts yesterday, I took Wednesday off to properly celebrate my birthday, which meant I was drunk most of the day.
Bringing you up to speed in the world of F1...
[QUOTE][B]Racing Engineering did not submit F1 entry
[/B]
Thursday, April 13th 2006, 10:15 GMT
GP2 team Racing Engineering have denied having submitted an application to enter Formula One in 2008.
Although team boss Alfonso de Orleans had in the past expressed his intention to eventually make the switch to Grand Prix racing, the Spaniard revealed this week his team did not submit an entry because he expected it to be rejected.
There are only 12 slots available, and the current 11 teams have submitted their entries.
De Orleans expects the 12th slot to be granted to David Richards' Prodrive company.
"I was asked, but there is only really one slot available and we would be going up against David Richards and Prodrive," de Orleans told this week's Autosport.
"We are still interested in F1. It doesn't mean we won't be involved in the future." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Ide not worried about losing seat
[/B]
By Pablo Elizalde Thursday, April 13th 2006, 10:07 GMT
Japanese driver Yuji Ide has played down suggestions that his position at the Super Aguri team is shaky following his unimpressive start to the season.
Ide, making his Grand Prix debut this season, has struggled to match the pace of his more experienced teammate Takuma Sato in the three races that have taken place so far this year.
Super Aguri's managing director Daniel Audetto hinted earlier this week that the team could review Ide's position if he didn't improve soon.
"San Marino will be tough too, but giving him a full day in Barcelona I think we should see the potential in full at Imola," said Audetto.
"Otherwise, we will have to take consequences because we cannot have a driver who is two seconds a lap slower (than his teammate)."
Ide, however, says the team have only told him he needs more mileage in the car.
"I am told only by Aguri that I should get more mileage in the test so that I can bring back results in the next race, that is all," Ide told autosport.com at Barcelona, where he will be testing this week.
"That's why I am here, watching, taking part in the debrief from the first day, even though I only drive on Friday.
"At the moment it is difficult to keep the car straight and since I am so busy letting other drivers pass me, if i cannot keep the car under control, it is very tricky.
"I just have to learn the car, learn the tracks, but it is not very easy at the moment."
Ide has had limited testing at the wheel of his car, having only done one full session at Barcelona before the start of the season.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Trulli keeping future options open
[/B]
By Peter Farkas Wednesday, April 12th 2006, 19:19 GMT
Toyota driver Jarno Trulli said today that he is keeping his future options open, although he considers continuity as an important factor in his decision.
Trulli, whose contract with Toyota will expire at the end of this year, had a troubled start to the 2006 season, and he says his main goal at present is to overcome these problems and become competitive again.
"Yes, I have several other options, even if I am talking with Toyota," Trulli said. "But at the moment, I think we have other problems to solve with the car, so we are concentrating on the job, on the team, and eventually we will see what happens."
When asked if he would like to stay at Toyota, Trulli added: "It's not a question of whether I would prefer this or that. I believe that consistency is very important - you cannot jump from one F1 team to another.
"I think that when I was at Renault, my third season there was my best so far. You build up the relationship with the team, you build up the team around yourself, so it's not good if you keep changing teams.
"On the other hand, you have to have the right technical department, you have to have a good team, and I think Toyota are a good team with good potential. It's just a matter of developing it.
"Ferrari showed that more consistency means you have better relationships."
Trulli was on a visit yesterday to Lyss, Switzerland, for the launch of his new race kart, made by local company Swiss Hutless. During the event, the Italian won a 10-lap go-kart race against 20 journalists, after starting from the last place.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Mateschitz not ruling out carmaker deal
[/B]
Thursday, April 13th 2006, 14:06 GMT
Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz is not ruling one of his teams joining forces with a car manufacturer in the future.
The Austrian millionaire, however, has said that having support from a carmaker will not be vital to succeed in Formula One once the rules are revised.
"A cooperation with a manufacturer would help for sure," said Mateschitz. "But I think that the engines will become of lesser importance in the years of 2008 and so forth, since the rules are about to change.
"As a team we should be interesting for all manufacturers, I would not only speak about Volkswagen or Audi. We have a certain level of performance, we have the long term plans, we have the budget, we have young drivers, I think we are rather attractive.
"If we are open for discussions that does not mean however that we are applicants. We have much to offer."
The FIA is planning to introduce drastic cost-cutting measures from 2008, including a five-year freeze on engine development.
"The costs for engine development will shrink dramatically," Mateschitz said. "We will get to a point when the engine will account for only ten percent of the budget. So in the end it will not be important if you get it for free or if you have to buy it.
"It will no longer be an imperative to have a car manufacturer as partner. But still such a partnership makes much sense. If we are offered a deal, fine, if we are not offered a deal, fine as well."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Carlin interested in Penske factory
[/B]
By Jonathan Noble Thursday, April 13th 2006, 10:48 GMT
Carlin Motorsport are set to buy Penske Racing's facility in Poole in Dorset as they look to expand their infrastructure.
The Aldershot-based team confirmed this week they were one of the 22 teams to have applied for an F1 entry for 2008, and if successful they are likely to buy the facility at Poole to use as their F1 factory, taking on 25 staff who work there to add to the 60 they have at Aldershot.
The factory was famous because it was the main manufacturing site of championship-winning Penske IndyCars chassis in CART's heydays in the Eighties and Nineties.
Carlin would use the base and staff to build their F1 car, which would likely to a design of a customer chassis.
"The biggest problem I gathered a few years ago, from people like Frank Williams, was that with the supply of a customer car, they don't have the capacity to make all the parts for a second team," Carlin told autosport.com in an interview.
"It is all totally different bits. So I thought that if we had something like Penske and a high-quality experienced workforce, which exists down there, then we could take control.
"We could take the moulds, the patterns and the drawings, and make our own stuff. We would obviously pay a licensing fee for the intellectual property rights, but we could make it ourselves, which then takes the heat off the F1 team. It makes things more attractive to them."
Should the F1 entry be approved, former Midland sporting director Adrian Burgess is likely to rejoin the team he started working for in 1999. [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Schumacher unfazed by Raikkonen rumour[/B]
By Jonathan Noble Thursday, April 13th 2006, 12:25 GMT
Michael Schumacher has said he is unmoved by fresh speculation suggesting that Kimi Raikkonen is definitely on his way to Ferrari next year.
Reports in the German media on Wednesday suggested that Raikkonen had finally inked a deal that will take him to the Maranello outfit in 2007.
Schumacher has said, however, that the latest round of rumours did not worry him.
"My reaction is the same as it was in the past," he said. "Whenever this story comes up, I have said the same thing: I do not want to comment on rumours as they will only set off new ones."
Schumacher is believed to have until June to tell Ferrari whether he wants to remain at the team next year or not - and he has said that he will not be rushed into making a decision before then.
When asked about whether the continued questions about his future were a concern, he said: "These questions don't, as a rule, bother me. In fact, there is some basis for them.
"Aside from saying that I will decide over the summer, I can do no more. I will certainly not change my mind just because the same question is always asked of me. I can only say that I would like to take all the time necessary to decide and to fully think about things."[/QUOTE]
...and testing from yesterday's session at Barcelona.
[QUOTE][B]Kovalainen leads the way at Barcelona[/B]
Wednesday, April 12th 2006, 16:34 GMT
Renault's Heikki Kovalainen posted the quickest time of the day at the Barcelona circuit, where a total of 18 drivers and 10 teams where in action as their teams prepare for the start of the European season at Imola.
Only Midland were absent from today's session.
Kovalainen and teammate Fernando Alonso kicked off the French team's test at the Spanish track, the Finn enjoying a productive day to cover a total of 144 laps, the most by any driver today.
Alonso's day, however, was not as trouble-free, the Spaniard stopping on track with an apparent mechanical problem. The world champion managed just 45 laps, although he was still third quickest, three tenths behind Kovalainen.
The Renault drivers were split by Honda's Rubens Barrichello, who tested a new front wing and revised sidepods, completing over 100 laps on his way to the second fastest time of the day.
Barrichello worked alongside teammate Anthony Davidson, who focused on set-up work and finished fourth despite stopping on track with a gearbox problem.
Toyota's Ricardo Zonta was fifth fastest as he concentrated on fine-tuning the set-up in the morning and on a tyre programme in the afternoon.
The Brazilian finished ahead of Red Bull's David Coulthard, who also had a productive day, completing more than a Grand Prix distance. The Scot caused one of a total of nine red flags, when he spun late in the day.
The Williams team were again hindered by engine problems, both Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg stopping on track with problem in their Cosworth units.
McLaren, for the first time this year, had two MP4-21 cars in action at the same track in testing, with Pedro de la Rosa being joined by Kimi Raikkonen.
De la Rosa carried out engine work and finished as ninth fastest, while Raikkonen was down in 13th after just 31 laps. The Finn only started driving at 2:30pm.
Brazilian Felipe Massa joined Ferrari teammate Marc Gene as Ferrari continued with their preparations for their home Grand Prix at Imola. Massa, who caused one red flag when he ran out of fuel, worked on set-up, trying out a new set of shock absorbers, and also carried out tyre testing.
Gene, 16th fastest, focused on engine reliability, doing longs runs during the day.
BMW worked with both Nick Heidfeld and test driver Robert Kubica, the German, who did tyre testing for Michelin, outpacing his teammate by less than a tenth.
The Toro Rosso and Super Aguri teams had one driver each on track, as both concentrated on set-up work for the San Marino Grand Prix.
The red flags of the day were caused by Webber, Massa, Rosberg, Alonso, de la Rosa, Kubica, Gene, Davidson and Coulthard.
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Kovalainen Renault (M) 1:14.955 144
2. Barrichello Honda (M) 1:15.135 107
3. Alonso Renault (M) 1:15.251 45
4. Davidson Honda (M) 1:15.354 112
5. Zonta Toyota (B) 1:15.426 88
6. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:15.671 97
7. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:15.683 82
8. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:15.747 84
9. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:15.781 74
10. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:15.860 108
11. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (M) 1:15.917 75
12. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:15.955 54
13. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:15.957 31
14. Kubica BMW-Sauber (M) 1:15.974 93
15. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:16.389 107
16. Gene Ferrari (B) 1:16.446 115
17. Panis Toyota (B) 1:16.812 71
18. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:19.328 76
All Timing Unofficial
[/QUOTE]
I'm a bit suprised about the Caddies, although I guess if your day job is driving a Grand Prix car, even the most WOW supercar would seem a bit pedestrian. You can also fit many more strippers in a Cadillac than you can in a Zonda or whatever, regardless of how friendly they are with each other.
Sorry for the lack of posts yesterday, I took Wednesday off to properly celebrate my birthday, which meant I was drunk most of the day.
Bringing you up to speed in the world of F1...
[QUOTE][B]Racing Engineering did not submit F1 entry
[/B]
Thursday, April 13th 2006, 10:15 GMT
GP2 team Racing Engineering have denied having submitted an application to enter Formula One in 2008.
Although team boss Alfonso de Orleans had in the past expressed his intention to eventually make the switch to Grand Prix racing, the Spaniard revealed this week his team did not submit an entry because he expected it to be rejected.
There are only 12 slots available, and the current 11 teams have submitted their entries.
De Orleans expects the 12th slot to be granted to David Richards' Prodrive company.
"I was asked, but there is only really one slot available and we would be going up against David Richards and Prodrive," de Orleans told this week's Autosport.
"We are still interested in F1. It doesn't mean we won't be involved in the future." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Ide not worried about losing seat
[/B]
By Pablo Elizalde Thursday, April 13th 2006, 10:07 GMT
Japanese driver Yuji Ide has played down suggestions that his position at the Super Aguri team is shaky following his unimpressive start to the season.
Ide, making his Grand Prix debut this season, has struggled to match the pace of his more experienced teammate Takuma Sato in the three races that have taken place so far this year.
Super Aguri's managing director Daniel Audetto hinted earlier this week that the team could review Ide's position if he didn't improve soon.
"San Marino will be tough too, but giving him a full day in Barcelona I think we should see the potential in full at Imola," said Audetto.
"Otherwise, we will have to take consequences because we cannot have a driver who is two seconds a lap slower (than his teammate)."
Ide, however, says the team have only told him he needs more mileage in the car.
"I am told only by Aguri that I should get more mileage in the test so that I can bring back results in the next race, that is all," Ide told autosport.com at Barcelona, where he will be testing this week.
"That's why I am here, watching, taking part in the debrief from the first day, even though I only drive on Friday.
"At the moment it is difficult to keep the car straight and since I am so busy letting other drivers pass me, if i cannot keep the car under control, it is very tricky.
"I just have to learn the car, learn the tracks, but it is not very easy at the moment."
Ide has had limited testing at the wheel of his car, having only done one full session at Barcelona before the start of the season.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Trulli keeping future options open
[/B]
By Peter Farkas Wednesday, April 12th 2006, 19:19 GMT
Toyota driver Jarno Trulli said today that he is keeping his future options open, although he considers continuity as an important factor in his decision.
Trulli, whose contract with Toyota will expire at the end of this year, had a troubled start to the 2006 season, and he says his main goal at present is to overcome these problems and become competitive again.
"Yes, I have several other options, even if I am talking with Toyota," Trulli said. "But at the moment, I think we have other problems to solve with the car, so we are concentrating on the job, on the team, and eventually we will see what happens."
When asked if he would like to stay at Toyota, Trulli added: "It's not a question of whether I would prefer this or that. I believe that consistency is very important - you cannot jump from one F1 team to another.
"I think that when I was at Renault, my third season there was my best so far. You build up the relationship with the team, you build up the team around yourself, so it's not good if you keep changing teams.
"On the other hand, you have to have the right technical department, you have to have a good team, and I think Toyota are a good team with good potential. It's just a matter of developing it.
"Ferrari showed that more consistency means you have better relationships."
Trulli was on a visit yesterday to Lyss, Switzerland, for the launch of his new race kart, made by local company Swiss Hutless. During the event, the Italian won a 10-lap go-kart race against 20 journalists, after starting from the last place.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Mateschitz not ruling out carmaker deal
[/B]
Thursday, April 13th 2006, 14:06 GMT
Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz is not ruling one of his teams joining forces with a car manufacturer in the future.
The Austrian millionaire, however, has said that having support from a carmaker will not be vital to succeed in Formula One once the rules are revised.
"A cooperation with a manufacturer would help for sure," said Mateschitz. "But I think that the engines will become of lesser importance in the years of 2008 and so forth, since the rules are about to change.
"As a team we should be interesting for all manufacturers, I would not only speak about Volkswagen or Audi. We have a certain level of performance, we have the long term plans, we have the budget, we have young drivers, I think we are rather attractive.
"If we are open for discussions that does not mean however that we are applicants. We have much to offer."
The FIA is planning to introduce drastic cost-cutting measures from 2008, including a five-year freeze on engine development.
"The costs for engine development will shrink dramatically," Mateschitz said. "We will get to a point when the engine will account for only ten percent of the budget. So in the end it will not be important if you get it for free or if you have to buy it.
"It will no longer be an imperative to have a car manufacturer as partner. But still such a partnership makes much sense. If we are offered a deal, fine, if we are not offered a deal, fine as well."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Carlin interested in Penske factory
[/B]
By Jonathan Noble Thursday, April 13th 2006, 10:48 GMT
Carlin Motorsport are set to buy Penske Racing's facility in Poole in Dorset as they look to expand their infrastructure.
The Aldershot-based team confirmed this week they were one of the 22 teams to have applied for an F1 entry for 2008, and if successful they are likely to buy the facility at Poole to use as their F1 factory, taking on 25 staff who work there to add to the 60 they have at Aldershot.
The factory was famous because it was the main manufacturing site of championship-winning Penske IndyCars chassis in CART's heydays in the Eighties and Nineties.
Carlin would use the base and staff to build their F1 car, which would likely to a design of a customer chassis.
"The biggest problem I gathered a few years ago, from people like Frank Williams, was that with the supply of a customer car, they don't have the capacity to make all the parts for a second team," Carlin told autosport.com in an interview.
"It is all totally different bits. So I thought that if we had something like Penske and a high-quality experienced workforce, which exists down there, then we could take control.
"We could take the moulds, the patterns and the drawings, and make our own stuff. We would obviously pay a licensing fee for the intellectual property rights, but we could make it ourselves, which then takes the heat off the F1 team. It makes things more attractive to them."
Should the F1 entry be approved, former Midland sporting director Adrian Burgess is likely to rejoin the team he started working for in 1999. [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Schumacher unfazed by Raikkonen rumour[/B]
By Jonathan Noble Thursday, April 13th 2006, 12:25 GMT
Michael Schumacher has said he is unmoved by fresh speculation suggesting that Kimi Raikkonen is definitely on his way to Ferrari next year.
Reports in the German media on Wednesday suggested that Raikkonen had finally inked a deal that will take him to the Maranello outfit in 2007.
Schumacher has said, however, that the latest round of rumours did not worry him.
"My reaction is the same as it was in the past," he said. "Whenever this story comes up, I have said the same thing: I do not want to comment on rumours as they will only set off new ones."
Schumacher is believed to have until June to tell Ferrari whether he wants to remain at the team next year or not - and he has said that he will not be rushed into making a decision before then.
When asked about whether the continued questions about his future were a concern, he said: "These questions don't, as a rule, bother me. In fact, there is some basis for them.
"Aside from saying that I will decide over the summer, I can do no more. I will certainly not change my mind just because the same question is always asked of me. I can only say that I would like to take all the time necessary to decide and to fully think about things."[/QUOTE]
...and testing from yesterday's session at Barcelona.
[QUOTE][B]Kovalainen leads the way at Barcelona[/B]
Wednesday, April 12th 2006, 16:34 GMT
Renault's Heikki Kovalainen posted the quickest time of the day at the Barcelona circuit, where a total of 18 drivers and 10 teams where in action as their teams prepare for the start of the European season at Imola.
Only Midland were absent from today's session.
Kovalainen and teammate Fernando Alonso kicked off the French team's test at the Spanish track, the Finn enjoying a productive day to cover a total of 144 laps, the most by any driver today.
Alonso's day, however, was not as trouble-free, the Spaniard stopping on track with an apparent mechanical problem. The world champion managed just 45 laps, although he was still third quickest, three tenths behind Kovalainen.
The Renault drivers were split by Honda's Rubens Barrichello, who tested a new front wing and revised sidepods, completing over 100 laps on his way to the second fastest time of the day.
Barrichello worked alongside teammate Anthony Davidson, who focused on set-up work and finished fourth despite stopping on track with a gearbox problem.
Toyota's Ricardo Zonta was fifth fastest as he concentrated on fine-tuning the set-up in the morning and on a tyre programme in the afternoon.
The Brazilian finished ahead of Red Bull's David Coulthard, who also had a productive day, completing more than a Grand Prix distance. The Scot caused one of a total of nine red flags, when he spun late in the day.
The Williams team were again hindered by engine problems, both Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg stopping on track with problem in their Cosworth units.
McLaren, for the first time this year, had two MP4-21 cars in action at the same track in testing, with Pedro de la Rosa being joined by Kimi Raikkonen.
De la Rosa carried out engine work and finished as ninth fastest, while Raikkonen was down in 13th after just 31 laps. The Finn only started driving at 2:30pm.
Brazilian Felipe Massa joined Ferrari teammate Marc Gene as Ferrari continued with their preparations for their home Grand Prix at Imola. Massa, who caused one red flag when he ran out of fuel, worked on set-up, trying out a new set of shock absorbers, and also carried out tyre testing.
Gene, 16th fastest, focused on engine reliability, doing longs runs during the day.
BMW worked with both Nick Heidfeld and test driver Robert Kubica, the German, who did tyre testing for Michelin, outpacing his teammate by less than a tenth.
The Toro Rosso and Super Aguri teams had one driver each on track, as both concentrated on set-up work for the San Marino Grand Prix.
The red flags of the day were caused by Webber, Massa, Rosberg, Alonso, de la Rosa, Kubica, Gene, Davidson and Coulthard.
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Kovalainen Renault (M) 1:14.955 144
2. Barrichello Honda (M) 1:15.135 107
3. Alonso Renault (M) 1:15.251 45
4. Davidson Honda (M) 1:15.354 112
5. Zonta Toyota (B) 1:15.426 88
6. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:15.671 97
7. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:15.683 82
8. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:15.747 84
9. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:15.781 74
10. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:15.860 108
11. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (M) 1:15.917 75
12. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:15.955 54
13. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:15.957 31
14. Kubica BMW-Sauber (M) 1:15.974 93
15. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:16.389 107
16. Gene Ferrari (B) 1:16.446 115
17. Panis Toyota (B) 1:16.812 71
18. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:19.328 76
All Timing Unofficial
[/QUOTE]
| JoD | 04-13-2006 12:31 PM |
[QUOTE=nick735]I dont really have too many cool stories to tell lol. My uncle's firm,who designs and fabricates the interior of ultra-luxury cruise ships, actually built kimis garage. From what I hear its nicer and larger than most homes. I guess he didnt have many exotic cars though, mostly older cadillacs! Now can you picture little kimi driving around in a 20' black cadillac convertible?! :lol:[/QUOTE]
I want to see this garage too! Caddies eh? Never would have pictured that!!
I want to see this garage too! Caddies eh? Never would have pictured that!!
| Ferg | 04-13-2006 12:39 PM |
More on the will he won't he what in the world is he going to do Schumacher front..
[QUOTE][B]Weber: Renault interested in Schumacher
[/B]
By Erik Kirschbaum Thursday, April 13th 2006, 11:03 GMT
Formula One champions Renault are interested in signing Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, his manager said on Thursday.
However Willi Weber told Bild newspaper that the seven times champion would not consider any offers until he had decided whether he wanted to continue racing beyond this year.
"I told Flavio (Briatore) clearly that we are not talking to anyone until Michael decides whether he wants to," Weber said.
"We've known each other for a long time and talk a lot to each other," he said of Briatore. "Flavio let on that we should talk to him before we sign another possible contract with Ferrari. He seems to be interested.
"The truth is that we would first talk with Ferrari," added Weber.
Schumacher, 37, secured his first two titles under Renault boss Flavio Briatore at Benetton in 1994 and 1995. He has a contract with Ferrari to the end of 2006.
Renault are losing Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who last year ended Schumacher's run of five titles in a row and became Formula One's youngest champion at the age of 24, to McLaren at the end of the season.
McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen has in turn been linked to Schumacher's Ferrari seat, with media speculation that the Finn has already agreed a deal to join the Italian team.
Schumacher won just once in 2005, the six-car U.S. Grand Prix fiasco providing a record 84th career victory, and has yet to win in the first three races of 2006 with his only podium this year a second place at Bahrain.
He finished sixth in Malaysia and crashed out at the Australian Grand Prix.
The German has an open invitation to stay at Ferrari but has said his decision will depend on their success this season.
He said in January that he did not think he would be interested in continuing if he did not have a chance to win races or compete for the title.
"Aside from saying that I will decide over the summer, I can do no more," Schumacher said on the Ferrari website this week. "I will certainly not change my mind just because the same question is always asked of me.
"I can only say that I would like to take all the time necessary to decide and to think about things fully...for the 1,000th time, I want to repeat that I would prefer not to discuss in public the reasons that will affect my decision." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Weber: Renault interested in Schumacher
[/B]
By Erik Kirschbaum Thursday, April 13th 2006, 11:03 GMT
Formula One champions Renault are interested in signing Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, his manager said on Thursday.
However Willi Weber told Bild newspaper that the seven times champion would not consider any offers until he had decided whether he wanted to continue racing beyond this year.
"I told Flavio (Briatore) clearly that we are not talking to anyone until Michael decides whether he wants to," Weber said.
"We've known each other for a long time and talk a lot to each other," he said of Briatore. "Flavio let on that we should talk to him before we sign another possible contract with Ferrari. He seems to be interested.
"The truth is that we would first talk with Ferrari," added Weber.
Schumacher, 37, secured his first two titles under Renault boss Flavio Briatore at Benetton in 1994 and 1995. He has a contract with Ferrari to the end of 2006.
Renault are losing Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who last year ended Schumacher's run of five titles in a row and became Formula One's youngest champion at the age of 24, to McLaren at the end of the season.
McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen has in turn been linked to Schumacher's Ferrari seat, with media speculation that the Finn has already agreed a deal to join the Italian team.
Schumacher won just once in 2005, the six-car U.S. Grand Prix fiasco providing a record 84th career victory, and has yet to win in the first three races of 2006 with his only podium this year a second place at Bahrain.
He finished sixth in Malaysia and crashed out at the Australian Grand Prix.
The German has an open invitation to stay at Ferrari but has said his decision will depend on their success this season.
He said in January that he did not think he would be interested in continuing if he did not have a chance to win races or compete for the title.
"Aside from saying that I will decide over the summer, I can do no more," Schumacher said on the Ferrari website this week. "I will certainly not change my mind just because the same question is always asked of me.
"I can only say that I would like to take all the time necessary to decide and to think about things fully...for the 1,000th time, I want to repeat that I would prefer not to discuss in public the reasons that will affect my decision." [/QUOTE]
| artkevin | 04-13-2006 12:55 PM |
Weber seems to be so full of **** its not even funny.
| StuBeck | 04-13-2006 02:45 PM |
Yea, he just makes **** up to make Ferrari pay Schumi more. I think if the rest of the year is as bad as the second two races were he might not return because I think they're going to give him a pay cut.
| Ferg | 04-13-2006 03:08 PM |
Today's report from Barcelona.
[QUOTE][B]Trulli leads the way at Barcelona[/B]
Thursday, April 13th 2006, 16:49 GMT
Toyota showed they are definitely making progress following their shaky start to the season as Jarno Trulli topped the times on the third day of testing at the Barcelona circuit.
The Italian driver led a massive field of 18 drivers, as 10 of the current 11 teams continued with their preparations for the San Marino Grand Prix, which will mark the start of the European season next week.
The only team absent from Barcelona were Midland, testing at Silverstone.
Trulli worked at the wheel of the TF106, posting a best time of 1:14.522 after 81 laps. The Italian driver's day, however, was far from trouble-free as he caused two red flags during the session, the second one when his engine expired after midday.
Trulli was joined by teammate Ralf Schumacher, 12th quickest after an encouraging day of work.
"It was a successful day, we did as planned," Schumacher told autosport.com. "No problems today. We have learned a lot with the tyres in recent weeks and we are getting better at using them."
Trulli, still recuperating from an ear infection, finished ahead of world champion Fernando Alonso, who had a productive day in his Renault, covering 106 laps. Alonso caused one of the red flags of the day when he spun in the afternoon.
Michael Schumacher, third quickest, also caused a red flag when he lost his engine very early in the morning of his first day of work at Barcelona. The engine was the same Marc Gene had used on the previous two days of testing.
Schumacher tested the revised 248 F1 car that Ferrari plan to use at their home Grand Prix in Imola next week and showed promising pace.
Kimi Raikkonen was fourth fastest on his second day of work, the Finn covering 93 laps, ten less than teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, who joined the test today and finished down in 14th.
The BMW team also had both their racing drivers in action, with Nick Heidfeld setting the fifth fastest time while teammate Jacques Villeneuve was 13th after stopping on track with an engine problem.
The German squad, like most of the teams in action today at the Spanish circuit, focused mainly on tyre testing for the upcoming European races.
Honda drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello were the busiest men on track, the Briton completing well over two Grand Prix distances - 150 laps.
Barrichello, working on brake testing, wound up 11th quickest after 133 laps. Between the two Honda drivers, they covered over 1,300 kms of testing.
"We ran through a series of set-ups, to learn the car not only specifically for this track but in general and see how I can adapt to the car," Barrichello told autosport.com.
"Also we did tyre testing for here and brake evaluation for Imola. There is nothing better to report than yesterday and today's times do not present the true picture."
Christian Klien and David Coulthard also covered good distance for the Red Bull team, despite the Austrian causing a red flag after an electronics-related problem in his car.
"Our best test of the year," Red Bull's chief test engineer Ian Morgan said. "We also evaluated some new aerodynamic parts with pleasing results and these should bring an improvement for the next race in Imola.
"It was also good for both drivers to get plenty of time to work on set-up and find a car balance that they are happy with."
Super Aguri managed only 22 laps today, after Takuma Sato was hit by a hydraulics problem the team were unable to fix. Sato will take to the track again tomorrow morning, before handing out his car to teammate Yuji Ide.
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:14.522 81
2. Alonso Renault (M) 1:14.532 106
3. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:14.711 94
4. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:14.899 93
5. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (M) 1:14.940 66
6. Fisichella Renault (M) 1:15.105 112
7. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:15.209 82
8. Button Honda (M) 1:15.292 150
9. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:15.299 101
10. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:15.347 101
11. Barrichello Honda (M) 1:15.388 133
12. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) 1:15.410 73
13. Villeneuve BMW-Sauber (M) 1:15.547 97
14. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:15.686 103
15. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:15.727 86
16. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:16.019 108
17. Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:16.599 102
18. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:19.826 22
All Timing Unofficial
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Trulli leads the way at Barcelona[/B]
Thursday, April 13th 2006, 16:49 GMT
Toyota showed they are definitely making progress following their shaky start to the season as Jarno Trulli topped the times on the third day of testing at the Barcelona circuit.
The Italian driver led a massive field of 18 drivers, as 10 of the current 11 teams continued with their preparations for the San Marino Grand Prix, which will mark the start of the European season next week.
The only team absent from Barcelona were Midland, testing at Silverstone.
Trulli worked at the wheel of the TF106, posting a best time of 1:14.522 after 81 laps. The Italian driver's day, however, was far from trouble-free as he caused two red flags during the session, the second one when his engine expired after midday.
Trulli was joined by teammate Ralf Schumacher, 12th quickest after an encouraging day of work.
"It was a successful day, we did as planned," Schumacher told autosport.com. "No problems today. We have learned a lot with the tyres in recent weeks and we are getting better at using them."
Trulli, still recuperating from an ear infection, finished ahead of world champion Fernando Alonso, who had a productive day in his Renault, covering 106 laps. Alonso caused one of the red flags of the day when he spun in the afternoon.
Michael Schumacher, third quickest, also caused a red flag when he lost his engine very early in the morning of his first day of work at Barcelona. The engine was the same Marc Gene had used on the previous two days of testing.
Schumacher tested the revised 248 F1 car that Ferrari plan to use at their home Grand Prix in Imola next week and showed promising pace.
Kimi Raikkonen was fourth fastest on his second day of work, the Finn covering 93 laps, ten less than teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, who joined the test today and finished down in 14th.
The BMW team also had both their racing drivers in action, with Nick Heidfeld setting the fifth fastest time while teammate Jacques Villeneuve was 13th after stopping on track with an engine problem.
The German squad, like most of the teams in action today at the Spanish circuit, focused mainly on tyre testing for the upcoming European races.
Honda drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello were the busiest men on track, the Briton completing well over two Grand Prix distances - 150 laps.
Barrichello, working on brake testing, wound up 11th quickest after 133 laps. Between the two Honda drivers, they covered over 1,300 kms of testing.
"We ran through a series of set-ups, to learn the car not only specifically for this track but in general and see how I can adapt to the car," Barrichello told autosport.com.
"Also we did tyre testing for here and brake evaluation for Imola. There is nothing better to report than yesterday and today's times do not present the true picture."
Christian Klien and David Coulthard also covered good distance for the Red Bull team, despite the Austrian causing a red flag after an electronics-related problem in his car.
"Our best test of the year," Red Bull's chief test engineer Ian Morgan said. "We also evaluated some new aerodynamic parts with pleasing results and these should bring an improvement for the next race in Imola.
"It was also good for both drivers to get plenty of time to work on set-up and find a car balance that they are happy with."
Super Aguri managed only 22 laps today, after Takuma Sato was hit by a hydraulics problem the team were unable to fix. Sato will take to the track again tomorrow morning, before handing out his car to teammate Yuji Ide.
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:14.522 81
2. Alonso Renault (M) 1:14.532 106
3. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:14.711 94
4. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:14.899 93
5. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (M) 1:14.940 66
6. Fisichella Renault (M) 1:15.105 112
7. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:15.209 82
8. Button Honda (M) 1:15.292 150
9. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:15.299 101
10. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:15.347 101
11. Barrichello Honda (M) 1:15.388 133
12. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) 1:15.410 73
13. Villeneuve BMW-Sauber (M) 1:15.547 97
14. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:15.686 103
15. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:15.727 86
16. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:16.019 108
17. Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:16.599 102
18. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:19.826 22
All Timing Unofficial
[/QUOTE]
| StuBeck | 04-13-2006 04:47 PM |
Damn that speed of the V10 :p
| Ferg | 04-14-2006 12:57 PM |
Last day from Barcelona.
[QUOTE]Renault dominate final day at Barcelona
By Jonathan Noble Friday, April 14th 2006, 16:33 GMT
Renault dominated the final day of testing at Barcelona in Spain this week, with Heikki Kovalainen and Giancarlo Fisichella leading the way.
The pair were comfortably at the top of the time sheet on an incident-filled day at the Circuit de Catalunya. Kovalainen's best lap of 1:13.926 seconds was almost four tenths faster than Fisichella's.
Jarno Trulli continued to show the improved form of Toyota to set the third quickest time, four tenths behind Fisichella, and he was pretty happy with the way his test had gone.
"We were mainly working on new tyres," the Italian told autosport.com. "We did a huge amount of work in terms of set-up and changed several things - like dampers, mechanical set-ups. And I also found a big improvement in myself, which is why I was quick yesterday and also today."
Jenson Button continued to work on tyres and set-up work, as Honda Racing aim to find a solution to the tyre heat issues that marred their performance in the Australian Grand Prix.
Button, who was testing a new front win and bodywork parts, told autosport.com: "I tried new aero parts and the balance of the car was OK, but it was a bit difficult with the wind.
"But in the end, it turned out to be OK, we did many laps, so I'm quite happy with that."
Teammate Rubens Barrichello, who was eighth fastest overall, had to end his running early because of pain caused by a suspected trapped nerve in his shoulder.
Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, fifth fastest, was upbeat about how his test had gone, as Ferrari worked on the package of improvements that they plan to introduce at the San Marino Grand Prix.
Schumacher said: "We have worked on the aerodynamics, on the tyres and the set-up. We have sort of optimised our package."
McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, who was sixth quickest ahead of teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, was another driver suffering from a suspected trapped nerve - as the high G-forces of the new generation cars appeared to be taking their toll around the fast sweeps of the Catalan track.
Montoya brought out two red flags over the course of the day - going off the track at 2:30pm and then stopping on the main straight at 16:35pm with suspected mechanical problems.
Jacques Villeneuve was BMW's leading driver in tenth spot on the time sheet, after bringing out the red flags at 5:00pm when he stopped out on the track, while teammate Robert Kubica had an incident-filled day - going off the track three times.
"It was an interesting day, but we have to tune up the car more next time," Kubica said. "I did set-up work and tyre testing, but hopefully I will get the car more tuned in the next test."
The Polish test driver's incidents were nothing compared to Mark Webber, however, who had a fraught day in the Williams.
The Australian had a sizeable accident at Turn 4 in the morning after clouting the tyre barriers. While the team attempted to fix his car, he hopped into Alexander Wurz's car.
After his chassis was finally fixed later in the day and he got back in it, Webber then suffered a tyre failure at Turn 1 - damaging his car once again. Bridgestone are planning to investigate the cause of the burst left rear tyre.
"It was a **** day today, but the first few days were good," Webber told autosport.com. "We learnt a lot about the tyres - we tried Bridgestone's new compounds, and they were very good.
"So it was a lot better than the past; I had a good test."
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Kovalainen Renault (M) 1:13.926 132
2. Fisichella Renault (M) 1:14.302 90
3. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:14.686 86
4. Button Honda (M) 1:14.708 131
5. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:14.734 78
6. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:14.752 100
7. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:14.878 30
8. Barrichello Honda (M) 1:15.018 54
9. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:15.217 76
10. Villeneuve BMW-Sauber (M) 1:15.321 98
11. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:15.338 83
12. Davidson Honda (M) 1:15.583 69
13. Kubica BMW-Sauber (M) 1:15.791 97
14. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) 1:16.041 67
15. Wurz Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:17.752 21
16. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:19.512 13
17. Ide Super Aguri-Honda (B) No time[/QUOTE]
8 days until San Marino.
:D
[QUOTE]Renault dominate final day at Barcelona
By Jonathan Noble Friday, April 14th 2006, 16:33 GMT
Renault dominated the final day of testing at Barcelona in Spain this week, with Heikki Kovalainen and Giancarlo Fisichella leading the way.
The pair were comfortably at the top of the time sheet on an incident-filled day at the Circuit de Catalunya. Kovalainen's best lap of 1:13.926 seconds was almost four tenths faster than Fisichella's.
Jarno Trulli continued to show the improved form of Toyota to set the third quickest time, four tenths behind Fisichella, and he was pretty happy with the way his test had gone.
"We were mainly working on new tyres," the Italian told autosport.com. "We did a huge amount of work in terms of set-up and changed several things - like dampers, mechanical set-ups. And I also found a big improvement in myself, which is why I was quick yesterday and also today."
Jenson Button continued to work on tyres and set-up work, as Honda Racing aim to find a solution to the tyre heat issues that marred their performance in the Australian Grand Prix.
Button, who was testing a new front win and bodywork parts, told autosport.com: "I tried new aero parts and the balance of the car was OK, but it was a bit difficult with the wind.
"But in the end, it turned out to be OK, we did many laps, so I'm quite happy with that."
Teammate Rubens Barrichello, who was eighth fastest overall, had to end his running early because of pain caused by a suspected trapped nerve in his shoulder.
Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, fifth fastest, was upbeat about how his test had gone, as Ferrari worked on the package of improvements that they plan to introduce at the San Marino Grand Prix.
Schumacher said: "We have worked on the aerodynamics, on the tyres and the set-up. We have sort of optimised our package."
McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, who was sixth quickest ahead of teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, was another driver suffering from a suspected trapped nerve - as the high G-forces of the new generation cars appeared to be taking their toll around the fast sweeps of the Catalan track.
Montoya brought out two red flags over the course of the day - going off the track at 2:30pm and then stopping on the main straight at 16:35pm with suspected mechanical problems.
Jacques Villeneuve was BMW's leading driver in tenth spot on the time sheet, after bringing out the red flags at 5:00pm when he stopped out on the track, while teammate Robert Kubica had an incident-filled day - going off the track three times.
"It was an interesting day, but we have to tune up the car more next time," Kubica said. "I did set-up work and tyre testing, but hopefully I will get the car more tuned in the next test."
The Polish test driver's incidents were nothing compared to Mark Webber, however, who had a fraught day in the Williams.
The Australian had a sizeable accident at Turn 4 in the morning after clouting the tyre barriers. While the team attempted to fix his car, he hopped into Alexander Wurz's car.
After his chassis was finally fixed later in the day and he got back in it, Webber then suffered a tyre failure at Turn 1 - damaging his car once again. Bridgestone are planning to investigate the cause of the burst left rear tyre.
"It was a **** day today, but the first few days were good," Webber told autosport.com. "We learnt a lot about the tyres - we tried Bridgestone's new compounds, and they were very good.
"So it was a lot better than the past; I had a good test."
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Kovalainen Renault (M) 1:13.926 132
2. Fisichella Renault (M) 1:14.302 90
3. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:14.686 86
4. Button Honda (M) 1:14.708 131
5. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:14.734 78
6. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:14.752 100
7. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:14.878 30
8. Barrichello Honda (M) 1:15.018 54
9. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:15.217 76
10. Villeneuve BMW-Sauber (M) 1:15.321 98
11. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:15.338 83
12. Davidson Honda (M) 1:15.583 69
13. Kubica BMW-Sauber (M) 1:15.791 97
14. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) 1:16.041 67
15. Wurz Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:17.752 21
16. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:19.512 13
17. Ide Super Aguri-Honda (B) No time[/QUOTE]
8 days until San Marino.
:D
| Ferg | 04-14-2006 03:16 PM |
Everyone needs to send Ide some happy thoughts.
[QUOTE]Ide's woes continue at Barcelona
By Jonathan Noble Friday, April 14th 2006, 17:53 GMT
Yuji Ide's hopes of getting a confidence-boosting test at Barcelona ended in major disappointment today, when he failed to even get out onto the track.
The Japanese driver has been put under pressure to improve his form after a disappointing Australian Grand Prix weekend, but the team said they were confident a planned test at the Circuit de Catalunya this week would allow him to make a step forward with his driving.
Managing director Daniel Audetto said earlier this week: "We will give him a full test in Barcelona before Imola and then we can assess him with more time and also fairness, to give him a good chance to prove that he is good."
However, mechanical problems for Takuma Sato during the test, and a lack of time to change over the settings on the single car the team had, meant Ide never even had the chance to get out on the track.
Sato had been asked to run this morning to do a tyre comparison test, but he stopped after 13 laps with an hydraulics problem. And, although the team set about trying to fix the issue, as well as alter the seat and pedal settings to accommodate Ide's taller frame, they eventually ran out of time to get Ide out on the track.
It means the Japanese rookie will head to the San Marino Grand Prix facing another track he does not know and without the confidence that would have come from running at Barcelona in test conditions.
Ide's test setback comes on the back of other difficulties he is having to face. [B]He currently does not have his own seat in the SA05 and has previously had to make do with a modified version of Heinz-Harald Frentzen's from when the car was the Arrows A23.[/B] :huh:
He had been told that a new seat would be ready for this week's Barcelona test but a planned seat-fitting at the team's Leafield factory did not happen, and Ide is now having to make do with a modified version of Franck Montagny's seat.
Speaking to autosport.com on Thursday, Ide said he had hoped that his run on Friday would help him improve.
"I am told by Aguri (Suzuki) that I should get more mileage in the test, so that I can bring back results in the next race - that is all.
"That is why I am here - watching and taking part in the debrief from the first day."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Racing Engineering want to buy Midland F1
By Pablo Elizalde Friday, April 14th 2006, 18:33 GMT
Racing Engineering owner Alfonso de Orleans Borbon has revealed he is interested in buying the Midland Formula One team.
Midland issued a statement yesterday saying they are not for sale, although team owner Alex Shnaider recently stated he would be willing to consider a buyout if the price was right.
Orleans, whose GP2 team failed to score any points in the first round of the season at Valencia last weekend, has expressed interest in moving into Formula One, and Racing Engineering were thought to have made an application for the 2008 season.
However, after confirming his team were not among the 22 to apply for an F1 entry, de Orleans revealed he is looking into purchasing the Silverstone-based F1 outfit.
"Some days they say they might sell, and on other days they say I have to wait," the Spaniard told his country's daily newspaper Marca.
"The fact is that at Imola, I'm going to sit down to talk with Shnaider if I can, and if not, I'll try in the next race."
However, Orleans said it was difficult to assess at the moment what would be the buying value of Midland F1.
"The buyout is not easy to evaluate, because you have to check if they have debts," he explained.
"If we take upon ourselves to pay off their debts, then this would be included in the price - just like the Silverstone factory, the wind tunnel, and so on."
If Orleans is successful in taking over Midland F1, the Spaniard plans to move the team's headquarters to Spain.
He says the financial backing would come from current Racing Engineering sponsors, as well as "several others who would join us when we have the team."
Orleans has strong ties with Telefonica and Repsol, with other Spanish companies also keen to capitalise on Formula One's rising popularity in Spain following Fernando Alonso's success in the sport.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Ide's woes continue at Barcelona
By Jonathan Noble Friday, April 14th 2006, 17:53 GMT
Yuji Ide's hopes of getting a confidence-boosting test at Barcelona ended in major disappointment today, when he failed to even get out onto the track.
The Japanese driver has been put under pressure to improve his form after a disappointing Australian Grand Prix weekend, but the team said they were confident a planned test at the Circuit de Catalunya this week would allow him to make a step forward with his driving.
Managing director Daniel Audetto said earlier this week: "We will give him a full test in Barcelona before Imola and then we can assess him with more time and also fairness, to give him a good chance to prove that he is good."
However, mechanical problems for Takuma Sato during the test, and a lack of time to change over the settings on the single car the team had, meant Ide never even had the chance to get out on the track.
Sato had been asked to run this morning to do a tyre comparison test, but he stopped after 13 laps with an hydraulics problem. And, although the team set about trying to fix the issue, as well as alter the seat and pedal settings to accommodate Ide's taller frame, they eventually ran out of time to get Ide out on the track.
It means the Japanese rookie will head to the San Marino Grand Prix facing another track he does not know and without the confidence that would have come from running at Barcelona in test conditions.
Ide's test setback comes on the back of other difficulties he is having to face. [B]He currently does not have his own seat in the SA05 and has previously had to make do with a modified version of Heinz-Harald Frentzen's from when the car was the Arrows A23.[/B] :huh:
He had been told that a new seat would be ready for this week's Barcelona test but a planned seat-fitting at the team's Leafield factory did not happen, and Ide is now having to make do with a modified version of Franck Montagny's seat.
Speaking to autosport.com on Thursday, Ide said he had hoped that his run on Friday would help him improve.
"I am told by Aguri (Suzuki) that I should get more mileage in the test, so that I can bring back results in the next race - that is all.
"That is why I am here - watching and taking part in the debrief from the first day."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Racing Engineering want to buy Midland F1
By Pablo Elizalde Friday, April 14th 2006, 18:33 GMT
Racing Engineering owner Alfonso de Orleans Borbon has revealed he is interested in buying the Midland Formula One team.
Midland issued a statement yesterday saying they are not for sale, although team owner Alex Shnaider recently stated he would be willing to consider a buyout if the price was right.
Orleans, whose GP2 team failed to score any points in the first round of the season at Valencia last weekend, has expressed interest in moving into Formula One, and Racing Engineering were thought to have made an application for the 2008 season.
However, after confirming his team were not among the 22 to apply for an F1 entry, de Orleans revealed he is looking into purchasing the Silverstone-based F1 outfit.
"Some days they say they might sell, and on other days they say I have to wait," the Spaniard told his country's daily newspaper Marca.
"The fact is that at Imola, I'm going to sit down to talk with Shnaider if I can, and if not, I'll try in the next race."
However, Orleans said it was difficult to assess at the moment what would be the buying value of Midland F1.
"The buyout is not easy to evaluate, because you have to check if they have debts," he explained.
"If we take upon ourselves to pay off their debts, then this would be included in the price - just like the Silverstone factory, the wind tunnel, and so on."
If Orleans is successful in taking over Midland F1, the Spaniard plans to move the team's headquarters to Spain.
He says the financial backing would come from current Racing Engineering sponsors, as well as "several others who would join us when we have the team."
Orleans has strong ties with Telefonica and Repsol, with other Spanish companies also keen to capitalise on Formula One's rising popularity in Spain following Fernando Alonso's success in the sport.[/QUOTE]
| meebs | 04-14-2006 04:40 PM |
He doesn't need happy thoughts, just a seat!!! WOW! I can't imagine not having a proper seat in an F1 car. That has to be borderline dangerous/un-safe.... not to mention you would have absolutly NO HOPE for going fast. That's horrible.
| artkevin | 04-14-2006 04:46 PM |
Holy crap. That really sucks to not have a seat. It seems like it would be almost unbarable to drive a race distance in someone else's mocked up butt bucket.
| Student Driver | 04-14-2006 06:19 PM |
Awesome. So, let's take the new guy, stick him in an antique without a proper seat, spend less time on him than his teammate (kinda obvious at this point) with setup, and then complain when he can't keep up with the next slowest guy on the grid (said teammate). It seemed odd at the time, but I actually felt sorry for Ide when I first saw the car and what they were doing (him being new, going to F1 thinking it would be awesome and having the seat, er, rug pulled out from under him). Doesn't seem so odd now. Well, I guess he was only promised a "ride" in F1, but nobody specified the seat he was using...
;)
;)
| StuBeck | 04-14-2006 06:30 PM |
I think there has to be some sort of wrong info about this. Hell, give me 10 minutes and I can make a mold for my seat in my car. Maybe he has the mold but not the CF seat...or something, idk. If he's truly doesn't have his own seat then that might be a sign they don't want him in the team.
| Student Driver | 04-14-2006 06:48 PM |
On it!
[IMG]http://static.flickr.com/47/128588867_66f4a17779.jpg[/IMG]
He's all dialed in now. I can even ship a set of matching carbon fiber yard flamingos.
[IMG]http://static.flickr.com/47/128588867_66f4a17779.jpg[/IMG]
He's all dialed in now. I can even ship a set of matching carbon fiber yard flamingos.
| Student Driver | 04-14-2006 07:05 PM |
Here is some product literature from my marketing campaign:
[quote="Driventechnologies Folding F1 Chair"]
With its enhanced aluminium chassis and carbon fibre construction, this is the premier seating surface for all racing vehicles. This seat is the first of its kind using a special chassis linkage pivoting on "rivets", along with the new carbon fibre manipulation we call a "weave".
This is the first component of the new set we call "BAR Backmarker sQuad" (a.k.a BBQ) set. We will incorporate a high end exothermal heating device for molding plastics, carbon composites, and cooking hamburgers.
DT company president Jack Ass goes on to say:
[i]This seat is designed to make even the most incompetent team appear as if they're going fast. It was intended for BAR last year, but when the car was disqualified due to the extra carbonated drink storage container it provided, we went back to the drawing board. Now that it's available this year, we knew it was a good fit for the Super Aguri team.[/i][/quote]
[quote="Driventechnologies Folding F1 Chair"]
With its enhanced aluminium chassis and carbon fibre construction, this is the premier seating surface for all racing vehicles. This seat is the first of its kind using a special chassis linkage pivoting on "rivets", along with the new carbon fibre manipulation we call a "weave".
This is the first component of the new set we call "BAR Backmarker sQuad" (a.k.a BBQ) set. We will incorporate a high end exothermal heating device for molding plastics, carbon composites, and cooking hamburgers.
DT company president Jack Ass goes on to say:
[i]This seat is designed to make even the most incompetent team appear as if they're going fast. It was intended for BAR last year, but when the car was disqualified due to the extra carbonated drink storage container it provided, we went back to the drawing board. Now that it's available this year, we knew it was a good fit for the Super Aguri team.[/i][/quote]
| StuBeck | 04-14-2006 11:09 PM |
:lol: That's the best thing ever.
| Student Driver | 04-14-2006 11:15 PM |
:cool: I think the "BBQ" acronymn was the best, although who would have thought that a lawn chair could sound so, so, F1-ish.
