| Jag_Warrior | 02-12-2006 08:32 AM |
[QUOTE=artkevin]I am pulling for her. Yes, she has been overhyped becuase she is "good looking" but she is a good driver IMHO. Not the best and nothing spectacular but I hope she does well.
There's a interview in FHM this month with Wheldon he talked about what Tony Kaanan and his teammates did to him after his last race as a rookie. To make it short, they turned up the heat in his hotel room, several guys took a dump in the bathroom, soaked the matresses with water and blocked off all the windows with them. The best part is the Wheldon is shoe guy and they sent all of his left shoes back to America.[/QUOTE]
Other than what I've read or heard, I honestly don't know much about Danny Wheldon. But Kanaan is a fun(ny) guy and a good driver. I'm sorry that he's wasting his time in the IRL, along with Franchitti and several others who have something greater than all/mostly-oval talent.
My former company sponsored anything that Rahal wanted to do: CART Champ/Indy cars, Indy Lights, Trans Am... so I used to pull for him (knowing that my bonus was probably a little smaller because of him). Even after we got a new CEO and finally dropped him, when Danica came along, I rooted for her too. But then, her personality began to creep out. IMO, the Peak ad captured it pretty well. Without sounding too harsh, let's just say I pull for Katherine Legge these days. Danica didn't win in almost two years of Atlantics racing = the Danikova comment. Katherine started winning right off the bat. Katherine is quite cute, but very businesslike and friendly... much less brash. But there's enough room for both of them. Hopefully we'll get to see both of these women on the (same) track some day soon. I believe it'll be better than Lynn St. James and poor Sarah Fisher running into each other at the Indy/IRL 500 several years ago. But watch out for Katherine. She recently tested a Minardi and put in some very decent times. I expect to see her doing more F1 tests in the near future.
There's a interview in FHM this month with Wheldon he talked about what Tony Kaanan and his teammates did to him after his last race as a rookie. To make it short, they turned up the heat in his hotel room, several guys took a dump in the bathroom, soaked the matresses with water and blocked off all the windows with them. The best part is the Wheldon is shoe guy and they sent all of his left shoes back to America.[/QUOTE]
Other than what I've read or heard, I honestly don't know much about Danny Wheldon. But Kanaan is a fun(ny) guy and a good driver. I'm sorry that he's wasting his time in the IRL, along with Franchitti and several others who have something greater than all/mostly-oval talent.
My former company sponsored anything that Rahal wanted to do: CART Champ/Indy cars, Indy Lights, Trans Am... so I used to pull for him (knowing that my bonus was probably a little smaller because of him). Even after we got a new CEO and finally dropped him, when Danica came along, I rooted for her too. But then, her personality began to creep out. IMO, the Peak ad captured it pretty well. Without sounding too harsh, let's just say I pull for Katherine Legge these days. Danica didn't win in almost two years of Atlantics racing = the Danikova comment. Katherine started winning right off the bat. Katherine is quite cute, but very businesslike and friendly... much less brash. But there's enough room for both of them. Hopefully we'll get to see both of these women on the (same) track some day soon. I believe it'll be better than Lynn St. James and poor Sarah Fisher running into each other at the Indy/IRL 500 several years ago. But watch out for Katherine. She recently tested a Minardi and put in some very decent times. I expect to see her doing more F1 tests in the near future.
| artkevin | 02-12-2006 10:09 AM |
The rumor is that Legge wil get a Champ car drive this season for PKV if Vasser leaves. I hope so. She has enought talent.
F1 Racing Mag had a little blurb about her testing the Minardi and put it in a very bad light IMO. Said it was a failure becuase she spun the car on the 1st day. Somehow they didn't mention that she was setting very fast and consitent times on the 2nd.
F1 Racing Mag had a little blurb about her testing the Minardi and put it in a very bad light IMO. Said it was a failure becuase she spun the car on the 1st day. Somehow they didn't mention that she was setting very fast and consitent times on the 2nd.
| StuBeck | 02-12-2006 11:57 AM |
The problem with Danica is that she is not hyping herself, everyone else is hyping her up. She did pretty well during the rolex race, and I think she's annoyed with the IRL. During an interview she had she said she was happy to finally be driving a real race car again...then noticed what she said and went back to say the IRL had actual cars it was just different. She at least has done something, Sarah Fisher did nothing but was hyped similarily. She also was doing pretty good racing in England a few years ago.
| Ferg | 02-13-2006 12:00 PM |
Monday mornin news....
[QUOTE]Toyota to unveil revised car tomorrow
By Jonathan Noble Monday, February 13th 2006, 10:06 GMT
Toyota will unveil their long-awaited new aero package at Vallelunga in Italy tomorrow - with technical director Mike Gascoyne confident the team have left no stone unturned in their quest to improve the car.
Although Toyota launched their TF106 on the very first day of post-season testing last November, the team always planned to wait until this week to introduce the definitive aero package that they will start the season with.
With new front and rear wings, more sculpted sidepods, a new diffuser, engine cover and floor, the team believe the developments will give them what they need to start the season strongly.
Gascoyne said: "We have looked at every single component to produce what I believe is our most competitive aero package to date.
"We have a new front wing and rear wing, more sculpted side pods, modified diffuser, restyled engine cover and floor. Everything has been studied, improved, tested and improved again.
"We have two more tests, one this week in Vallelunga and one next week in Barcelona, during which time we will work to harmonise the TF106 package continuing the encouraging work we have conducted with Bridgestone over the winter."
Gascoyne is hopeful that their approach will allow them to seize the initiative over their rivals at the start of the season - even though Toyota have so far not been one of the strongest teams in testing.
"It was always our intention to maximise development time in the wind-tunnel," he added.
"In this way, we have been able to run the mechanical base of the TF106 since the end of November to gather extremely valuable data from the car and the Bridgestone tyres as we concurrently work on honing the most advanced aero package possible for the first three intercontinental races.
"Reliability has always been a key factor of the first races, but whilst we aim to be 100% reliable, we also want to be 100% competitive.
"Our approach to the racing season may not enable us to be winter testing champions, but we hope that it will help us to challenge for podiums throughout the season and ultimately Toyota's maiden victory."[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/56050103/large.jpg[/IMG]
[B]The new aero package starts with a new front wing, based on the 2005 Monaco front wing that already had a second small wing (2). The new version also includes a small fin on the inside (1) and also on outside (3). At the side of the nose cone there are 2 additional fins (4). The first two fins (on top) were introduced already at the start of the 2005 season.[/B]
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/56050105/large.jpg[/IMG]
[B]The major differences between the car used in winter testing and the one used at the Vallelunga test are concentrated in the side pods 1) New turning vanes with little vertical splitter and a second little gurney flap (2) attached to the horizontal fin with a modified shape 3) The side pods are much narrower in the low part to match the reduced cooling needs and to improve the airflow to the rear of the car 4) Winglets are new and smaller than the previous ones 5) New chimneys are mounted with an increased angle towards the oustside and are integrated with new winglet of the side pods [/B]
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/56050102/large.jpg[/IMG]
[B]The new nose is based on the strong spoon shape form. 1) The new flaps are more twisted compared to the similar ones introduced at Monaco in 2005 2) There are additional little horizontal fins 3) There is a new outside fin 4) A double profile is attached to the nose cone 5) New more aerodynamic wishbone shape 6) different turning vanes 7) new fins in front of the side pods with vertical splitter 8) New smaller winglet attached to the top of the side pods 9) More sculptured side pods 10) New position of the exhausts with small side gills for the exit of hot air (12) 11) New winglet integrated with chimneys 13) Different position of mini wing 14) New engine cover with better shape to cover the gearbox 15) Mini plane attached to the deformable structure [/B]
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/56050104/large.jpg[/IMG]
[B]The TF106 that tests at Vallelunga from 14 February includes an all-new aero package for the first races. 1) New front wing with different end plate and external side fin 2) An additional pair of fins located beside the nose cone that makes 4 fins in total 3) Modified guide vanes 4) New aero spec in front of the side pods with little vertical turning vanes 5) Side pods more sculpted in the low section to increase airflow to the back of the car 6) New position of the side pods winglet 7) Four winglets in the airbox area instead of two 8) New position of the exhausts and small outlet gills for removal of hot air 9) New winglet integrated with the chimneys 10) The bodywork in front of the rear tyres has been modified 11) Only one vertical fin in the lower section towards the rear of the car 12) New diffuser 13) New deformable structure to cope with a more severe crash test [/B]
[QUOTE]Toyota to unveil revised car tomorrow
By Jonathan Noble Monday, February 13th 2006, 10:06 GMT
Toyota will unveil their long-awaited new aero package at Vallelunga in Italy tomorrow - with technical director Mike Gascoyne confident the team have left no stone unturned in their quest to improve the car.
Although Toyota launched their TF106 on the very first day of post-season testing last November, the team always planned to wait until this week to introduce the definitive aero package that they will start the season with.
With new front and rear wings, more sculpted sidepods, a new diffuser, engine cover and floor, the team believe the developments will give them what they need to start the season strongly.
Gascoyne said: "We have looked at every single component to produce what I believe is our most competitive aero package to date.
"We have a new front wing and rear wing, more sculpted side pods, modified diffuser, restyled engine cover and floor. Everything has been studied, improved, tested and improved again.
"We have two more tests, one this week in Vallelunga and one next week in Barcelona, during which time we will work to harmonise the TF106 package continuing the encouraging work we have conducted with Bridgestone over the winter."
Gascoyne is hopeful that their approach will allow them to seize the initiative over their rivals at the start of the season - even though Toyota have so far not been one of the strongest teams in testing.
"It was always our intention to maximise development time in the wind-tunnel," he added.
"In this way, we have been able to run the mechanical base of the TF106 since the end of November to gather extremely valuable data from the car and the Bridgestone tyres as we concurrently work on honing the most advanced aero package possible for the first three intercontinental races.
"Reliability has always been a key factor of the first races, but whilst we aim to be 100% reliable, we also want to be 100% competitive.
"Our approach to the racing season may not enable us to be winter testing champions, but we hope that it will help us to challenge for podiums throughout the season and ultimately Toyota's maiden victory."[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/56050103/large.jpg[/IMG]
[B]The new aero package starts with a new front wing, based on the 2005 Monaco front wing that already had a second small wing (2). The new version also includes a small fin on the inside (1) and also on outside (3). At the side of the nose cone there are 2 additional fins (4). The first two fins (on top) were introduced already at the start of the 2005 season.[/B]
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/56050105/large.jpg[/IMG]
[B]The major differences between the car used in winter testing and the one used at the Vallelunga test are concentrated in the side pods 1) New turning vanes with little vertical splitter and a second little gurney flap (2) attached to the horizontal fin with a modified shape 3) The side pods are much narrower in the low part to match the reduced cooling needs and to improve the airflow to the rear of the car 4) Winglets are new and smaller than the previous ones 5) New chimneys are mounted with an increased angle towards the oustside and are integrated with new winglet of the side pods [/B]
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/56050102/large.jpg[/IMG]
[B]The new nose is based on the strong spoon shape form. 1) The new flaps are more twisted compared to the similar ones introduced at Monaco in 2005 2) There are additional little horizontal fins 3) There is a new outside fin 4) A double profile is attached to the nose cone 5) New more aerodynamic wishbone shape 6) different turning vanes 7) new fins in front of the side pods with vertical splitter 8) New smaller winglet attached to the top of the side pods 9) More sculptured side pods 10) New position of the exhausts with small side gills for the exit of hot air (12) 11) New winglet integrated with chimneys 13) Different position of mini wing 14) New engine cover with better shape to cover the gearbox 15) Mini plane attached to the deformable structure [/B]
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/56050104/large.jpg[/IMG]
[B]The TF106 that tests at Vallelunga from 14 February includes an all-new aero package for the first races. 1) New front wing with different end plate and external side fin 2) An additional pair of fins located beside the nose cone that makes 4 fins in total 3) Modified guide vanes 4) New aero spec in front of the side pods with little vertical turning vanes 5) Side pods more sculpted in the low section to increase airflow to the back of the car 6) New position of the side pods winglet 7) Four winglets in the airbox area instead of two 8) New position of the exhausts and small outlet gills for removal of hot air 9) New winglet integrated with the chimneys 10) The bodywork in front of the rear tyres has been modified 11) Only one vertical fin in the lower section towards the rear of the car 12) New diffuser 13) New deformable structure to cope with a more severe crash test [/B]
| Ferg | 02-13-2006 12:03 PM |
More news.
[QUOTE]Badoer on top in Bahrain test
Monday, February 13th 2006, 16:54 GMT
Three Formula One teams kicked off their preparations for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, testing at the Sahkir track only four weeks ahead of the first race of the year.
Ferrari's test driver Luca Badoer posted the fastest time on a day where teams could finally work with summer-like conditions, with track temperatures passing the 30-degree mark.
Badoer was at the wheel of the F2004 fitted with a V10 engine, while teammate Felipe Massa drove the new 248 F1, both men working on fine tunning the cars' set-up. They also carried out tyre testing aimed at the first races of the 2006 season.
Massa finished as fourth fastest behind the Hondas of Anthony Davidson and James Rossiter, who continued to shine with the new RA106 car. Davidson focused mainly on set-up work and tyre evaluation, while Rossiter also carried out aero evaluation in the afternoon.
Scott Speed was in action for the Toro Rosso team, the American working with the old RB1 car as the team were unable to have the new STR 1 ready for the test following its debut at Jerez last week.
Speed spent the morning working on general set-up, and simulated a race distance in the afternoon, although he was unable to complete the programme due to a red flag late in the afternoon.
"The car ran well and it has been very useful to evaluate downforce levels and work out what level to use in the race," said chief engineer Laurent Mekies. "Considering that we have several new guys on the team, who have not worked together before, the pitstop went well.
"Unfortunately, Scott was unable to complete the race distance as the session was red flagged when another car stopped on track. We are using the RB1 here because there was no time to get the STR 1 here after its inaugural test in Jerez last week. STR 1 will be testing again in Imola next week."
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:32.309 77
2. Davidson Honda (M) 1:32.571 53
3. Rossiter Honda (M) 1:32.864 68
4. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:32.952 51
5. Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:34.299 82
All Timing Unofficial[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Ecclestone: Schumacher key to market
By Michele Lostia Monday, February 13th 2006, 13:25 GMT
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes that former champion Michael Schumacher holds the key to the driver market this year.
With speculation suggesting that Schumacher is eyeing a two-year extension to his current deal with Ferrari, Ecclestone believes that the German's final decision will have a big say on movements elsewhere on the grid.
"Everything revolves around Schumacher," said Ecclestone in Gazzetta dello Sport. "If he quits, and I don't think he will, Raikkonen will go to Ferrari.
"Otherwise Kimi, who in my opinion is the fastest driver in F1 today, will have to stay at McLaren, thus forming a super-pairing with Alonso. Or maybe he could go to Renault where, with Briatore, he'll be able to become World Champion as well."
Ecclestone believes that Schumacher's Ferrari team will be back on the pace this year, following their disappointing 2005 campaign, and he even thinks that the title could be heading Maranello's way.
"The way testing is going, it seems like Ferrari is about to have a great year," he added. "I wouldn't be at all surprised if the title would again go to Michael Schumacher, who might be getting old but still goes extremely quick. I also see McLaren and Renault doing well."
Ecclestone also believes that the sport as a whole will provide more of a spectacle in 2006 - especially because of the new knock-out qualifying system.
"I think with the new qualifying, Saturdays will be back to being exciting and lively. In the last few years, with just one car on track at the time, I got bored. And sometimes, I'm not joking, I risked falling asleep.
"Now there won't be time to catch your breath, the drivers will always be totally busy and the public will have fun, I'm sure."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Toro Rosso to respect V10 restrictions
By Jonathan Noble Monday, February 13th 2006, 11:36 GMT
Scuderia Toro Rosso have said they will respect any move by the FIA to further cut back the performance of their V10 engine this season , even though they think they currently have no advantage over their V8 rivals.
The Red Bull junior team's boss Franz Tost has said his outfit will have no choice but to accept any action taken by the FIA - who have made it clear that a final decision on the 'equivalency' formula between V10s and V8s may not be made until the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
It comes after continued concerns from rival teams, especially Midland F1, who claim that V8 engines may be at a disadvantage compared to the V10 Cosworths that are being run by Toro Rosso this year.
Tost told autosport.com: "It is the FIA who regulates these things and I respect its decisions. From the figures its states, and from what I can see, our V10 is not in front.
"The V8s are in front by far. I can talk for Cosworth and we are not at an advantage - although it is up to the FIA to regulate. Should it decide that other figures would be appropriate to realise the equivalency formula, then we will respect that."
Tost has also not ruled out the possibility of the FIA actually waiting until after the Bahrain Grand Prix to decide on whether the performance of the V10s needs to be cut back or whether the current rev limit and air intake stipulation are enough.
"It can happen after Bahrain, but currently there is nothing more to add. I just follow what the governing body says."
At the Midland launch earlier this month, team principal Colin Kolles said that there would likely be problems if Toro Rosso outqualified his cars in Bahrain.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Symonds predicts little running on Fridays
By Jonathan Noble Monday, February 13th 2006, 10:27 GMT
The return of tyre changes and the knock-on affect that has on strategy will likely result in teams hardly running at all on the Friday of Grand Prix weekends.
That is the view of Renault's director of engineering Pat Symonds, who claims that the desire by teams to keep as many tyres as possible for qualifying and the race will limit the amount of time they spend on the track during practice.
The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that teams do not have to nominate the type of tyres they will use for the race until just before qualifying - meaning they now have Saturday morning to finalise their choice.
Talking about the likelihood of less running on Fridays, Symonds said: "Those teams with the advantage of the third car will run a lot, but for the top four teams, there will be much less activity.
"The tyre situation is one reason, but we also have a longer qualifying procedure � which will use up engine mileage. We will be managing engine life very carefully once again in 2006, especially at the beginning of the year when all the teams will have brand new units. Everybody will look to save their running on Friday."
Symonds actually believes that the busiest session of the weekend will be the one-hour Saturday morning practice session � solely because track conditions will be more representative of what they will be for the race.
"What we are talking about is a change in the timetable of how we run the car. With a dry weather forecast, I expect we will do very little on Friday morning, a little more in the afternoon, and the majority of our work on Saturday morning, when track conditions will be at their best. That one hour session will be very busy."
[/QUOTE]
...and on the Rossi front
[QUOTE]Rossi in secret Maserati test
Monday, February 13th 2006, 14:24 GMT
MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi has continued racking up as many miles as possible on four wheels after testing a Maserati MC12 sportscar in secret last week.
Fresh from his recent impressive form in a Ferrari F2004 at Valencia in Spain and a MotoGP test in Qatar, Rossi took part in a secret run out for the Racing Box Team at Misano in Italy.
The test was arranged by the team's former driver, Gabriele Matteuzzi, who is also the father of Rossi's girlfriend.
According to reports in Italy, Rossi managed to set a best time of one minute 27 seconds during his 15-lap run - which was on a par with the best lap of official Maserati driver Fabrizio de Simone.
Rossi also completed five laps aboard a 10-cylinder, 510hp Dodge Viper before driving the MC12.
Rossi will be returning to two-wheel action this week when he joins an official MotoGP test in Malaysia.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Badoer on top in Bahrain test
Monday, February 13th 2006, 16:54 GMT
Three Formula One teams kicked off their preparations for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, testing at the Sahkir track only four weeks ahead of the first race of the year.
Ferrari's test driver Luca Badoer posted the fastest time on a day where teams could finally work with summer-like conditions, with track temperatures passing the 30-degree mark.
Badoer was at the wheel of the F2004 fitted with a V10 engine, while teammate Felipe Massa drove the new 248 F1, both men working on fine tunning the cars' set-up. They also carried out tyre testing aimed at the first races of the 2006 season.
Massa finished as fourth fastest behind the Hondas of Anthony Davidson and James Rossiter, who continued to shine with the new RA106 car. Davidson focused mainly on set-up work and tyre evaluation, while Rossiter also carried out aero evaluation in the afternoon.
Scott Speed was in action for the Toro Rosso team, the American working with the old RB1 car as the team were unable to have the new STR 1 ready for the test following its debut at Jerez last week.
Speed spent the morning working on general set-up, and simulated a race distance in the afternoon, although he was unable to complete the programme due to a red flag late in the afternoon.
"The car ran well and it has been very useful to evaluate downforce levels and work out what level to use in the race," said chief engineer Laurent Mekies. "Considering that we have several new guys on the team, who have not worked together before, the pitstop went well.
"Unfortunately, Scott was unable to complete the race distance as the session was red flagged when another car stopped on track. We are using the RB1 here because there was no time to get the STR 1 here after its inaugural test in Jerez last week. STR 1 will be testing again in Imola next week."
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:32.309 77
2. Davidson Honda (M) 1:32.571 53
3. Rossiter Honda (M) 1:32.864 68
4. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:32.952 51
5. Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:34.299 82
All Timing Unofficial[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Ecclestone: Schumacher key to market
By Michele Lostia Monday, February 13th 2006, 13:25 GMT
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes that former champion Michael Schumacher holds the key to the driver market this year.
With speculation suggesting that Schumacher is eyeing a two-year extension to his current deal with Ferrari, Ecclestone believes that the German's final decision will have a big say on movements elsewhere on the grid.
"Everything revolves around Schumacher," said Ecclestone in Gazzetta dello Sport. "If he quits, and I don't think he will, Raikkonen will go to Ferrari.
"Otherwise Kimi, who in my opinion is the fastest driver in F1 today, will have to stay at McLaren, thus forming a super-pairing with Alonso. Or maybe he could go to Renault where, with Briatore, he'll be able to become World Champion as well."
Ecclestone believes that Schumacher's Ferrari team will be back on the pace this year, following their disappointing 2005 campaign, and he even thinks that the title could be heading Maranello's way.
"The way testing is going, it seems like Ferrari is about to have a great year," he added. "I wouldn't be at all surprised if the title would again go to Michael Schumacher, who might be getting old but still goes extremely quick. I also see McLaren and Renault doing well."
Ecclestone also believes that the sport as a whole will provide more of a spectacle in 2006 - especially because of the new knock-out qualifying system.
"I think with the new qualifying, Saturdays will be back to being exciting and lively. In the last few years, with just one car on track at the time, I got bored. And sometimes, I'm not joking, I risked falling asleep.
"Now there won't be time to catch your breath, the drivers will always be totally busy and the public will have fun, I'm sure."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Toro Rosso to respect V10 restrictions
By Jonathan Noble Monday, February 13th 2006, 11:36 GMT
Scuderia Toro Rosso have said they will respect any move by the FIA to further cut back the performance of their V10 engine this season , even though they think they currently have no advantage over their V8 rivals.
The Red Bull junior team's boss Franz Tost has said his outfit will have no choice but to accept any action taken by the FIA - who have made it clear that a final decision on the 'equivalency' formula between V10s and V8s may not be made until the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
It comes after continued concerns from rival teams, especially Midland F1, who claim that V8 engines may be at a disadvantage compared to the V10 Cosworths that are being run by Toro Rosso this year.
Tost told autosport.com: "It is the FIA who regulates these things and I respect its decisions. From the figures its states, and from what I can see, our V10 is not in front.
"The V8s are in front by far. I can talk for Cosworth and we are not at an advantage - although it is up to the FIA to regulate. Should it decide that other figures would be appropriate to realise the equivalency formula, then we will respect that."
Tost has also not ruled out the possibility of the FIA actually waiting until after the Bahrain Grand Prix to decide on whether the performance of the V10s needs to be cut back or whether the current rev limit and air intake stipulation are enough.
"It can happen after Bahrain, but currently there is nothing more to add. I just follow what the governing body says."
At the Midland launch earlier this month, team principal Colin Kolles said that there would likely be problems if Toro Rosso outqualified his cars in Bahrain.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Symonds predicts little running on Fridays
By Jonathan Noble Monday, February 13th 2006, 10:27 GMT
The return of tyre changes and the knock-on affect that has on strategy will likely result in teams hardly running at all on the Friday of Grand Prix weekends.
That is the view of Renault's director of engineering Pat Symonds, who claims that the desire by teams to keep as many tyres as possible for qualifying and the race will limit the amount of time they spend on the track during practice.
The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that teams do not have to nominate the type of tyres they will use for the race until just before qualifying - meaning they now have Saturday morning to finalise their choice.
Talking about the likelihood of less running on Fridays, Symonds said: "Those teams with the advantage of the third car will run a lot, but for the top four teams, there will be much less activity.
"The tyre situation is one reason, but we also have a longer qualifying procedure � which will use up engine mileage. We will be managing engine life very carefully once again in 2006, especially at the beginning of the year when all the teams will have brand new units. Everybody will look to save their running on Friday."
Symonds actually believes that the busiest session of the weekend will be the one-hour Saturday morning practice session � solely because track conditions will be more representative of what they will be for the race.
"What we are talking about is a change in the timetable of how we run the car. With a dry weather forecast, I expect we will do very little on Friday morning, a little more in the afternoon, and the majority of our work on Saturday morning, when track conditions will be at their best. That one hour session will be very busy."
[/QUOTE]
...and on the Rossi front
[QUOTE]Rossi in secret Maserati test
Monday, February 13th 2006, 14:24 GMT
MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi has continued racking up as many miles as possible on four wheels after testing a Maserati MC12 sportscar in secret last week.
Fresh from his recent impressive form in a Ferrari F2004 at Valencia in Spain and a MotoGP test in Qatar, Rossi took part in a secret run out for the Racing Box Team at Misano in Italy.
The test was arranged by the team's former driver, Gabriele Matteuzzi, who is also the father of Rossi's girlfriend.
According to reports in Italy, Rossi managed to set a best time of one minute 27 seconds during his 15-lap run - which was on a par with the best lap of official Maserati driver Fabrizio de Simone.
Rossi also completed five laps aboard a 10-cylinder, 510hp Dodge Viper before driving the MC12.
Rossi will be returning to two-wheel action this week when he joins an official MotoGP test in Malaysia.[/QUOTE]
| artkevin | 02-13-2006 12:06 PM |
I love that guy's drawings. They are always extremely accurate and it makes me wonder what type of access he has to the teams. He must use the pause function on his TiVo a lot because there are several times I have seen his drawings of things that the teams do not want in the public.
| Ferg | 02-13-2006 12:22 PM |
Giorgio Piola...Ive got of couple of his annual technical review books, great stuff. I'm with you Kevin, I'm not sure ow he gets access to some of the stuff. The man defiantely has an eye for detail!
[QUOTE]Mosley sets deadline for manufacturers
By Anthony Rowlinson and Jonathan Noble Monday, February 13th 2006, 17:12 GMT
FIA president Max Mosley has thrown down the gauntlet to the manufacturers planning a breakaway championship - warning them they must commit to Formula One by next April or risk losing their place in the sport for 2008.
Although BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Renault and Toyota have signed a document binding the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association (GPMA) together in not leaving the rebel plans until next September, Mosley seized the initiative on Monday and told them they will instead have to decide their future plans in the next few months.
That is because he intends for the entries to the 2008 World Championship to close sometime in April, effectively meaning that those who do not commit then could lose out to new teams planning to make the jump to F1.
Mosley said that he hoped the next meeting of the FIA World Council on March 22 would agree to open entries to the 2008 championship on March 23 and then close them just 'a few weeks later'.
With a maximum limit of 12 entries for the 2008 championship, and a high likelihood of an over-subscription because the hurdle of the $48 million deposit will be dropped, any manufacturer stalling will risk getting overlooked if they do not sign-up.
Although there will be provisions for teams to enter after the April deadline, Mosley made it clear that that would only be possible if there was a vacancy.
"I would hope that everyone would enter, but there is no guarantee that they will," he said.
Mosley has also further increased the pressure on the manufacturers by revealing controversial plans to reduce costs by introducing same-spec engines from 2008 to 2010.
Under the scheme, manufacturers would have to lodge their engine design with the FIA by next June and then that specification of power-unit would be frozen for 2008, 2009 and 2010 - meaning no development at all for three years.
Reliability problems, however, could be addressed as long as the work did not result in a performance advantage.
"It would save up to one billion Euros per year on engine development," explained Mosley.
"I have a real determination to see this through. If F1 is to prosper we have got to get the costs down in order to help the independents survive.
"The GPMA and the manufacturers have been complaining about not getting enough money back from the sport, but they are spending between them one billion Euros per year. It would be better to cut that than try and get more back from Bernie Ecclestone." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Mosley sets deadline for manufacturers
By Anthony Rowlinson and Jonathan Noble Monday, February 13th 2006, 17:12 GMT
FIA president Max Mosley has thrown down the gauntlet to the manufacturers planning a breakaway championship - warning them they must commit to Formula One by next April or risk losing their place in the sport for 2008.
Although BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Renault and Toyota have signed a document binding the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association (GPMA) together in not leaving the rebel plans until next September, Mosley seized the initiative on Monday and told them they will instead have to decide their future plans in the next few months.
That is because he intends for the entries to the 2008 World Championship to close sometime in April, effectively meaning that those who do not commit then could lose out to new teams planning to make the jump to F1.
Mosley said that he hoped the next meeting of the FIA World Council on March 22 would agree to open entries to the 2008 championship on March 23 and then close them just 'a few weeks later'.
With a maximum limit of 12 entries for the 2008 championship, and a high likelihood of an over-subscription because the hurdle of the $48 million deposit will be dropped, any manufacturer stalling will risk getting overlooked if they do not sign-up.
Although there will be provisions for teams to enter after the April deadline, Mosley made it clear that that would only be possible if there was a vacancy.
"I would hope that everyone would enter, but there is no guarantee that they will," he said.
Mosley has also further increased the pressure on the manufacturers by revealing controversial plans to reduce costs by introducing same-spec engines from 2008 to 2010.
Under the scheme, manufacturers would have to lodge their engine design with the FIA by next June and then that specification of power-unit would be frozen for 2008, 2009 and 2010 - meaning no development at all for three years.
Reliability problems, however, could be addressed as long as the work did not result in a performance advantage.
"It would save up to one billion Euros per year on engine development," explained Mosley.
"I have a real determination to see this through. If F1 is to prosper we have got to get the costs down in order to help the independents survive.
"The GPMA and the manufacturers have been complaining about not getting enough money back from the sport, but they are spending between them one billion Euros per year. It would be better to cut that than try and get more back from Bernie Ecclestone." [/QUOTE]
| TimStevens | 02-13-2006 12:25 PM |
Geez... what a life Rossi has. Racing motorbikes, being invited to race someone's MC12, "warming up" in a Viper... oi.
| artkevin | 02-13-2006 12:37 PM |
I might have to look into those books. I have been looking at his work since he drew for F1 Magazine before it went belly up. It's good to see that he moved on to Autosport and the F1 website. His stuff is too good not be be seen.
Yeah Tim, Rossi has the hard life. At least he isn't good looking, that would be too much.
Yeah Tim, Rossi has the hard life. At least he isn't good looking, that would be too much.
| JoD | 02-13-2006 12:43 PM |
At this rate - we aren't going to have any races left to watch by the time March rolls around!!!
From itv.com/f1
GERMAN GP IN JEOPARDY
Last Updated: Monday, 13, February, 2006, 17:24
This year's German Grand Prix may have to be cancelled unless the debt-ridden Hockenheim circuit receives an immediate financial transfusion, according to a report in the Mannheimer Morgen newspaper.
Last December it emerged that Hockenheim "which spent 65 million euros on a major revamp at the end of 2001 � was facing an operating loss of 1.5 million euros for 2006.
Accountants warned that the circuit could go bankrupt as early as this April unless it consolidated its current debts.
Hockenheim mayor Dieter Gummer has denied that the situation has reached crisis point and claims that there is still time for a solution to be found.
But there seems little doubt that the race is hanging by a thread and that Gummer is holding out for assistance from the regional government.
If this is not forthcoming, Hockenheim would be unable to afford the hosting fees paid to Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Management company, which rise by 10 percent per year.
The Belgian Grand Prix was cancelled last week when it became clear that improvements to the circuit's facilities demanded by the FIA could not be completed in time for this year's race.
From itv.com/f1
GERMAN GP IN JEOPARDY
Last Updated: Monday, 13, February, 2006, 17:24
This year's German Grand Prix may have to be cancelled unless the debt-ridden Hockenheim circuit receives an immediate financial transfusion, according to a report in the Mannheimer Morgen newspaper.
Last December it emerged that Hockenheim "which spent 65 million euros on a major revamp at the end of 2001 � was facing an operating loss of 1.5 million euros for 2006.
Accountants warned that the circuit could go bankrupt as early as this April unless it consolidated its current debts.
Hockenheim mayor Dieter Gummer has denied that the situation has reached crisis point and claims that there is still time for a solution to be found.
But there seems little doubt that the race is hanging by a thread and that Gummer is holding out for assistance from the regional government.
If this is not forthcoming, Hockenheim would be unable to afford the hosting fees paid to Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Management company, which rise by 10 percent per year.
The Belgian Grand Prix was cancelled last week when it became clear that improvements to the circuit's facilities demanded by the FIA could not be completed in time for this year's race.
| TimStevens | 02-13-2006 12:51 PM |
I'm sure there are still plenty of boring new Tilke tracks out there they can use if they need to.
| Wr4wrX | 02-13-2006 12:52 PM |
[QUOTE=artkevin]Rossi has the hard life. At least he isn't good looking, that would be too much.[/QUOTE]
Hahahaha, so true.
Hahahaha, so true.
| artkevin | 02-13-2006 01:00 PM |
Any news on the Mexican track in Cancun? I haven't heard peep since they pushed back from the 06 season to 07.
| Ferg | 02-13-2006 01:42 PM |
[QUOTE=artkevin]I might have to look into those books. I have been looking at his work since he drew for F1 Magazine before it went belly up. It's good to see that he moved on to Autosport and the F1 website. His stuff is too good not be be seen.[/QUOTE]
He's been doing the technical drawing for Autosport for as long as I can remember. I've always loved his work. Definately check out his books Kevin.
F1 Racing went bust? I haven't bought an issue in a few months so I have no idea...it's been steadily going downhill journalistically for a few years so I can't say I'll miss it much.
Hockenheim deserves to go under after they butchered what was one of the truly great GP tracks. I say good riddance to the new verison.
He's been doing the technical drawing for Autosport for as long as I can remember. I've always loved his work. Definately check out his books Kevin.
F1 Racing went bust? I haven't bought an issue in a few months so I have no idea...it's been steadily going downhill journalistically for a few years so I can't say I'll miss it much.
Hockenheim deserves to go under after they butchered what was one of the truly great GP tracks. I say good riddance to the new verison.
| enduroshark | 02-13-2006 01:54 PM |
"The GPMA and the manufacturers have been complaining about not getting enough money back from the sport, but they are spending between them one billion Euros per year. It would be better to cut that than try and get more back from Bernie Ecclestone."
HA! HA! HA! It's easier to change the rules of the sport than to get money out of Ecclestone!
HA! HA! HA! It's easier to change the rules of the sport than to get money out of Ecclestone!
| StuBeck | 02-13-2006 01:58 PM |
Not F1 Racing, F1 Magazine. Hockeningheim having problems isn't new, it came out last year. They are probably going to alternate the German GP between it and the nurburgring since neither track is doing very good.
| artkevin | 02-13-2006 02:48 PM |
Yeah, Nigel Mansell's old mag. It used be be great before the FIA took it over. They had really in depth and long interviews and tech sections. When the FIA got it it became a fluff piece and a lot of lip service about how cool the sport was.
| JoD | 02-13-2006 08:18 PM |
Looks like Max is playing hardball (again)...
From itv.com/f1
MOSLEY TURNS UP HEAT ON GPMA
Last Updated: Monday, 13, February, 2006, 19:12
FIA president Max Mosley has issued the manufacturer teams threatening to break away from Formula 1 after 2007 with an ultimatum � commit to F1 in the next few weeks or risk being excluded from the 2008 entry list.
Mosley told the �rebel� teams which comprise the Grand Prix Manufacturers Association � Renault, McLaren-Mercedes, Honda, Toyota and BMW-Sauber � that they have until early April to make up their minds.
Mosley plans to open entries for the 2008 world championship the day after the next World Motor Sport Council meeting on March 22 � which will discuss his plans for a lower-cost F1 � and to close them again as soon as 10 days later.
�It makes sense to open entries soon and then to close them again quickly,� Mosley was quoted as saying by Reuters.
�Then we can discuss with the people that have entered refinements to the regulations before the deadline of the end of June.�
Mosley made it clear that teams that do not meet the April deadline may find themselves out in the cold because the FIA will enforce a strict limit of 12 teams.
Although only six teams have signed up to the new Concorde Agreement so far � Ferrari, Williams, Red Bull, MidlandF1, Scuderia Toro Rosso and Super Aguri � new outfits may be attracted by the prospect of a lower-cost formula and the fact that they will no longer have to lodge a $48 million deposit with the FIA.
Mosley indicated that �three or four� had already expressed an interest � and said existing teams would not take precedence over new entrants.
�From 2008, nobody has either a right or an obligation to enter the championship,� he said.
�We may have fewer vacancies than there are teams out there.
�We are going to stick to 12 teams because of safety and all the pits now are arranged for 12.
�There are six in there, there are three, possibly four, people talking about entering and there are five GPMA teams.
�The regulations for entry are identical to the present day except that we have deleted the $48million bond.
�We would look at their factory, their business and be satisfied that are capable of doing what we wanted.
�It would mean a good GP2 team would have a good chance of getting an entry than say I would if it was just me on my own.
�There will be provision in the rules saying we could accept a late entry but you can only do that if there is a vacancy.
�The GPMA were saying until recently they were going to run their own series and if they do we will do everything we can to help.
�It would not surprise me to see some defections (from the GPMA) next month when we open the entries.
�I hope everybody will be sensible and see these are sensible rules and everyone will enter.�
Mosley�s warning puts the GPMA teams in an awkward position because they have signed a legally binding agreement not to negotiate individual deals with Bernie Ecclestone�s Formula One Management company, which applies until September and can only be rescinded with the agreement of all the parties.
The purpose of the pact was to resist any attempt at a �divide and rule� strategy by Ecclestone, in which he would persuade influential GPMA members to break ranks until
From itv.com/f1
MOSLEY TURNS UP HEAT ON GPMA
Last Updated: Monday, 13, February, 2006, 19:12
FIA president Max Mosley has issued the manufacturer teams threatening to break away from Formula 1 after 2007 with an ultimatum � commit to F1 in the next few weeks or risk being excluded from the 2008 entry list.
Mosley told the �rebel� teams which comprise the Grand Prix Manufacturers Association � Renault, McLaren-Mercedes, Honda, Toyota and BMW-Sauber � that they have until early April to make up their minds.
Mosley plans to open entries for the 2008 world championship the day after the next World Motor Sport Council meeting on March 22 � which will discuss his plans for a lower-cost F1 � and to close them again as soon as 10 days later.
�It makes sense to open entries soon and then to close them again quickly,� Mosley was quoted as saying by Reuters.
�Then we can discuss with the people that have entered refinements to the regulations before the deadline of the end of June.�
Mosley made it clear that teams that do not meet the April deadline may find themselves out in the cold because the FIA will enforce a strict limit of 12 teams.
Although only six teams have signed up to the new Concorde Agreement so far � Ferrari, Williams, Red Bull, MidlandF1, Scuderia Toro Rosso and Super Aguri � new outfits may be attracted by the prospect of a lower-cost formula and the fact that they will no longer have to lodge a $48 million deposit with the FIA.
Mosley indicated that �three or four� had already expressed an interest � and said existing teams would not take precedence over new entrants.
�From 2008, nobody has either a right or an obligation to enter the championship,� he said.
�We may have fewer vacancies than there are teams out there.
�We are going to stick to 12 teams because of safety and all the pits now are arranged for 12.
�There are six in there, there are three, possibly four, people talking about entering and there are five GPMA teams.
�The regulations for entry are identical to the present day except that we have deleted the $48million bond.
�We would look at their factory, their business and be satisfied that are capable of doing what we wanted.
�It would mean a good GP2 team would have a good chance of getting an entry than say I would if it was just me on my own.
�There will be provision in the rules saying we could accept a late entry but you can only do that if there is a vacancy.
�The GPMA were saying until recently they were going to run their own series and if they do we will do everything we can to help.
�It would not surprise me to see some defections (from the GPMA) next month when we open the entries.
�I hope everybody will be sensible and see these are sensible rules and everyone will enter.�
Mosley�s warning puts the GPMA teams in an awkward position because they have signed a legally binding agreement not to negotiate individual deals with Bernie Ecclestone�s Formula One Management company, which applies until September and can only be rescinded with the agreement of all the parties.
The purpose of the pact was to resist any attempt at a �divide and rule� strategy by Ecclestone, in which he would persuade influential GPMA members to break ranks until
| John__Gotti | 02-14-2006 01:00 AM |
God I hate how Bernie and Mosley talk up F1 so much but all they care about is lining their pockets. They make these crazy rule changes to try and cut cost and make the sport safer but in turn just make the teams spend more money to gain back the power and down force lost the previous year. Then they have the audacity to say they can't give the teams money even though they are making profits like an oil company. Sorry just had to vent, been reading this thread since it started and it just rubs me the wrong way when Bernie or Mosley open their mouths.
| enduroshark | 02-14-2006 08:59 AM |
What would keep a manufacturer like Toyota, for example, from "signing up" for 2008 and then still keep their plan together for a rival series?
| Ferg | 02-14-2006 09:51 AM |
Morning news
[QUOTE]Badoer: teams to benefit from Bahrain test
By Michele Lostia Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 10:49 GMT
Ferrari's test driver Luca Badoer believes rival teams have made a mistake by not attending the Bahrain test this week.
Only Ferrari, Honda and Toro Rosso accepted an invitation from the Sahkir circuit to test there less than four weeks before the 2006 season kicks off. Their rivals will be in action at the Valencia circuit in Spain.
Badoer, who topped the times on the first day of testing yesterday, believes the teams working in Bahrain will benefit come the Grand Prix weekend and the Italian has joined Briton Jenson Button in saying the teams missing the test are making a mistake.
"Not being here is an error by the absent teams," Badoer told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Working here is ideal: you only need ten laps to get the sand off the racing line, and after that the asphalt remains consistent.
"The temperature is perfect too: being consistently above 18 degrees is fundamental for fine tuning the choice of tyres.
"The 248 is growing nicely, but this will be better shown in the last days of this test, when it will be fitted with the definitive aerodynamics.
"Here we're putting together all the development began last September. As for tyres it's a matter of matching the fastest compounds with the adequate structures."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Zanardi tips Rossi for F1 glory
By Michele Lostia Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 10:34 GMT
Former Grand Prix driver Alex Zanardi believes Valentino Rossi would need a year of testing before he can make the switch to Formula One.
The Italian driver, however, is convinced Rossi could be successful if he decides to race on four wheels.
"I think Valentino Rossi has the capabilities to do great things in F1 too, but whoever thinks it's all decided already is wrong," Zanardi told Gazzetta dello Sport. "At the moment, when he's in a Ferrari, he uses 95% of his brain to make the car work at its best.
"He doesn't see beyond ten metres in front of him, which is exactly the opposite of what happens when he rides the bike. Valentino, even if he's leading a very difficult race, in the last laps can look at the large screens around the track and see how the others are doing and maybe decide which restaurant to go to with his girlfriend.
"He doesn't have to do much to go faster than everyone else. But if today he finds himself at the start of an F1 GP on a circuit he doesn't know, like Melbourne, then I think he would be three seconds slower. However, he's so full of talent that with a year's testing he can make it."
Rossi completed a successful test with Ferrari 10 days ago, setting some promising times in a car fitted with a V10 engine.
The MotoGP champion has been widely linked with a move to Ferrari when Michael Schumacher retires.[/QUOTE]
Testing reports from Bahrain and Valencia in a few hours.
:)
[QUOTE]Badoer: teams to benefit from Bahrain test
By Michele Lostia Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 10:49 GMT
Ferrari's test driver Luca Badoer believes rival teams have made a mistake by not attending the Bahrain test this week.
Only Ferrari, Honda and Toro Rosso accepted an invitation from the Sahkir circuit to test there less than four weeks before the 2006 season kicks off. Their rivals will be in action at the Valencia circuit in Spain.
Badoer, who topped the times on the first day of testing yesterday, believes the teams working in Bahrain will benefit come the Grand Prix weekend and the Italian has joined Briton Jenson Button in saying the teams missing the test are making a mistake.
"Not being here is an error by the absent teams," Badoer told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Working here is ideal: you only need ten laps to get the sand off the racing line, and after that the asphalt remains consistent.
"The temperature is perfect too: being consistently above 18 degrees is fundamental for fine tuning the choice of tyres.
"The 248 is growing nicely, but this will be better shown in the last days of this test, when it will be fitted with the definitive aerodynamics.
"Here we're putting together all the development began last September. As for tyres it's a matter of matching the fastest compounds with the adequate structures."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Zanardi tips Rossi for F1 glory
By Michele Lostia Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 10:34 GMT
Former Grand Prix driver Alex Zanardi believes Valentino Rossi would need a year of testing before he can make the switch to Formula One.
The Italian driver, however, is convinced Rossi could be successful if he decides to race on four wheels.
"I think Valentino Rossi has the capabilities to do great things in F1 too, but whoever thinks it's all decided already is wrong," Zanardi told Gazzetta dello Sport. "At the moment, when he's in a Ferrari, he uses 95% of his brain to make the car work at its best.
"He doesn't see beyond ten metres in front of him, which is exactly the opposite of what happens when he rides the bike. Valentino, even if he's leading a very difficult race, in the last laps can look at the large screens around the track and see how the others are doing and maybe decide which restaurant to go to with his girlfriend.
"He doesn't have to do much to go faster than everyone else. But if today he finds himself at the start of an F1 GP on a circuit he doesn't know, like Melbourne, then I think he would be three seconds slower. However, he's so full of talent that with a year's testing he can make it."
Rossi completed a successful test with Ferrari 10 days ago, setting some promising times in a car fitted with a V10 engine.
The MotoGP champion has been widely linked with a move to Ferrari when Michael Schumacher retires.[/QUOTE]
Testing reports from Bahrain and Valencia in a few hours.
:)
| Dussander | 02-14-2006 10:49 AM |
This post may be a bit early, but....
Bahrain weekend in Central time (March 10-12):
Friday:
Prac 1: 2:00AM
Prac 2: 5:00AM (on Speed)
Saturday:
Prac 3: 2:00AM
Qualy: 5:00AM (on Speed)
Sunday:
Race: 5:30AM (starts at 5:00 for pre-race show on Speed)
So, setup your TiVo now. :)
Bahrain weekend in Central time (March 10-12):
Friday:
Prac 1: 2:00AM
Prac 2: 5:00AM (on Speed)
Saturday:
Prac 3: 2:00AM
Qualy: 5:00AM (on Speed)
Sunday:
Race: 5:30AM (starts at 5:00 for pre-race show on Speed)
So, setup your TiVo now. :)
| Ferg | 02-14-2006 11:23 AM |
Super Aguri sees the light of day.
[QUOTE]Exclusive: Sato shakes down Super Aguri car
By Pablo Elizalde Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 15:07 GMT
The Super Aguri Formula One team moved a step closer to being ready for the season-opening race when they completed the first shakedown of their car, autosport.com can reveal.
The Honda-powered squad turned up at the Kemble airfield in Gloucestershire, England, with two trucks, one containing the car and a second one with Honda F1 Racing livery.
Japanese driver Takuma Sato, who is the man expected to land one of the racing seats in the team, was in charge of testing the SA05 machine, which is based on the 2002 Arrows bought from former Minardi owner Paul Stoddart.
The car, without livery, was first fired up around lunch time and then again later in the afternoon, completing two runs.
Sato is expected to be confirmed as a Super Aguri driver soon.
Super Aguri will begin their first proper test at Barcelona in Spain on February 21-23 and will then carry out a further shakedown at Silverstone on February 28.
The team plan to start the season with the SA05, but they are hoping to launch their new Honda-powered SA06 for the European season.
They face a race against time after the FIA finally confirmed their entry had been accepted last month.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Exclusive: Sato shakes down Super Aguri car
By Pablo Elizalde Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 15:07 GMT
The Super Aguri Formula One team moved a step closer to being ready for the season-opening race when they completed the first shakedown of their car, autosport.com can reveal.
The Honda-powered squad turned up at the Kemble airfield in Gloucestershire, England, with two trucks, one containing the car and a second one with Honda F1 Racing livery.
Japanese driver Takuma Sato, who is the man expected to land one of the racing seats in the team, was in charge of testing the SA05 machine, which is based on the 2002 Arrows bought from former Minardi owner Paul Stoddart.
The car, without livery, was first fired up around lunch time and then again later in the afternoon, completing two runs.
Sato is expected to be confirmed as a Super Aguri driver soon.
Super Aguri will begin their first proper test at Barcelona in Spain on February 21-23 and will then carry out a further shakedown at Silverstone on February 28.
The team plan to start the season with the SA05, but they are hoping to launch their new Honda-powered SA06 for the European season.
They face a race against time after the FIA finally confirmed their entry had been accepted last month.[/QUOTE]
| artkevin | 02-14-2006 11:29 AM |
Good to hear that SA is actually on the track. I think I will start calling them the New Minadri. :)
| Ferg | 02-14-2006 12:01 PM |
Hmmm, I think they'll be lucky to be anywhere near as off the pace as Minardi used to be.
Reports from Valencia and Sahkir.
[QUOTE]Webber sets the pace at Valencia
Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 16:54 GMT
Australian Mark Webber continued to show the promising performance of the Williams-Cosworth package as he posted the best time on the first day of testing at the Valencia circuit.
Webber, driving the new FW28 car, was the only man capable of lapping the Spanish track in less than 71 seconds, outpacing his nearest rival by over half a second.
Webber, who set his best time near the end of the session after doing long runs in the morning, worked alongside test driver Alex Wurz, who was fifth quickest in the second Williams.
Christian Klien showed the Red Bull team seem to have solved the cooling problems in their RB2 car by completing a total of 100 laps without any problems, the Austrian finishing as second quickest.
Test driver Robert Doornbos worked with the hybrid RB1 car, finishing in seventh.
The McLaren team tested their MP4-21 with the 2006 livery for the first time, with Pedro de la Rosa carrying out most of the work during the day. Juan Pablo Montoya only took to the track in afternoon and covered 50 laps as the team focused on engine work.
Tiago Monteiro was sixth fastest in the new Midland car, while test drivers Markus Winkelhock and Giorgio Mondini share driving duties in the hybrid machine. Mondini caused the only red flag of the day when he went off track in the morning.
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:10.691 94
2. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:11.254 100
3. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:11.619 100
4. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:11.700 50
5. Wurz Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:12.657 47
6. Monteiro MF1-Toyota (B) 1:12.920 82
7. Doornbos Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:13.696 85
8. Winkelhock MF1-Toyota (B) 1:14.299 75
9. Mondini MF1-Toyota (B) 1:24.100 19
All Timing Unofficial[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Badoer quickest again in Bahrain
Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 16:34 GMT
Luca Badoer continued at the top of the times on the second day of this week's testing at the Sahkir circuit in Bahrain, home of the first race of the season in less than four weeks.
Badoer was again at the wheel of the old F2004 fitted with a V10 engine while teammate Felipe Massa continued working with the new 248 F1.
Both men concentrated on tyre testing for Bridgestone as well fine tuning the cars' set-up. Badoer will be replaced by Michael Schumacher tomorrow.
Briton Jenson Button and teammate Rubens Barrichello joined the test for the Honda team, taking over from test drivers Anthony Davidson and James Rossiter.
The Honda drivers continued to show the strong pace of the new RA106 car, with Button outpacing Barrichello by only 0.036 seconds.
Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi took over from Toro Rosso teammate Scott Speed as the team continued putting miles in their old RB01 car. Liuzzi's day was cut short, however, as a gearbox problem meant the RB1 was forced to miss the final 90 minutes of the session.
"It was a reasonable day with signs of performance gain and general progress," said chief engineer Laurent Mekies. "As expected, the track was much cleaner than yesterday which allowed us to be more precise in our set-up work.
"Also, track temperatures were much higher today which made for a more realistic simulation of what we can expect for the race here in three weeks time, which is particularly relevant as far as the tyres are concerned."
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:31.225 62
2. Button Honda (M) 1:31.453 87
3. Barrichello Honda (M) 1:31.489 107
4. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:31.905 68
5. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:32.702 69
All Timing Unofficial[/QUOTE]
Reports from Valencia and Sahkir.
[QUOTE]Webber sets the pace at Valencia
Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 16:54 GMT
Australian Mark Webber continued to show the promising performance of the Williams-Cosworth package as he posted the best time on the first day of testing at the Valencia circuit.
Webber, driving the new FW28 car, was the only man capable of lapping the Spanish track in less than 71 seconds, outpacing his nearest rival by over half a second.
Webber, who set his best time near the end of the session after doing long runs in the morning, worked alongside test driver Alex Wurz, who was fifth quickest in the second Williams.
Christian Klien showed the Red Bull team seem to have solved the cooling problems in their RB2 car by completing a total of 100 laps without any problems, the Austrian finishing as second quickest.
Test driver Robert Doornbos worked with the hybrid RB1 car, finishing in seventh.
The McLaren team tested their MP4-21 with the 2006 livery for the first time, with Pedro de la Rosa carrying out most of the work during the day. Juan Pablo Montoya only took to the track in afternoon and covered 50 laps as the team focused on engine work.
Tiago Monteiro was sixth fastest in the new Midland car, while test drivers Markus Winkelhock and Giorgio Mondini share driving duties in the hybrid machine. Mondini caused the only red flag of the day when he went off track in the morning.
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:10.691 94
2. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:11.254 100
3. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:11.619 100
4. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:11.700 50
5. Wurz Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:12.657 47
6. Monteiro MF1-Toyota (B) 1:12.920 82
7. Doornbos Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:13.696 85
8. Winkelhock MF1-Toyota (B) 1:14.299 75
9. Mondini MF1-Toyota (B) 1:24.100 19
All Timing Unofficial[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Badoer quickest again in Bahrain
Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 16:34 GMT
Luca Badoer continued at the top of the times on the second day of this week's testing at the Sahkir circuit in Bahrain, home of the first race of the season in less than four weeks.
Badoer was again at the wheel of the old F2004 fitted with a V10 engine while teammate Felipe Massa continued working with the new 248 F1.
Both men concentrated on tyre testing for Bridgestone as well fine tuning the cars' set-up. Badoer will be replaced by Michael Schumacher tomorrow.
Briton Jenson Button and teammate Rubens Barrichello joined the test for the Honda team, taking over from test drivers Anthony Davidson and James Rossiter.
The Honda drivers continued to show the strong pace of the new RA106 car, with Button outpacing Barrichello by only 0.036 seconds.
Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi took over from Toro Rosso teammate Scott Speed as the team continued putting miles in their old RB01 car. Liuzzi's day was cut short, however, as a gearbox problem meant the RB1 was forced to miss the final 90 minutes of the session.
"It was a reasonable day with signs of performance gain and general progress," said chief engineer Laurent Mekies. "As expected, the track was much cleaner than yesterday which allowed us to be more precise in our set-up work.
"Also, track temperatures were much higher today which made for a more realistic simulation of what we can expect for the race here in three weeks time, which is particularly relevant as far as the tyres are concerned."
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:31.225 62
2. Button Honda (M) 1:31.453 87
3. Barrichello Honda (M) 1:31.489 107
4. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:31.905 68
5. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:32.702 69
All Timing Unofficial[/QUOTE]
| Wr4wrX | 02-14-2006 12:21 PM |
Some pics of the MP4-21 on track.
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35876_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35875_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35874_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35873_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35872_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35871_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35870_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35869_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35876_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35875_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35874_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35873_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35872_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35871_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35870_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.itv-f1.com/ImageLibrary/35869_2.jpg[/IMG]
| artkevin | 02-14-2006 12:26 PM |
SA will have two advantages that I can think off. They will be running detuned and proven V10s and a highly respectable chassis that is already sorted. None of the "new" rules should effect them too much other then the higher wing of last year. Maybe mating the Honda into a Cosworth hole and enlargeing the will be harder then expected.
| Ferg | 02-14-2006 12:38 PM |
[QUOTE=artkevin]SA will have two advantages that I can think off. They will be running detuned and proven V10s and a highly respectable chassis that is already sorted. None of the "new" rules should effect them too much other then the higher wing of last year. Maybe mating the Honda into a Cosworth hole and enlargeing the will be harder then expected.[/QUOTE]
I'm going to have to disagree with you a bit on this Kevin. The Arrows A22 was far from respectable when it came out. IIRC it was the last of the John Bernard designed cars and it proved to be both needlessly complex and difficult to setup. They were using Asiatech V10s tuned by Brian Hart I believe, not the Cossie...although I may be wrong on that. No doubt Stoddart had them retrofitted to take the Cosworth.
Stoddart bought the old Arrows cars with the thought of using them instead of his current Minardis (already a season or two old at the time) but in back to back testing the Arrows proved slower and much more difficult to sort.
Aguri isn't using V10s, they're getting Honda V8s. Only Toro Rosso are running detuned V10s this season.
I'm guesing they'll be a good six or seven seconds off the pace of the backmarkers. Thankfully there's no 107% rule any longer.
The one advantage Super Aguri does have is that the expectations are so low nobody is going to give them a hard time...for now at least.
I'm going to have to disagree with you a bit on this Kevin. The Arrows A22 was far from respectable when it came out. IIRC it was the last of the John Bernard designed cars and it proved to be both needlessly complex and difficult to setup. They were using Asiatech V10s tuned by Brian Hart I believe, not the Cossie...although I may be wrong on that. No doubt Stoddart had them retrofitted to take the Cosworth.
Stoddart bought the old Arrows cars with the thought of using them instead of his current Minardis (already a season or two old at the time) but in back to back testing the Arrows proved slower and much more difficult to sort.
Aguri isn't using V10s, they're getting Honda V8s. Only Toro Rosso are running detuned V10s this season.
I'm guesing they'll be a good six or seven seconds off the pace of the backmarkers. Thankfully there's no 107% rule any longer.
The one advantage Super Aguri does have is that the expectations are so low nobody is going to give them a hard time...for now at least.
| Ferg | 02-14-2006 12:51 PM |
Someone just emailed me this find on Google video.
Gilles Villenueve's Ferrari vs Rene Arnoux's Renault at Dijon in 1979.
[url]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5904686405170786214[/url]
For a lot of people this is the difinitive Formula One battle.
Keep in mind it was only for second place.
:devil:
Gilles Villenueve's Ferrari vs Rene Arnoux's Renault at Dijon in 1979.
[url]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5904686405170786214[/url]
For a lot of people this is the difinitive Formula One battle.
Keep in mind it was only for second place.
:devil:
| artkevin | 02-14-2006 12:52 PM |
Was this the A22?
[IMG]http://schlegelmilch.smcc.de/archive/images/2002/01/previews/021-811.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://schlegelmilch.smcc.de/archive/images/2002/07/previews/027-699.jpg[/IMG]
I guess I am wrong but I thought that Paul bought the car to try to learn how they got so much out of the package for so little. I could be combining years and smoking too much dope.
[IMG]http://schlegelmilch.smcc.de/archive/images/2002/01/previews/021-811.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://schlegelmilch.smcc.de/archive/images/2002/07/previews/027-699.jpg[/IMG]
I guess I am wrong but I thought that Paul bought the car to try to learn how they got so much out of the package for so little. I could be combining years and smoking too much dope.
| Ferg | 02-14-2006 12:53 PM |
Yup, that's the Arrows A22 Asiatech alright, or at least it looks like it. The Cossie badge has me somewhat confused. The Asiatech powered car looks exactly the same.... 2001 was a long time ago and like you, all the dope may be taking a toll. ;)
I may be thinking of an earlier Arrows car that had all the setup problems...not sure if the A22 was a decendent of the Bernard designed car. I definately do recall one of the cars Bernard desinged for Arrows proved to be an absolute disaster...horribly complex packaging and apparently a nightmare to setup. Crud...now I can't remember which one it was and I'm nowhere near any of my resource material.
From the one picture I've seen of the SA05, it looks like Aguri haven't changed the front end at all.
Speaking of detuned V10s....
[QUOTE]FIA content with current V10 restrictions
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 17:34 GMT
Scuderia Toro Rosso have been assured that there will be no move by the FIA to slow down their V10 engines before the start of the season - even though rival teams are concerned about their pace.
The Red Bull Junior team are the only outfit running a restricted V10 engine this year and some other teams are worried that the current rev limit and air intake hand it an advantage over some of the V8 power-units on the grid.
But FIA president Max Mosley said today that the governing body is happy with the current performance levels of the two types of engines - and has made it clear that the V10 will not be automatically slowed to be at the back of the field.
"We think it shouldn't be an engine that you would voluntarily use if you had access to a competitive V8," he said when asked by autosport.com about whether the V10s should be slower than every V8 on the grid.
"Well, what is a competitive V8? We think that from all the test and all the information we have got, it will be in the lower half of the spectrum of engines on the power curve, although it will have an advantage with a more favourable duty cycle. It can use what it has got all the time, unlike the faster engines.
"We have got an open mind, but we think it is sufficiently below a competitive engine. So it (the V10 resitriction) has achieved its purpose."
Although work by the Midland team in testing last year to provide back-to-back data on a Toyota V10 engine performance against a V8 indicated that the older power-units did have an advantage, Mosley believes that by the start of the season the two configurations will be on a more level-playing field.
"Midland did some good tests, which were very scientific, and the V10 came out ahead of the V8," Mosley said. "But there were several factors there.
"The Toyota V10 was probably better than the Cosworth V10 from the previous years, and the V8s will all improve whereas the V10 will not. So by the time we get to Bahrain, it (the V10) will be quite a long way down the pecking order."
Despite his satisfaction with the current performance of the V10s engines, however, Mosley has not ruled out taking action if the power-unit started achieving decent results during 2006.
"We have said to Cosworth, 'Don't get it wrong because we will change it at a moment's notice if you do.' That would be massively inconvenient, so they have got a huge incentive not to take the Mickey."
The FIA's belief that the V10s are currently performing at a satisfactory level will come as a blow to the Midland team, who have made no secret of their unhappiness at the Cosworth power-units being used in F1.
Team principal Colin Kolles said recently: "If they are in front of us then they will have a problem, because I will not be very happy with this and I am very clear about this."[/QUOTE]
I may be thinking of an earlier Arrows car that had all the setup problems...not sure if the A22 was a decendent of the Bernard designed car. I definately do recall one of the cars Bernard desinged for Arrows proved to be an absolute disaster...horribly complex packaging and apparently a nightmare to setup. Crud...now I can't remember which one it was and I'm nowhere near any of my resource material.
From the one picture I've seen of the SA05, it looks like Aguri haven't changed the front end at all.
Speaking of detuned V10s....
[QUOTE]FIA content with current V10 restrictions
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 17:34 GMT
Scuderia Toro Rosso have been assured that there will be no move by the FIA to slow down their V10 engines before the start of the season - even though rival teams are concerned about their pace.
The Red Bull Junior team are the only outfit running a restricted V10 engine this year and some other teams are worried that the current rev limit and air intake hand it an advantage over some of the V8 power-units on the grid.
But FIA president Max Mosley said today that the governing body is happy with the current performance levels of the two types of engines - and has made it clear that the V10 will not be automatically slowed to be at the back of the field.
"We think it shouldn't be an engine that you would voluntarily use if you had access to a competitive V8," he said when asked by autosport.com about whether the V10s should be slower than every V8 on the grid.
"Well, what is a competitive V8? We think that from all the test and all the information we have got, it will be in the lower half of the spectrum of engines on the power curve, although it will have an advantage with a more favourable duty cycle. It can use what it has got all the time, unlike the faster engines.
"We have got an open mind, but we think it is sufficiently below a competitive engine. So it (the V10 resitriction) has achieved its purpose."
Although work by the Midland team in testing last year to provide back-to-back data on a Toyota V10 engine performance against a V8 indicated that the older power-units did have an advantage, Mosley believes that by the start of the season the two configurations will be on a more level-playing field.
"Midland did some good tests, which were very scientific, and the V10 came out ahead of the V8," Mosley said. "But there were several factors there.
"The Toyota V10 was probably better than the Cosworth V10 from the previous years, and the V8s will all improve whereas the V10 will not. So by the time we get to Bahrain, it (the V10) will be quite a long way down the pecking order."
Despite his satisfaction with the current performance of the V10s engines, however, Mosley has not ruled out taking action if the power-unit started achieving decent results during 2006.
"We have said to Cosworth, 'Don't get it wrong because we will change it at a moment's notice if you do.' That would be massively inconvenient, so they have got a huge incentive not to take the Mickey."
The FIA's belief that the V10s are currently performing at a satisfactory level will come as a blow to the Midland team, who have made no secret of their unhappiness at the Cosworth power-units being used in F1.
Team principal Colin Kolles said recently: "If they are in front of us then they will have a problem, because I will not be very happy with this and I am very clear about this."[/QUOTE]
| Harvey_Mushman | 02-14-2006 12:57 PM |
Upon quick glances I catch myself thinking that the McLaren is the Midland. To my eye their color schemes are dangerously close. That could have to do with viewing them on a monitor though... I hope.
| artkevin | 02-14-2006 01:11 PM |
I know what you mean Harvey!
[IMG]http://images.f1racing.net/large/55994.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://images.f1racing.net/large/55996.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://images.f1racing.net/large/55994.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://images.f1racing.net/large/55996.jpg[/IMG]
| Ferg | 02-14-2006 01:13 PM |
Ah, ok I think I got it figured out thanks to F1db.com.
The A22 was a direct decendent of the troublesome A19 from the 1998 season, which was the John Barnard (spelled it wrong) designed chassis with the Brian Hart V10. The car you posted a pic of is the A23 Cosworth from the 2002 season, Arrows last in F1.
All the reports say Aguri bought A22 chassis from Stoddart, not A23s..although I can't explain why. My only guess is that either the 23s weren't up for sale for some reason, or they really are A23s, which in truth seem to be A22s modified for the engine change from Asiatech to Cosworth.
Either way it's going to be dogass slow in Bahrain!
The A22 was a direct decendent of the troublesome A19 from the 1998 season, which was the John Barnard (spelled it wrong) designed chassis with the Brian Hart V10. The car you posted a pic of is the A23 Cosworth from the 2002 season, Arrows last in F1.
All the reports say Aguri bought A22 chassis from Stoddart, not A23s..although I can't explain why. My only guess is that either the 23s weren't up for sale for some reason, or they really are A23s, which in truth seem to be A22s modified for the engine change from Asiatech to Cosworth.
Either way it's going to be dogass slow in Bahrain!
| artkevin | 02-14-2006 01:19 PM |
Thanks for the research Ferg. I love the A23. Ever since I saw that nose it always got the thumbs up from me. I remember it being remarkably fast in the 02 season. Wasn't the A23 done by Serigo Reighland (sp?)?
I won't be looking for Sato on the podium in Bahrain either. :)
I won't be looking for Sato on the podium in Bahrain either. :)
| Ferg | 02-14-2006 01:20 PM |
You're right Kevin, it was a Sergio designed car...although it's not listed anywhere as a "new" chassis, just an evolution of the A22, which was the offspring of the A19. I guess even Rinland (I can't spell it either...) couldn't work miracles! You'll be happy with the SA05 then, they haven't touched that nose.
More from Max...
[QUOTE]Mosley defends his approach to carmakers
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 18:05 GMT
FIA president Max Mosley has dismissed suggestions that he is being deliberately confrontational with manufacturers - and instead claims his radical plans to cut costs are actually aimed at keeping them in Formula One.
Mosley's recent suggestions that manufacturers should be given no commercial income from F1, that engine-specifications be frozen for three-years, and that the carmakers must commit by next April or risk losing their place in the sport in 2008, have done little to quell talk that he is trying to drive them out.
But speaking to reporters during a pre-season lunch in London on Tuesday, Mosley said that the main motivation behind his plans is to actually ensure the manufacturers do not pull out.
When asked by autosport.com for his reaction to suggestions that he may be acting in an antagonistic manner to the manufacturers, Mosley said: "It sounds like that a bit, but it really isn't meant like that.
"The no-money (commercial income) thing is really quite logical - but what is logical and what people like are two really quite different things.
"They have had a three-year war with Bernie to try and up the money from him, from let's say $20 million to $40 million, but we can come along and we can take away more than $100 million straight like that on (cost-cuts with) the engines.
"Is it not then logical that if we take the $100 million out, although they didn't get their $20m to $40 million, they are actually $80 million better off?"
He added: "It is not an attack. It is just a completely logical conclusion from reducing the budget, because they are then much better off. I do see that it could be represented as me having a go at them, which I really am not."
Speaking about the deadline for manufacturers to commit to F1 for 2008 by next April, Mosley said: "Yes, it does sound a bit harsh.
"But on the other hand we do need to be able to sit down with people who are going to do the championship and say, 'do you really want to change the second grommet on the ECU?' There are some really complicated things that we need to get right to make it all work."
Mosley claims his plans to freeze engine specifications in F1 from 2008 to 2010 will cut an engine manufacturer's budget from up to 200 million Euros down to less than 10 million Euros per year.
He is adamant that such a move is necessary if manufacturers are going to commit long-term to the sport.
"If the teams can run relatively inexpensively, then the chance of them stopping becomes very, very small.
"If you take the case of Renault, [CEO Carlos] Ghosn has made it clear that if it is cost-effective he will do it, and if it is not cost-effective then he won't. And I think the same, sooner or later, will happen to the other manufacturers.
"They are happily spending these hundreds of millions at the moment, but sooner of later the boards of these companies are going to say, 'Are we really giving value for money?'
"And there is no doubt if it is cheaper, then the chance of them shutting it down is much smaller."
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Mosley confident of Spa return
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 18:05 GMT
FIA president Max Mosley believes the Belgium Grand Prix should return to the Formula One calendar because of its status as a classic venue.
The Spa-Francorchamps race, scheduled for September 17, was dropped from the calendar after being in doubt for several weeks because of problems over who would promote it.
Organisers said they were confident the race would return in 2007.
That view is shared by Mosley, who believes Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone will promote the race himself to secure the return of one of Formula One's classic events.
"I think it is a good example of Bernie, because we have had nothing to do with it," said Mosley on Tuesday.
"But I think he is going to take on the whole financial risk of the place and probably run it, by his standards uneconomically, but I think everyone realises that we have got to have it on the calendar. It is a great, classic event."
When asked if he was confident Spa would return to the calendar, Mosley said: "Yes, I would be very surprised if it doesn't work out."
Following the cancellation of the Belgian race, rumours have emerged claiming the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim was also in danger due to a large debt, although Mosley said he had not heard anything from the organisers themselves.
German organisers are considering hosting a single Grand Prix in alternate years to secure their financial futures.
Mosley said if that happened, India would be the country most likely to take the remaining slot.
"I think if they did join forces so we freed up a slot, that is much more likely to be outside Europe because there are some very interesting places being looked at now," he said.
"It would be very logical to have a Grand Prix in India now because with Indian and China you are getting on for half the world's population and even now the number of equivalent middle-class people in India is enormous, like China, but there are an awful lot of poor people as well."[/QUOTE]
More from Max...
[QUOTE]Mosley defends his approach to carmakers
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 18:05 GMT
FIA president Max Mosley has dismissed suggestions that he is being deliberately confrontational with manufacturers - and instead claims his radical plans to cut costs are actually aimed at keeping them in Formula One.
Mosley's recent suggestions that manufacturers should be given no commercial income from F1, that engine-specifications be frozen for three-years, and that the carmakers must commit by next April or risk losing their place in the sport in 2008, have done little to quell talk that he is trying to drive them out.
But speaking to reporters during a pre-season lunch in London on Tuesday, Mosley said that the main motivation behind his plans is to actually ensure the manufacturers do not pull out.
When asked by autosport.com for his reaction to suggestions that he may be acting in an antagonistic manner to the manufacturers, Mosley said: "It sounds like that a bit, but it really isn't meant like that.
"The no-money (commercial income) thing is really quite logical - but what is logical and what people like are two really quite different things.
"They have had a three-year war with Bernie to try and up the money from him, from let's say $20 million to $40 million, but we can come along and we can take away more than $100 million straight like that on (cost-cuts with) the engines.
"Is it not then logical that if we take the $100 million out, although they didn't get their $20m to $40 million, they are actually $80 million better off?"
He added: "It is not an attack. It is just a completely logical conclusion from reducing the budget, because they are then much better off. I do see that it could be represented as me having a go at them, which I really am not."
Speaking about the deadline for manufacturers to commit to F1 for 2008 by next April, Mosley said: "Yes, it does sound a bit harsh.
"But on the other hand we do need to be able to sit down with people who are going to do the championship and say, 'do you really want to change the second grommet on the ECU?' There are some really complicated things that we need to get right to make it all work."
Mosley claims his plans to freeze engine specifications in F1 from 2008 to 2010 will cut an engine manufacturer's budget from up to 200 million Euros down to less than 10 million Euros per year.
He is adamant that such a move is necessary if manufacturers are going to commit long-term to the sport.
"If the teams can run relatively inexpensively, then the chance of them stopping becomes very, very small.
"If you take the case of Renault, [CEO Carlos] Ghosn has made it clear that if it is cost-effective he will do it, and if it is not cost-effective then he won't. And I think the same, sooner or later, will happen to the other manufacturers.
"They are happily spending these hundreds of millions at the moment, but sooner of later the boards of these companies are going to say, 'Are we really giving value for money?'
"And there is no doubt if it is cheaper, then the chance of them shutting it down is much smaller."
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Mosley confident of Spa return
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 18:05 GMT
FIA president Max Mosley believes the Belgium Grand Prix should return to the Formula One calendar because of its status as a classic venue.
The Spa-Francorchamps race, scheduled for September 17, was dropped from the calendar after being in doubt for several weeks because of problems over who would promote it.
Organisers said they were confident the race would return in 2007.
That view is shared by Mosley, who believes Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone will promote the race himself to secure the return of one of Formula One's classic events.
"I think it is a good example of Bernie, because we have had nothing to do with it," said Mosley on Tuesday.
"But I think he is going to take on the whole financial risk of the place and probably run it, by his standards uneconomically, but I think everyone realises that we have got to have it on the calendar. It is a great, classic event."
When asked if he was confident Spa would return to the calendar, Mosley said: "Yes, I would be very surprised if it doesn't work out."
Following the cancellation of the Belgian race, rumours have emerged claiming the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim was also in danger due to a large debt, although Mosley said he had not heard anything from the organisers themselves.
German organisers are considering hosting a single Grand Prix in alternate years to secure their financial futures.
Mosley said if that happened, India would be the country most likely to take the remaining slot.
"I think if they did join forces so we freed up a slot, that is much more likely to be outside Europe because there are some very interesting places being looked at now," he said.
"It would be very logical to have a Grand Prix in India now because with Indian and China you are getting on for half the world's population and even now the number of equivalent middle-class people in India is enormous, like China, but there are an awful lot of poor people as well."[/QUOTE]
| Ferg | 02-14-2006 01:29 PM |
Dammit, nevermind...Aguri did buy A23s, not A22s.
Ever since I quit smoking my memory has taken a few hits.
Ever since I quit smoking my memory has taken a few hits.
| grandpa rex | 02-14-2006 01:40 PM |
Hey Ferg - that clip of Gilles Villeneuve is hot. Thanks.
Anyone have a clip of Senna holding off Mansell at Monaco in 1992? That was another great battle. Of course, Senna drove a wide car, and at Monaco it's hard to pass anyway. But, Mansell was all over his gearbox. Very exciting
Anyone have a clip of Senna holding off Mansell at Monaco in 1992? That was another great battle. Of course, Senna drove a wide car, and at Monaco it's hard to pass anyway. But, Mansell was all over his gearbox. Very exciting
| mclmk8d | 02-14-2006 01:52 PM |
missing Villeneuve
�
�
[IMG]http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/3719/villeneuve16pg.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2571/villeneuve23bg.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2571/villeneuve23bg.jpg[/IMG]
| mclmk8d | 02-14-2006 01:59 PM |
and Senna
�
�
[IMG]http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/1403/ofo229bo.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/6985/198675573060alb7ae.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/6985/198675573060alb7ae.jpg[/IMG]
| Ferg | 02-14-2006 02:03 PM |
[QUOTE=grandpa rex]Hey Ferg - that clip of Gilles Villeneuve is hot. Thanks.
Anyone have a clip of Senna holding off Mansell at Monaco in 1992? That was another great battle. Of course, Senna drove a wide car, and at Monaco it's hard to pass anyway. But, Mansell was all over his gearbox. Very exciting[/QUOTE]
I remember that race well!
The FW14B was one of my all time favorite cars. Active suspension, active aero, active everything! If Nige could have I swear he would have just driven [i]over[/i] Senna. What's that saying about an irresistible force meeting an immovable object...
The only one I can find is this one, which is in Quicktime only..
[url]http://www.f1-grandprix.com/senna1_mov.html[/url]
I found this on a Senna tribute site. Check out the one titlted, "Senna and Monaco"
[url]http://ayrtonforever.free.fr/videoseng.htm[/url]
:devil:
Anyone have a clip of Senna holding off Mansell at Monaco in 1992? That was another great battle. Of course, Senna drove a wide car, and at Monaco it's hard to pass anyway. But, Mansell was all over his gearbox. Very exciting[/QUOTE]
I remember that race well!
The FW14B was one of my all time favorite cars. Active suspension, active aero, active everything! If Nige could have I swear he would have just driven [i]over[/i] Senna. What's that saying about an irresistible force meeting an immovable object...
The only one I can find is this one, which is in Quicktime only..
[url]http://www.f1-grandprix.com/senna1_mov.html[/url]
I found this on a Senna tribute site. Check out the one titlted, "Senna and Monaco"
[url]http://ayrtonforever.free.fr/videoseng.htm[/url]
:devil:
| Ferg | 02-14-2006 02:28 PM |
Not exactly surprising news here...
[QUOTE]Super Aguri commit to F1 beyond 2007
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 18:52 GMT
Bernie Ecclestone has succeeded in getting another team signed-up to Formula One beyond 2007, with the new Super Aguri outfit committing their long-term future to the sport rather than a breakaway championship.
As autosport.com predicted last December, the new Japanese-backed team have rejected any consideration to join the breakaway Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association (GPMA) and instead have agreed to stick with Ecclestone.
A high-level source close to the sport's governing body has confirmed the news to autosport.com. "We understand that they have signed up with Ecclestone," the source said.
With Japanese manufacturer Honda heavily involved in the Aguri operation, the news of their decision to commit to F1 has provided further evidence that the resolve between the five GPMA members may not be as strong as some suggest.
There has long been speculation that Honda and Toyota now want to sign up with Ecclestone for F1, although they are prevented from doing so by a document the manufacturers signed last September binding them to stick together for 12 months.
The news of Aguri's decision comes amid suggestions from some quarters, however, that their commitment to F1 may have come in exchange for Ecclestone pressuring all their rivals to support their late entry for this year's championship.
The team missed the original deadline because of administrative issues and needed the unanimous approval of their rivals to get an entry for 2006.
One source, close to the negotiations with the teams over approving Aguri's entry, said: "Maybe the other teams were waiting to give their approval until Suzuki had given his signed approval to commit to F1."
Aguri's decision means that there are now six teams signed up for F1 beyond 2007 - with Ferrari, Williams, Midland, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso already committed.
FIA president Max Mosley would not comment on the suggestions that Aguri had committed to F1 when asked by reporters on Tuesday, although he did state yesterday that there are already six teams signed up beyond 2007.
Mosley did, however, make it clear that he welcomed their arrival in F1.
Speaking about suggestions that the team may be well off the pace at the start of the season, he said: "It is not ideal, but on the other hand it is great to have another team.
"The thing is if they are completely uncompetitive then they might well not turn up, and from our point of view that would not be a problem.
"They are obviously serious, they have got a lot of people working there very hard, so they are fulfilling all the criteria and they have put up the deposit. They have got the right people. This is not a frivolous thing."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Super Aguri commit to F1 beyond 2007
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 18:52 GMT
Bernie Ecclestone has succeeded in getting another team signed-up to Formula One beyond 2007, with the new Super Aguri outfit committing their long-term future to the sport rather than a breakaway championship.
As autosport.com predicted last December, the new Japanese-backed team have rejected any consideration to join the breakaway Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association (GPMA) and instead have agreed to stick with Ecclestone.
A high-level source close to the sport's governing body has confirmed the news to autosport.com. "We understand that they have signed up with Ecclestone," the source said.
With Japanese manufacturer Honda heavily involved in the Aguri operation, the news of their decision to commit to F1 has provided further evidence that the resolve between the five GPMA members may not be as strong as some suggest.
There has long been speculation that Honda and Toyota now want to sign up with Ecclestone for F1, although they are prevented from doing so by a document the manufacturers signed last September binding them to stick together for 12 months.
The news of Aguri's decision comes amid suggestions from some quarters, however, that their commitment to F1 may have come in exchange for Ecclestone pressuring all their rivals to support their late entry for this year's championship.
The team missed the original deadline because of administrative issues and needed the unanimous approval of their rivals to get an entry for 2006.
One source, close to the negotiations with the teams over approving Aguri's entry, said: "Maybe the other teams were waiting to give their approval until Suzuki had given his signed approval to commit to F1."
Aguri's decision means that there are now six teams signed up for F1 beyond 2007 - with Ferrari, Williams, Midland, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso already committed.
FIA president Max Mosley would not comment on the suggestions that Aguri had committed to F1 when asked by reporters on Tuesday, although he did state yesterday that there are already six teams signed up beyond 2007.
Mosley did, however, make it clear that he welcomed their arrival in F1.
Speaking about suggestions that the team may be well off the pace at the start of the season, he said: "It is not ideal, but on the other hand it is great to have another team.
"The thing is if they are completely uncompetitive then they might well not turn up, and from our point of view that would not be a problem.
"They are obviously serious, they have got a lot of people working there very hard, so they are fulfilling all the criteria and they have put up the deposit. They have got the right people. This is not a frivolous thing."[/QUOTE]
| rupertberr | 02-14-2006 04:06 PM |
[QUOTE=Ferg]Someone just emailed me this find on Google video.
Gilles Villenueve's Ferrari vs Rene Arnoux's Renault at Dijon in 1979.
[url]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5904686405170786214[/url]
For a lot of people this is the difinitive Formula One battle.
Keep in mind it was only for second place.
:devil:[/QUOTE]
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! I remember watching that on Wild World of Sports on tape delay. One of the few times you could actually watch an F1 race on TV back then. I seem to remember they only showed about 15 laps of the race between underwater basket weaving or some other worthless programing but luckily they showed the last couple of laps. The greastest F1 battle for position I have ever seen. Haven't seen it since the day it happened. It's as good as I remember. :cool: Went to my first F1 race in person just two years later. Have been hooked ever since. :banana:
Gilles Villenueve's Ferrari vs Rene Arnoux's Renault at Dijon in 1979.
[url]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5904686405170786214[/url]
For a lot of people this is the difinitive Formula One battle.
Keep in mind it was only for second place.
:devil:[/QUOTE]
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! I remember watching that on Wild World of Sports on tape delay. One of the few times you could actually watch an F1 race on TV back then. I seem to remember they only showed about 15 laps of the race between underwater basket weaving or some other worthless programing but luckily they showed the last couple of laps. The greastest F1 battle for position I have ever seen. Haven't seen it since the day it happened. It's as good as I remember. :cool: Went to my first F1 race in person just two years later. Have been hooked ever since. :banana:
| artkevin | 02-14-2006 04:09 PM |
Am I the youngest guy in here? The 1st race I ever watched was when Michael was still at Benneton. Gheesh!
<---26 years old
<---26 years old
| FrostyAK | 02-14-2006 04:22 PM |
Toyota
�
�
Where does Toyota go if their (ex)employees are found guilty of stealing Ferrari's intellectual property? I cannot believe any company, especially one of Toyota's size, would risk this after their embarassement in WRC just ten years ago. As I recall Toyota dismissed the employees that were directly responsible but I don't see how this could have gone on without other designers and engineers knowing.
- Chris
- Chris
| StuBeck | 02-14-2006 04:35 PM |
Just to clarify the FW14B didn't have active aero, its been banned since the early 80's because of cars suddenly losing downforce and flying.
Toyota will be fine. They are not running illegal parts which is the main difference between this and the issue in the WRC a few years ago.
I'm 22 artkevin.
Toyota will be fine. They are not running illegal parts which is the main difference between this and the issue in the WRC a few years ago.
I'm 22 artkevin.
| StuBeck | 02-14-2006 04:37 PM |
[QUOTE=enduroshark]What would keep a manufacturer like Toyota, for example, from "signing up" for 2008 and then still keep their plan together for a rival series?[/QUOTE]
Legally they can not. The teams signed a binding agreement that they all have to do what the rest do. I also believe Mosley is not dumb enough to let them sign up and keep their plans for a breakaway series intact.
Legally they can not. The teams signed a binding agreement that they all have to do what the rest do. I also believe Mosley is not dumb enough to let them sign up and keep their plans for a breakaway series intact.
| Ferg | 02-14-2006 04:39 PM |
Damn, you're right Stu...not active aero per se, but it did have ride height specific aero that worked in conjunction with the active suspension IIRC. What it needed was an active grenade launcher to get by Senna.
I'm a sprightly 32 Kev. :)
I'm a sprightly 32 Kev. :)
| StuBeck | 02-14-2006 04:41 PM |
[QUOTE=artkevin]SA will have two advantages that I can think off. They will be running detuned and proven V10s and a highly respectable chassis that is already sorted. None of the "new" rules should effect them too much other then the higher wing of last year. Maybe mating the Honda into a Cosworth hole and enlargeing the will be harder then expected.[/QUOTE]
They are going to be running the V8's. They are also making their own chassis which will debut after a few rounds of the championship. They are only using the A23 because they have to show up to the first few events. They also have to make the chassis fit the rules of the championship for this year, so they will probably be 5 or 6 seconds off the pace for the first few races.
They are going to be running the V8's. They are also making their own chassis which will debut after a few rounds of the championship. They are only using the A23 because they have to show up to the first few events. They also have to make the chassis fit the rules of the championship for this year, so they will probably be 5 or 6 seconds off the pace for the first few races.
| nKoan | 02-14-2006 04:42 PM |
[b]mclmk8d[/b]
Nice pics. I got to see one (don't know if it was real or replica) at a display at an IRL race last year at Sears Point (Infineon).
[img]http://www.neurosybir.net/nkoan/images/IRL-SearsPoint/IMG_0237.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.neurosybir.net/nkoan/images/IRL-SearsPoint/IMG_0236.jpg[/img]
Nice pics. I got to see one (don't know if it was real or replica) at a display at an IRL race last year at Sears Point (Infineon).
[img]http://www.neurosybir.net/nkoan/images/IRL-SearsPoint/IMG_0237.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.neurosybir.net/nkoan/images/IRL-SearsPoint/IMG_0236.jpg[/img]
| StuBeck | 02-14-2006 04:43 PM |
[QUOTE=Ferg]Damn, you're right Stu...not active aero per se, but it did have ride height specific aero that worked in conjunction with the active suspension IIRC. What it needed was an active grenade launcher to get by Senna.
I'm a sprightly 32 Kev. :)[/QUOTE]
Yea, the ride height went up and down so it was always .6 in off the ground or something similar. They are thinking about reallowing active aero and ground effects now after GP2, we can only hope. This will allow the cars to run much closer to one another which would rock.
I'm a sprightly 32 Kev. :)[/QUOTE]
Yea, the ride height went up and down so it was always .6 in off the ground or something similar. They are thinking about reallowing active aero and ground effects now after GP2, we can only hope. This will allow the cars to run much closer to one another which would rock.
| StuBeck | 02-14-2006 04:45 PM |
The problem Arrows had with their car was simply funding from the banks which bought them. Otherwise they would still be around. Tom Walkinshaw told the banks which bought into the team they would make a profit...which is just rediculously stupid. When they didn't they sued and basically shut down the team. The A23 was actually somewhat decent. The one problem the team had was a year or two earlier they had tried pull rods which is what caused the bad handling issues.
| artkevin | 02-14-2006 04:49 PM |
As long as we are sharing glimpes of greatness. From a Grand Prix Tours event in Montreal.
[IMG]http://www.kevinpaigeart.com/images/montreal_2003/6.jpg[/IMG]
I don't think I am for active aero. I do like the ground effects of the GP2 cars though. Tunnels and low wings are a good thing. :banana:
[IMG]http://www.kevinpaigeart.com/images/montreal_2003/6.jpg[/IMG]
I don't think I am for active aero. I do like the ground effects of the GP2 cars though. Tunnels and low wings are a good thing. :banana:
| artkevin | 02-14-2006 04:51 PM |
Damn Stu, have you been watching (and learning about) F1 since you came out of the womb?!?!
| Harvey_Mushman | 02-14-2006 04:54 PM |
[QUOTE=artkevin]Am I the youngest guy in here? The 1st race I ever watched was when Michael was still at Benneton. Gheesh!
<---26 years old[/QUOTE]
<-- 28 years old
I actually started to pay attention when Senna died. I vividly remember a friend asking me if I had heard that Senna was killed. I hadn't. I knew of him but had kind of dismissed European racing. In all honesty I was more interested in open wheel racing in the States at the time (I was in my early teens and I obviously thought I was the center of the universe). I realized I really didn't know much about F1, so mostly out of morbid curiosity, I read up about Senna. It smacked me in the face that he was simply incredible; a wonderful driver and so important to so many people. His death helped open my teenage eyes to F1. How horrible and how wonderful at the same time.
<---26 years old[/QUOTE]
<-- 28 years old
I actually started to pay attention when Senna died. I vividly remember a friend asking me if I had heard that Senna was killed. I hadn't. I knew of him but had kind of dismissed European racing. In all honesty I was more interested in open wheel racing in the States at the time (I was in my early teens and I obviously thought I was the center of the universe). I realized I really didn't know much about F1, so mostly out of morbid curiosity, I read up about Senna. It smacked me in the face that he was simply incredible; a wonderful driver and so important to so many people. His death helped open my teenage eyes to F1. How horrible and how wonderful at the same time.
| artkevin | 02-14-2006 05:02 PM |
I never watched a full race until I went to college where we had Speed TV on our dorm cable package. I worked at Discount Tires and knew NOTHING about cars so I just started to read and watch a lot of car things. F1 just suck. I do remember hearing about Senna's death on the news and seeing stock footage of the cars thinking they were basically space ships tunred up side down. The huge showers of sparks and things actually kind of scared me away from F1 in th mid 90s. I thought the pilots wer crazy. Now I know they are. :devil:
| Student Driver | 02-14-2006 05:21 PM |
<-- Old fart at 33
I was into racing at an early age, but never cared for circle or oval racing. I loved F1 but didn't get to watch it much until 96 or 97 I think on Speedvision (early DirecTV subscriber). I loved every clip I saw of rally cars, road racing, and F1 but lost interest in American TV. Then, I found WRC on Speed at the end of 2003, and started watching F1 again halfway through 2004. Now, I use Speed for ALMS, Grand AM, and World Challenge racing for the most part with sprinkles of BTCC, DTM, and Aussie V8. I get my real fixes of overseas stuff with Torrents.
I was into racing at an early age, but never cared for circle or oval racing. I loved F1 but didn't get to watch it much until 96 or 97 I think on Speedvision (early DirecTV subscriber). I loved every clip I saw of rally cars, road racing, and F1 but lost interest in American TV. Then, I found WRC on Speed at the end of 2003, and started watching F1 again halfway through 2004. Now, I use Speed for ALMS, Grand AM, and World Challenge racing for the most part with sprinkles of BTCC, DTM, and Aussie V8. I get my real fixes of overseas stuff with Torrents.
| JoD | 02-14-2006 05:34 PM |
I started getting into F1 in college in 2001 when the guy I was dating (now my husband) got involved with Formula SAE, and introduced me to the sport at the same time. I had always loved cars, so it was a natural transition. Not a fan of ovals and stock cars that have as much technology as washing machines (read NASCAR). Just never been into it.
At 28, I plan to follow F1 for a long time to come, and drag as many of my friends into the madness as I possibly can.
That Villeneuve video is awesome! Thanks for sharing!
At 28, I plan to follow F1 for a long time to come, and drag as many of my friends into the madness as I possibly can.
That Villeneuve video is awesome! Thanks for sharing!
| sspicollo8 | 02-14-2006 07:04 PM |
<- 18 y/o and been into F1 since around may (monaco or the nurb) of last season.
I don't really know enough yet to talk about it like you all do, but I love readin all this and keepin up with it.
I don't really know enough yet to talk about it like you all do, but I love readin all this and keepin up with it.
| Ferg | 02-14-2006 07:18 PM |
I feel like I've been a fan of Grand Prix racing forever, although I really didn't start getting uber obsessed baout it until the 1992 season. Ever since then it's been a central part of my life...for better or worse.
Here's some good news for all the Legge fans.
[QUOTE]Legge lands PKV drive
By Tim Redmayne Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 22:45 GMT
Katherine Legge will drive for PKV Racing's Champ Car team this season.
The move will be confirmed tonight at a dinner in California for Champ Car Atlantic - where, last year, Legge became the first female to win an international single-seater race in North America.
The 25-year-old Briton put in impressive performances when testing for the team at Sebring last December, and she was last month called back to drive alongside Franck Montagny, who was also trying out for the team.
Legge will become the first female to race in the series since Lyn St James entered the Indy 500 in the mid-1990s.
Legge told autosport.com that her main target will be to just learn about Champ Cars, and go for the Rookie of the Year title in her maiden season.
"It is too much to think I'd be competitive enough to win the championship in my first year," Legge said. "But I'm sure I'll pick up many fans in the series, like Danica Patrick did in the IRL.
"There will be so much for me to learn. I've never done pitstops and I've never had to think about fuel strategies, so I'm under no illusions about how difficult this is going to be.
"There are some good tracks, and Milwaukee is going to be unlike anything I've ever done before and could be down right scary. I know the first track at Long Beach, having won there in Atlantics, but there are some I don't know - such as Mexico City and South Korea.
"But I have got a good team around me and with [team co-owner] Jimmy Vasser helping I will have a good run at it."
Legge believes that the pace she showed in her two-day test at Sebring before Christmas helped her convince the team members that she was worthy of the drive.
"When I heard I've got the deal, it was absolutely amazing news," she added. "At first I was excited, and then I realised the enormity of it all and that it would be a big challenge.
"I'm think I convinced the team on my two-day test in December. I don't think they knew who I was yet, but they became much more serious about me after the test.
"I think the team are serious about me now. We ran very well at the test and were very fast."[/QUOTE]
:banana:
Here's some good news for all the Legge fans.
[QUOTE]Legge lands PKV drive
By Tim Redmayne Tuesday, February 14th 2006, 22:45 GMT
Katherine Legge will drive for PKV Racing's Champ Car team this season.
The move will be confirmed tonight at a dinner in California for Champ Car Atlantic - where, last year, Legge became the first female to win an international single-seater race in North America.
The 25-year-old Briton put in impressive performances when testing for the team at Sebring last December, and she was last month called back to drive alongside Franck Montagny, who was also trying out for the team.
Legge will become the first female to race in the series since Lyn St James entered the Indy 500 in the mid-1990s.
Legge told autosport.com that her main target will be to just learn about Champ Cars, and go for the Rookie of the Year title in her maiden season.
"It is too much to think I'd be competitive enough to win the championship in my first year," Legge said. "But I'm sure I'll pick up many fans in the series, like Danica Patrick did in the IRL.
"There will be so much for me to learn. I've never done pitstops and I've never had to think about fuel strategies, so I'm under no illusions about how difficult this is going to be.
"There are some good tracks, and Milwaukee is going to be unlike anything I've ever done before and could be down right scary. I know the first track at Long Beach, having won there in Atlantics, but there are some I don't know - such as Mexico City and South Korea.
"But I have got a good team around me and with [team co-owner] Jimmy Vasser helping I will have a good run at it."
Legge believes that the pace she showed in her two-day test at Sebring before Christmas helped her convince the team members that she was worthy of the drive.
"When I heard I've got the deal, it was absolutely amazing news," she added. "At first I was excited, and then I realised the enormity of it all and that it would be a big challenge.
"I'm think I convinced the team on my two-day test in December. I don't think they knew who I was yet, but they became much more serious about me after the test.
"I think the team are serious about me now. We ran very well at the test and were very fast."[/QUOTE]
:banana:
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét