3530 replies to this topic

[Nacho]

shit for a $20M deal, I'd paint the roadkill marks on myself...

.





Also kinda makes you realize what sort of shape the F1 drivers are in. We rarely see them outside of their driving suits, or team shirts.

[chiuey]

.





Also kinda makes you realize what sort of shape the F1 drivers are in. We rarely see them outside of their driving suits, or team shirts.

wait they actually wear normal clothes?



Kimi has great taste in suits, he's totally PIMP in the article that (I forgot who) posted.

[Redliner]

http://www.autocar.c.../...234465&CT=V

So I really want Taku to pick up a drive next year...

I love how he just gets into any of the cars and goes balls-to-the-wall. I'm also impressed with his english b/c I don't usually understand him in interviews

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Fernando Alonso acknowledges that moving to the Ferrari team for 2009 is not among his options.

Despite the Italian team's President stopping by the Renault garage for a chat with the Spaniard at the recent Monza test, Luca di Montezemolo also made clear that Ferrari will head into next season with an unchanged driver line-up.

"It has always been known that their two drivers are under contract. It was never an option for next year," Alonso is quoted as saying by the Spanish newspaper Diario AS at Spa Francorchamps.

He plays down his reported conversation with Montezemolo.

"I saw him for five seconds; he asked me how I was doing," Alonso explained. "Next door was Fisichella and he gave him a hug. He also saw Hamilton."

It is clear that Renault, BMW Sauber, Honda and Toyota are holding off on finalising their plans for 2009 while Alonso is still on the market.

Alonso said the fact that Ferrari is not an option for 2009 is not a problem for him.

"I am 27 and have enough time to get back to winning races and championships, whether with Ferrari or another team.

"When I won my two championships with Renault, Ferrari were behind me, so I am not afraid of the challenge."

In interview with the British broadcaster ITV in Belgium on Thursday, Alonso would not rule out driving for Ferrari in the future.

"I need to keep thinking not only for next year but also for the near future, so we will see," he said.

Alonso answered "I don't know" to whether he might be lining up a Ferrari drive for 2010.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

[DrDickAction]

shit for a $20M deal, I'd paint the roadkill marks on myself...

but if anyone else does it, I'll still make fun of them

[F1]

Who is NK?

Heidfeld, why it's NK, I do not know.

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

it has been fixed, and it is NH... they probably got confused typing NH and KN..

Q. To all of you: what is on your i-Pod?

KN: Any kind of music but most of it is Japanese pop. Since I came to Europe, I especially tend to listen more to Japanese songs, maybe to remind me of home.

SV: Any kind really, German folk songs are my favourite. Anything really, a bit of everything.

KR: Mostly Finnish music, all sorts. You wouldn't know, so it doesn't matter what I say.

NH: Yeah, similar to the others, a lot of different stuff, not a lot of classic stuff. No German folk music, more in the direction of R&B, hip-hop, not so much techno, more chill-out but various stuff.

SV: Why don't you like folk songs?

NH: Why do you like it, that's more difficult to answer, I think?

SV: I like the lyrics.

NH: I like the smile on the singers' faces, just like yours.

[Nacho]

http://www.autocar.c.../...234465&CT=V

So I really want Taku to pick up a drive next year...

I love how he just gets into any of the cars and goes balls-to-the-wall. I'm also impressed with his english b/c I don't usually understand him in interviews

word.

PS: Nice slide.

[MrHahn]

word.

PS: Nice slide.

"Nice Handring"

[MrHahn]

[doublemeat]

holy clag

[More&Faster]

[mads]

[_R_]

The prospects for a return of a Formula One race in the United States have improved after Bernie Ecclestone held talks with team principals in Belgium about putting the event back on the calendar in 2010, autosport.com has learned.

The event at Indianapolis was dropped for this year after its circuit boss Tony George was unable to agree financial terms with Ecclestone to sort out a new contract at the end of 2007.

But with no prospects for a last-minute deal rescuing the event even for 2009, teams and Ecclestone discussed during a team principal's meeting at Spa-Francorchamps about ensuring the event does return - although not necessarily at Indianapolis.

It is understood a number of teams have made it clear to Ecclestone that it is vital, especially amid the world's current financial situation, for America to once again feature on the calendar.

Honda Racing CEO Nick Fry told autosport.com: "The American GP is key for two reasons. Firstly, this is supposed to be a world championship and a large part of it is made up of North America, so we should be going back there.

"Secondly, the North American market is absolutely vital to us, and for all the luxury car makers especially it is key. It is a market Honda is successful in, with Honda and Acura, and we would like to get back there as soon as possible."

BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen added: "It is important for BMW as a manufacturer but also for our sponsors. The USA is still the biggest market for BMW and we should be there. But we should be there successfully, so we have to find the right venue, the right setting and the right approach in order to make a point over there."

When asked by autosport.com if he felt that Indianapolis was the right venue, Theissen said: "If I look at where we sell our cars it is certainly on the east coast and the west coast, so from that perspective it (Indy) is not the ideal venue.

"I know Bernie is negotiating with several regions or cities in the US but apparently there is nothing confirmed or nothing ready to be announced."

Frank Williams said the event was vital even for independent teams like his.

"We all want it," he explained. "Many of our sponsors are very active in the US - and several American ones, like Thomson Reuters, AT&T, are looking to expand – Philips too."

Fry echoed Theissen's belief that a race located on either the Pacific or Atlantic coasts would be ideal – with sources suggesting that Ecclestone favours a race in Las Vegas.

"Ideally we would like a site on either coast, which is a key market for non-American brands. And from our point of view, the sooner the better.

"Bernie is very good at understanding the market and what the manufacturers want. He does realise the importance of this and we know he is doing his best to fix the problem, and we will give him all the support we can. We are all aligned on the importance of America."

Indianapolis spokesman Fred Nation said recently that his track was confident a deal could be put in place for them to return to the schedule.

"We are very optimistic for 2010," he said.

[Redliner]

West Coast?

Laguna Seca or Infinion!

East Coast?

Hmm...VIR? Road Atlanta?

They could go to the older F1 tracks like Watkins Glen? But I don't think they're up to the task of holding a modern day F1 race at all...

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

While most teams elected to decrease the amount of cooling to their cars for the Belgian Grand Prix, it has emerged that concerns over the longevity of their engine forced Ferrari to do the opposite.

After a spate of recent failures, the Italian marque elected to add further ventilation at the top of the side pods of the F2008 in an effort to preserve the engine.

McLaren also changed their cooling system for Spa Francorchamps, but as they were more confident about their Mercedes-Benz power plant, the radiator opening was decreased to make the car more aerodynamically efficient.

Ferrari was also nervous about Felipe Massa's engine after qualifying in Belgium, electing to change a spark plug and the entire wiring loom, with the consent of the FIA, while the car was in parc ferme.

Meanwhile, as he used the same engine that powered him to victory at Valencia, the Brazilian driver did not stretch his unit to its full 19,000rpm throughout the Grand Prix.

Since the engine freeze came into effect at the start of the season, Ferrari is rumoured to have added as much as 30bhp.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Former Ferrari driver and triple world champion Niki Lauda hit out at the stewards' decision on Sunday to strip Lewis Hamilton of his Belgian Grand Prix victory.

The forceful reaction of the British press was expected, with the Daily Mail correspondent Jonathan McEvoy labelling the 23-year-old McLaren driver the 'victim of a conspiracy against McLaren,' with the FIA heading a 'polluted sport.'

But Lauda, the former champion, spoke on behalf of much of the wider international paddock population.

"This is the worst judgment in the history of F1," he slammed. "The most perverted judgment I have ever seen.

"It's absolutely unacceptable when three functionaries (the stewards) influence the championship like this," Lauda added.

There may, however, be little recourse for McLaren, despite the British team's notification of its intention to appeal the decision in the International Court of Appeal.

Hamilton's 25-second adjunct was technically a drive-through penalty, which could not be served because the incident occurred so close to the end of the race. Drive-throughs cannot be appealed.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Patrese to test Honda F1 car

By Pablo Elizalde Monday, September 8th 2008, 13:05 GMT

Former Formula One driver Riccardo Patrese will return to the cockpit of a grand prix car when he tests last year's Honda at Jerez tomorrow.

The Italian, who raced in 256 grands prix from 1977 to 1993, got the invitation following his contribution to the celebrations of Rubens Barrichello's record-breaking 257th grand prix appearances earlier this year.

Patrese, who scored six wins, 37 podiums and eight pole positions during his F1 career, is now a commentator for Italian broadcaster Sky Sports Italia.

The 54-year-old last drove a racing car in anger when he competed in the GP Masters series in 2006.

what the hell are honda doing? trying to get a driver lineup with a combined age over 100?

[mads]

thats how good massa is...

he can win without using the engine/car/or anything else really

[cafcwest]

what the hell are honda doing? trying to get a driver lineup with a combined age over 100?

I think the 1993 Benneton is/was probably a better race car than the 2007 Honda. Recardo might be in for a bit disappointment.

"This is all you've got?!?? No wonder Honda sucks..."

[mads]

Nick to reno rumours

[Shi]

I guessed right

Outqualified Kimi on a heavier fuel load, so he probably used all the revs during qualifying, but took it easy during the race

[MrHahn]

what the hell are honda doing? trying to get a driver lineup with a combined age over 100?

They're probably going with the formula of. Rubens age = 2x Button. Therefore Patrese = 5x better than Rubens.



Honda - next stop, black magic (literally, no I dont meant Hamilton)

[MrHahn]

I guessed right

Outqualified Kimi on a heavier fuel load, so he probably used all the revs during qualifying, but took it easy during the race

On the ITV coverage it looked like Massa was ringing it out - looked to be atleast 18.7 rpm

[Shi]

On the ITV coverage it looked like Massa was ringing it out - looked to be atleast 18.7 rpm

perhaps with a less agressive engine map?