130 replies to this topic

[HighTachPres]

lol, i love how everyone loves SA...
probably bc he passed Alonso in Canada

[Nacho]

lol, i love how everyone loves SA...
probably bc he passed Alonso in Canada

I liked him because of his drive at the 04 Indy race, the first F1 race i ever went to. And he always seemed to actually be one out to fight for positions.

Then, as he matured at Super Aguri into a team leader and a safer, although no less entertaining, driver, he really showed what he was capable of.

[Nacho]

Honda on Friday announced its immediate withdrawal from Formula One, but the Japanese marque's commitment to the US IndyCar Series and premier motorcycling remains intact.

Honda is also closely involved with America's premier open wheel category, but the California-based Honda Performance Development (HPD) told us the manufacturer's US-based activities "are expected to continue in 2009 ... and beyond."

IndyCar team boss Mark Johnson, meanwhile, explained that Honda's racing model in the US series is fundamentally different to F1.

"HPD is charged with making money; it is a revenue-generating company," he is quoted as saying by the Indianapolis Star.

Honda's motorcycling programmes, including in superbikes and MotoGP, also seem unaffected by the F1 decision.


Honda Racing's Neil Tuxworth told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "Car and motorcycle racing are run by different divisions so this will have no effect on the motorcycling side."

Honda President Takeo Fukui, meanwhile, said on Friday the 2009 Japanese Grand Prix, to be held at the Honda-owned Suzuka, will take place as scheduled.

The manufacturer is also involved in other series, including through its Acura badge in American Le Mans racing.

Fukui said: "Regarding other categories, we start thinking now as to what we should do."

[More&Faster]

I liked him because of his drive at the 04 Indy race, the first F1 race i ever went to. And he always seemed to actually be one out to fight for positions.

Then, as he matured at Super Aguri into a team leader and a safer, although no less entertaining, driver, he really showed what he was capable of.

not only that but he was one of the very rare drivers who wasn't brought up racing karts. he was just a regular guy who wanted to race, entered a racing school and graduated top of his class and got to race in a low-level series. from there he went all the way to F1. that makes him extra special to me.

[RedVVing19]

Say goodbye to JB this year

[_R_]

Just about a week ago, Honda announced that it was dropping out of Formula 1, but in subsequent reports Honda confirmed that it was not planning to pull support from other motorsports endeavors. That doesn't quite seem to be the case. Yesterday, Honda announced that it will be removing factory support from AMA road racing. The only Honda factory rider already contracted for the '09 season is Neil Hodgson. Jake Zemke, winner of last year's AMA Formula Xtreme Championship, now seems likely to race for the Erion Honda team, which Honda will still be offering support to, along with the Corona Honda team. Motocross and Supercross will not be affected by Honda's decision.

Honda cites the "current global economic situation and its impact on Honda" for the change, but we wonder if the ongoing dominance of Mat Mladin and Ben Spies' Suzukis may have made AMA Superbike an easy series to drop -- a move last made by Ducati in 2006. We're also left wondering if the ongoing conflict with Daytona Motorsports Group, the new management for AMA Pro Racing, had anything to do with the withdrawl. In any case, we won't be seeing any Honda Factory teams in AMA road racing for 2009.

[RedVVing19]

According to La Stampa, Honda F1 has a buyer: Mexican telecom billionaire Carlos Slim Helu. Reports claim he paid the single dollar Honda was asking

[Nacho]

According to La Stampa, Honda F1 has a buyer: Mexican telecom billionaire Carlos Slim Helu. Reports claim he paid the single dollar Honda was asking

Fuck, i coulda bought it.

[_R_]

Honda Racing are in talks with four potential buyers including wealthy Mexican businessman Carlos Slim, autosport.com has learned, but no deal has yet been completed.

Reports emerging out of South America on Saturday suggested that Slim, ranked as the world's second richest man behind American investor Warren Buffett, had actually finalised a contract to take over Honda.

Italian newspaper La Stampa also wrote that Slim had agreed a deal that would see the team line-up on the grid in 2009 with Jenson Button and Bruno Senna as their drivers.

However, although talks are progressing well, it is understood that the situation remains unchanged from how it was just before Christmas, with public confirmation of the progress of the buyout discussions unlikely before the New Year.

Honda Racing CEO Nick Fry had told autosport.com earlier this month that there had been encouraging progress in finding a buyer.

"We have had a high level of interest in the team since Honda Motor Co. announced their withdrawal from Formula One," Fry said. "Since that time, Ross and I have been engaged in ongoing discussions with several serious potential new owners who have expressed an interest in purchasing the team."

Sources have told autosport.com that there are four parties considering getting involved - with Slim believed to be heading the running at the moment.

Although the identity of the buyers has not been confirmed, it is believed that apart from Slim they are Prodrive boss David Richards with the Kuwait-based Investment Dar Company (TID), Greek shipping magnate Achilleas Kallakis and an unidentified Swiss group.

Force India boss Vijay Mallya had also been linked with the team, but this is believed to have been purely an interest in the assets should the team have been closed and their facilities put up for sale.

Original contact between Honda Racing chiefs and Slim was made late last season, with discussions primarily based on a potential sponsorship link-up between his Telmex company and the team.

This came about through the team's interest in Senna, who is sponsored by Embratel, a Brazilian subsidiary of Telmex.

When Honda announced that it was to quit F1, the sponsorship talks changed into buyout discussions - with Slim recently making a big push to invest heavily in business expansion despite the worldwide economic slowdown.

Slim, who also owns the mobile phone company America Movil, recently increased his stake in American luxury retailers Saks to 18 percent. At the start of December his Inbursa brokerage in Mexico bought $150 million (USD) of shares in Citigroup after their price sank to levels not seen since the early 1990's.

Slim visited Honda Racing's Brackley headquarters just before Christmas, but the holiday period has put a temporary hold on discussions before talks can resume in the next week to try and sort out a deal in early January.

[Nacho]

Fucking Nick Fry. First Super Aguri, now fucking Honda

The potential sale of Brackley-based Honda could be the subject of a government investigation, according to a British newspaper report.

The Daily Mail said the Department of Trade and Industry has been asked to step in amid suggestions team chief executive Nick Fry could be operating both as a mediator to potential buyers, as well as a potential buyer himself.

The newspaper said the Member of Parliament Tim Boswell, representing the area in England including Honda's Brackley headquarters, has responded to the concerns of team staff of a potential conflict of interest.

"The level of anger and frustration at the factory is unbelievable," an insider is quoted as saying.
"We wonder whether Nick is doing the right thing by wearing two hats."

The team, facing a January 31 deadline for survival, declined to comment on whether Fry is indeed planning a management buy-out.

[Redliner]

Fucking Nick Fry. First Super Aguri, now fucking Honda

What a fucktard...Who is this guy anyways?! How can some douche like him be running Honda?!

[Nacho]

What the eff?

The Honda F1 team is in talks with the UK government in the hope of qualifying for a loan.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has announced a multi-billion Euro 'bailout' package for the ailing car industry, and the Brackley-based team confirmed it is set to apply for some of the taxpayer-funded help.

Asked whether the team qualifies, a spokeswoman for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) told the Guardian newspaper: "There is no reason why Honda Racing couldn't apply."

It is expected that any company in the automotive industry with a turnover of €27m or more, pledging to reduce carbon emissions and create jobs, will be eligible.

"All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis," the BERR spokeswoman added.

[_R_]

soooo... we're in february and no word on someone taking over Honda F1...
..........?

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

autosport is reporting that jens is unlikely to start the '09 season.. honda f1 will get picked up in time to race at melbourne.

[Nacho]

autosport is reporting that jens is unlikely to start the '09 season.. honda f1 will get picked up in time to race at melbourne.

So someone won't continue his contract?

Seems odd, but I guess is he pretty well paid. Then again, a seat > no seat (in F1 terms).

[mads]

So someone won't continue his contract?

Seems odd, but I guess is he pretty well paid. Then again, a seat > no seat (in F1 terms).

for a team starting up his 16m pound salery might be a little to much to afford.

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

oh sorry i meant i'd bet honda WON'T get picked up in time for melbourne. all autosport had was that jens was not going to be starting in '09.

[Nacho]

oh sorry i meant i'd bet honda WON'T get picked up in time for melbourne. all autosport had was that jens was not going to be starting in '09.

I'd assume he comes with the team. But then again, it's not promised at all, I suppose.

I'd think that he'd even forego his salary if that was a deal breaker for team purchase/having a seat. Dude's pretty baller already.

[Nacho]

According to rising speculation and reports, the F1 team currently known as Honda has secured its future and is preparing for the season opening Australian Grand Prix.

The whispers indicate that team boss Ross Brawn is briefing his colleagues at the Brackley headquarters to the effect that a solution is in place for the 2009 season, following the shock withdrawal of the Japanese manufacturer Honda Motor Co.

The details of the rumour are that Mercedes-Benz will power the newly independent team, and that Jenson Button's team-mate will be the Brazilian rookie Bruno Senna, backed by key sponsors.

Should the speculation be correct, the 40-day timescale to scrutineering in Melbourne indicates that an announcement about Honda's plans - and a name-change - must be imminent.

Contracted driver Button was hopeful about the future last Sunday when he took part in a 10km mini-marathon in the outer suburbs of London. "Training is going really well and hopefully we can make good use of it in a few weeks," he said in a video posted on his personal website.

"Fingers crossed I'll be on the grid in Melbourne," added Button.

[_R_]

Senna

[DrDickAction]

apparently only for the 1st 4 races.

http://www.f1technical.net/news/11606

According to speculation in the media, the Honda Racing Formula One team has found the funds to compete in the first four races of the 2009 F1 season. The British newspaper 'The Guardian', reported that the team is saved a by group of sponsors who support Bruno Senna. The nephew of the famous Ayrton Senna would have been signed as race driver for the outfit alongside Jenson Button.

super aguri part 2

[_R_]

apparently only for the 1st 4 races.
super aguri part 2

what's the point of that?
Also, where are Buttons sponsors? Senna seems to be footing the bill...

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

what's the point of that?
Also, where are Buttons sponsors? Senna seems to be footing the bill...

its hard enough finding button SUPPORTERS, nevermind SPONSORS.

[Robert]

its hard enough finding button SUPPORTERS, nevermind SPONSORS.

ZING! lol

[Nacho]

The outfit currently known as Honda is facing a 10-day countdown to survival, amid rumours Bernie Ecclestone may be willing to invest in the Brackley-based squad.

It was strongly rumoured this week that boss Ross Brawn is readying his troops for the 2009 season, with Jenson Button and Bruno Senna to occupy the cockpits.

But amid suggestions funding is only guaranteed for the first four races, Mercedes-Benz wants assurances the team can pay the full 8 million euro price tag for its customer engines, the Guardian newspaper said.

The publication also said the German manufacturer wants to be sure the post-Honda guise "will not have sponsors or a new team identity which in any way compromise the Mercedes brand."

As well as possible funds from Brazilian backers Petrobras and Embratel, it is also believed the departing Honda may inject some money because saving the team is cheaper than dismantling it.

F1 chief executive Ecclestone's possible involvement has also been rumoured, whether in the form of advanced commercial revenue, a loan, or actual investment.

"I'd rather not comment on that," he is quoted as saying by The Times, "but we will do whatever we have to do to try to make it happen."

He admitted that the European Commission might not want the sport's commercial rights holder to also hold a team stake.

"I don't know at this stage, but there is a possibility that loans could be made or something," said Ecclestone.

A spokeswoman for the team would not comment beyond clarifying that no announcements are imminent.

However, a deal must be concluded soon if the team is to be ready in time for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix at the end of March.