The Official Open-Wheel Racing Thread

[Thanos]

if any of you have 360/Ps3 or like racing games in general.

codemasters has an F1 game coming out on the 22nd. looks pretty good.

I flirted with getting this game but after reading some online forums I'll pass. This game was released with way too many bugs. Would like to see the Singapore,Valencia and Abu Daubi tracks though.

[HighOnHendrix]

Russia just signed a deal with Bernie

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/14/AR2010101401993.html

http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/31198.html

Bernie Ecclestone's never-ending season

Something's got to give

It seems barely a week goes by without Bernie Ecclestone announcing, or at the least dropping lead-weighted hints about, another new grand prix venue. On the eve of his 80th birthday he seems hell bent on leaving a legacy of a race in almost every major country. Less is more is not a term bandied round the Ecclestone household.

His actions are completely at odds with his own well-documented statement that the F1 season cannot contain more than 20 grands prix. This year we have had 19 and it's been an unrelenting eight months. Next season, thanks to the addition of an Indian GP, we have hit Bernie's magic 20.

But with the enthusiasm of Imelda Marcos in a shoe shop, Bernie just can't help himself. He has agreed to a US Grand Prix in 2012 and now a Russian Grand Prix in 2014. He's also been gushing about a Rome Grand Prix as soon as 2012. Something has to give.

A US race makes common as well as financial sense. There is a massive untapped market in America. But the same cannot be said for many of the newer venues. Few expect massive crowds at the remote, new and finished-by-the-seat-of-their-pants Korean Grand Prix next weekend. And why on earth do we need a street race in Rome when we already have a long-standing GP at Monza?

While TV companies would love a race pretty much every weekend, the logistics of hauling huge amounts of equipment round the world, as well as the train on teams, drivers, and dare we say it, the media, rule that out. But nothing will get in the way of Bernie and money, so he just keeps on dealing.

In the last three years the season has become a month longer. Next year it is extended by almost a fortnight and runs to the last weekend of November. Given the need for all connected with the sport to remind their families they exist, as well as pre-season testing, it's at saturation point. The only window left for another race is the four-week August break.

And while the last few seasons have been exciting, you only have to go back to the first few years of the decade to remember quite how tedious the Schumacher-Ferrari domination was. Those seasons often felt as if they would never end. Just imagine a similar scenario in a bloated calendar.

In addition, the new tracks are all designed by Hermann Tilke and as a result have a rather uniform look and feel. That's not Tilke's fault, but using the same designer will inevitably lead to a homogenised product. At least in Austin he's gone for a wild deviation from the norm. It will be anticlockwise. Or perhaps the plans were just printed the wrong way round.

If the promised races go ahead, then the real losers are likely to be the established venues, mainly in Europe. Bernie deals on the back of massive financial guarantees from the tracks. The new venues he has unveiled - some good, some appalling - have almost all had the benefit of huge funding from local or central government. The older circuits simply cannot match the money being thrown at Ecclestone.

When Bernie faced with sentimentality, or even public opinion, against cash, there will only be one winner.

Martin Williamson is managing editor of digital media ESPN EMEA

[HighOnHendrix]

After watching practice and qualifying for Korea, this is my feeling for the rest of the season:

Red Bull just cannot be stopped. Alonso still looks strong with McLaren just behind. To me it's a two-man race between Vettel and Webber. Button and Hamilton have too much ground to make up and does anyone really believe that Alonso will not have an engine problem over the last three races? I really think he will have to take a grid penalty at some point and that will be the end of it for him. I'm tipping Webber for the title. He already has a lead and is way steadier during the races; Vettel is fast, but reckless - great at grabbing pole but has not learned how to turn that into race wins on a consistent enough basis.

[generaltso]

wet race.

gonna be a show!

[generaltso]

safety car start is BULL****

[generaltso]

great. red flagged.

[generaltso]

i am disappointed.

[SoulRebel]

Should stop by the tailgate more often, didn't know we had an open-wheel thread. But will they ever let them race? At this pace I'll just be waking up when the 'Skins game starts. Should be interesting if it ever actually starts though.

[HighOnHendrix]

Wow that was a great race! I'm sure it was nerve-wracking for the drivers (Webber and Vettel must be heartbroken), but it was entertaining to watch. I think Sutil should be penalized for repeatedly trying all those impossible inside moves before finally doing himself in.

Kerblammo:

[generaltso]

just woke up, time to watch the recording.

[Thanos]

I had Alonso pegged from the start. I think the spotlight got to Webber and Vettel is still his worse enemy. also anyone notice the steady improvement of Schumi? They're already working on next years car. MP should drop Rosberg he's not a game changer.

[HighOnHendrix]

I had Alonso pegged from the start. I think the spotlight got to Webber and Vettel is still his worse enemy. also anyone notice the steady improvement of Schumi? They're already working on next years car. MP should drop Rosberg he's not a game changer.

I still say Alonso will be affected by engine problems in one of the last two events. He will probably avoid a grid penalty as he is using old engines, but those used engines have to be more likely to grenade. MSC only finished fourth because three of the cars in front of him retired, otherwise he'd have finished seventh. That's not really much of an improvement. Rosberg has outpaced him all year. Between that fact and his age relative to Schumacher, they'd be crazy to let him go.

[HighOnHendrix]

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-hrt-buys-former-team-toyota-report

HRT is reportedly purchasing Toyota's Cologne based team....

HRT has reportedly bought Japanese carmaker Toyota's former Formula One team.

The new Spanish team has struggled with its Dallara-built car and a lack of development in 2010.

It was initially believed that Hispania Racing, bought by Jose Ramon Carabante from Adrian Campos before the start of its debut season, had agreed a deal to base its 2011 car on the unraced Toyota TF110.

It is for this reason, according to paddock speculation, that Toyota Motorsport only made available its 2009 car for Pirelli's tire testing program.

It has been subsequently reported that HRT could buy hydraulic systems and gearboxes from the British team Williams for 2010.

But Auto Motor und Sport, citing "reliable sources", reports that HRT has bought "the expertise, equipment and facilities" of Toyota's Cologne based team.

At the same time, the magazine notes rumors that Hispania is behind in its payments to engine supplier Cosworth.

Good for them if it's true. This will put HRT mid-pack instantly, leap-frogging both Lotus and Virgin in one fell swoop. Toyota was foolish to have pulled the plug on their team in the first place. I guess this will let them recoup some of the many millions they poured into the team over the course of eight seasons. No idea what they will do with the money, perhaps they will roll it over into their other race programs. (God knows it won't be used to develop anything remotely sporty. I recently purchased a car and Toyota was never on my radar because they build literally the most dull and listless vehicles on the face of the earth.)

[HighOnHendrix]

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-fernando-alonso-can-use-low-mileage-engine-at-abu-dhabi

Alonso Can Use Low-Mileage Engine At Abu Dhabi

Fernando Alonso's engine situation is not as dire as it appears on paper, according to a German publication.

On the face of it, the championship leader is well into his allocation of eight engines for 2010, facing a 10-position grid penalty if he needs to use a ninth unit before the finale.

In fact, this weekend's Brazilian race will be the last the Ferrari driver will have to tackle with a high-mileage engine, Auto Motor und Sport explained.

One of Alonso's eight engines has very low mileage, but has been unable to be used because it was replaced after qualifying at the Bahrain season opener.

The rules prevented Ferrari from re-deploying this engine for anything other than free practice sessions, after it was replaced in Bahrain as a precaution due to the F60 almost overheating.

But because Abu Dhabi is the season finale, Alonso is allowed to use any engine in his allocation there, and the Bahrain qualifying unit is extremely low on mileage.

[generaltso]

well he blew up one in Fp1 at brazil.

[Thanos]

I would be in Austrailia for the Brazilian GP. I still say its Alonzo's to lose.

[HighOnHendrix]

well he blew up one in Fp1 at brazil.

From http://onanysundaythesedays.wordpress.com/2010/11/05/f1-brazil-fp1-results-report-red-bull-on-top-whilst-petrov-kobi-crash-alonsos-engine-goes-early/

Ferrari explained their engine situation for Alonso, “A lot of talk in these concerned the engine management on Fernando’s car. The situation is going on according to plans. In order to manage the mileage in the best way we will change his engine unit between the two sessions so don’t get worried if you will see the mechanics working on car number 8 between the sessions!”

So it was expected, just happened a few laps earlier than they expected. They are in a tough place with the engine situation, but I'm no longer convinced it will hamper his title chances.

I would be in Austrailia for the Brazilian GP. I still say its Alonzo's to lose.

I am leaning in that direction now, too. Webber not getting any points at all last race really hurt him, especially since Alonso was gifted the win when Vettel's engine gave up.

[HighOnHendrix]

http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/33230.html

Button escapes car attack

Jenson Button escaped without injury following an armed attack on the car carrying the Brit away from the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo.

Button's father John, manager Richard Goddard and trainer Mike Collier were also in the car when the incident occurred after qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

A police driver acted swifty to see off the danger and Button managed to escape and return to his hotel.

Button is quoted as saying: "We were going back from the track and were outside a shanty town and moving slowly on a busy road. The next thing I saw was a man with a gun. Our guy angled the car and floored it.

"That's when we saw six men, all of them brandishing machine-guns. My driver was a legend. It was very scary. I don't know whether they knew who it was they were ambushing. I said, 'Isn't that a gun?' and as soon as I said that, the driver angled the car. My driver bounced off about five cars. We were driving over the top of them."

A statement issued by Button's McLaren team read: "On Saturday evening on the way back from the Interlagos circuit to Morumbi [sao Paulo], armed would-be assailants made an attempt to approach the car that was carrying Jenson Button.

"Neither Jenson nor the other occupants of the car were hurt. The other occupants were John Button [Jenson's father], Mike Collier [Jenson's physio] and Richard Goddard [Jenson's manager].

"Vodafone McLaren Mercedes had provided both Jenson and team-mate Lewis Hamilton with reinforced armoured vehicles driven by police drivers, who had been trained in avoidance techniques and were armed.

"The police driver of Jenson's vehicle reacted swiftly and, using avoidance techniques, rapidly forced his way through the traffic, taking Jenson and the other occupants of the car immediately away from any danger and back to their hotel.

"The Sao Paulo authorities have also acted efficiently and will be providing additional security to transfer Jenson and other senior Vodafone McLaren Mercedes personnel to the Interlagos circuit for Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix."

[HighOnHendrix]

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-brazilian-shocker-nico-hulkenberg-wins-pole

Brazilian Shocker - Hulkenberg Wins Pole

His 2011 plans still in limbo, Nico Hulkenberg has been feeling the heat in recent weeks as he tries to keep his ride at Williams.

Saturday's qualifying result from Interlagos should help the rookie's case.

In by far the biggest upset of the season, Hulkenberg captured the pole for Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix.

Hulkenberg (1:14:470) used a dramatic Q3 surge to easily beat the Red Bull RB6 of fellow German Sebastian Vettel (1:15:519).

"It's amazing," Hulkenberg said. "I still can't believe it. What a nice surprise for us."

Championship runner-up Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton and World Championship leader Fernando Alonso filled out the top five.

Rubens Barrichello, Robert Kubica, Michael Schumacher, Felipe Massa and Vitaly Petrov completed the top 10.

Hulkenberg, who was only eighth in Q2, scored his first pole in 18 tries. The 23-year-old's best start of the season had been fifth in Sepang.

"The first pole position is emotional," Hulkenberg said. "I'm still shaking from the thrill but just have to realize what we've just done and get on with the job tomorrow."

Rain played a factor, but he lapped a whole second faster than the rest of the field in Q3. Congrats to the young German. Hopefully this cements his seat at Williams, since there has been all the silly talk of them dropping him in favor of someone like Pastor Maldonado. I thought he had shown enough prior to this, but now there can be little question of his talent.

[generaltso]

incredible that jenson wasnt hurt.

but i cant believe that they want to have the olympics there.

[generaltso]

Rain played a factor, but he lapped a whole second faster than the rest of the field in Q3. Congrats to the young German. Hopefully this cements his seat at Williams, since there has been all the silly talk of them dropping him in favor of someone like Pastor Maldonado. I thought he had shown enough prior to this, but now there can be little question of his talent.

he's talented, but dont forget he got an extra lap more than everyone else. they were just at the crossover from inters to slicks and he happened to time it perfectly.. like martin brundle said at the beginning of quali..."it'll be the last person over the line that goes fastest"

[Thanos]

Shocked at the German winning the pole.Williams has not won a race in ages. How sir Frank keeps the team afloat financially is a miracle in itself.Too bad by turn three Hulkenberg will be in third place.

[HighOnHendrix]

Shocked at the German winning the pole.Williams has not won a race in ages. How sir Frank keeps the team afloat financially is a miracle in itself.Too bad by turn three Hulkenberg will be in third place.

Quite so; he started on pole and finished eighth. Williams is about to lose almost all their sponsorship next year, so it will be even harder for them to stay solvent unless they can line up someone to take the place of Phillips and RBS.

[HighOnHendrix]

incredible that jenson wasnt hurt.

but i cant believe that they want to have the olympics there.

Three Sauber engineers were reportedly relieved of their briefcases later that evening.

A more detailed account of the whole thing: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/40047664/ns/sports-motor_sports/

[generaltso]

vettel and webber looked strong.