Hmm .. What to make of this

I have to say, my Oliver Stone (conspiracy theorist part of my psyche) is working overtime here. According to the news, there is going to be a new F1 feeder series started by the FIA in 2009 and in direct competition with GP2. The new series will be called Formula 2 and, since Max is still in charge of the FIA, run by him. GP2 is "owned" and operated by Bernie Eccelstone.

I'm not opposed to a little competition in the feeder series. More chance for some lone American to get into the game, as far as I'm concerned. Plus, as good as GP2 is, the more good drivers out there, the better for us - the viewer. Hopefully, Formula 2 will run in F1's off-season giving us a whole year of auto racing viewing pleasure (however that would knock it against A1GP, which is already struggling).

I've also heard rumblings that the FIA is thinking of not only raising the license fee for the Superlicence required by the F1 drivers, but is going to spread the cost of some of the safety additions and features for the events to the teams by hiking annual entrance fees. With a second (or third, if you count A1GP) feeder series in place, the viable driver pool will increase, and if you follow the rules of supply and demand, the annual salaries to the drivers could start to decrease. Thus, making it more viable to the teams to participate.

Hmm .. lots to chew on. Thoughts?


Articles:

Autosport: FIA to review how F1 is governed

F1-Live: FIA announce new F1 feeder series

Ok ok .. I get it. Rally around a good showing. But, where is REALITY?!

First .. I do have to congratulate Toyota for a great showing in France. Podium for Trulli and strong points. Efforts well paid off.

But, let's do consider the fact that BMW did NOT show well at all last weekend and McLaren were hindered (pun intended) by their own lack of judgment (What does that color mean??). Toyota have come leaps and bounds over where they have been. Which, I will attribute to the releasing of certain team members who were hindering more than helping (you figure it out).

However, for technical chief Pascal Vasselon to claim "It is also a true podium finish – there was no race incident involved. So it was really our position." .. and for Trulli to mouth off with "I think I am driving better than ever, I have experience and I believe I improve every year because you always learn from mistakes or from your experiences. With a competitive car I can fight at the front, I am sure of that. In France I showed how determined and hard-headed I am; I fought to the end and really enjoyed the battle." .. I, once again, feel the need to be the ground strap to some lofty egos.

A race does not make a season here people. I am very happy for your win and good showing, but lets not get too full of ourselves. As mentioned before, BMW and McLaren were out of shape on this race for one reason or another. Both teams have consistently shown you what the ass-end of their cars look like. And, I dare say, you have a ways to go before catching up with their achievements and place on the grid. Yes, Kubica and Kovalinen were held off by Trulli for the podium. However, this happened at the end of the race where the focus has already turned to Silverstone.

So, congratulations to you and my most sincere condolences for the loss of Ove. I would rather you dedicate your ATYPICAL performance to his name and try to do it again in two weeks, when your competitors will be healthy and hungry. And, when you don't, let's just suck it up and not whine. I'll be forced to post again.

BOO!!

(figure it out)

Should we start a compilation video of Lewis's pit crashes?

He was winning the race. It was most likely his. What does he do? He smashes in to the back of two cars on pit exit.

Well, at least he aimed for a point earner, Kimi.

I tell you, Ron Dennis and Lewis's dad better run him on pit entrance and exit drills ALL WEEK.

Congrats to BMW though for a 1-2 and Coulthard....my god...the last thing he needed...a podium spot to make him think he should keep racing.

This is Mikey's First Post...finally.

Yay!

it's ok no one was hurt..

O.k. maybe Lewis Hamilton's father's pride was hurt when he crashed his Porsche into a children's play ground. Link to article...

I guess Lewis got all the driving genes...or maybe your reflexes really do die out when you are old.

C.H.P. and me.

Well it was inevitable that it would happen. I've always said California Highway Patrol has a soft spot in their hearts for clean record owning Mustang owners. This faith seems to have justice. But now I've gone and spoiled my own story. But please, keep reading.

I had my daughter and my wife in the car. We were late for my daugher's recital[see this is when you use an apostrophe 's'!] so I was already in a gambling position.

I entered the 405 on ramp at the 101 interchange. In the back of my head I know this is a notorious hangout for CHP's finest. But I wanted to be a "showoff".

As I merged, I hit it...I mean wide open and flying. The exhaust Shelby installed didn't help matters. It was egging me on, my God it sounded good. Wide open, V8, displacement carnage! California Priuses dropping like flies, Honda Civics and BMWs obliterated before my very eyes. I was a KING!

I was cutting lanes, I sliced the HOV (carpool) lane double yellow TWICE man I was unstopable! THIS IS WHAT IT IS TO BE ALIVE!!!

Then I looked in my mirror....yup....the tell-tale signs of a car Ford motor company has not chosen to redesign since I was in Highschool back in 1992. Only now it has those slick low-profile LED style light racks. The Crown Vic loomed behind me.....I let off the gas.....too late.

In a furious flicker of red and blue light behind me I quickly signaled and pulled off to the right shoulder. Car off, hands on steering wheel, I awaited my destruction.

I quickly added up the dollar amount my fun was going to cost me. "HOV violation, $350...then again another $350...over 65mph at max speed....$266...no front plate...a cheap $10....failing to signal...$50. My kid in the car as Daddy was playing Evil Kinevil....priceless."

Her words still echoing in my head, "Daddy, is this a joke?" She asks as the officer stands by my window.

In other words it was safe to say, I shit myself.

The office steps up after his brief yet vigorious chase down....his first words, "Sir, do have any idea how fast you were going?".

Now there are any number of ways to answer this. I mean look, we all know, you're done. You KNOW what you were doing. Whether you think you have the skills to navigate traffic at speed or not, you KNOW WHAT YOU DID.

"Wow, um, geez, no I don't. Really", I said.

"Well, everyone else was doing around 70 [note that the posted limit is 65mph] and I was doing about 80 and I couldn't keep up with you. You were pulling away.", he barks.

"Wow, I mean I had no idea. We were late for my daughter's recital and I admit I was showing off officer.", I stammered.

"Right, so you really don't know how fast you were going? You cut those HOV lanes too.", he says.

At this point he asks for my stuff and walks to his car. I am thinking I am toast. I'm done. Forget making the recital I'm going to have get a sovenier of my car from the crusher at the impound shop.

I mean I have my kid with me, I am thinking he's gonna read me the riot act on how I was endangering my child and so on. This is it. Fin'.

He comes back..."I'm not going to site you for anything other than max speed over the posted limit. I'm giving you a verbal on the front license plate and multiple HOV violations. Have you had traffic school in the last 18 months? If not [I hadn't] then you can do that and avoid the points and insurance hit. Drive safe and take it easy."

I tell you....wow....the guy looked like a "fan"...but holy crap...he could have fried me. Last day of the month too. Needless to say, my perfectly clean record almost got destroyed. I have been driving since 1989 nearly without a violation.

Today I missed a very huge bullet. But at least we made the recital on time. He was really fast too.

Stay safe all.