Bernie Ecclestone reveals F1 extension to 20 races (news.bbc.co.uk) 25 races Bernie? Really? Have you talked to the teams about that? I figure this is his shot across the bow. Everyone complains when he wants to drop traditional venues (in favor of bigger money, of course) so he says something like "Fine, I won't drop anything. I'll just keep adding until you can't stand it anymore and then maybe you'll be willing to listen to reason!" He's happy with Shanghai...and how do we translate that? He doesn't care what actually happens at the event as long as it looks relatively shiny and new and the folks in Shanghai are willing to pay his fees.
Indian GP. They should get the flaming NANA as the pace car. How is it that India gets a GP, but the biggest market in the world for cars doesn't?
The biggest market in the world for cars does have a GP, it's this weekend. China passed the US as the biggest market in the world for cars in 2009.
I like the frame by frame. It just shows how programmed the reactions and muscle memory become. The wheels are off the car, but he is still trying to steer.
The wheels pop off so nearly simultaneously and identically that it's like they were intentionally ejected. Cool to watch but too bad for Buemi as he gets to sit out the rest of the practice sessions while they all but build him a new car...yet another reason to bring back the T-cars. If Steve Matchett is to be believed the teams bring enough parts along to build another from scratch (plus spares) so outlawing T-cars didn't save money, it just makes life difficult for the mechanics when something like this happens.
That was actually pretty enjoyable. New rule suggestions: 1. Define a total area that can be used for Aero pieces. Let the teams use it as they like. 2. Induced rain (sprinklers) at all tracks. 30 minutes per race. Concurrent, or intermittent. Teams get 5 minutes warning (to simulate weather radar).
That's what I've been saying. Not necessarily every race though. Maybe random with some reality thrown in by doubling (?) the average local chance for rainfall plus weighted random duration and intensity as well (within limits). It would even be pretty easy to program in changes and movement across the track like in a typical system. Usually when I suggest sprinkler systems someone complains about intentionally risking safety. Meh, leave it to mother nature I guess. Rain was the reason for the wild and entertaining start last season. Always mixes things up.
Ah, but the show must go on. Seeing the race decided in turn one is not the spectacle I as a fan look forward to.
No real surprises here since both Michelin and Cooper/Avon have been mentioned before, other than it looks like a decision may be made fairly soon. I read another article that claimed if it ends up as a Michelin versus Cooper competition it'll actually be more of the same because the Cooper tires will be manufactured by Bridgestone..... Cooper, Michelin could supply F1 tyres (Reuters via uk.eurosport.yahoo.com)