So, the current aero look is outrageous, eh? I'm not saying the 2010 cars are my favorites, but I know this isn't the first time F1 aero has produced some bold fashion statements. For example: BRM (1969) - good looking car other than the awnings...looks like they're trying to give the driver some shade. Wings like that were banned after a few failures. March 711 - not a bad looking car but needs a nose job... Alpha Romeo 179 - kinda like this one. Love looking at these old F1 cars...hopefully someone else will post up a few.
It just won't die! I honestly expect to see it back in some form...not guessing when... Formula One teams offered cut-price KERS (Reuters via uk.eurosport.yahoo.com)
There's a lot of speculation and rhetoric here but also some interesting insight (if accurate) re discussions being held. What F1's future means for the car you drive (bbc.co.uk)
City agency dreams up idea for Formula One racing in Liberty State Park Tuesday, May 04, 2010 By MELISSA HAYES Jersey JOURNAL STAFF WRITER The roar of big engines. The checkered flag. Crowds packing the bleachers. It all could be coming to Liberty State Park in Jersey City if a city-funded agency charged with boosting tourism has its way. But activists are trying to apply the brakes to a plan they call "obscene" and "wrong-headed." Destination Jersey City, an entity funded by the city's Economic Development Corporation, has reached out to Formula One, the racing conglomerate, in an effort to land a Grand Prix race in the state park in 2012 and continue for at least five years. The promotional materials even include a proposed design for a 3.6-mile racetrack that traverses the 600-land-acres at the state park. "With the incredible backdrop of the New York City skyline, selecting Jersey City for the 2012 Grand Prix Auto Race Circuit will not only boost ticket sales as the Grand Prix returns to the United States, but will provide striking television footage," one line in the come-on reads. Local protectors of the park were quick to blast the idea. "People come to LSP to seek a haven, oasis, refuge and sanctuary and such a Grand Prix racing event that needs all park roads is contrary to the spirit and essence of an urban open space park," Sam Pesin, president of the Friends of Liberty State Park, wrote in a letter to Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy. Freeholder Bill O'Dea compared Liberty State Park to New York's Central Park and said neither venue is appropriate for construction of a race track. "There's plenty of places we can have a Grand Prix and Liberty State Park is not one of them," he said. "What are they going to do, pave over the cobblestone? It doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever." Both O'Dea and Pesin said they have no problem with events like the All Points West concert that do not permanently alter the park. Officials with the city's Economic Development Corporation and Destination Jersey City couldn't be reached last night to comment. Healy spoke with Pesin yesterday, then released a statement about the proposal. "This was a response to an overture made by Formula One and Jersey City is one of several cities they are pursuing. There have been a few, preliminary conversations and this is very much in the exploratory phase," Healy said. "However, this may not be something that is in the best interest of Jersey City or Liberty State Park." The CART IndyCar series held a Meadowlands Grand Prix in the Giants Stadium parking lot in 1984. In 1988, the course was changed to include streets around the then-Brendan Byrne Arena, now the Izod Center. The race was held annually until 1991 and never drew significant crowds.
autosport.com - F1 News: Mercedes to run radical engine cover New engine cover moves the intake from above the driver's head to openings on either side. Nifty. I can't imagine other teams haven't tried this as well, but maybe Mercedes figured out a way to make it work.
Going back to the engine article.....can you imagine a Hayabusa turbo in an F-1 car? Sounds like fun on a bun to me! One thing they need to do tho if they want to keep the engines relevant to actual road going cars is lose the pneumatic valves, I cannot imagine a time when we'll see those on road cars - and I have a great imagination!
Mark Webber previews the Spanish GP in the Red Bull sim. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4PAB7dQ_oE]YouTube - Red Bull: Mark Webber previews the Spanish GP[/ame]
We need all the F1 tracks (and a modern F1 car) in iRacing! If you've got a decent PC, and a wheel and pedal set, this is the way to go! _Dave_ PS: Ignore all the NASCAR stuff, if it bothers you... There's some amazing road-racing competition in this thing!
Few more pics: I read an article that claimed Merc are taking the latest version of their F-duct to Spain as well but it doesn't look that way based on these pics.
Another (better) option is the rFactor game. Lots of very cool mods and cars. I race with News — Grid Motorsports and love it. Didn't Williams try the dual air box scoop design way back when?
I agree rFactor has a lot more options, and includes tons of extra tracks and cars from users, but iRacing has an element of consequence that you just don't get in other sims... Everything you do on track affects your safety rating and your performance rating (and indirectly, your reputation, since everyone has to use their real name). Only solo testing and some practice sessions (and private race sessions among friends) don't count toward your ratings. That adds a little something that takes it out of the "game" realm, without presenting any true physical danger (other than spousal)... And they're adding content all the time. Biggest drawback to me is that the tracks can only be accessed online. You can't race, practice, test, or even view a replay* unless you are online. If anyone's interested, some of us in SoCal have been doing some friendly invite-only practice sessions on Tuesday or Wednesday nights around 8:30 or 9PM pacific. Send me a PM if you're interested in joining us. _Dave_ * Replays are great though, because once saved, you can go back and view from any angle and observe any car that was in the session. Of course, you can screen cap the video from a replay and save that and watch it anytime... [edit] Whoops, just realized how far off-topic I've been dragging this... (on topic): I think Mercedes redesigned that air inlet to give Schu an edge over Rossberg: Rossberg's coconut is huge, and will probably block the inlet more than Schu's, starving the engine, reducing his speed, and making Schu seem superior... And Ferrari has started selling Alonso-blue shirts for the local fans from 'Nando's home provice!
Still no final word on tires for next year. No surprise, looks like Cooper/Avon isn't even being discussed now so ..... Tyre choice between Pirelli and Michelin (Jonathan Noble - autosport.com)
My understanding is the decision hinged on the size, with Pirelli and FOA favoring the 18" wheel size and the teams and Michelin lining up on the side of keeping them the same so the teams don't have to buy new wheels, and redesign all the aerodynamics around the new tires.