Ferrari gets wrists slapped to go with $100K fine The FIA is to review the rules relating to team orders in Formula One racing after its World Motor Sport Council decided on Wednesday to impose no further sanction on Ferrari for their controversial one-two finish in July’s German Grand Prix. Hockenheim stewards fined Ferrari US$100,000 for imposing team orders and bringing the sport into disrepute after Felipe Massa moved aside to let team mate Fernando Alonso win the race. Following a special hearing in Paris on Wednesday afternoon the Council decided the fine should stand, for Ferrari’s infringement of Article 39.1 of the sporting regulations, which states that "team orders which interfere with a race result are prohibited". The Council also decided, however, that Article 39.1 should be reviewed and referred the matter to the Formula One Sporting Working Group for further consideration. In a brief statement issued after the hearing, Ferrari expressed their appreciation of this proposal and said they had “taken note†of the Council’s decision. The outcome means the Italian team head to their home Grand Prix at Monza this weekend still in contention for both world championships. They lie third in the constructors’ standings, while Alonso and Massa are fifth and sixth respectively in the drivers’ table.
With the exception of Bristol which is all most a bowl with the cars running around the sides of it, you do not want to be down low at a Sprint cup race, can't see as well, LOUD, dirty and stuff being thrown over your head thus them being called the chicken bone seats. My seats at Bristol are row 25 directly behind the flag stand $110.00, my seats in the speedway club at Charlotte run $175.00 and up for one day. All the tracks have been dropping prices to lure back the regular folks. They were pricing themselves out of the market and with the TV coverage being what it is many were just staying home to watch. Now if F1 were running this close to me I'd be at every race!!!!
So, 20 races in 2011 plus: US GP -- 2012 Moscow -- 201? Abu Dhabi -- 201? (and according to the article below) Rome -- 2012 or 13 Rome signs deal to hold F1 race (crash.net)
Official: Heidfeld replaces de la Rosa at Sauber (gpupdate.net) Pirelli hoping to retain Heidfeld despite Sauber drive (gpupdate.net)
You would think that F1 with all the technology and money spent would be broadcast in HD... Wow maybe Bernie finally had a coherent thought...... Gotta say I've been pleased with the recent charge by Ferrari!!!
Porsche or Audi could join Formula One under 2013 turbo rules The Volkswagen Group is looking at the possibility of a move into Formula One under the turbocharged-engine rules that the FIA is finalizing for 2013. Porsche chairman Matthias Mueller said at the Paris motor show on Friday that VW would join the series with either the Porsche or Audi brand, leaving the other one in sports cars. While Audi is more mainstream, its management has consistently steered it away from F1 as it has built a great image at Le Mans and in the American Le Mans Series. However, the new turbo rules for 2013--likely to be based around a 1.6-liter formula--are ideal for Porsche. The company won the world championship in 1984, 1985 and 1986 in partnership with McLaren and with its 1.5-liter V6 engines paid for and badged by TAG. It had a rather less-successful run with Footwork with a V12 in 1991. Mueller told Autocar magazine: "With LMP1, there are two classes and two brands--Audi and Porsche. We do not like to both go into LMP1; that is not so funny. So therefore we have to discuss whether it makes better sense for one of the brands to go into LMP1 and the other brand into Formula One. So we will have a roundtable to discuss the pros and cons." Logic suggests that Porsche would do what it did with McLaren and come in as an engine supplier, but having said that, there's never been a better time to buy an existing F1 team. HRT boss Colin Kolles has long harbored hopes that he could get VW involved. Read more: Porsche or Audi could join Formula One under 2013 turbo rules
If ol Mock Weeba can win this one, he could be on his way to his first (and probably only) WDC! And who would have thought it when Vettel was tearing them up earlier in the season? I thought then that it was Sebas' to lose, and that's pretty much what he's done this year. Oh well, he's young - I think he'll get it done, soon too......
I've read two articles recently that both postulate that the best driver in F1 this year (so far) is Kubica. The "evidence" is his quali performance on drivers' tracks "where there is scope for a great driver to transcend the level of his car" (i.e., he qualified front or second row at Monaco, Spa and Suzuka) despite the machinery at his disposal. I've always liked Kubica and still think he has top-line skills but I'd be more likely to agree if I could have seen him do well after the first lap at Suzuka. Not sure who I think is "best" this year but I think I'd put either Alonso or Kubica top of my list to this point. Any other opinions?
I would tend to agree. I think Alonso is stepping up like the true two time champ that he is and is making the season interesting. I would throw Webber into the mix. He could have very well let being the number two driver in the beginning of the season get to him, but he has handled it a mature fashion and let his overall skills place him on top of the championship hunt.
This weekend in Korea could be a disaster... If the track is a problem, this could be a turning point in the out-of-control expansion plans for Bernie...Tavo Hellmund, are you seeing this?
We're hearing from the teams, I wonder whether the paying customers will be as underwhelmed. In addition to the green track and uncertainty re its ability to even hold together, "Virgin Racing Team Principal John Booth believes that this weekend’s weather conditions in Korea could be similar to those seen in Japan two weekends ago, albeit not quite as spectacular..."
I think the locals will be very supportive and proud of their track, and while it may not measure up to say the track in Abu Dabi in terms of number or quality of gazillion dollar skyboxes per acre, as a racetrack - it's real intended purpose - I'm sure it will do fine. Considering some of the places I've raced over the years, it's the Taj Mahal.....
Perhaps that should be "...the locals will eventually be very supportive and proud..." Koreans slam F1 preparations 'shameful' amidst poor ticket sales (crash.net)