tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18539579733393771442024-03-12T21:14:09.461-07:00When you're racing, it's lifeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-49923451281102386042014-03-11T15:51:00.002-07:002014-03-11T15:51:51.713-07:00New era in F1 begins down under<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Formula One
opens its 2014 season down under in Melbourne, Australia this week, and when
the cars finally hit the track, a lot will look, and sound, different. New
Technical and Sporting Regulations have caused teams to be busy at work over
the winter, and it won’t take long for a new order to establish itself in this
new era in F1.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>New look<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
After years
of stability in both chassis and engine design, F1 made drastic changes to its <a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2014/1/15408.html">Technical
Regulations</a> for 2014. Front wings are narrower, an attempt to eliminate at
least some of the rear tire punctures seen when overtaking attempts go askew. Changes
in the rear wing will lessen downforce and create less turbulence.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140128120905-mercedes-hamilton-test-2014-horizontal-gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140128120905-mercedes-hamilton-test-2014-horizontal-gallery.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The most
noticeable changes will be the result of a required lowering of the chassis and
the nose, both related to safety concerns in rear and side collisions with
other cars. The result is a variety of rather ugly front-end designs, with
“nostrils,” “tusks,” and “anteater nose” the descriptors used most often in preseason
testing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>New sound<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Cars won’t
only look different this season, they’ll sound dramatically different. Gone are
the “bullet proof” 2.4 liter V8 engines that revved to 18,000 rpm, and were as
reliable as any power plant in the sport’s history. New for 2014 are 1.6 liter <a href="http://www.firstpost.com/sports/new-engine-new-rules-and-new-sound-for-f1-in-2014-1425773.html">turbocharged
V6 engines</a>, limited to 15,000 rpms, and required to run to energy recovery
systems (ERS). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
With new
engines come new potential reliability concerns, and this season reliability is
more important than ever. In past years, teams were limited to eight engines
per driver, per season. New regulations put that number at five, putting even
more pressure on the engineers working on these yet-to-be-proven power plants.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/mercedes-2014-v6-f1-engine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/mercedes-2014-v6-f1-engine.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Also, in
past years, teams could elect to run a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS),
giving drivers an 80 bhp boost for up to eight seconds with a push of a button.
This year, teams will be required to run two electrical motor generators
harvesting kinetic and heat energy from both brakes and exhaust. The result
will be the delivery of an extra 160 bhp for up to 33 seconds per lap, all
without the need to push a button.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>New rules<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As if new
cars and new engines were not enough, new Sporting Regulations tightly
constrain the fuel allocation at each race. Cars will be limited to only 100 kg
of fuel for the race, a reduction of almost 35% from last season. Not only will
races see teams employ fuel saving strategies from almost the first lap, any
malfunction in the ERS systems will have catastrophic consequences. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>New faces<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Of course, a
new season means new drivers in the series, as well as the annual shuffle of
veteran drivers between teams. All but two teams have different driver lineups
for 2014, with only Mercedes (Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg) and Marussia
(Max Chilton and Jules Bianchi) standing pat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Defending
Constructors’ Champion Red Bull welcomes Daniel Riccardo to the team, replacing
the retired Mark Webber as four-time defending World Champion <a href="http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/formula-1/sebastian-vettel.html">Sebastian
Vettel’s</a> teammate. Rookie Daniil Kvyat replaces Riccardo at Toro Rosso.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/raik-ferr-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/raik-ferr-2014.jpg" height="202" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ferrari
welcomes Kimi Räikkönen back to the fold, replacing Felipe Massa who found an
open seat at Williams after Pastor Maldonado took his sponsorship funding to
fill Räikkönen’s
old seat at Lotus. McLaren released Sergio Pérez, replacing him with rookie
Kevin Magnussen, while Perez found refuge at Force India, where he will team
with Nico Hülkenberg,
coming back to the squad after one season at Sauber to replace Adrian Sutil,
who, naturally, went to Sauber to fill the vacancy from Hülkenburg’s
departure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Caterham was
the only team to replace both its drivers, settling on Japanese veteran Kamui
Kobayashi to team with rookie Marcus Ericsson. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>New finish?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Vettel and
Red Bull have run away with the last four Drivers and Constructors
Championships, and at times have made it look downright easy. F1’s new era
should allow for some early season surprises as teams struggle to come to grips
with new technologies, strategies and drivers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.autoviva.com/img/photos/710/vettel_esta_de_regresso_as_vitorias_big_94710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.autoviva.com/img/photos/710/vettel_esta_de_regresso_as_vitorias_big_94710.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Preseason
testing saw Mercedes look strong, while the Renault-powered teams, particularly
Red Bull, struggled. But, as with most preseason tests, all that means nothing
when the red lights go out at Melbourne. What will matter will be who sees the
checkered flag first and gets an early competitive lead in what is sure to be a
topsy turvy start to a new era in F1. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-27447749759526587342014-02-21T17:07:00.000-08:002014-02-21T17:07:10.136-08:00Viewer Guide to Sunday's Daytona 500<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
While it may
seem like just yesterday that Jimmie Johnson wrapped up his sixth NASCAR Sprint
Cup championship, the engines in America’s most popular racing series have been
silent for three months. That silence gets broken this week when NASCAR kicks
off its marathon schedule (36 points paying races and two special events) with
its biggest race of the season, the Daytona 500. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: right 6.5in;">
The best way to beat back the grips of Old Man Winter is to make
your way to sunny (we hope) Florida and take in the race in person. But, if you
are stuck at home watching on Fox, below is a quick viewer’s guide to Sunday’s
big race. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Familiar faces, different places<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A new season
means new drivers in new garages, and this year brings about some big changes.
For the first time in 13 seasons, Kevin Harvick isn’t driving for Richard
Childress. Rather, he teams with Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick in the
Stewart-Haas Racing garage, joining fellow incoming veteran, and 2004 Cup
champion, Kurt Busch. While it might take a while for fans to readily identify
Harvick in the #4 and Busch in the #41, it won’t take either driver very long
to establish his presence at the front.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/content/dam/fsdigital/fscom/nascar/images/nascarsection/2014/01/17/011714-NASCAR-KEVIN-HARVICK-DC-PI1-CQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://msn.foxsports.com/content/dam/fsdigital/fscom/nascar/images/nascarsection/2014/01/17/011714-NASCAR-KEVIN-HARVICK-DC-PI1-CQ.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p>Replacing
Busch in the Furniture Row Racing #78 is Martin Truex, Jr., still finding his
way back from being collateral damage in the wake of Michael Waltrip Racing’s
clumsy attempt to manipulate the field for last season’s Chase. Ryan Newman
moves from Stewart-Haas and finds himself in Childress’ #31. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A new face
will appear at Daytona, but in a familiar number from yesteryear. Rookie <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/famed-no-3-makes-emphatic-171920759--nascar.html">Austin
Dillon will race in the #3</a> car of his grandfather Childress, a number
missing from Daytona since Dale Earnhardt’s fatal accident at the end of the
2001 race. Dillon won the pole and will lead the field to the green flag on
Sunday, and he’ll be a story to follow the entire week. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>A driver by another name<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The name you
will hear most on Sunday, even more so than “Daytona,” is likely to be Danica
Patrick. NASCAR legend <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/danica-patrick-reacts-richard-petty-145200208--nascar.html;_ylt=A0LEVzr94gNTqh8AQ21XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzYmJydjJvBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDOQRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDI2NF8x">Richard
Petty drew a lot of attention</a> earlier this month when he stated Patrick
could only win a race if every other driver stayed home. While he may not have
been tactful or politically correct, he might not have been wrong. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.autoweek.com/storyimage/CW/20140120/NASCAR01/140129998/AR/0/Patrick-Danica-NASCAR-Sprint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.autoweek.com/storyimage/CW/20140120/NASCAR01/140129998/AR/0/Patrick-Danica-NASCAR-Sprint.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p>In the past
9 seasons, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danica_patrick">Patrick has
raced</a> in some of the top equipment in both IndyCar and NASCAR, a total of
222 races (116 IndyCar, 60 NASCAR Nationwide, and 46 NASCAR Sprint Cup), and
has exactly one victory to show for her efforts. Patrick attracts lots of media
and fan attention because she’s a pretty woman in a field of men – she
definitely sticks out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
That being
said, Patrick does her best on big circuits where the racing is flat out,
playing to her strengths and completely avoiding her shortcomings in threshold
braking and rolling back onto the throttle. She will give it a good run on
Sunday, but look for other competitors to be more likely winners. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>The race to get to the race<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The purpose
of the race’s first 400 miles is to get to the last 100 miles. Unfortunately,
some contenders will fall to the wayside, victims of mechanical failures or an
accident – it happens every year to at least one big name, and it leaves the
door open for some of the sports lesser known names, like Trevor Bayne, winner
in 2011, or Derrike Cope, winner in 1990. Expect one or more big name to be on
the sidelines by the 400-mile point, with the most likely cause being caught up
in another driver’s wreck.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/usatsi_7758583.jpg?w=1000&h=665" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/usatsi_7758583.jpg?w=1000&h=665" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p>Then, buckle
up for the last 100 miles. Nobody remembers second place at the 500, so the
race always brings last lap thrills. With this year’s Chase for the Cup
rewarding race victories more than consistent points paying finishes, more of
the field will have a ‘win or get wrecked trying’ approach. Don’t leave the
sofa the last 10 laps.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>So, who wins?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Who knows?
The competition in NASCAR is too tough to mark a clear favorite, and the
formula rewards racing cooperatively in packs, at least until the final dash to
the checkered flag. However, even in the tight field, there is usually an upper
tier that comes to the front. You won’t get great odds betting the Hendrick
(defending 500 and Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, and
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.) or Joe Gibbs Racing drivers (Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and
Matt Kenseth), but you’ll likely have an opportunity to celebrate. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Drivers,
start your engines!<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-41993337358061380772013-10-01T16:36:00.004-07:002013-10-01T16:36:43.459-07:00Reno Air Race Champ on Quest for Perfect Lap<div style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.09375px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
On September 15, Steven Hinton piloted Voodoo to his fifth consecutive championship in the Unlimited Gold class at the 50<sup>th</sup> Reno <a data-rapid_p="1" href="http://www.airrace.org/" style="color: #8a8a8a;">National Championship Air Races</a> and Air Show in Reno, Nevada. The youngest Unlimited Gold champion ever, Hinton has won <i>every</i> Unlimited Gold Final he's competed in. On the Friday of this year's races, Hinton sat with me on top of his <a data-rapid_p="2" href="http://www.voodooairracing.com/" style="color: #8a8a8a;">Voodoo team's</a>trailer and provided a description of racing at nearly 500 miles per hour, 50-100 feet off the ground, at Reno.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZ694ZgclbGePtRx1u1jezxugK2fQ8Eqvk0y8i3JKgDVqRtIiv1zE3WNe030hLbnnaTRSSbkrCrmfoL4U91pYa8mU9osXGCe7JIY8beMRYtwUQAEYrcsTHyCxT4KQIRsU2EQsmNd0foMT/s1600/Steven+Hinton+taxiing+Voodoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZ694ZgclbGePtRx1u1jezxugK2fQ8Eqvk0y8i3JKgDVqRtIiv1zE3WNe030hLbnnaTRSSbkrCrmfoL4U91pYa8mU9osXGCe7JIY8beMRYtwUQAEYrcsTHyCxT4KQIRsU2EQsmNd0foMT/s320/Steven+Hinton+taxiing+Voodoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.09375px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.09375px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<b>The race starts at 1,000 feet</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.09375px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
"Coming down the chute, there are up to ten airplanes, lined up wing tip to wing tip, ten feet apart, 1,000 feet off the ground. The pace plane makes a call, 'Gentlemen, you have a race,' and that point he ...</div>
<br />
Click <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/reno-air-race-champ-quest-perfect-lap-12334649.html?cat=49" target="_blank">here </a>to read the rest of the post on Yahoo.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjzVWp_XNcfJKmxCqFWTcDEIbMrCqNpqHQxcdQFYjk9lDsOzWfP7zXrgXiI43X5-Pss7i35hE20qdXyZHD2uMZOybMoMX6Q-orMuwbFIj8im2OkcCLFMY8LChCRzWduUsFx-It2oN3y2v/s1600/Steven+Hinton+piloting+Voodoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjzVWp_XNcfJKmxCqFWTcDEIbMrCqNpqHQxcdQFYjk9lDsOzWfP7zXrgXiI43X5-Pss7i35hE20qdXyZHD2uMZOybMoMX6Q-orMuwbFIj8im2OkcCLFMY8LChCRzWduUsFx-It2oN3y2v/s320/Steven+Hinton+piloting+Voodoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Race along on Twitter @RayHartjen. </i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-58677546135706160372013-06-30T14:42:00.001-07:002013-06-30T14:42:11.750-07:00Bits here and there from Silverstone<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Round eight
of the 2013 Formula One World Championship is complete, and as the teams head
to Germany for the next race a week’s hence, a few points come racing top of
mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Pirelli has a problem, and it’s huge<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It’s too
early in the investigation as to what properly caused the severe tire woes
experienced by teams over the course of the weekend, with at least three left
rear tires and one front tire delaminating catastrophically during the race,
and numerous other close calls reported from pit lane. It’s <a href="http://inagist.com/all/351357690812968961/" target="_blank">hard pressed to imagine kerbing</a> at Silverstone to be responsible, leaving the tires to bear the
brunt of responsibility. Pirelli has less than a full week to come to a
solution and provide tires for the entire field, a time limit that rules out
compounds and constructions that are not already under way. Additionally teams
are going to have to make adjustments to how they set up the car, namely with
greater air pressure to alleviate the tires “rolling” over the sidewall during
heavy lateral loading around high speed corners. It’s a publicity nightmare for
Pirelli, whose tire engineers are undoubtedly hoping – praying - for steady rain
and the use of rain tires in Germany.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Pirelli_Formula-1_2013_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Pirelli_Formula-1_2013_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Mercedes is solving its own tire woes<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Mercedes
of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton have had the pace all season long, winning
poles and locking up front rows of starting grids at a wide variety of tracks.
The Achilles heel, of course, had been extravagantly harsh tire degradation,
particularly on the rears, bringing its race pace to a crawl relative to other
front running – and in some cases the mid-field – teams. Rosberg’s second win
of the season on Sunday may have been a bit of a gift with Sebastian Vettel’s
retirement, but it did serve further proof that Mercedes in making steady
progress in curing its chassis’ appetite for chewing and spitting tires. Think Mercedes
benefited from <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/fia-gives-reprimand-mercedes-pirelli-163850796--f1.html" target="_blank">over 600 miles of illicit tire tests</a> in the days following the race
in Barcelona? You bet they did, and don’t think the rest of the paddock don't notice either, as they also noticed the light slap on the wrist of punishment.
Mercedes rolls onto the German Grand Prix with tremendous momentum, and Rosberg
and Hamilton will enter the weekend as solid favorites. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.smh.com.au/2013/07/01/4533158/art-svROSBERG-620x349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://images.smh.com.au/2013/07/01/4533158/art-svROSBERG-620x349.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Reliability, or the lack of, once again rears
its head <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Watching
Vettel’s Red Bull slow down dramatically and retire was very much a shock, not
only to Vettel and his team, but to viewers worldwide. The reliability of the
modern day Formula 1 car is staggering, with retirements due to mechanical
failure being extremely rare, despite regulations limiting the number of
engines used during the season and penalizing excessive gearbox changes. Much
of F1’s era of reliability can be attributed to a relatively stable package of
Technical Regulations, particularly those governing engines. All that <a href="http://en.espnf1.com/lotusf1/motorsport/story/100304.html" target="_blank">changesin 2014</a>, as cars will have to be completely redesigned to accommodate a dramatically
different engine configuration. Everything in the engine will be different,
with just six cylinders, the introduction of a turbo charger, a new ignition
system to accommodate the turbo, and an increase in the amount of energy
created, stored, and spent by the KERS (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_energy_recovery_system" target="_blank">Kinetic Energy Recovery System</a>) system.
For the rest of this year, non-contact related retirements should remain pretty
rare; however, expect it to swing next season to the opposite direction,
particularly early in the year. That is if the Pirelli tires don’t get them
first.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2013/6/30/2013630143754566734_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2013/6/30/2013630143754566734_20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Mark Webber is on a mission<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Don’t let
Webber’s comments on the podium of not knowing where the next race’s location
is fool you. Webber knows exactly where the race is, and while as a competitor
he no doubt wants to win at every track, he especially wants to foil teammate
Vettel’s attempt to win his first home country Grand Prix. With Webber
announcing this week his move to Porsche and sports car racing next season, he’s
racing for himself and for race wins. After falling to 15<sup>th</sup> on
Sunday’s first lap, he stormed back magnificently to finish second, and if the
race had been a lap or two longer, he might just have won. Always a fast, fair driver and a fierce
competitor, Webber will be fun to watch over the rest of this, his final F1
season. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2013/6/27/1372365234199/Mark-Webber-Red-Bull-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2013/6/27/1372365234199/Mark-Webber-Red-Bull-008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The best
part of the Formula 1 season is upon us, with a quick succession of one race
after another. Here’s hoping the tires become much less of the story next
Sunday at the Nürbergring. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Throw down hot laps on Twitter @RayHartjen<o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-49636512414935603882013-06-15T19:10:00.000-07:002013-06-16T08:58:34.797-07:00Early season F1 drivers’ grades<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
With a short
schedule gap before the 2013 Formula 1 season resumes at Silverstone, it’s time
for a look back at the first 7 races and hand out slightly early mid-term
grades. It’s not as easy as going down the rankings and giving
A’s to those on top and F’s to those on the bottom, as expectations vary
widely up and down the grid. So, without further ado, below is one take on
grades for F1’s group of drivers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Sebastian Vettel - A<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Three
victories from 7 races and a comfortable 36 point lead in the Drivers’
Championship gives Vettel his familiar “top of the class” position. Vettel
looks to be the odds on favorite to win his fourth consecutive championship,
and at only 25 years of age, it might just be the beginning. He’s coming off a
dominant performance in Canada, and his form of late has most people forgetting
his huge dick move on teammate Mark Webber in Malaysia. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/redb-vett-suzu-2012-81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/redb-vett-suzu-2012-81.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Fernando Alonso - B<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A tough
grade for Alonso, but one deserved after his boneheaded move in Malaysia, where
he passed on coming into the pits at the end of the first lap to fix his
damaged front wing, only to see his race end spectacularly in the first corner
of lap two, the result of the complete failure of said wing. That one mistake
cost Alonso podium point, and the 36 point gap to Vettel might be more than the
talented Spaniard can make up over the
remaining 12 races. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Kimi R</b><b>äikk</b><b>önen - B<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It can be
argued Räikkönen
deserves a higher grade, what with one victory and 3 second place finishes, and
a belief in the paddock that the Lotus chassis is as good as it’s going to get
with very little developmental funds on hand. However, Räikkönen’s last two results have
been sub-par performances, from him at least. Räikkönen is still Mr. Consistency
in scoring points, but he needs much more than 9<sup>th</sup> and 10<sup>th</sup>
as race results if he’s going to maintain his status as a championship
contender.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IMG_2316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IMG_2316.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Lewis Hamilton – A-<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hamilton has
done better than many pundits expected in moving from McLaren to Mercedes this
season, a move that in the rear view mirror looks like a stroke of genius by
the young Brit. Hamilton has secured three podium finishes for Mercedes, and
has shown pace in qualifying. Only the chassis’ disastorous showing in Spain
has held up Hamilton, that and the pace of his teammate, Nico Rosberg. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Mark Webber – B-<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
After
suffering a second place in Malaysia after teammate Vettel’s ultimate dick
move, Webber needed to respond by soundly out qualifying and out racing his
teammate and rival. That hasn’t happened. Rather, Webber looks a bit
inconsistent and lost with this year’s Red Bull, and his results are not in
line with what the expectations are for arguably the best car in the field. It’s
not too late for Webber to turn it around, and he’ll need to in order to enjoy
any satisfaction in what certainly is his final year at Red Bull. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Nico Rosberg – A-<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Rosberg has
stepped up his game with the arrival of close friend Hamilton as teammate,
outpacing his more esteemed teammate more often than not and being rewarded
with a win at Monaco, only the second Grand Prix victory of his career. Rosberg’s
struggle continues to be tire degradation in his recalcitrant Mercedes, and the
resultant inability to keep race pace with the title contenders. However, if
Mercedes can learn to be kind to its tires while still maintaining its
blistering pace, Rosberg has a real chance to climb the top step of the podium
several more times this year. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/67824000/jpg/_67824406_rosberg_getty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/67824000/jpg/_67824406_rosberg_getty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Felipe Massa - D<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Massa’s
season can be summed up in 3 words: !) Not, 2) Good, and 3) Enough. He’s had
brief flashes of brilliance, out-qualifying teammate Alonso on a couple of
occasions. However, those great days have been outnumbered by bad race finishes
and crumpled race cars. Massa’s job for the remainder of the season is to
out-score Red Bull’s Webber if Ferrari has any hope of the Constructors’
Championship. He needs to do that in each of the next five races before “silly season”
blooms full. If not, expect Webber in the Ferrari seat next season, and Massa
in IndyCar. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Paul Di Resta - B<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Di Resta has
been quick in practice and the race, and deserving of a grade higher than a B.
But, it’s a team sport, and Di Resta’s Force India team has hampered him with a
couple of costly qualifying miscues, requiring some Sunday heroics just to
gather a few odd points. If Force India can put together a complete weekend,
don’t be surprised to see Di Resta visit the podium before season’s end.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Paul_di_Resta_2013_Malaysia_FP2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Paul_di_Resta_2013_Malaysia_FP2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Romain Grosjean – D<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Grosjean’s
is a familiar story for him. A flash of brilliance – this year a nice podium
finish in Bahrain – punctuating a dismal year of crashes and inconsistent
driving. Grosjean has an opportunity – perhaps his last opportunity – in a
fairly competitive car. He has the rest of the season to take advantage of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Jenson Button C-<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Button is known
as a smooth, steady racer that can make the most of a car’s ability. However,
he is unproven as a lead driver directing the creation and development of a
car, and his McLaren is in dire need of development. Moreover, Button has been
pushed, and often surpassed, ,by his brash young teammate, Sergio Pérez,
and his holding onto an increasingly tenuous position as team leader. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Adrian Sutil – C+<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Two good
races, 5 poor ones; put together and Sutil struggles along at the middle of the
class, not particularly noticed. However, considering Sutil had to knock the
rust off of a year away from F1, he has shown good form. Like Di Resta, if the Force India team can put it
together, Sutil can eye a possible podium, particularly on circuits like Spa
and Monza later this summer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Jean-</b><b>Éric
Vergne – C+<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Vergne has
responded to the challenge and his Toro Rosso team is moving toward being the
class of the mid-field runners. With Webber’s Red Bull seat likely open for
2014, both Torro Rosso drivers will be considered as potential replacements,
and Vergne’s form of late puts him squarely in that conversation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.sportinglife.com/12/06/800x600/drivertoro-rossovergne_2785840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://images.sportinglife.com/12/06/800x600/drivertoro-rossovergne_2785840.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Sergio P</b><b>érez
- C<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pérez’s
start to the year was abysmal, and then he turned a bit of corner in races 4-6,
showing great aggression and determination, and developed to be quite the pain
in the neck of teammate Button and others like Lotus’ Räikkönen. Pérez’s second half will be
dependent on how the McLaren team develops its chassis, as one gets the feeling
Pérez
is pushing the car to its absolute limits. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Daniel Ricciardo – C-<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Riccardo’s
rather strong start to the season has faltered of late, but his Torro Rosso
seems to be on the upswing. The next 5-10 races will be critical for Riccardo,
with results determining where he might race next year, with everything from a
seat to Red Bull to a seat on the sidelines as a spectator a possibility. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Nico H</b><b>ülkenberg
– C-<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A season to
forget thus far for Hülkenberg, with his former team Force India looking strong
while his new team Sauber taking a rather big step backwards this year in
relative performance. Hülkenberg has plenty of reason to race the next couple of
months, as he’s a strong candidate to be driving the second Ferrari next
season. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Pastor Maldonado – D<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A race
winner last year for Williams, Maldonado is not a factor this year, and
continues to find creative ways to cause contact with other cars. Never boring
to watch, Maldonado is being watched closely, as his Venezuelan financial
backing is at considerable risk, and without quick improvement, Maldonado might
be enjoying his final races in F1. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://imgs.notitarde.com/Imgs/IMG_0000155594_W_00600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://imgs.notitarde.com/Imgs/IMG_0000155594_W_00600.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Esteban Guit</b><b>érrez
– C-<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Guitérrez’s
horrible start to the season left no room but to go upward, and he has done
just that, albeit in baby steps. With his Sauber improving gradually as well, Guitérrez
appears to be on the cusp of earning his first world championship points. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Charles Pic – D<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Switching
from Marussia to Caterham this season hasn’t changed much for Pic, as he is
still on the outside looking in for his first championship points. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Giedo van der Garde - D<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Formula 1 is
tough on any rookie, particularly a rookie with a back marker chassis. Van der
Garde has struggled to find his way, and in Canada even struggled to stay out
of the way. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Jules Bianchi - I<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bianchi
earns an Incomplete, as he’s done enough with the handcuffed Marussia to draw
attention up and down the pit lane, but hasn’t really delivered results in
practice, qualifying, or races. The riddle remains, what can Bianchi do in a
competitive chassis? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Max Chilton - D<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Although in
a different color car than van der Gaarde, Chilton is in the same situation. He’s
gaining experience and learning the circuits, but Chilton can only hope the
stars align for Marussia to compete for a point this season. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Valterri Bottas – I<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bottas gets
an Incomplete. Clarly talented, the Finnish rookie showed the best of his
skills in qualifying third under slick and changing track conditions in
Montreal. However, his Williams is a sitting duck on a dry race track, unable
to contend positions with any teams other than Caterham and Marussa. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Race along on Twitter @RayHartjen</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-10176817546695869342013-06-05T21:49:00.000-07:002013-06-05T21:49:10.357-07:00Will an aggressive Sergio Perez force a change of how F1 is governed?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the past
several years, Formula 1 officials have made it clear that causing “unnecessary
accidents” with other drivers will result in penalties. A relatively minor
infringement might garner a time penalty of twenty seconds. More serious
mistakes might bring a grid penalty of five to ten positions at the next grand
prix. Repeated offenses can even bring a race ban, like that experienced by
Lotus driver Romain Grosjean just last summer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media.speedcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Romain-Grosjean-Spa-prang-344x224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://media.speedcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Romain-Grosjean-Spa-prang-344x224.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
At the
Monaco Grand Prix a couple of weeks ago, the racing was a predictable single
file affair of follow the leader, as the tight, twisty circuit through the
streets of Monte Carlo traditionally makes overtaking nearly impossible. If you
don’t pass cars through pit stop strategy and execution, you’ll likely finish
where you started, moving up only through the attrition of others.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Unless you’re
super aggressive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Unless, like
two weeks ago, you’re driver Sergio Perez racing your McLaren. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
On several
occasions, the super aggressive Perez barreled out of the tunnel and dive
bombed a rival under heavy breaking into the Nouvelle Chicane. Without touching
other drivers, at least during the majority of the race, he was able to make it
work, even without executing a clean overtaking <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">maneuver</span>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://f1-grandprix.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/nouvelle_chicane2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://f1-grandprix.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/nouvelle_chicane2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
How?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Drivers like
Ferrari’s esteemed Fernando Alonso fell victim to the tactic. With a quick
glance in the left side mirror, Alonso determined if he stayed on course, Perez
would likely run into him, ruining both of their races. Prudence suggested he
short-cut the chicane, to prevent an accident and continue the race in one
piece, in his current position.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/05/27/article-2331577-1A04A19C000005DC-281_634x286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/05/27/article-2331577-1A04A19C000005DC-281_634x286.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
All of that
sounds great until … stewards penalized Alonso for shortcutting the course to
maintain the position. The judgment required Alonso to give up the position on
the track, and at Monaco, unless it’s raining and you’re Aryton Senna, that’s a
position not likely to be recovered. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
What’s the
difference between a hero and a zero? Imagine the consequences if Alonso stayed
on his line through the chicane. The corner would clearly be his, and any
contact from Perez, from behind and on the side, would be squarely the
preventable cause of Perez; a preventable accident perhaps punished by a
penalty. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Requiring
Alonso and others to relinquish a position kept by likely preventing an accident
the cause of the aggressive Perez raises an interesting dilemma. The rules are
black and white. Short-cutting the course to save or gain a position requires
giving up that position. Negligently causing preventable contact requires a
penalty. But, what if one does one to avoid the other? After all, getting
caught up in another’s poor judgment ruins your race to. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.planetf1.com/13/03/800x600/d13aus1197_2915192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://images.planetf1.com/13/03/800x600/d13aus1197_2915192.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Monaco is a
unique circuit and often delivers unique circumstances and results (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivier_Panis" target="_blank">OlivierPanis</a>, anyone?). However, don’t expect Perez’s aggressive driving style to be a
Monaco one-off. Plus, don’t think for a
second every other driver is going to school and thinking, “Hey, that seemed to
work.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Canada is
next up on the F1 schedule this weekend. There’s a lot to suggest this is a
story that just might have legs the rest of the season. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Run hot laps on Twitter @RayHartjen<o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-36485814240095354632013-05-29T20:25:00.000-07:002013-05-29T20:25:05.378-07:00Winners and Losers from Indianapolis<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
More than
any other race, the Indianapolis 500 can make or break an entire season, and in
some cases – Buddy Lazier and Buddy Rice, for example- entire careers. Sunday’s
race proved no exception, as the month of May saw its winners and losers at
Indianapolis.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Winner:
Tony Kanaan<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Of course,
the obvious winner was the, uh, race winner, Tony Kanaan. A sentimental
favorite of both the IndyCar community and the fans at Indianapolis, Kanaan
broke through his hard-luck past and finally celebrated with his long-awaited
drink of milk. Since his rookie year in 2002, Kanaan had led races – at least
one lap in each of his first seven starts - and even qualified for the pole in
2005. Frustrated by a second and third place finishes, and finishes under the
yellow preventing him from any last lap dramatics, karma came full circle and
provided Kanaan a win when the yellow caution flag flew moments after Kanaan
burst into the lead on a restart on lap 197. Always a master at starts and
restarts, it’s fitting Kanaan’s victory came as a result of one of his primary
strengths. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/05/26/1369606824000-3-tony-kanaan-1305261821_3_4_r537_c0-0-534-712.jpg?ce8801b31498d8a76973562e156bf57fd6c91c44" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/05/26/1369606824000-3-tony-kanaan-1305261821_3_4_r537_c0-0-534-712.jpg?ce8801b31498d8a76973562e156bf57fd6c91c44" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Winner:
Andretti Autosport<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So, neither
Marco Andretti or any of his four teammates at Andretti Autosport ended up in
Victory Circle, the entire organization flexed its muscles as the team to beat
for the remainder of this year. Recall, it was just a couple of years ago when
Andretti Autosport had difficulty even qualifying for Indy, with Danica Patrick
barely squeaking into the field and Ryan Hunter-Reay missing out entirely (he
raced only after owner Michael Andretti bought the qualified car of Bruno
Junqueira and put Hunter-Reay into it). This year, Andretti drivers were fast
off the truck, and showed their muscle in the race, with Carlos Munoz,
Hunter-Reay and Andretti taking 2<sup>nd</sup>, 3<sup>rd</sup> & 4<sup>th</sup>.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.andrettiautosport.com/images/1366042390.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://www.andrettiautosport.com/images/1366042390.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Loser:
Honda<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
First,
traditional series stalwart Honda was locked out on pole day, as the fast nine
qualifiers shooting out for the pole position all boasted Chevy power plants.
Then, race day provided insult to injury, with various Chevy drivers
continually shuffling the lead, allowing Honda-powered drivers a spot at the
front only when green flag pit stops temporarily shuffled the order. Honda
looked lost all month, and it appeared they lacked the needed power to overtake
down Indy’s long straights. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Winner:
Carlos Munoz<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sunday’s
Indy 500 was not only Munoz’ IndyCar debut, it was also the first race of any
kind where pit stops were necessary. All Munoz did was run up front all day,
battled for the lead and positioned himself for a last lap dash at victory. If
it wasn’t for the yellow flag ending the race toward the checkereds, he very
well might have found himself in Victory Circle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://digbza2f4g9qo.cloudfront.net/~/media/IndyCar/News/Standard/2013/05/05-26-Munoz-Wins-Indy500-Std.jpg?vs=1&d=20130526T144849" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://digbza2f4g9qo.cloudfront.net/~/media/IndyCar/News/Standard/2013/05/05-26-Munoz-Wins-Indy500-Std.jpg?vs=1&d=20130526T144849" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Loser:
Target Chip Ganassi Racing<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Target Chip
Ganassi struggled all month at Indy, with Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti
qualifying mid-field and then seemingly anchored there throughout the race.
When defending champ Franchitti wrecked in Turn One with three laps to go, he
essentially ended the race and provided a fitting close to what proved to be a
frustrating and forgettable month for Ganassi.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/KxkY3q1qSA70E9ICLGMTeA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0xMDI0O3E9Nzk7dz0xNjcw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-05-26T193812Z_1330915074_TB3E95Q1IJI1Z_RTRMADP_3_MOTOR-RACING-INDY.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/KxkY3q1qSA70E9ICLGMTeA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0xMDI0O3E9Nzk7dz0xNjcw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-05-26T193812Z_1330915074_TB3E95Q1IJI1Z_RTRMADP_3_MOTOR-RACING-INDY.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Winner:
IndyCar<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A record
number or leaders and a doubling – yes, doubling! – of the record number of
lead changes from just one year previous showed Indy has begun to regain its
lost mojo of the early 90’s heyday. True, the racing was more or less
single-file, but at least the point car changed often, as the leader had a “sitting
duck” aura about him. The race was
another step in the right direction, and it’s up to IndyCar to maintain the
momentum through what has in the past been the humdrum part of its season. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Go two-wide on Twitter @RayHartjen<o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-57570509873735858892013-05-24T14:28:00.001-07:002013-05-24T16:37:39.499-07:004 reasons the best racing isn't always in the highest formulaFor race fans, we often cast the majority of our attention to the height of a particular series. F1 gets our attention to the detriment of GP2 and GP3. Sprint Cup gets the NASCAR love over the Trucks and the Nationwide cars. And in North American open wheel racing, the IndyCars overshadow Indy Lights.<br />
<br />
Maybe not anymore?<br />
<br />
Today's Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway might have delivered the best race finish. Ever.<br />
<br />
You don't run three-wide at Indianapolis in any formula and get away with it too often. These young drivers did it for two full turns. You don't often run four-wide down the straight either, but these four drivers did it. Racing for the win at the most famous track in the world and they raced it clean and without a hint of blocking.<br />
<br />
That, my friends, is how you do it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wp1klmtsWQA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Congratulations, Peter Dempsey, on your first victory - and what a victory that was! Congratulations also to Gabby Chaves, Sarge Karam, and Carlos Munoz. Your performances in Friday's race might just be the highlight of the entire weekend, the biggest weekend in worldwide motor sports at that.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Race along on Twitter @RayHartjen</i></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-45028132856866166092013-05-22T15:47:00.001-07:002013-05-22T15:47:14.354-07:00Will Monaco Soothe Mercedes’ Tire Ails?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Early in the 2013 Formula One season, Mercedes has proven it
has the pace to run at the front of the F1 field, as evidenced by its 3 pole
positions and its lock out of the front row in the most recent Grand Prix, the
<a href="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/05/12/2013-spanish-grand-prix-result/" target="_blank">Barcelona race</a> just two weeks ago. Unfortunately, at least for Mercedes, is the
flip side of that coin is an unrelenting and rapid degradation of its tires,
particularly the rear tires, and an inability to keep abreast of race winning
contenders. To add insult to injury, the tire degradation problems are even
making it difficult to keep the mid-field pack at bay – Lewis Hamilton finished
an uncompetitive 12<sup>th</sup> in Spain, lapped by the leading cars. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.autoweek.com/storyimage/CW/20130315/F1/130319870/AR/0/Ecclestone-talks-up-Lewis-Hamilton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://www.autoweek.com/storyimage/CW/20130315/F1/130319870/AR/0/Ecclestone-talks-up-Lewis-Hamilton.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On race day, at best, the Mercedes has been a moving chicane
offering up a rolling obstacle for front-runners to overtake. However, as the
series moves to the twisty circuit at Monaco this weekend, there is some
optimism and hope in the Mercedes camp – not from developments back at the
factory, rather from the race course itself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thegrandprixclub.com/Monaco%20aerial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://www.thegrandprixclub.com/Monaco%20aerial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Twisty means slower
speeds, delivering a break to the tires<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Monaco is the most twisty course on the F1 race calendar,
and the twists and turns of the course mean the slowest speeds on the schedule
too. Simply, slower speeds place fewer demands on the tires, lessening the
degree of degradation. Of course, Mercedes won’t be the only team to receive
this benefit – all chasses will be easier on their tires. Key for Mercedes is
keeping up with the other teams on the number of pit stops. The fewer pit
stops, the better, and nowhere is this more true than at Monaco.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Tight means a premium
on track position, as passing can be … damn near impossible<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition to its twists, the streets of Monaco are
notoriously tight as well, surrounded not by gravel traps and runoff areas, but
rather unforgiving <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=armco+barrier&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=UUqdUduLIanHigLB5IGgAw&sqi=2&ved=0CFAQsAQ&biw=1454&bih=704" target="_blank">Armco barriers</a>, presenting tremendous difficulties in
overtaking, even with applications like the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_reduction_system" target="_blank">Drag Reduction System (DRS)</a>. Track
position is a premium. If Mercedes can keep its qualifying pace and start
upfront, its hopes lie in the course not offering an opportunity for cars to
overtake.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>At least it’s fast<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
F1 is a sport of compromise, represented by the tradeoff between speed and reliability. Which one is most important? Can the answer be
both? Up and down the paddock, it’s generally regarded that pace is the best
place to start. If you’re fast, you have an opportunity to work on reliability,
tire degradation included. It’s much more difficult (read: “expensive”) to make
a reliable albeit slow car fast than the opposite.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.autoweek.com/storyimage/CW/20130219/F1/130219804/AR/0/Mercedes-Nico-Rosberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://www.autoweek.com/storyimage/CW/20130219/F1/130219804/AR/0/Mercedes-Nico-Rosberg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Mercedes has proven it has the one lap pace to match the
best cars in F1. Now it sets it attention to solving its chassis’ tendency to
aggressively abuse its tires, an endeavor that will undoubtedly take the balance
of the summer to develop and refine an engineering solution. But, this weekend,
a temporary solution is likely to be put forth by the race course itself, and
it will be paramount for Mercedes to take advantage of its gift in waiting.
Points from this point on are going to be even tougher to score.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Turn laps on Twitter
@RayHartjen<o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-73945415449107770242013-04-20T13:50:00.002-07:002013-04-20T13:50:23.740-07:00The Hottest of F1 Hot Seats for Vergne<br />
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Bahrain’s fourth
round of the 2013 Formula One World Championship already sees several teams and
drivers on the proverbial hot seat. McLaren has woefully underperformed for a
team very much used to contending for race wins and championships, in part to
the struggles of Sergio Perez; of course, perhaps Perez has struggled in large
part to the recalcitrant McLaren chassis. Romain Grosjean has been roundly
outperformed by Lotus teammate Kimi Räikönen. Caterham driver Giedo van
der Garde’s rookie season now has the long shadow of new reserve driver Heiki
Kovalainen looming over it. But, the hottest of seats may well be at Toro
Rosso, under the rear of driver Jean-Éric Vergne. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.rachf1.com/uploads/5/4/4/2/5442713/1007407_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://www.rachf1.com/uploads/5/4/4/2/5442713/1007407_orig.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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There’s a
lot to race for at Toro Rosso, as it’s the de facto junior team of F1
powerhouse Red Bull, and – news flash! – <a href="http://beforeorafterisjustwaiting.blogspot.com/2013/03/malaysias-big-winner-daniel-ricciardo.html" target="_blank">Red Bull might have an open seat for2014</a>. And, while Räikönen will have something to say about filling that
potential front-of-the-field vacancy, Toro Rosso drivers Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo
clearly have a large carrot dangling in front of them. Moreover, there is also
Toro Rosso’s infamous lack of patience with young drivers – you either prove
yourself and do so quickly, or you’ll be moved over for the next young hot shoe.
Just ask Scott Speed, Sébastien Bourdais, Sébastien Buemi, Jaime Alguersauri, and
others.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In his second
season in F1, this much is clear: Vergne
is slower than his teammate Ricciardo. <a href="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/statistics/2012-f1-statistics/qualifying-data/" target="_blank">Last season, Ricciardo outqualifiedVergne</a> in 15 of the 20 races, with an average starting position of 14.7 versus
16.7. This year, Ricciardo is again on top, faster in 3 of the 4 qualifying
sessions thus far. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Daniel+Ricciardo+F1+Grand+Prix+Bahrain+WjhD6IXxm_Ul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Daniel+Ricciardo+F1+Grand+Prix+Bahrain+WjhD6IXxm_Ul.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Vergne’s
saving grace, at least thus far, has been in earning points. In 2012, Vergne
outscored his teammate 16-10, the beneficiary of four 8<sup>th</sup> place
finishes. However, while lower in total points, Ricciardo showed better overall
competitiveness and consistency, finishing six total races in points paying
positions. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This year,
Ricciardo has upped his game, finishing a career-high 7<sup>th</sup> in last
week’s Chinese Grand Prix, and performing as befitting his pre-season comments
stating his goal is to outrace his teammate and earn a drive at Red Bull. Under
pressure, Vergne’s response in the face of increased competition has been just
a single point.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Toro Rosso has
its drivers on a short leash, and it is certain team management is debating
whether Vergne is better racer than current reserve, and former driver, Buemi. Buemi
has experience with the organization, can assist in the development of the car,
and has the experience and track knowledge to be at least as competitive as
Vergne on the grid. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/buem_toro_suzu_2010-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/buem_toro_suzu_2010-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Come Monday,
F1 teams will have 20% of the season in its rearview mirrors and will begin the
European campaign of the 2013 season. If Vergne’s performance doesn’t pick up
and pick up quick, he might not be around to enjoy much of the homecoming.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photos.gpupdate.net/newsnew/55193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://photos.gpupdate.net/newsnew/55193.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Trying some overtaking on Twitter
@RayHartjen. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-15571291643008378472013-04-13T10:43:00.001-07:002013-04-13T10:43:48.035-07:00Not tired of tires - yet<br />
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Some race
fans, not to mention drivers, race team management, and other race personnel,
bemoan the impact of tire strategy and its importance over the course of the
race weekend. Instead of managing a sometimes wildly speculative variable, they
prefer to run flat out, non-stop. We hear you, Michael Schumacher. However, as
fans, we’ve seen that before, and the result is a team-by-team, single file
procession around the race track, an affair that quickly becomes mind-numbingly
boring.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YXG4mUxYVEcKHeOzHJlR-II6kfVBcAYJm30j7KRLJnklmk2uu9Tgo9nfV1-bLcuOv5xtX8h56q3NsX5SQHU7FXxZMdn2hFndRer8r4CxFrFy8n9jo4hgd8fkqjJorTLtAhk57t4nS8QS/s1600/Pirelli-tyres_2681521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YXG4mUxYVEcKHeOzHJlR-II6kfVBcAYJm30j7KRLJnklmk2uu9Tgo9nfV1-bLcuOv5xtX8h56q3NsX5SQHU7FXxZMdn2hFndRer8r4CxFrFy8n9jo4hgd8fkqjJorTLtAhk57t4nS8QS/s320/Pirelli-tyres_2681521.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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I, and I
doubt I am alone, am looking forward to this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix,
round three of the 2013 Formula 1 World Championship. After three rounds of
practice and three rounds of qualifying, one thing is abundantly clear: this race will be entirely about tire
management.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Pirelli has
brought the medium and soft compounds to Shanghai this week, and as usual there
is a performance gap between the two compounds of a little over a second per
lap – the softs offer more grip and are therefore quicker. However, that pace
comes with a price, as thermal degradation of the soft tires see them fall off
quickly, with lap times soaring upwards as quickly as the tires wear out. Teams
are seeing performance tail off abruptly after only a few laps.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcPvxguzQISN5_6G-4_JSm_hkfK4MvCC_1DZRrr9v3mpsxQs1rDc0Sb4Bj2zJOVYtKNnPF4q4KlpkTZM_yMPnhoMJyBmIvPTgROz1GBI20pTYvZGzNzde9R4XqsEG4NiwibRGFstwDEzG/s1600/button_2531806b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcPvxguzQISN5_6G-4_JSm_hkfK4MvCC_1DZRrr9v3mpsxQs1rDc0Sb4Bj2zJOVYtKNnPF4q4KlpkTZM_yMPnhoMJyBmIvPTgROz1GBI20pTYvZGzNzde9R4XqsEG4NiwibRGFstwDEzG/s320/button_2531806b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Formula 1 sporting
regulations require competitors to start the race on the tires they qualified
with on their fastest lap. <a href="http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/formula-1/chinese-grand-prix/2013/qualifying.html" target="_blank">Q3 on Saturday</a> saw the Red Bull of defending
three-time <a href="http://eurosport.yahoo.com/formula-1/sebastian-vettel.html" target="_blank">world champion Sebastian Vettel</a> and the McLaren of former world
champion <a href="http://eurosport.yahoo.com/formula-1/jenson-button.html" target="_blank">Jenson Button</a> take a gamble and elect not go gunning for pole on the
softs, the strategy taken by the rest of their competitors. Rather, they went
out on the much more durable tires. The result is Button will start 8<sup>th</sup>
and Vettel 9<sup>th</sup>, but they will both be on medium tires. Pole sitter
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and the rest of the top seven qualifiers will start
on the soft tires, requiring pits stops as early as lap 5 or 6. This brings the
race right into the hands of Button, Vettel, and to a lesser extent, Sauber’s
Nico Hülkenberg,
starting 10<sup>th</sup>, also on medium tires.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcQBpSerO1quVWDAIiX1Z5k2Gp80hYZhQp-eRQHuAuTGzDWQQAC2X_cwCrMD6w6OS3AWaBpodKhPX0RyKGMyeb-_pd7Z-JiBm1eZqwsfkjy9CT0ukAKSX_cL8Xlkx2enkNA4nk5M2qnRe/s1600/chinese-grand-prix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcQBpSerO1quVWDAIiX1Z5k2Gp80hYZhQp-eRQHuAuTGzDWQQAC2X_cwCrMD6w6OS3AWaBpodKhPX0RyKGMyeb-_pd7Z-JiBm1eZqwsfkjy9CT0ukAKSX_cL8Xlkx2enkNA4nk5M2qnRe/s320/chinese-grand-prix.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Rest
assured, computers up and down the pit lane are buzzing and working overtime
running scenario simulations, with teams working feverishly to devise a
strategy that gets them to the end of the 56 lap race distance in the shortest
cumulative time possible. Will starting on medium tires bring the race to
Button and Vettel? At first, yes. If they get past the first few corners –
always a threat for the mid-pack on the first lap – they will lead the first
half of the race. The bad news, of course, is this tire strategy gamble
developed for a reason – both the McLaren and the Red Bull are not quite at the
pace around Shanghai as the Mercedes, Ferraris and Lotuses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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How will the
race pan out? I don’t know. But, I can tell you, I can hardly wait to find out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Catch a flying lap on Twitter @RayHartjen<o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-51594608949482895922013-03-24T13:45:00.000-07:002013-03-24T20:06:07.460-07:00Malaysia’s big winner … Daniel Ricciardo?<br />
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The big
winner in this weekend’s second round of the 2013 Formula 1 season wasn’t race
winner Sebastian Vettel or even the resurgent Mercedes, resplendent as they were
in a validating <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3<sup>rd</sup>
and 4<sup>th</sup> position.</span> Rather, the big winner in Malaysia just might
have been Australia’s <a href="http://eurosport.yahoo.com/formula-1/daniel-ricciardo.html" target="_blank">Daniel Ricciardo</a>, who finished 18<sup>th</sup>, retiring his
Toro Rosso after 51 laps. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Daniel+Ricciardo+F1+Jerez+Previews+B3KJrkXulxwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Daniel+Ricciardo+F1+Jerez+Previews+B3KJrkXulxwl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Come again?</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.dailystar.com.lb/dailystar/Pictures/2013/03/24/158744_mainimg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.dailystar.com.lb/dailystar/Pictures/2013/03/24/158744_mainimg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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A rather
lively Malaysian Grand Prix became even more riveting after the final pit stops
as the 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> place Red Bulls of Mark Webber and
Sebastian Vettel, along with the 3<sup>rd</sup> and 4<sup>th</sup> place
Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, were ordered by team leadership to conserve both fuel and tires and ensure the cars made it to the finish with
maximum points toward the ever important Constructors’ World Championship. The
dutiful soldiers Webber, Hamilton and Rosberg obeyed. Vettel did not, racing
Webber, taking the position, and driving off to victory.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02518/webber-vettel_2518558b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02518/webber-vettel_2518558b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
One need not make a career of observing human behavior to recognize <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-sebastian-vettel-mark-webber-controversy-20130324,0,7482174.story" target="_blank">Webber was incensed</a> at
his teammate’s autonomously made decision to rebuke team orders. On the
post-race podium, after ignoring Vettel in the celebratory spraying of the Moet
champagne, Webber even went so far as to suggest Vettel would be “protected as
usual,” a reference to Vettel’s preferred standing in the team.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Red Bull
certainly gives Webber his best chance at Formula 1 victories, but not his only
chance. As he will never usurp wunderkind Vettel as the team’s number one
driver, and as assuredly the team will not voluntarily depart ways with the
defending 3-time World Champion and 27 race winner Vettel, Webber is racing for
racing sake and the opportunity for ever-so-difficult-to-come by F1 race
victories, and with nary a realistic thought of winning a World Championship. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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With an
already tense and somewhat fractious relationship between Webber and Vettel, Malaysia may
very well have been the final straw, the one that broke the camel’s back. With
a one year contract, Webber is most likely gone at the conclusion of the
current season, either through his own impetus or with a gentle push from the
team. With a departure by Webber, a seat at Red Bull, the defending 3-time
Constructors’ World Champion becomes available.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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All that
supposition brings us to Ricciardo, one of two drivers (along with Jean-Éric
Vergne) of Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s de facto “junior team.” Ricciardo has made no
secret of his ambitions for 2013:
Outrace teammate Vergne and secure a ride with Red Bull for 2014. Malaysia’s
intra-team fireworks gives him the opening to squeeze into. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Daniel+Ricciardo+F1+Grand+Prix+Malaysia+Practice+d-Lam7Zik5_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Daniel+Ricciardo+F1+Grand+Prix+Malaysia+Practice+d-Lam7Zik5_l.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s now up
to Ricciardo, a driver who routinely outpaces his teammate Vergne in
qualifying, to press to the most of his abilities. At stake is a ride in a car
fully capable of race wins and championships. Granted, 2014 brings new
technical specifications for the teams, perhaps leveling the field. But with
the wizardry of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Newey" target="_blank">Adrian Newey</a> being sketched on the whiteboard, is there a team
better positioned for success than Red Bull?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Three cheers
to this weekend’s podium finishers, Vettel, Webber and Hamilton. But, save the
biggest cheer for perhaps the weekend’s big winner, 18<sup>th</sup> place
Daniel Ricciardo. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Rub wheels
on Twitter @RayHartjen<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-32008960840369256092013-03-23T17:05:00.000-07:002013-03-23T17:05:42.081-07:00An Rx for IndyCar’s Ills<br />
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Today, Will
Power won his fourth consecutive pole for the St. Petersburg Grand Prix, the
annual opener of the IndyCar season, which beckons the philosophical question, “If
a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a
sound?” Just 20 years ago, IndyCar, then known as CART, was the premier
motorsports series in the world, and that included the global circus of Formula
One. Now, thanks to a divisive split engineered by Tony George, IndyCar once
again starts a season awash in a sea of irrelevance. It’s a long race back to
the top, but the prescription for IndyCar can be really simple.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/images/stories/large/2012/04/15/4928WillPower12StPete12WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/images/stories/large/2012/04/15/4928WillPower12StPete12WEB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>It’s TV, stupid<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Perhaps no
sport is as much a live spectacle as motorsports – the sights, sounds and even
smells bring the event to a roaring life, and most every fan who goes to a race
becomes a fan for life. Simply, there’s no sporting event like a day at the
racetrack. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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However, IndyCar
won’t grow racing to fans at the track alone. Success is dependent on TV for
two purposes: 1) selling the sport to fans who have yet to attend a race in
person, and 2) bringing in sponsors and their marketing dollars, the funds of
which are crucial for all motorsports, as funding equals speed, in turn
equaling competitiveness. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Key for
IndyCar is finding one single network family for its series, and a network that
can broadcast not only the race, but qualifying sessions and perhaps even
practices. Currently, fans have to jump between NBC and ABC to find IndyCar. In
this era of nearly countless entertainment options, if it’s not easy, it’s
often ignored. The IndyCar brand can only grow with a partnered affiliation
with its broadcaster.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Variety is the spice of life<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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IndyCar is
essentially a formula-spec series, with a single chassis for all teams, the
status quo for the last several years. Car development, and hence
differentiation by teams, have been limited pretty much to shock absorbers and
mirrors.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I nearly
fell asleep writing that sentence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The
introduction of Chevrolet engines last year, to battle alongside long-time
series runner Honda, was a start. Differentiation means unequal cars, and
unequal cars means overtaking on the track, good for those in attendance, and
great for those watching on television. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kjp5wCpOMpPsA6EP7X7s-Kvpbxxh-WcC-uVHO6ga6qfRSPLt3q4NhL-KlHQ21J9JGdkcWlztdaA9AXYsdLyJZxOnsUNS6gRLcxxwu6KAALbmj_vj1GRdVgD8iRB3BMZ7QBqfAhsUKvI4/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kjp5wCpOMpPsA6EP7X7s-Kvpbxxh-WcC-uVHO6ga6qfRSPLt3q4NhL-KlHQ21J9JGdkcWlztdaA9AXYsdLyJZxOnsUNS6gRLcxxwu6KAALbmj_vj1GRdVgD8iRB3BMZ7QBqfAhsUKvI4/s320/10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>IndyCar
needs to develop technical specifications and invite constructors to design and
build chasses to a set of common rules. The heyday of CART saw three chassis
builders and multiple engines, allowing for a variety of “mix and match”
possibilities, with competitiveness up and down the field, and storylines
carried throughout the season.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Close the gap<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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With nearly
six months from the last race of 2012 to the first race of 2013, any momentum
created last year has disappeared quicker than a scheduled pit stop. NASCAR
only takes a three month break and benefits by opening its season with its
crown jewel, the Daytona 500. Formula one likewise takes a three month break,
but is buoyed by an off-season of constructor and car development news, along
with three organized, multi-day test sessions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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IndyCar
needs to both close the gap between one season and the other and create a
reason for news to hit, much like player trades and drafts in other sports. One
is easier than the other, of course, and running the last race in October and
the first in February would be a good first step.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>A new track experience<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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IndyCar can
learn a lesson from the NHRA drag racing series, the motorsports series with
perhaps the most loyal fan base. The secret? Everyone at an NHRA event can walk
through the paddock and watch the crews prepare the cars and motorcycles. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A long-standing
tradition in most motor sports series is the prevalence of “knucklers,” those
fans holding onto a chain link fence, their knuckles on the other side, peeking
at a part of the race where they desperately want to be. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/07/15/13/1889008/13/628x471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/07/15/13/1889008/13/628x471.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It’s not
realistic for every fan to be able to walk through the garage on race day, but walkabouts
on Friday of race weekend, and even Saturday after qualifications, would give
fans a more complete experience and an opportunity to rub elbows with their
heroes, much less post awesome photos to Facebook and other social sites. It’s
all about growing the sport. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>A big deal<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The
Indianapolis 500 is the crown jewel of the series, although it’s popularity has
also waned over the past two decades. This year, more superspeedways return to
the race calendar. Like the horses do, IndyCar and its horsepower should create
a “triple crown” or “grand slam,” and offer up a staggering monetary award for
anyone who can sweep all the races, like $5 million, and lesser amount for the
driver who scores the most accumulated points in the select races, say $1
million. It’s a storyline that covers multiple months, garnering attention for
a sport and series that much needs it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, there
you have it, a short five-step prescription to fix the ills of IndyCar. Time is
short in the sports universe, and the time to move fast, like the cars, is now.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Run hot laps on Twitter @RayHartjen<o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-65889399948630100542013-03-21T19:27:00.001-07:002013-03-21T19:27:52.681-07:00F1 Mid-Fielders Turn to Malaysia for Answers<br />
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In the final
year of a relatively stable rules package for <a href="http://www.formula1.com/default.html" target="_blank">Formula 1</a> constructors, pressure
is on the mid-field to catch up with the front runners, the rationale being
time affords teams to develop when tighter financial resources hamper initial
development. At the end of this season, time runs out on the old car and big
financial resources will help the front runners with the new chassis.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Last week’s
<a href="http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/formula-1/australian-grand-prix/2013/race.html" target="_blank">season opener in Melbourne</a> saw the mid-field in many story lines. This week’s
second round will go a long way in telling a more complete story, either validating
first impressions or turning them on their heels.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Maybe, but not quite yet<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Force India
and driver <a href="http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/Sport/Motorsport/Force-India/Formula-One-Adrian-Sutil-expects-tough-test-in-Malaysia-20130321103244.htm" target="_blank">Adrian Sutil</a> were somewhat the revelation of the Australia Grand
Prix, holding the lead for a number of laps and finishing in a solid 7<sup>th</sup>
position, one place in front of Paul Di Resta in the second Force India. Race
results suggest a possible breakthrough to the top of the mid-field, and maybe
even a latching onto the bottom of the front-running cars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Not so fast.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sutil
started the Melbourne race on the harder, more durable “medium” Pirelli tire
and greatly benefited from a longer first stint before pitting. As front running
teams come to grips with, well, grip, and the durability of the Pirelli rubber,
those types of good fortunes are likely to be much harder to stumble upon.
Perhaps a truer test of the Force India’s capabilities lies in the outright
pace of the car in qualifying. Di Resta managed to break into Q3 for the first
time in a long while, while Sutil managed 12<sup>th</sup> in his first race
weekend in 15 months. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45524000/jpg/_45524075_sutil466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45524000/jpg/_45524075_sutil466.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Melbourne
was a solid start for the Force India team and final positions were certainly
earned on merit. Malaysia’s second round will provide observers more data on
whether the team’s start was as best as it’s going to get in 2013.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Needing a U-turn<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.pastormaldonado.com/" target="_blank">Pastor Maldonado</a>
spent the season’s first weekend talking about how his Williams chassis was “undriveable.”
That’s quite a statement coming from a driver whose sponsorship funding is
considered by many in the F1 paddock as his most serviceable skill. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Williams had
a very decent car early in 2012 and Maldonado provided a long overdue victory
for the team with his magical win at Barcelona in early May. From then on,
though, the rest of the season was pretty dismal, with then Williams driver
Bruno Senna most often outperforming the often crashing Maldonado.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.supersport.com/Pastor-Maldonado-Spin-130317G300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.supersport.com/Pastor-Maldonado-Spin-130317G300.jpg" /></a></div>
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Maldonado’s
race in Melbourne ended in the gravel trap after Maldonado spun in first
corner, a fitting end considering the car’s performance in the first 34 laps.
Despite showing promise in pre-season testing, Williams managed only 16<sup>th</sup>
and 17<sup>th</sup> in qualifying and a 14<sup>th</sup> place race finish by
rookie Valtteri Bottas. Malaysia is the team’s first chance to turn it around
and will go a long way in determining the prospects for 2013.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>To start, you have to … start<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Sauber got
off to the shakiest of all possible starts when lead driver Nico Hülkenberg
had his car withdrawn before the race’s start due to fuel system issues,
spoiling an 11<sup>th</sup> place qualifying position. Rookie teammate Esteban
Gutiérrez
improved upon his 18<sup>th</sup> place in qualifying to finish the race in 13<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/152318/f1-sauber-c32-launch-inline2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/152318/f1-sauber-c32-launch-inline2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Sauber
car has garnered a reputation over the past two seasons as being very kind on
its Pirelli race tires, and if ever an opportunity was squandered, last weekend’s
tire management-plagued Australian Grand Prix was it. Having team leader Hülkenberg,
one of the top young drivers in the sport, on the track is critical for this
team to succeed. Mistakes like last weekend have to stop. Now.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>A second chance to make a first impression<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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With teams
going directly from Australia to Malaysia, most developmental upgrades will
wait until next month’s third round. As such, this weekend provides the second of
back-to-back opportunities for teams, and observers, to evaluate car and driver
prospects for 2013. There are many races in F1 and sometimes the closest and most
compelling happen away from the sharp end of the field. The mid-field looks to
Malaysia to confirm or rebut the season’s first impressions, with some teams
looking for a change while others look for more of the same. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Run laps on Twitter @RayHartjen<o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-27609029779916422192013-02-25T09:12:00.002-08:002013-02-25T09:12:40.934-08:00Lessons learned from the Daytona 500<br />
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Sunday
afternoon, Jimmie Johnson won his second Daytona 500, this one a relatively
boring single-file, follow-the-leader affair punctuated by two multi-car
accidents and 1,489 on-air Danica Patrick references. As the series moves to
its second round in Phoenix, the following is what we learned from Daytona:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/rf/image_r/Boston/2011-2020/2013/02/25/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/johnson-4166.r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.bostonglobe.com/rf/image_r/Boston/2011-2020/2013/02/25/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/johnson-4166.r.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b>The first 2/3rds of the race are still
there to get to the last 1/3<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The 500 was
way too much fizzle, not enough sizzle, and maybe with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nascar/2013/2/25/4027548/daytona-nationwide-crash-update-fans-hospitalized" target="_blank">what happened at the endof Saturday’s Nationwide race</a>, that was okay. Still, the lack of moves made the
race almost unwatchable. The fact it was the first race of the year and the
Daytona 500 – about as exciting as it gets - made it just barely bearable. But,
what happens when the series moves to Phoenix?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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NASCAR can
tend to be a repetitive, monotonous left-turn affair, particularly with so many
1.5-mile ovals on the schedule. On TV, it’s frequently difficult to discern
where the race is actually taking place. The good news is Phoenix is decidedly
different, both in track layout and in how the cars will be configured.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The new
generation cars will run a rear spoiler twice the size as the ones run at
Daytona and, of course, be freed of the restrictor plate. Look for cars to be
more responsive, and with the draft minimalized, it will be more rewarding for
drivers to dip out of the top line and run low in the corners to argue
positions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Still, the
first half isn’t as much about the racing as it is biding time. For the
drivers, it’s to stay on the lead lap; for the viewer, it’s time to make sure
you’re fed and well rested for when the racing gets serious toward the end. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>New cars or not, the field is deep<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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NASCAR’s new
generation of cars bring distinct shapes back to each car manufacturer,
something fans wanted to see. With different aerodynamic shapes, there’s always
fear that one car will outperform another. Daytona saw each marque spend time
up front looking like the car to beat.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The field is
deep. At every race this year, there will be at least 20 cars out of the 43 car
field that will be strong, realistic contenders for the win. But, did you
notice the final results of the Daytona 500? Reagan Smith finished 7<sup>th</sup>,
Michael McDowell finished 9<sup>th</sup>, and J.J. Yeley finished 10<sup>th</sup>
– all underfunded underdogs in the garage, yet top ten finishers in the sport’s
biggest race. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://media.reporternews.com/media/img/photos/2013/02/24/daytona3_t607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://media.reporternews.com/media/img/photos/2013/02/24/daytona3_t607.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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New cars
mean most teams are together at this point in the learning curve. In time, the
best organizations with the biggest resources will make their way to the top.
In the meantime, look for the mid-level teams to sneak into high finishing
positions. They might not win, but they will be taking points away from contenders
for the season championship, a story you’ll see plenty of as the season
progresses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Danica Patrick will receive the majority of
media attention this year.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Danica
Patrick won’t simply receive more media attention than any other driver, rather
she will receive more media attention this season than <i>all</i> the other drivers. Combined. Together.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Patrick has
always been a media darling, no small part to her good looks, which thus far in
her career has far exceeded the results she has delivered on track – without
some victories, she’s in danger of becoming racing’s version of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Kournikova" target="_blank">Anna Kournikova</a>.
This year, Patrick seems more comfortable in front of media and the fans, and
her performance at Daytona showed when she’s comfortable, she can produce.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/AR-AB565_DANICA_G_20130221160826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/AR-AB565_DANICA_G_20130221160826.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately,
she’s not going to be comfortable at most tracks. Patrick has always shined at
the biggest, most storied tracks in the series she has raced – Indianapolis and
Daytona. At both places, she excels, as she’s most comfortable running flat out
and breathing the throttle to adjust her pace.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Where
Patrick has struggled in her career is braking and rolling back on the
throttle. Look for her to be mid-pack in most races that are contested at tracks
other than Daytona or Talladega. Regardless, you’ll still hear about where she
is, no matter where she is. Just like you will always know who is in the lead,
all year you will know where Patrick is running. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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You might
not hear “Paul Menard is running in 21st,” but you’ll certain hear “Dana
Patrick is running 22nd.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Run hot laps on Twitter @RayHartjen<o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-11185913399268461412013-02-22T08:06:00.000-08:002013-02-22T08:06:41.682-08:004 things to watch for in Sunday’s Daytona 500<br />
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With the
off-season now in the books, NASCAR kicks off its 2013 season this Sunday with
its crown jewel, the Daytona 500. I know what you’re thinking: “There was an off-season?” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Oh yes, the
longest season of any professional sport enjoyed a three month break, and
engines have been piercing the quiet now for almost a week as crews have been
getting new generation cars ready for the biggest stock car race of them all.
As you ready yourself, here are four things to watch for in Sunday’s race.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Expect to hear “Danica” as often as you
hear “Daytona.”<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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As if the
media firestorm that is Danica Patrick needed any further fuel, Patrick’s
performance on Sunday in winning the pole position for the race only fanned the
flames. Becoming the first woman to qualify fastest in NASCAR’s premier series,
Patrick ensured she’ll be the focus of most pre-race discussion, as if she
wasn’t already one of the leading storylines going into the event. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/163/827/hi-res-161871161_crop_exact.jpg?w=650&h=440&q=75" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/163/827/hi-res-161871161_crop_exact.jpg?w=650&h=440&q=75" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Patrick’
best finish in NASCAR Sprint Cup is 17<sup>th</sup>, and she has only a single
top-five finish in 58 starts in NASCAR’s second-tier Nationwide Series. Coupled
with just a single race victory in any motorsports series in well over a
decade, you can expect Patrick’s performance to fall well short of her hype. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the
restrictor plate era, the fastest car alone on the track, as Cup cars qualify,
ordinarily isn’t the fastest car in a pack, as Cup cars race. Look for
Patrick’s relative lack of experience to keep her just out of Victory Lane.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>The Pack Is Back<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Rules
packages the past two seasons have seen restrictor plate races – Daytona and
Talladega – devolve into two car do-se-do’s, with pairs hooking up in tandem,
nose-to-tail, and logging lap after lap
in a manner that most race fans tired of quickly. This year dawns a new car
design, and while crews and drivers are struggling to unlock all the secrets of
the car, this they have already figured out:
the fastest way around the track is in a pack, not a pair.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While the
cars have changed, two things haven’t:
the best teams are the best teams and the best drivers are the best
drivers. Look for two packs to form. A large pack of 25 or so contenders will
race nose-to-tail, side by side, two-wide, at the front of the field, with an
occasional try at three-wide coming
through Turn Two and onto the backstretch. A few seconds behind the first pack,
you’ll see the second bunch, made up of cars struggling for handling and pace,
as well as the conservative contender looking to stay out of …<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Inevitable “Big One”<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The “Big
One” is the nickname given by the racing community – racers and fans alike – to
the huge multi-car wrecks that happen with regularity at high speed, restrictor
plate ovals like Daytona. For the 500, there’s the extra ingredient of
aggressive greed. Second at Daytona is really first loser, and no driver will
be looking for points toward the championship knowing there is ample time to
make up and lost ground after just one race (see longest professional sport
season, above). <o:p></o:p></div>
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Rather,
drivers would gladly trade a Sprint Cup series championship for a Daytona 500
victory. Pack racing plus aggressive, go-for-broke driving usually equals a
“big one.” Look for several contending cars to be sidelined as nothing more
than steaming, crumpled wrecks well before the final ten laps. Then, don’t be
surprised if there’s another “big one” the final ten laps. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Smoke Rises to the Top<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://newspaper.li/static/109dd76a59a61af89d516f691134cb6b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://newspaper.li/static/109dd76a59a61af89d516f691134cb6b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Tony Stewart
is second in the all-time Daytona wins list with 18 victories at the historic
track, trailing only the legendary Dale Earnhardt. However, none of Stewart’s
victories have taken place in the big Sunday race, the Daytona 500. In his 14
years racing in Sprint Cup, Stewart has 47 wins (in 500 starts) and three Cup
championships, along with another 12 combined victories in the Nationwide and
Truck series. Simply, “Smoke” is due. Look for Stewart to win the race or cause
the “big one” trying.<o:p></o:p></div>
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See you at
the track. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Take the
race on a Sunday drive on Twitter @RayHartjen. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-4535386528579635342012-11-27T12:33:00.000-08:002012-11-27T12:33:13.765-08:003 Reasons Nico Hülkenberg’s Move to Sauber Might Be the Right One<br />
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Sunday saw
the conclusion of the 2012 Formula 1 season, and most eyes were riveted to the
exciting battle that saw Sebastian Vettel escape with his third consecutive
title by the narrowest of margins over Fernando Alonso. However, the revelation
of the race may well have been Nico Hülkenberg, driving in his final race
for Force India before moving to Sauber in 2013. Hülkenberg led his first ever
race laps and looked to be a strong contender for the maiden win – both for him
and Force India – until he collided trying to overtake Lewis Hamilton in turn
one as the race wound down, eventually shuffling down to fifth at the checkered
flag.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/2011_Spanish_GP_Hulkenberg_cropped.jpg/220px-2011_Spanish_GP_Hulkenberg_cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/2011_Spanish_GP_Hulkenberg_cropped.jpg/220px-2011_Spanish_GP_Hulkenberg_cropped.jpg" width="185" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Many F1
pundits, most notably Speed’s David Hobbs, think Hülkenberg might be taking a
step backwards on the F1 grid by voluntarily moving from Force India to Sauber,
based primarily on the pace of the respective cars late in the season. Taking a
deeper look, however, three points arise that suggest Hülkenberg’s move might be the
right one to make.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Sauber finished 6<sup>th</sup> in the 2012 Constructors’
Championship, Force India 7<sup>th</sup><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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For Force
India, it was a tale of two seasons, with the first 10 races producing 46
points, the second 10 races delivering 63. Conversely, Sauber broke from the
gates well, earning 80 points over the first half, then holding on to its
position by scrambling for just 46 points in the second. Hobbs and others look
to that trend in questioning Hülkenberg’s decision. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Not so fast.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Sauber
produced the best chances to win in 2012, finding itself on the podium in four
races – two seconds and two thirds - while Force India’s best finishes were off
the podium – two fourths and two fifths. When Sauber is at its best, its best
is better than Force India’s, and Hülkenberg is looking to stand on the F1
podium for the first time in his young career. If 2012 is any indication,
Sauber affords the best opportunity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://gforcef1.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/583206526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://gforcef1.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/583206526.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p><b>H</b><b>ülkenberg
responsible for much of Force India’s 2012 success</b></div>
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Force India
outperformed Sauber over the second half of the season, but most of that was
attributable to Hülkenberg himself, as he regularly outperformed teammate
Pal Di Resta, outscoring him in six races, and scoring a total of 44 points to
Di Resta’s 19. Comparatively, Sauber’s driver tandem of Kamui Kobayashi and
Sergio Pérez
scored 27 and 19 points respectively, matching or outpacing Di Resta, even with
Pérez
seemingly checking out after signing with McLaren for 2013, getting shut out of
the points the final six races. So, yes, while Force India outperformed Sauber
over the last ten races, Hülkenberg was the driver responsible for the majority of that
performance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Sauber runs Ferrari engines while Force
India runs Mercedes<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Not for
nothing, Sauber powers its chasses with Ferrari engines. This isn’t to suggest
the Ferrari power plant provides a competitive advantage over the Mercedes of
Force India. Rather, the suggestion is for future driving opportunities.
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa was lucky to hold onto his drive for 2013, and if he
repeats his disappointing start to the season, driver succession rumors will flying
by early summer. If so, Hülkenberg, driving for a Ferrari customer team, will
instantly find himself in consideration to fill the seat in the prancing horse
of the Scuderia. The road upwards in the Mercedes camp is much more cluttered,
with both Mercedes and McLaren both seemingly set for several years.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Ferrari_Formula_1_lineup_at_the_N%C3%BCrburgring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Ferrari_Formula_1_lineup_at_the_N%C3%BCrburgring.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>2013 will tell the story<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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There you
have it – three reasons to suggest that Hülkenberg might have made the
proper decision to leave Force India for Sauber. The key word, of course, being
“<i>might</i>.” The balance of the 2013
season will tell the story, and it all starts March 17 in Melbourne, Australia. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Run hot laps on Twitter @RayHartjen</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-19592477877505497202012-10-20T17:59:00.002-07:002012-10-20T17:59:54.152-07:00F1 Constructors’ Grade Report – Gearing up for Final Exams<br />
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With 80% of
the Formula One season in the rear view mirror, the Constructors are gearing up
for the stretch run and their final marks for the 2012 season. So, to aid them
in their preparations, below are their final mid-term grades before report
cards come out. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.roadandtrack.com/var/ezflow_site/storage_RT_NEW/storage/images/highlights/frontpage/additional-coverage/2012-f1-season-preview/2811253-1-eng-US/2012-f1-season-preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://www.roadandtrack.com/var/ezflow_site/storage_RT_NEW/storage/images/highlights/frontpage/additional-coverage/2012-f1-season-preview/2811253-1-eng-US/2012-f1-season-preview.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Red Bull Racing-Renault<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A-.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Despite
leading the standings handily and the heavy favorites to win a third
consecutive Constructors’ championship, Red Bull pulls only an A- thus far in a
wildly inconsistent – for them – campaign. Red Bull has fought all season to
get solid results from both cars during race weekends, and the struggle has
paid off the last two races. Look for Red Bull to ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Read the rest of the <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/f1-constructors-grade-reports-gearing-final-11828453.html?cat=27" target="_blank">post on Yahoo! here</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-15439503017951550282012-10-08T14:01:00.002-07:002012-10-08T14:01:21.023-07:00Formula One for Dummies: F1 Racing Returns to America<br />
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Formula One
returns to the United States for the first time since 2007 with the running of
the U.S. Grand Prix November 16-18, hosted at the sparkling-new Circuit of the
Americas track outside Austin, Texas. The pinnacle of motorsport around the
world, F1 is an almost forgotten series in the minds of many American race
fans, finding itself lapped, if you will, by NASCAR in popularity and
viewership. Even the anemic draw of the IndyCar series outperforms F1 in the
states. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>All that’s
set to change, with the Austin race joined next year by a new street circuit in
New Jersey, right on the banks of the most impressive skyline view of New York
City. So, to mark the occasion of F1’s re-emergence in the U.S., here’s a quick
lesson in F1 101, or “F1 for Dummies.”</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Read the complete post on Yahoo! <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/formula-one-dummies-f1-racing-returns-america-11800085.html?cat=14" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-33905785108463150242012-09-27T09:35:00.001-07:002012-09-27T09:35:22.503-07:00Reno Air Races Resume Amid Remembrance<br />
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Motorsports and
racing are inherently dangerous. Where men and women push the limits of
performance in competition, equipment breaks or mistakes are made, and
accidents happen, the outcomes of which are sometimes tragic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">No form of motorsport is immune, despite the
tremendous efforts of organizers, promoters and sanctioning bodies to emphasize
safety, and when tragedy strikes it can be indiscriminate, taking a sport’s
biggest stars like Ayrton Senna and Dale Earnhardt, or its promising up-and-comers
like ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Read the full post on Yahoo! <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/reno-air-races-resume-amid-remembrance-11788267.html?image=2509622&cat=14" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-23493443192604537172012-09-25T09:39:00.001-07:002012-09-27T09:31:05.123-07:00Reno Air Races Test PIlots' Skills Just 50 Off Deck<br />
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Stephen
Partridge-Hicks, known simply as “SPH,” knows a day flying is a day well spent,
his smile when climbing into the cockpit surpassed only by the smile when
getting out. However, one week a year, his smiles are bigger and last longer,
and it happens each September at the National Championship Air Races in Reno,
Nevada. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A native of
the United Kingdom, SPH came about flying the Miss USA Formula One race plane
through his friendship with Thom Richard, co-founder of Warbird Adventures in
Kissimmee, Florida. “Thom told me how much fun he had racing this plan and that
he thought I could race her too,” said Partridge-Hicks, “so I thought I would
give it shot.”</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Read the full post on Yahoo! <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/reno-air-races-test-pilots-skills-50-feet-off-ground-11785295.html?cat=49" target="_blank">here</a>)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUCFuC7a130r0Ptu6Cn70O5o3iRJGT_L2xJ4-uscHT4ZGjqui0Ls8jbKUks1NpWL2lsGWmf2Jix2dpRNp2mcqA5jbeBiC8pgDYxgfsWGyg1aTGRExs2l0p79KT60WOw_cGwh-Zfz6-NyZ/s1600/DSC06398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUCFuC7a130r0Ptu6Cn70O5o3iRJGT_L2xJ4-uscHT4ZGjqui0Ls8jbKUks1NpWL2lsGWmf2Jix2dpRNp2mcqA5jbeBiC8pgDYxgfsWGyg1aTGRExs2l0p79KT60WOw_cGwh-Zfz6-NyZ/s320/DSC06398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-86833375541407321182012-06-20T16:31:00.003-07:002012-06-20T16:31:34.890-07:00Circus sideshow only adds to IndyCar troubles<br />
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Last Sunday, <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ryan-hunter-reay-wins-controversial-milwaukee-indyfest-225-053000376--irl.html;_ylt=Ar1NsbTDq21iGMEF2Aha3fHRv7Y" target="_blank">Ryan Hunter-Reay won his first race</a> of the season
at the famed Milwaukee Mile, tightening up the championship race, and providing
a multitude of possible story lines, including the success of the Michael Andretti
-led promotion of the event. Instead, the buzz afterwards focused more on yet another
blunder by the governing body of IndyCar. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://indycarpuertorico.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/ryan-hunter-reay-winner-circle-milwaukee.jpg?w=490" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://indycarpuertorico.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/ryan-hunter-reay-winner-circle-milwaukee.jpg?w=490" width="320" /></a></div>
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During the race, IndyCar <a href="http://espn.go.com/racing/indycar/story/_/id/8045929/indycar-drivers-power-scott-dixon-penalized-milwaukee" target="_blank">penalized championship contenderScott Dixon</a> for illegally passing before a re-start, a decision that resulted
in dropping Dixon down the field, where he eventually finished 11<sup>th</sup>.
Unbelievably, a failure in IndyCar’s timing and scoring system led race
officials to review the <i>wrong</i> replay
of the re-start, a previous effort that was waved off. There hasn’t been such a
high-profile error in timing and scoring since Arie Luyendyk had to literally
fight for his win at Texas in 1997, and this story only gets worse if it ends
up costing Dixon the series championship. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Losing ground to NASCAR and Formula 1 for mindshare of
American fans, IndyCar can’t seem to either catch or break or get out of its
own way. A quick run-down of hard luck and miscues preceding the Dixon debacle include:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Dirty laundry.</b> Following
the relative success of this year’s Indianapolis 500, IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard
went public on Twitter revealing an unnamed car owner was trying to get him
fired. Unlike the past, today’s IndyCar CEO reports into an independent board
of directors and not the car owners. In probably an unnecessary move, Bernard
put the question of his job security squarely in the glare of the public and media
scrutiny. For a sport that lives by sponsorship, the perception of instability
at the top does no favors. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Illegal parts, but a
legal win.</b> Justin Wilson won the race at Texas Motor Speedway, a great
result for a small team looking to break into the upper echelon of the series.
That was the good news. The bad news was the car utilized illegal body parts.
IndyCar did the right thing by letting the result stand, following NASCAR’s
lead over the years – fans deserve to leave the track knowing who won. The
worst news is that IndyCar couldn’t discover the illegal parts until after the
weekend was over. The perception of lax scrutiny and inspection only erodes
credibility. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/Wires/Online/2012-06-11/AP/Images/IndyCar%20Texas%20Auto%20Racing.JPEG-01f07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/Wires/Online/2012-06-11/AP/Images/IndyCar%20Texas%20Auto%20Racing.JPEG-01f07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Missing pieces.</b> Mid-way through the race in Detroit, the red
flag flew, not for the accident that claimed James Hinchcliffe, but rather for
the <i>cause</i> of Hinchcliffe’s crash – a track
surface that deteriorated and came up in unbelievably large chunks,
necessitating a long delay for patching. IndyCar took a calculated gamble on
the track surface surviving the race weekend, and it lost. One more tick on the
wrong side of the ledger.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Grid barely filled at
Indy.</b> Qualifying for the biggest
race in the world was largely anticlimactic after the race for the pole, as
there simply weren’t enough cars and engines to have attempts by drivers to “bump”
into the field. In the glory days of Indy, Bump Day was every bit as exciting
as Race Day, as tens of cars made the frantic, last moment dash to get into the
field for the richest payday in racing. This year, IndyCar just barely filled the
field, and two of the cars – Di Silvestro and Alesi – were blacked flagged on
race day for failing to keep adequate pace. <o:p></o:p></div>
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IndyCar brings its show to Iowa this weekend, and
desperately needs to put on both a good show and an uneventful show. For a
series that is struggling to overcome the loss of media magnet Danica Patrick
and the tragic death of popular driver Dan Wheldon, the series just can’t
afford another high-profile mistake. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Race along on Twitter @RayHartjen.</i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-68430122307503973332012-06-14T13:27:00.001-07:002012-06-14T13:27:14.314-07:00Conor Daly Q & A: An American Racer in Europe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blog.roadandtrack.com/wp-content/uploads/DALY2-Conor-Daly-220x255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://blog.roadandtrack.com/wp-content/uploads/DALY2-Conor-Daly-220x255.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Growing up in Noblesville, Indiana, almost in the
shadow of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway, 20-year old Conor Daly dreamed of following his father Derek, a
veteran Formula One and CART driver, as a professional racer. With a win under
his belt at the Indy Light race at Long Beach in 2011, Daly set off to Europe
where he competes in GP3 for Lotus GP, and where he eyes an opportunity to
compete at the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula One. Daly’s win at the sprint
race in Barcelona earlier this year thrust him squarely into the spotlight and
positioned him well in the Drivers’ Championship, where he currently sits in 5</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
place.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Daly and I recently traded off this quick Q & A
via email:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">Question:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;"> You have been to victory circle once already
this season. Does it come as a relief or does it add pressure in the form of
increased expectations?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">Conor
Daly:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">
I think it is a massive relief. I have proved I can win over here now and
the goal is to keep winning. It was so cool to have the American national anthem
playing at a Formula 1 weekend!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">Read the full interview<a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/conor-daly-q-american-racer-europe-11453628.html?cat=49" target="_blank"> here on Yahoo</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;"><i>Run laps on Twitter @RayHartjen. </i></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-72189316434721589432012-05-31T21:06:00.001-07:002012-05-31T21:06:58.412-07:00F1: Bestowing awards for early season blunders<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The 2012 Formula One season has gotten off to an
exciting start, with a remarkable six different winners from six races, with
five different constructors reaching the top step of the podium. The top of the
field is as competitive as never before, with both Drivers’ and Constructors’
Championships destined to go to the final laps of the season. However, with the
good comes the bad, and several early season missteps – blunders – have left a
few teams and drivers looking to rebound. The winners of the early season
blunder awards go to …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">McLaren<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.mclaren.com/formula1" target="_blank">McLaren </a>showed up at the opening round in Melbourne,
Australia as the class of the field, running at the top of the timing sheets in
all sessions and being rewarded a victory with Jenson Button and a third-place
finish for teammate Lewis Hamilton. However, so much of that early promise has
been erased by uncharacteristic – for McLaren – gaffs. Problems with tire
changes during pit stops have relegated both the McLarens several critical race
positions at most every track. More troubling is a questionable qualifying strategy
in Spain, where Hamilton lost any shot at victory in the race when his pole
winning time was disallowed, pushing him to the very back of the field. There
have also been set-up, strategic, and reliability concerns with Button’s car,
with his lone victory and one second place finish tarnished by the collection
of just two points over the other four races. Compounding the situation is the
feeling around the paddock that other manufacturers have closed the initial
performance gap found in Melbourne. Simply, the McLaren team has squandered and
given away a bushel of potential points for both the Constructors’ and Drivers’
titles. The good news is the season is young enough to allow a comeback, and
the team still ranks second amongst constructors, trailing only Red Bull. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://image.internetautoguide.com/f/auto-news/jensen-button-and-lewis-hamilton-attempt-to-build-a-formula-1-car-youtube/29637583/jensen-button-and-lewis-hamilton-formula-1-car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://image.internetautoguide.com/f/auto-news/jensen-button-and-lewis-hamilton-attempt-to-build-a-formula-1-car-youtube/29637583/jensen-button-and-lewis-hamilton-formula-1-car.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Michael
Schumacher/Mercedes<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This is an award shared between driver and team.
Through six races, Schumacher has two points compared to the 59 of teammate
Nico Rosberg. To be fair, Schumacher’s Mercedes team has let him down, with
reliability gremlins striking, including a botched tire change in China that
eliminated him while running second. However, it’s also worth noting
Schumacher’s developing trend of running into the back of cars he’s looking to
overtake, a fairly common occurrence during the 7-time world champion’s two
plus seasons coming back from retirement, and most recently evidenced in
Barcelona when Schumi climbed over the back of Bruno Senna’s Williams. Schumacher’s
brilliant pole win at the next race in Monaco went for naught as his 5-spot
grid penalty pushed him back into harm’s way, into the barrier entering the
first corner, and eventually into the garage with another DNF. Again, with
fully 2/3rds the season to go, Schumacher and Mercedes have an <a href="http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/31052012/66/button-defends-schumacher-return.html" target="_blank">opportunity torealize the potential</a> that seems tantalizingly close. The fast qualifier spot
at Monaco shows the driver/car capability, but for now, with just two points, a
blunder award is the only trophy on the mantle.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.gpnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/michael-schumacher-bruno-senna-incident-f1-spain-2012-372x235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://www.gpnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/michael-schumacher-bruno-senna-incident-f1-spain-2012-372x235.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Felipe Massa<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Massa has had a difficult time matching the
performance of teammate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Alonso" target="_blank">Fernando Alonso</a>, which probably doesn’t make him
special, as Alonso is singularly regarded as one of the best drivers in the
world. However, Massa has never been just an ordinary driver, and was even an
extraordinary driver, narrowly missing out on being the 2008 world champion by
just a couple of rain-slickened corners. This year, while under intense
pressure from media, fans, and his Ferrari team alike, Massi has simply
underperformed. In the same equipment as Alonso, Massa trails his more
decorated teammate in points, 76-10. While Massa grabbed eight points in Monaco
with a well-deserved 5<sup>th</sup> place finish, skeptics look for his struggles
to continue, as the slow, twisting Monte Carlo circuit likely hid a great many
of the Ferrari’s performance deficiencies. Massa definitely knows the pressure
is on for him to perform – his team has said as much. If he wants to keep his
seat at a top-tier F1 team, his results have to spike up immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01493/felipe_massa_1493919c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01493/felipe_massa_1493919c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Force India<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Coming off 2011’s impressive 6<sup>th</sup> place
finish in the constructors’ standings and falling just four points shy of
Renault for 5<sup>th</sup>, Force India was thought by many pundits over the
winter as being the best of the mid-tier teams and a strong candidate to evolve
into one of the sports heavy hitters. Now, it’s apparent that Force India
missed on its design for 2012; they lost the scent of Lotus (nee Renault), who
looks like an eventual race winner this year, and have slipped behind both
Williams and Sauber. Drivers Paul Di Resta and Nico Hülkenberg wrested a
combined 10 points at Monaco with their 7<sup>th</sup> and 8<sup>th</sup> place
finishes, giving the team hope for improved results as developments are made on
the car. Until then, though, a blunder award is bestowed for positively missing
the mark during the early season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.clubauto.in/userfiles/2012/2/17/images/Force_India_2012_MJM053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="http://www.clubauto.in/userfiles/2012/2/17/images/Force_India_2012_MJM053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Selected Media<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Some media members are speculating that six winners
from six races borders on being bad for the sport, with race outcomes being
wholly unpredictable on the nature of NASCAR, and dependent on the follies of
tire management and circuit/car compatibility. For sure, there are three other
drivers with very real aspirations of winning in 2012 – Hamilton and Lotus’
pair of Kimi Räikkönen and Roman Grosjean. Those bemoaning the current state of
affairs will have a better argument if those three win the next three races. But
look for repeat winners soon, and for the cream of F1 pit lane to rise to the
top in this incredibly competitive, compelling engaging season. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Growing up in
Indianapolis, Ray spent the better part of each spring at the “Brickyard,”
losing a lot of his hearing, but gaining a life-long appreciation of all things
sleek, fast, and loud. Run laps with Ray on Twitter @RayHartjen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1853957973339377144.post-118560531558036372012-05-28T13:02:00.000-07:002012-05-28T13:02:47.799-07:00Reflections of Indy 500 usually hint at hindsight<br />
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INDIANAPOLIS – <a href="http://www.franchitti.com/home.php" target="_blank">Dario Franchitti</a> won yesterday’s
Indianapolis 500, and deservedly so, as Franchitti and his Target Chip Ganassi
teammate Scott Dixon worked their way up to the front of the field, an idea
that seemed far-fetched at best as the team struggled to find pace early in
practice and qualifications, and made even more difficult with a pit road
incident that sent Franchitti to the back of the pack early in the race. It was
a fitting win, and sentimental and emotionally-satisfying, what with Frnachitti’s
long friendship with the late Dan Wheldon, winner of last year’s race.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2012/writers/bruce_martin/05/27/indianapolis-500-dario-franchitti/indianapolis-500-dario-franchitti-getty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2012/writers/bruce_martin/05/27/indianapolis-500-dario-franchitti/indianapolis-500-dario-franchitti-getty.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
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Yet, after the emotionally charged victory celebration wore
off, <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1198085-indy-500-2012-analyzing-takuma-satos-controversial-last-lap-move" target="_blank">talk in racing circles turned to Takuma Sato</a> and his ill-fated attempt to
pass Franchitti in turn one of the final lap, an effort that saw Sato’s race end
against the turn one wall and Franchitti leisurely roll under the caution flag
to his third 500 victory.</div>
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Race fans and commentators looked at Sato’s dive into turn
one as further prove of the widely held perception that Sato lacks patience and
poise on the race course. Even Dixon chimed in, saying, “I don’t know why he
didn’t wait a little longer. I really don’t.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.haaretz.com/polopoly_fs/1.432852.1338157873!/image/3257484802.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_640/3257484802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://www.haaretz.com/polopoly_fs/1.432852.1338157873!/image/3257484802.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_640/3257484802.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sato didn’t wait because it was the Indy 500, a race whose
storied history and fierce competition demands victory be earned – rewarding those
who seize the opportunity to take and leaving those waiting for gifts thinking
of what might have been. As 1986 Indy champion Bobby Rahal has said, “the
history books don’t talk much about those who finish second or third.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sato certainly would have preferred using draft to slingshot
past Franchitti on the final dash to the checkered flag coming off turn four.
Those best laid plans were pushed out of his mind though when he grabbed a great
“tow” from Franchitti at the end of lap 199, one that put him right behind
Franchitti entering turn one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was an opportunity too good to pass up; an opportunity
that if pulled off successfully puts Sato in the annals of racing history,
forever an Indy 500 champion. In the end, it was an opportunity that just didn’t
work out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A race as big as the Indy 500 usually teases racers, crews
and fans with the allure of hindsight. What if Al Unser, Jr. hadn’t lifted for
traffic in turn two in 1989, allowing Emerson Fittipaldi to get a run down into
turn three, where the two collided, with Little Al’s day ending along the wall,
Emmo’s in Victory Circle? What if <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfaE8mV-QVM" target="_blank">J.R. Hildebrand had lifted</a> just slightly in
turn four of last year’s race, taking the chance that his margin over Wheldon
was big enough to hang on to the finish?
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/Greatest.Indy.500.moments/images/Fittipaldi-Unser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/Greatest.Indy.500.moments/images/Fittipaldi-Unser.jpg" width="309" /></a></div>
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Hindsight can be a cruel mistress; so tempting, so teasing,
yet in the end a futile pursuit. Yet, we can’t help ourselves. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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As for Sato, after the race he said, “He (Franchitti) didn’t
seem to be giving me enough space. I was well below the white line. I just
couldn’t make it.” Sato thinks Franchitti didn’t give him room to complete the
pass, but don’t misconstrue his statement. He’s not blaming Franchitti, just
stating fact. He undoubtedly would have done the same thing, given the roles
reversed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s the Indy 500. Victory is never a gift. Even hindsight
tells us you have to take it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Growing up in
Indianapolis, Ray spent the better part of each spring at the “brickyard,” losing
a lot of his hearing, but gaining a life-long appreciation of all things fast. Run
laps with Ray on Twitter @RayHartjen.<o:p></o:p></i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979059265543831638noreply@blogger.com0