alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

As if we really have a say what direction F1 is going to take.

nu2rx8

I'd agree except they've already been down this road and the cars just got faster. Story at Barcelona Friday was that Hamilton's already under Massa's lap record from the '07 Spanish GP. Changes to aero and tires are imo the only things that'll allow the cars to run closer togeather. Wonder how much dirty air Red Bull's newest design will generate...

http://www.f1technical.net/news/8163

morkusyambo

Especially considering they took our GP away

morkusyambo

Very true. I believe Ferrari weren't turning the fastest times in preseason testing last year. Then Kimi blew the field away in the opening race.

IB Tim

IMO that thing looks hideous, it has got to screw up the car at turn in, one of the most important part of the aero package to give stability at apex, when the car YAWS it would be interesting to see that affect of it in the wind tunnel.

nu2rx8

^ yeah that thing is horrible looking. Trouble is it's a Newey design so it has instant credibility. Heaven forbid if RB is fast with that thing then everyone will have one in Australia.

I remember Penske ran a similar shark fin back in mid 90's CART. I believe the goal was to channel less turbulent air to the rear wing to make it more efficient. Imagine that F1 borrowing from 10 year old CART technology.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

In the latest news, Lewis Hamilton is being taunted with racist comments during open pre-season testing in Spain. British Race Drivers Club president Daimon Hill says that the F1 should discontinue testing in that country if this continues. F1 could pull the Spanish GP of the calendar.

morkusyambo

People who think americans are racist should spend a little time in Europe or Japan.

CERAMICSEAL

Unfortunately the USA gets undeserved flack for racism. A lot of ground has been covered in the last 40 years.

Seal.

morkusyambo

Yep. All you have to do is spend some time overseas to realize we don't have it as bad as others would have you believe.

IB Tim

The interesting part here.. is....... this is not all about racism., there is an undercurrent of just dislike to Hamilton no matter what color he is, they (being folks who just don't like him) are striking out at anything, IMO this will continue on many levels.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

I thought the same thing. They hate Lewis because he didn't take his proper spot and support his champion team mate. Had he done that, Alonso would be champion again. Their anger comes out with these taunts. But, this is racism. It just took this situation to bring it out. Kimi probably gets taunts also, but they come out in a different form (eg. w/o the racial element).

IB Tim

Good assessment and probably spot on....BTW Kimi is setting a blistering pace in testing

T.T.

http://www.f1technical.net/news/8208
Any idea on what this supposedly revolutionary W-wing may look like? I'm thinking its something like the rear wing Ferrari used at Canada.

http://www.formula1.com/news/technic...7/775/426.html

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Is this what you were looking for?

T.T.

Yes, that is revolutionary. Renault can bomb their opponents before they they even realize that they are there.

IB Tim

Priceless.....and funny

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Melbourne looses F1 racing after contract expires in 2010.

By Michael Gauthier
February 9, 2008 8:12:17 PM

Race fans in Melbourne are in mourning as Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone announced no more races will be held in the city after the contract expires in 2010. The news comes after the government refused to allow a night race, something which Mr. Ecclestone considered non-negotiable.

A government spokesman went on record to say "I'm sure Melbourne will survive without a Grand Prix," and that the city "…would be better without it." Last year the race lost an estimated 35 million dollars, and is expected to loose another 40 million this year. Recent reports have suggested that Ecclestone intends to meet with government officials in St. Petersburg about holding a race in Russia, essentially replacing the Melbourne event.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/print/9080209.006

IB Tim

He has not wanted a race there for a long time, they just don't pay him enough and get the time right so the Brits can view it in England correct.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=280160

No-one, of course, has yet driven the track which will host the FORMULA 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix. Based on speed projections and simulations, ESPN Star Sports commentator Steve Slater and former F1 driver and Clerk of the Course Tim Schenken have put their heads together to create a 'virtual' flying lap.

TURN 1
Maximum rate braking from over 280km/h down to about 90, being careful to control wheel locking as the driver downshifts from 7th gear to 2nd for the tight left hander. A great place to see the awesome braking power of an F1 car. It's also a good opportunity for a following car to grab a 'sneak' move down the inside and take a place.

TURNS 2/3/4
Briefly up to 3rd gear and 160km/h through Turn 2, before dropping back to second gear for the 90km/h Turn 3. Then it's back onto full throttle and up to 4th gear and 200km/h as the cars leave the permanent section of the track and flick through Turn 4, the first corner on the public highway.

TURN 5
Back onto the brakes and down to 3rd gear for Turn 5, the entrance to Raffles Boulevard. The exit to this corner, taken at about 140km/h, has an opening radius which will allow a car following closely, not to lose too much downforce. That gives an opportunity for an overtaking move at the end of the straight.

TURN 6
Before that though, we reach the awesome Turn 6, a flat-out, full throttle kink in the track taken just before the cars change from 6th to 7th gear. Just after this corner is the fastest section of the track where the cars reach 310km/h, with the screaming exhaust notes bouncing off the surrounding buildings. Turn 6 will be the fastest corner on any street-circuit ever!

TURN 7/8
At the end of Raffles Boulevard, Turn 7 is potentially one of the best overtaking opportunities. Here the cars brake from over 300km/h down to 90km/h for the second gear left-hander onto the Nicholl Highway, briefly accelerating back up to 200km/h in third before taking the 2nd gear right-hander around the War Memorial and accelerating to 200km/h along the short stretch of Stamford Road. The grandstands at Turn 8 could be one of the best viewing locations. If you get the right seat you'll also see the cars as they return over the Esplanade Bridge to Turn 15!

TURN 9
A clean exit from the 3rd gear left hander at Turn 9, will control the cars speed along Anderson Road and past the Padang sports fields. It too is an opening radius corner -- and without electronic traction control -- the driver who can best control his cars horsepower will have an advantage at the end of the straight.

TURNS 10-14
From over 250km/h the cars will brake hard, again giving an overtaking opportunity, for the slower sequence of corners at the end of the straight. The heritage buildings of the old Supreme Court and the Singapore Cricket Club will create a backdrop similar to Monaco's Casino Square.

Here the drivers balance the cars in 2nd and 3rd gears at between 100 and 160 km/h, as they line up to cross the Anderson Bridge, a unique feature of any track in the world. Built in 1910 to link the North and South Banks of the Singapore River, its colonial architecture marks a major contrast to the ultra-modern skyline of the business quarter just behind.

TURNS 15/16
After a tight second gear hairpin at Turn 14, the cars will reach over 280km/h in seventh gear as they cross the Esplanade Bridge, before braking hard and shifting down to 2nd for the right handed Turn 15. This offers another overtaking opportunity before the cars accelerate back up to 240km/h through Turn 16, before reaching the slow speed section of track around the National Day Grandstand.

TURNS 17-20
The slowest part of the circuit taken at around 100km/h in 2nd gear, still provides a challenge to drivers and engineers. This section of track will work the brakes hard and place a premium on slow speed traction, not to mention the driver's finesse! After running along the waterfront in front of the giant 27,000 seat grandstand, at Turn 19 the cars actually turn beneath the grandstand itself -- another unique feature of the FORMULA 1TM Singtel Singapore Grand Prix.

TURNS 21-24
Two further slower turns taken at around 120km/h in 3rd gear bring the cars back onto the waterfront next to the Singapore Flyer, the world's largest observation wheel. The final two turns, taken at 150km/h and 200km/h respectively, give a fast-flowing end to the lap with 5.067km, 14 left turns and 10 right turns completed.

nu2rx8

Interesting that the powers that be in F1, most of whom think of oval racing as 'barbaric', have decided that a 192mph corner on a street ciruit is acceptable. That's about the same speed as Blanchimont, which is the fastest coner at Spa. Oh I guess it'll have 1/4 mile of asphalt run-off as most street circuits do.

BlueRenesis82

Let's be honest here, if a driver died every year and Max and Bernie doubled the amount of money that they made last year, they would make no push to change things. The whole sport has become so money driven that I wonder how things would be if those 2 took a permanent vacation from their spots.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Feb.21 (GMM) A spokesman for the French formula one team, as well as Fernando Alonso, have rubbished claims that Renault will use a revolutionary rear wing at the Australian grand prix next month.

Citing a source close to the Enstone based team, a Dutch website recently reported that the concept, nicknamed the \'W\' wing because of its shape, would not be tested before Melbourne so that it is not copied by rival outfits.

The reports added that the piece could be worth up to five tenths per lap for the new R28 car.

But on the sidelines of the Barcelona test this week, a spokesman ridiculed the rumour when asked by the Spanish sports daily Marca.

Marca suggests that the story arose after fake photos of the supposed wing were posted on the internet by inventive fans.

To the Spanish news agency EFE, meanwhile, team driver Alonso insisted that Renault is not planning to \"present anything revolutionary\" on its 2008 single seater for the start of the season.

The 26-year-old former world champion did, however, suggest that the team will shortly test some improvements to the front of the R28 that should yield \"one or two tenths\" per lap.

----------------------------

Also in the news:

Fernando Alonso says he is not expecting to be able to fight for a place on the podium at each race when the new season kicks off in Australia in March.
"We are quite far off," Alonso told the Spanish AS newespaper. "I think it's looking like it was at the end of last year with the two Ferraris followed by the McLarens and BMWs and if everything stays reliable you can almost only be fighting for seventh place."
"Thinking about podiums would be too optimistic right now, but then your hopes increase when you arrive at the first Grand Prix, but right now, being realistic, the podium is a dream," he added. "In our current form we will find it difficult to make it into final qualifying."

IB Tim

Me thinks Alonso, will be 1.4 off the poll, in Auzy...IMO

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

After Renault's poor results from last year, it will be interesting to see if it was the car. Or just the driver's inability to get the car setup correct and if Alonso can correct that.