Well...now that you ask....Toronto was a total farce! I wouldn't have sat through it, except I'd taped it, and could fast forward through the endless pace car laps - which made for about 15 minutes of actual racing by the end (I think). God what a collossal waste of time! And as for Fred winning the british gp? Well...yes, it was a "win", but it wasn't really a "WIN" if you know what I mean. I'd have been much happier if Vettel's pit crew hadn't screwed up and Fred had taken it fair and square on the track - now that would have been A WIN! But this getting an advantage 'cause somebody other than the driver' screwed up on the other car, well...not my idea of "WINNING" really. I mean I'll take it - don't get me wrong - but it just doesn't feel like a resounding cheer of WE WON! WE BEAT REDBULL! kind of thing. So over all, I'd give the race 3 stars - not a definite cheer of approval there.
Yes the US needs more than one F1 race if F1 is going to hold anyone's interest here. But New York and LA again? You'd think those are the only two cities in the US.
2012 USGP is most likely going to Texas and the Circuit of the Americas.
The North East (New York) already has a GP just a quick drive up US87. OK it is 6.5 hours but that is not too bad.
So the 2nd USGP should go to the West Coast. The obvious choice is Long Beach but I don't see IndyCar giving that up without a fight and I don't see city streets being blocked off for two weekends. I really can't see a double header weekend working with those two series.
So, now where? What is near the West Coast, can draw from major markets and has money? Las Vegas!
Now North America would have 3 F1 GPs: Montreal in the North East, Texas in the South Central, and Las Vegas within spitting distance of the West Coast.
I would suggest that F1 schedule these three races consecutively and that the three promoters get together to have a mini championship for the Canadian GP, GP of The Americas, and USGP; even if it is a small trophy. MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF THIS.
Demo the F1 cars at the Daytona 500. Show NASCAR fans that these are race cars that SCREAM.
Don't interfere with Memorial Day. Don't mess with July 2 through 4. Don't conflict with the Brickyard 400. Don't come to the US too late you'll mess with the NFL and MLB. If F1 came barnstorming across North America for 30 to 45 days of hype during the summer with a mini championship at stake, Americans might care.
Jock - you seem to expect far too much from F1! In any case though I'm glad that whenever Red Bull falters it is Alonso to pick up the pieces. I just so wish the cars looked good. When they go back to turbo engines, can we have a set of rules that would allow the cars to look like this - http://www.pitpass.com/images/headlines/various/1987mansellusgp400.jpg
rather than the bogan-backshed jobs we have now. I could forgive them so much if they did that.
Sam "Jock - you seem to expect far too much from F1!"
Ummmm...ohhh...ahhh...that's what's wrong with F1 - I expect too much! Ok, well now that we have that sorted out....how do you really feel about the season thus far? :)
Well Earl, though I can't 100% agree with you - F1 has definitely been better than IndyCar this year. I think F1 has had it's moments - like Spa for example, and hopefully Monza will be great this year, but IndyCar is just a total farce! If I was one of the IndyCar drivers I think I'd be looking for a new series to race in. I'd be embarrassed to say I drove in that joke of a series, and winning a title there certainly won't be something to brag about.
I don’t quite get why IndyCar is so poor these days. It’s probably because they have run the same package for a zillion years and if the lesser teams were ever to close the gap, it would have been years ago.
There’s some good drivers in IndyCar this year. I like to see Pagenaud, Pantano, Bourdais, Conway and others. No shortage of talent from the drivers, just the teams.
It is as if IndyCar and the teams have been in a holding pattern since the merger - just waiting 'til 2011 for the Centennial and 2012 for the new cars. Maybe next year when this is no longer a spec series some of the magic will return to IndyCar.
Never saw Toronto...and only a little of the British GP - great to see Alonso get a win!
ReplyDeleteWell...now that you ask....Toronto was a total farce! I wouldn't have sat through it, except I'd taped it, and could fast forward through the endless pace car laps - which made for about 15 minutes of actual racing by the end (I think). God what a collossal waste of time!
ReplyDeleteAnd as for Fred winning the british gp? Well...yes, it was a "win", but it wasn't really a "WIN" if you know what I mean. I'd have been much happier if Vettel's pit crew hadn't screwed up and Fred had taken it fair and square on the track - now that would have been A WIN! But this getting an advantage 'cause somebody other than the driver' screwed up on the other car, well...not my idea of "WINNING" really. I mean I'll take it - don't get me wrong - but it just doesn't feel like a resounding cheer of WE WON! WE BEAT REDBULL! kind of thing. So over all, I'd give the race 3 stars - not a definite cheer of approval there.
Yes the US needs more than one F1 race if F1 is going to hold anyone's interest here. But New York and LA again? You'd think those are the only two cities in the US.
ReplyDelete2012 USGP is most likely going to Texas and the Circuit of the Americas.
The North East (New York) already has a GP just a quick drive up US87. OK it is 6.5 hours but that is not too bad.
So the 2nd USGP should go to the West Coast. The obvious choice is Long Beach but I don't see IndyCar giving that up without a fight and I don't see city streets being blocked off for two weekends. I really can't see a double header weekend working with those two series.
So, now where? What is near the West Coast, can draw from major markets and has money? Las Vegas!
Now North America would have 3 F1 GPs: Montreal in the North East, Texas in the South Central, and Las Vegas within spitting distance of the West Coast.
I would suggest that F1 schedule these three races consecutively and that the three promoters get together to have a mini championship for the Canadian GP, GP of The Americas, and USGP; even if it is a small trophy. MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF THIS.
Demo the F1 cars at the Daytona 500. Show NASCAR fans that these are race cars that SCREAM.
Don't interfere with Memorial Day. Don't mess with July 2 through 4. Don't conflict with the Brickyard 400. Don't come to the US too late you'll mess with the NFL and MLB. If F1 came barnstorming across North America for 30 to 45 days of hype during the summer with a mini championship at stake, Americans might care.
Jock - you seem to expect far too much from F1! In any case though I'm glad that whenever Red Bull falters it is Alonso to pick up the pieces.
ReplyDeleteI just so wish the cars looked good.
When they go back to turbo engines, can we have a set of rules that would allow the cars to look like this - http://www.pitpass.com/images/headlines/various/1987mansellusgp400.jpg
rather than the bogan-backshed jobs we have now.
I could forgive them so much if they did that.
Sam
ReplyDelete"Jock - you seem to expect far too much from F1!"
Ummmm...ohhh...ahhh...that's what's wrong with F1 - I expect too much! Ok, well now that we have that sorted out....how do you really feel about the season thus far? :)
Going against the trend, F1 has been great, IndyCar has been awful!
ReplyDeleteWell Earl, though I can't 100% agree with you - F1 has definitely been better than IndyCar this year. I think F1 has had it's moments - like Spa for example, and hopefully Monza will be great this year, but IndyCar is just a total farce! If I was one of the IndyCar drivers I think I'd be looking for a new series to race in. I'd be embarrassed to say I drove in that joke of a series, and winning a title there certainly won't be something to brag about.
ReplyDeleteI don’t quite get why IndyCar is so poor these days. It’s probably because they have run the same package for a zillion years and if the lesser teams were ever to close the gap, it would have been years ago.
ReplyDeleteThere’s some good drivers in IndyCar this year. I like to see Pagenaud, Pantano, Bourdais, Conway and others. No shortage of talent from the drivers, just the teams.
It is as if IndyCar and the teams have been in a holding pattern since the merger - just waiting 'til 2011 for the Centennial and 2012 for the new cars. Maybe next year when this is no longer a spec series some of the magic will return to IndyCar.
ReplyDeleteIs it just engines next year and then chassis in 2013?
ReplyDeleteAny time they run spec stuff is always bad – look at the final few years of Champ Car – that was a disaster too.
Bring on racing variables and unknowns I say - that's what competition is all about...
...and rain machines.
ReplyDeleteHaven't been able to watch any Indycar this year but you read after the race and it has nothing to do with the ontrack racing.
ReplyDeleteF1 has been a lot better this year, my problem comes back to a fundamental issue with the rule book going against the spirit of the sport.
I agree Indycar should be great. The list of drivers there is quite brilliant. I hope the new car will sort it out, but I am not holding my breath.
Have to agree with Earl. It needs to be a more open series. I hate spec.