Author Topic: Official Racing Thread (Read 181577 times)

RatBastich · « **Reply #780 on:** August 01, 2009, 04:54:02 AM »

Turbo button can be used 20 times

Associated Press

SPARTA, Ky. -- IndyCar has had it with the parades.

Following a string of largely uninspiring races, particularly on ovals, the open-wheel series is borrowing a page from video games in an effort to shake things up.

The series will unveil the "Push to Pass" button during Saturday night's race at Kentucky, one of a handful of changes officials hope provide more thrills and fewer yawns over the season's final six races.

Competitive racing has been almost nonexistent on the ovals, where the majority of the races have turned into nothing but two-hour processionals.

The circuit's last visit to an oval at Richmond in June featured so little passing drivers ended up apologizing to fans afterward.

RatBastich · « **Reply #781 on:** August 01, 2009, 07:38:05 PM »

Drainage problem stops qualifying

Associated Press

SPARTA, Ky. -- Drainage problems have wiped out qualifying for Saturday's IndyCar race at Kentucky.

The 23-car field was set on Friday; season points leader Scott Dixon will start from the pole, with Target Chip Ganassi teammate Dario Franchitti starting on the outside of row 1.

A series of storms this week dumped more than five inches of rain on the track, and water kept seeping through the concrete throughout the day. Crews spent most of the day scrambling to keep the track dry.

Dixon won last year's race at Kentucky when Helio Castroneves ran out of gas on the final lap.

RatBastich · « **Reply #782 on:** August 02, 2009, 03:23:32 AM »

Schumacher pays Massa a visit

Associated Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Michael Schumacher visited injured Formula One driver Felipe Massa on Saturday at the Hungarian hospital where the Brazilian is recovering from injuries suffered during last weekend's high-speed crash.

Schumacher, who is coming out of retirement to replace Massa at Ferrari, left the AEK hospital with former Ferrari boss Jean Todt. He did not talk to reporters, but later posted a message about the visit on his Web site.

"Good that I finally made it to see Felipe, I feel better now," Schumacher wrote. "I am surprised at his extreme positive condition, as the accident was only one week ago. We sat together for around three hours and were chatting with each other."

The seven-time world champion, who retired in 2006, tested a 2007 version of the Ferrari F1 car at an Italian track on Friday.

"I have to say that today I feel muscles I was not even aware anymore they exist," Schumacher said. "But then it was clear that you cannot test for a day after such a lot of time without feeling anything, and I am curious to see what will happen in the coming days."

Massa's family doctor, Dino Altman, said Saturday that the Brazilian was "doing well" and was "anxious to go home." According to Altman, Massa will fly home to Sao Paulo in a private jet on Monday.

Massa said Thursday that he was thinking about racing again, but Altman said he did not know how soon the runner-up to Lewis Hamilton in the 2008 Formula One championship could return to the track.

"There's no hurry to bring him back to drive," Altman said. "The most important [thing] is to have him fully recovered, in a safe situation."

The 28-year-old Massa underwent surgery on multiple skull fractures after he was hit in the helmet by a loose part from another car and crashed into a protective tire barrier during qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix last Saturday.

RatBastich · « **Reply #783 on:** August 02, 2009, 10:31:08 PM »

Massa flying home to Brazil on Monday

Associated Press

SAO PAULO -- Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is on the mend with only some swelling near his left eye and will fly home to Brazil on Monday nine days after fracturing his skull in a high-speed crash in Hungary.

He will travel on a medical plane with his wife Raffaela, who is six months pregnant with their first child, and family doctor Dino Altmann. They are expected in Sao Paulo on Monday night. Massa's parents and his brother flew back Sunday.

"Thank God, I'm feeling very well," Massa said Sunday in a statement. "I only have a bit of swelling in the region of my left eye. I'm anxious to return to Brazil and continue the recovery process."

Massa will be transported by helicopter from the Sao Paulo airport to a hospital, where he is expected to have further tests. He will probably stay there about two days before going home.

The 28-year-old Brazilian has said he was thinking about returning to Formula One as early as the next race, the European Grand Prix on Aug. 23 at Valencia, Spain. But he said Sunday his return might be some time away.

"It is important to be fully recovered before returning to the track," he said.

Massa underwent surgery on multiple skull fractures after he was hit in the helmet by a loose part from another car. He crashed into a tire barrier during qualifying at the Hungarian GP on Aug. 25.

He will be replaced at Ferrari by seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who visited Massa on Saturday at his Budapest hospital.

RatBastich · « **Reply #784 on:** August 03, 2009, 09:40:03 PM »

Massa en route home 9 days after crash

Associated Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is on his way home to Brazil, nine days after a life-threatening crash during qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Massa is expected to arrive in Sao Paulo on Monday evening, accompanied on a private jet by his wife, Raffaela, who is six months pregnant with their first child, and family doctor Dino Altman.

"Many things have happened over the last days and I want to get back to a normal life," Massa said in an interview on Ferrari's Web site. "I want to get back into the best possible condition -- doing things you do every day."

Massa, who said he was feeling well aside from some swelling around his damaged left eye, left the AEK military hospital where he was being treated and will be transported in a helicopter from Sao Paulo airport to a local hospital.

He is expected to undergo further tests there and is likely to stay for about two days before being allowed to return to his home.

The 28-year-old Massa underwent surgery on multiple skull fractures after he was hit in the helmet by a loose part from another car and crashed into a protective tire barrier on July 25.

He will be replaced at Ferrari by record seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who visited Massa on Saturday at his Budapest hospital and is coming out of retirement to race.

"Michael doesn't need my advice," Massa said. "It was him who gave me many tips during my career when we were racing together. He knows how to win, he knows how to drive and he's great.

"It was the best choice handing over the car to such a fantastic person and I'm sure that everybody will be happy to see him back on the track again -- although I hope I'll be back on the track with Ferrari as soon as possible."

RatBastich · « **Reply #785 on:** August 04, 2009, 06:26:31 PM »

Piquet cites 'worst period of career'

Associated Press

SAO PAULO -- Nelson Piquet Jr. says he has been fired from Renault and blamed team principal Flavio Briatore for his failure to achieve significant results in Formula 1.

Piquet says he's disappointed with Renault's decision, but at the same time was relieved to put an end to "the worst period of my career."

Piquet said in a statement Monday that the "black period" of his career began when he signed a management contract with Briatore, who "threatened" him instead of supporting him. He called Briatore his "executioner."

The Brazilian driver's best finish in 28 races was second at the German Grand Prix in 2008.

He said he is already considering his options to remain in F1 with another team.

RatBastich · « **Reply #786 on:** August 05, 2009, 04:53:52 AM »

Ferrari displeased with opposition

Reuters

ROME -- Ferrari vented its frustration at rivals Williams and Red Bull on Tuesday after the teams said they were opposed to Michael Schumacher testing injured Brazilian Felipe Massa's F60 car.

Seven-times world champion Schumacher, who retired in 2006, is set to fill in for Ferrari while Massa recovers.

Formula One regulations do not allow track testing during the season, although Ferrari had hoped other teams would allow an exception after Massa fractured his skull in an accident at Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying last month.

"Guess who opposed the test with the F60?" Ferrari said on its Web site.

"A team that hasn't won anything for years and yet didn't pass over the opportunity to demonstrate once more a lack of spirit of fair play."

Williams last won the constructors championship in 1997, when Canada's Jacques Villeneuve topped the driver's standings for them.

Ferrari also hit back at Williams' and Red Bull's argument that Schumacher should be treated no differently than Spanish teenager Jaime Alguersuari, who was unable to track-test his car before his F1 debut for Toro Rosso in Hungary.

"Just for the record, the Scuderia Ferrari had given its approval to let Alguersuari test, but it seems even in this instance someone decided to stick to the precise wording of the regulations," it said.

Seven-times world champion Schumacher completed 70 laps in a 2007 version Ferrari at Mugello near Florence last Friday.

RatBastich · « **Reply #787 on:** August 05, 2009, 07:20:52 PM »

Schumacher still has twinge in neck

Associated Press

FRANKFURT -- Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher says he is slimming down for his Formula One comeback and the only problem is a little neck pain.

Schumacher's first race is expected to be the European Grand Prix in Valencia on Aug. 23. The 40-year-old is returning to his Ferrari team while Felipe Massa recovers from a recent crash.

"I already lost three kilograms [nearly seven pounds] even if it is also important to me to build up muscles. So all in all, the practice works pretty well," Schumacher wrote on his Web site Tuesday.

Schumacher had a motorcycle crash in February and suffered neck injury.

"I only have to admit that my neck pinches a bit. We have to get a grip on that as health has priority -- that's the clear arrangement made with Ferrari and, by the way, with my wife, too," said Schumacher, whose comeback is contingent on passing a medical checkup.

Neck injuries are particularly problematic for F1 drivers because of the enormous strain on their necks caused by the high G-forces they must endure during high-speed cornering.

Despite his neck pain, the German declared he was eager to get back on the track.

"I really would like to thank all my fans who keep their fingers crossed for my plans for all the positive feedback. It's incredible how much support I get from all over the world," said Schumacher, who retired in 2006.

RatBastich · « **Reply #788 on:** August 06, 2009, 07:28:09 PM »

Doornbos returns to HVM Racing

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- Robert Doornbos has been rehired by IndyCar team HVM Racing.

The Dutch driver also drove for HVM in 2007, when he won Champ Car's Rookie of the Year award. In 2007, HVM was known as Team Minardi USA. Doornbos won two races that season and finished third in points.

The move gives HVM two cars the rest of this season and all of next season. Doornbos will drive the No. 33 car and will race this weekend at Mid-Ohio. E.J. Viso drives the team's other car.

The 27-year-old Doornbos made 12 starts in IndyCars this season for Newman/Haas/Lanigan and had four top-10 finishes. He was 28th at the series biggest event, the Indianapolis 500.

Masa · « **Reply #789 on:** August 11, 2009, 10:02:16 AM »

Quote

Michael Schumacher cancels F1-Comeback

Consequences of bike-injuries make return impossible

"Yesterday evening, I had to inform Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo and Team Principal Stefano Domenicali that unfortunately I'm not able to step in for Felipe. I really tried everything to make that temporary comeback possible, however, much to my regret it didn't work out. Unfortunately we did not manage to get a grip on the pain in the neck which occurred after the private F1-day in Mugello, even if medically or therapeutically we tried everything possible."

http://www.michael-schumacher.de/?page=news&story_id=82524&lang=uk

JFC · « **Reply #790 on:** August 11, 2009, 09:57:21 PM »

^
Aw bummer.

Even if he ended up not being competitive, his presence would have helped give F1 a decent boost in terms of attendance and attention (which it couldn't hurt to have). Hard part now is finding another person to step in for the second Ferrari seat.

Masa · « **Reply #791 on:** August 22, 2009, 09:44:40 PM »

Quote

Qualifying - Hamilton heads a McLaren one-two

McLaren confirmed their re-emergence in Valencia on Saturday afternoon as Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen set the fastest times to wrap up the front row of the grid for the European Grand Prix. Kovalainen was on course to take pole but made a small error on the last corner and failed to beat Hamilton’s 1m 39.498s best. The Finn's earlier 1m 39.532s was enough for second, however.

Rubens Barrichello confirmed Brawn GP’s return to form with the third fastest time of 1m 39.563s, with team mate Jenson Button fifth on 1m 39.821s. It was Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel who found himself the meat in the Brawn sandwich. After his engine failure this morning, the German was able to lap his Red Bull in 1m 39.789s for the other second-row slot.

Kimi Raikkonen made a late improvement to sixth for Ferrari on 1m 40.144s, and will be a dangerman at the start with his KERS.

Behind the Finn, Nico Rosberg took seventh for Williams with 1m 40.185s, ahead of Renault’s Fernando Alonso on 1m 40.236s, Red Bull’s Mark Webber on 1m 40.239s and BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica on 1m 40.512s.

Q2 weeded out Nick Heidfeld in the second BMW Sauber, who lapped in 1m 38.826s (Barrichello was quickest in 1m 38.076s so the times were very close), and Adrian Sutil was on his tail in the Force India with 1m 38.846s. Timo Glock was 13th for Toyota with 1m 38.991s. Romain Grosjean looked promising on his Formula One debut and was 14th in the second Renault on 1m 39.040s, comfortably ahead of Sebastien Buemi who wheeled the lead Toro Rosso round in 1m 39.514s for 15th.

Q1 accounted for Force India’s Giancarlo Fisichella, Williams’ Kazuki Nakajima, Toyota’s Jarno Trulli, Toro Rosso’s Jaime Alguersuari and Ferrari’s Luca Badoer, as Button set the pace with 1m 39.531s.

Fisichella lapped in 1m 39.531s, while Nakajima had worked down to 1m 39.795s before going off the road. Trulli’s best was 1m 39.807s, and Alguersuari lapped in 1m 39.925s (a second off Buemi’s time in the session). At the back, Badoer’s return was not impressive. The oldest man in the field lapped the second Ferrari in 1m 41.413s.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/8/9785.html

RatBastich · « **Reply #792 on:** September 15, 2009, 05:16:40 AM »

F1 to resume in Montreal after accord

Associated Press

MONTREAL -- Formula One is set to return to Montreal next year.

The sport's governing body and Grand Prix F1 du Canada Inc. have settled a financial dispute that began last fall and led to the cancellation of the 2009 Canadian Grand Prix.

Local promoter Normand Legault says an announcement that Montreal is back on the F1 schedule is "forthcoming." He says he has no plans to be involved in staging future editions of the race.

JFC · « **Reply #793 on:** September 16, 2009, 02:55:27 AM »

^
Sweet!

EDIT: For the news posted below, DOUBLE SWEET!

RatBastich · « **Reply #794 on:** September 16, 2009, 04:06:10 AM »

Lotus team to be based in Malaysia

Associated Press

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia -- Lotus is returning to Formula One racing.

FIA, the sport's governing body, on Tuesday awarded Lotus the 13th spot on the grid for the 2010 season.

Lotus has been out of F1 since 1994. The team, initially based in Norfolk, England, near the Lotus car factory, is funded by a partnership between the Malaysian government and a consortium of Malaysian businessmen.

The team headquarters is expected to relocate to a facility at Sepang International Circuit, home of the Malaysian Grand Prix for the past 11 years.

RatBastich · « **Reply #795 on:** September 17, 2009, 03:22:01 AM »

Briatore steps down amid scandal

ESPN.com news services

LONDON -- Renault parted company with flamboyant Formula One team boss Flavio Briatore and his deputy Pat Symonds on Wednesday after accepting allegations that last year's Singapore Grand Prix was fixed.

The two men were due to appear before the governing FIA in Paris on Monday to face charges, unprecedented even in a sport often mired in controversy, that the team ordered Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash deliberately to help Spanish teammate Fernando Alonso win.

Renault said in a statement it would not dispute the allegations.

JFC · « **Reply #796 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:23:19 AM »

Whoa...no more Flavio.

RatBastich · « **Reply #797 on:** September 17, 2009, 05:01:59 PM »

Swiss group buying BMW Sauber

Associated Press

MUNICH -- Swiss-based foundation Qadbak Investments Ltd. will buy the BMW Sauber Formula One team under an agreement signed Tuesday.

BMW AG gave no financial details of the sale, but said that the foundation "represents the interests of certain Middle East and European-based families."

It did not elaborate but said that Qadbak's interest in the Hinwil, Switzerland-based team will be represented by a Swiss national, Lionel Fischer.

BMW announced earlier this year that it was pulling out of the sport in 2010.

Earlier Tuesday, Formula One's governing body turned down an application from BMW Sauber for a place on the grid next season -- noting that BMW's previous announcement left uncertainties about the team's future ownership.

However, it said the team had made a "high quality" application and that it would be entitled to fill any vacancy that arises.

"We are pleased to confirm that the FIA has indicated that we may have a place in the 2010 Formula One World Championship," BMW said in a statement. "The team expects to line up on the grid for the first race of the 2010 season."

RatBastich · « **Reply #798 on:** September 21, 2009, 12:42:21 AM »

Renault to be punished Monday

Associated Press

PARIS -- The Renault Formula One team will learn its fate Monday at a hearing into how its former driver Nelson Piquet Jr. was ordered by management to deliberately crash his car, a life-threatening move that further tarnishes a sport rocked by scandals and cheating.

F1 has been shaken by the news that Renault ordered its struggling Brazilian driver to plow his car into a concrete wall so that teammate Fernando Alonso could win the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Renault faces a points deduction, suspension or even exclusion from the championship at the FIA's Paris headquarters on Monday. It is unclear who will represent them at the World Motor Sport Council hearing.

RatBastich · « **Reply #799 on:** September 22, 2009, 02:58:26 AM »

FIA reinstates Canadian Grand Prix

Associated Press

PARIS -- FIA ratified its calendar for the 2010 season Monday and reinstated the Canadian Grand Prix, provided contract negotiations with Formula One management are completed.

The Canadian Grand Prix had been held at the Montreal track annually since 1978 before being dropped this season.

There will be 19 races in 2010. The world championship will start March 14 with the Bahrain GP, which replaced the Australian Grand Prix as the season's opener, FIA said in a statement. The Australian race will follow March 28.

If FIA and the Canadian organizers fail to reach a deal, the Turkish Grand Prix, which is scheduled for May 30, will be moved to June 6.

The Canadian Grand Prix is scheduled for June 13.

Montreal was dropped from the 2009 F1 calendar after negotiations with race organizers collapsed. F1 wanted $175 million to keep the Montreal race on the 2009 schedule but organizers and the government balked.

Earlier this month, local promoter Normand Legault announced that the two sides had settled their financial dispute.

South Korea will host its first Grand Prix Oct. 17 before the last two races of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Oct. 31 and the Brazilian Grand Prix, which is scheduled for Nov. 14.