F1
Yesterday I wrote about the changes FIA president Max Mosley has introduced for the future of F1. I was a tad remiss in that I did not write that Mosley's plans are an effort to drastically cut costs in F1 racing. Certainly his intentions are noble and frankly, necessary for the long term health of the sport. If you look around at the team owners and principals you notice it is not a group of young men. Rather it is older guys who may be nearing retirement age. And look at the companies involved with F1 racing. Ferrari, BMW, Daimler-Chrysler (Mercedes), Ford, Renault and Cosworth. These are companies with deep pockets, but in a world economy that is still coming out of the 90's hangover, these guys are not really willing to up their ante's any more than what they are currently.
Ferrari has a reputation in the world beyond F1, but since they limit the number of cars they sell they are limited on budget even though they are part of the Italian government. Daimler-Chrysler is under extreme pressure from stockholders to turn a profit and pouring more and more money into racing at this level is not cost effective. And go right down the line and the story is the same.
Next week the teams are meeting in Monaco to discuss the future. One thing is for sure, unless changes are made the circus may get shut down.
And people think IRL has problems.
IRL
Day one of ROP is over. Larry Foyt was just as happy as a clam when he was finished. I'm going to try to go out tomorrow during lunch if anyone is interested. The IRL is conducting an open practice Wednesday and Thursday. Yesterday, Foyt, Ed Carpenter, Mark Taylor, Kosuke Matsuura, Luis Diaz, Marty Roth and Jeff Simmons also took part in the ROP yesterday. Simmons and Roth will still need to complete their programs when the track opens May 9th.
Local boob Robin Miller floated what he called a "rumor" in his online column on Friday that TG was going to cut the 500 down to a one weekend event because he wanted to have another IRL race in May. Miller is filled with so much hate towards the Speedway it just clouds his vision.
First of all, no one would ever let RM in on any secret. Ever. Second, if he did hear it, it was because someone wanted to make him look bad. But as usual, he does have his faithful followers who eat up his word as if it were the Gospel truth.
That radio show him, Dave Scoggins and Jay Baker do is just pathetic. Piss poor attempts at humor, constant stabs at the IRL while trying to make it sound as though they are sympathetic to the open wheel cause and a lot of F1 news that is both untimely and usually inaccurate. Keep trying boys, maybe OWRS will actually finish the season.
NASCAR
In what is one of the biggest surprises to me is that NASCAR is NOT contemplating fining Junior for the fans reaction to Jeff Gordon's win on Sunday.
Tony Stewart, however has been squarely in NASCAR's sights since Sunday. The moron of the year was involved in two accidents on the track for which he took no responsibility. But NASCAR is considering disciplinary action against the blockhead for an incident after the race. Stewart, slowed with the rest of the pack as they took the checkered flag under the caution, decided to turn left directly onto pit lane (the wrong direction) instead of taking the usual lap around. Of course the boob claimed it was because of the debris being tossed onto the course after the race. Stewart rammed into Terry Labonte demolishing his car. Stewart, no stranger to idiocy, will probably be fined and put on probation. This turd needs to be suspended for a season until he proves he is fit to live among human beings.
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Monday, April 26, 2004
Buhl Retires
Robbie Buhl announced Friday that he was retiring effective immediately from his position as driver of the Dreyer and Reinbold #24 Purex IRL Indy car. Thank you Robbie!
Those of you who know me, know that I have always rooted for Robbie. I always thought he was a pretty good driver, seemed like a good guy, one who always seemed to have time for autographs, yet time to driver the car.
Unfortunately Robbie fell into the trap so many drivers fall in to. One of car ownership. I'm not knocking owners, but I have maintained forever that you simply cannot both drive and own the car. It just puts too much of a strain on a persons time.
As an owner your time is spent with sponsors and trying to attract new sponsors for your program. You are dealing with team personnel issues as well as trying to strike a balance between being competitive and profitable, lest we forget this is a business. Throwing driver responsibilities on top of all that and it is a recipe for failure. One of the major jobs is going to be neglected. Be it driver or owner side, if you are not 100% on all jobs then there will be no success. Something Robbie has to have seen over the past couple of years.
I don't want to sound like I am picking on Buhl, better drivers than he have failed. Dale Earnhardt found much less success at the wheel once he started DEI and especially when DEI was fielding Cup cars. DW never found any success, Eddie Cheever had very limited success (although an Indy win is a big deal, it was still when the IRL had a bunch of hacks), Adrian Fernandez and even A.J Foyt have had limited success since 1980 being both owner and driver. In fact Foyt is the last one to have any sustained success as a driver owner and that was back in the 70's.
I salute Robbie's decision and hope this will help the team attract new sponsors, generate more money and become competitive. I see today that he has signed Mike to drive for the team. I like this a first step to get back to where the team was when they started. Of course they are still saddled with the Chevy engine, but maybe they can concentrate on more testing as well.
Those of you who know me, know that I have always rooted for Robbie. I always thought he was a pretty good driver, seemed like a good guy, one who always seemed to have time for autographs, yet time to driver the car.
Unfortunately Robbie fell into the trap so many drivers fall in to. One of car ownership. I'm not knocking owners, but I have maintained forever that you simply cannot both drive and own the car. It just puts too much of a strain on a persons time.
As an owner your time is spent with sponsors and trying to attract new sponsors for your program. You are dealing with team personnel issues as well as trying to strike a balance between being competitive and profitable, lest we forget this is a business. Throwing driver responsibilities on top of all that and it is a recipe for failure. One of the major jobs is going to be neglected. Be it driver or owner side, if you are not 100% on all jobs then there will be no success. Something Robbie has to have seen over the past couple of years.
I don't want to sound like I am picking on Buhl, better drivers than he have failed. Dale Earnhardt found much less success at the wheel once he started DEI and especially when DEI was fielding Cup cars. DW never found any success, Eddie Cheever had very limited success (although an Indy win is a big deal, it was still when the IRL had a bunch of hacks), Adrian Fernandez and even A.J Foyt have had limited success since 1980 being both owner and driver. In fact Foyt is the last one to have any sustained success as a driver owner and that was back in the 70's.
I salute Robbie's decision and hope this will help the team attract new sponsors, generate more money and become competitive. I see today that he has signed Mike to drive for the team. I like this a first step to get back to where the team was when they started. Of course they are still saddled with the Chevy engine, but maybe they can concentrate on more testing as well.
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Racing
IRL
The teams are all heading for Japan this week for the 2nd Bridgestone Japan Indy 300 at the Twin Motegi track. This race marks the end of the 3.4 liter engine as the rules make a change to the 3.0 liter engine beginning with the Indy 500 in May. This was done as a response to the speeds achieved, coupled with the crashes of Kenny Brack at Texas and Tony Renna’s fatal crash at Indy last year. Hopefully this is not just a knee jerk reaction to a couple of bad crashes and the changes made will greatly enhance the safety of the cars.
So far in testing, the new configuration has been safe and effective. Speeds will probably be down, but as I know from experience, when changes are made it is only a matter of time before they are back up. Good luck to all at Japan.
But the IRL has got to do something about the lapse of time between races. It has been nearly a month since Phoenix and it will be more than a month before Indy. This series is on thin ice as it is. It needs to get some momentum going and keep it. If you only race every month, any excitement from the previous race is long gone. TG has the money, unfortunately his brains are bad news. OWRS will be lucky to make it to raceday. Take advantage of them and build your series the right way. You have to forget about the diehard CART fans. They will never be back. But for us fans who are craving Indy Car racing, waiting a month between races is just too much.
One other note about Indy and the IRL. Someone started a thread last week asking what changes people would make if they owned the Speedway and there were no IRL or OWRS. I found it amazing the boobery of many posters. Many wanted to see the Silver Crown cars out there. Some wanted Trans Am races. All I could say as I read the responses was “Thank God these people do not own the track”.
F1
This is one of those rare times in the F1 season that the teams have three weeks between races. This gives everyone a chance to extend their testing sessions. Couple that with the next race being in Europe and this becomes a real chance to gain some ground on Ferrari. Last week the teams were at Barcelona. BAR was your big winner garnering fastest time in almost every days practice. Of note was Scott Dixon’s return to testing. Scott was fast, just a tick off the veterans, most of the sessions. But Thursday’s rain showed Scott has a long way to go on the rain tyres. Friday brought decent results, but mechanical problems slowed his progress. I still expect him to be in the Williams next year, but I think his stock may have fallen just a bit.
This week the teams are at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. Dixon of course will be in Japan so I don’t think he will run. F1 also announced that new safety regulations could be initiated this season. Allegedly the cars are ‘cornering’ too fast and there are safety concerns. Now depending on who you ask, this is nothing more than a move to slow Ferrari down. When it comes down to it, the owners will never agree on any single plan to “increase safety” in the cars. So the FIA will step in and make a rule.
I do not like rule changes in the middle of the season. I am not happy about Ferrari’s dominance, but that is because I am not a Ferrari fan. I certainly admire the fact that they have come out of the gate as strong as they have and have just killed the competition. More on this later.
The teams are all heading for Japan this week for the 2nd Bridgestone Japan Indy 300 at the Twin Motegi track. This race marks the end of the 3.4 liter engine as the rules make a change to the 3.0 liter engine beginning with the Indy 500 in May. This was done as a response to the speeds achieved, coupled with the crashes of Kenny Brack at Texas and Tony Renna’s fatal crash at Indy last year. Hopefully this is not just a knee jerk reaction to a couple of bad crashes and the changes made will greatly enhance the safety of the cars.
So far in testing, the new configuration has been safe and effective. Speeds will probably be down, but as I know from experience, when changes are made it is only a matter of time before they are back up. Good luck to all at Japan.
But the IRL has got to do something about the lapse of time between races. It has been nearly a month since Phoenix and it will be more than a month before Indy. This series is on thin ice as it is. It needs to get some momentum going and keep it. If you only race every month, any excitement from the previous race is long gone. TG has the money, unfortunately his brains are bad news. OWRS will be lucky to make it to raceday. Take advantage of them and build your series the right way. You have to forget about the diehard CART fans. They will never be back. But for us fans who are craving Indy Car racing, waiting a month between races is just too much.
One other note about Indy and the IRL. Someone started a thread last week asking what changes people would make if they owned the Speedway and there were no IRL or OWRS. I found it amazing the boobery of many posters. Many wanted to see the Silver Crown cars out there. Some wanted Trans Am races. All I could say as I read the responses was “Thank God these people do not own the track”.
F1
This is one of those rare times in the F1 season that the teams have three weeks between races. This gives everyone a chance to extend their testing sessions. Couple that with the next race being in Europe and this becomes a real chance to gain some ground on Ferrari. Last week the teams were at Barcelona. BAR was your big winner garnering fastest time in almost every days practice. Of note was Scott Dixon’s return to testing. Scott was fast, just a tick off the veterans, most of the sessions. But Thursday’s rain showed Scott has a long way to go on the rain tyres. Friday brought decent results, but mechanical problems slowed his progress. I still expect him to be in the Williams next year, but I think his stock may have fallen just a bit.
This week the teams are at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. Dixon of course will be in Japan so I don’t think he will run. F1 also announced that new safety regulations could be initiated this season. Allegedly the cars are ‘cornering’ too fast and there are safety concerns. Now depending on who you ask, this is nothing more than a move to slow Ferrari down. When it comes down to it, the owners will never agree on any single plan to “increase safety” in the cars. So the FIA will step in and make a rule.
I do not like rule changes in the middle of the season. I am not happy about Ferrari’s dominance, but that is because I am not a Ferrari fan. I certainly admire the fact that they have come out of the gate as strong as they have and have just killed the competition. More on this later.
Wednesday, April 7, 2004
Americans
News reports today indicate fighting in the "Sunni Triangle" in Iraq is intense. Once again the reports are that more Americans are dying as a result of the insurgent Shiite resistance. When is enough, enough?
Every day over the course of the past 6 months we hear more reports of our troops dying. And for what? For the freedom of some stone age country that may or may not have had enough rocks to throw at Israel?
I am too young to really remember Vietnam and what brought about our escalated involvement in what was their civil war. But from what I have seen since the fall of Baghdad a year ago, there are just too many similarities.
I would agree that Saddam Hussein had to be taken down. He was a ruthless, killing dictator who ruled with an iron fist with the brutal help of his two sons. What I do not now agree with, nor did a year ago was the method.
First of all, we went in on the basis of eradicating the country of Hussein AND his weapons of mass destruction. As the months rolled by some evidence was found that may have been linked to WMD's, but in fact nothing of any substance has been found.
If we wanted to take down the leader we should have done it covertly using special forces and CIA ops to take care of the problem. But, dumbass Bill Clinton had the CIA and Special Forces so depleted and strung out around the world that I am not sure we could have pulled it off.
Instead, W uses the 911 terrorist attacks to go after Osama bin Laden. Then, after committing all of those troops to Afghanistan, we decide to fry the Iraq fish.
This war is a failure. The only thing I have had proven to me is that the Iraqi people seem split on Hussein. So why are we forcing him out when we have no good reasons other than we don't like him or his human rights record?
It is so obvious that those people do not want us there, and equally obvious that most Americans do not want us there. We lost. There is no shame. I have to believe that W did what he thought was best based on his feelings and intelligence. But there comes a time when the human price becomes too high. That time is now.
Every day over the course of the past 6 months we hear more reports of our troops dying. And for what? For the freedom of some stone age country that may or may not have had enough rocks to throw at Israel?
I am too young to really remember Vietnam and what brought about our escalated involvement in what was their civil war. But from what I have seen since the fall of Baghdad a year ago, there are just too many similarities.
I would agree that Saddam Hussein had to be taken down. He was a ruthless, killing dictator who ruled with an iron fist with the brutal help of his two sons. What I do not now agree with, nor did a year ago was the method.
First of all, we went in on the basis of eradicating the country of Hussein AND his weapons of mass destruction. As the months rolled by some evidence was found that may have been linked to WMD's, but in fact nothing of any substance has been found.
If we wanted to take down the leader we should have done it covertly using special forces and CIA ops to take care of the problem. But, dumbass Bill Clinton had the CIA and Special Forces so depleted and strung out around the world that I am not sure we could have pulled it off.
Instead, W uses the 911 terrorist attacks to go after Osama bin Laden. Then, after committing all of those troops to Afghanistan, we decide to fry the Iraq fish.
This war is a failure. The only thing I have had proven to me is that the Iraqi people seem split on Hussein. So why are we forcing him out when we have no good reasons other than we don't like him or his human rights record?
It is so obvious that those people do not want us there, and equally obvious that most Americans do not want us there. We lost. There is no shame. I have to believe that W did what he thought was best based on his feelings and intelligence. But there comes a time when the human price becomes too high. That time is now.
Thursday, April 1, 2004
How 'Bout Them Pacers?
Congratulations to YOUR Indiana Pacers! 2003-2004 NBA Central Division Champs! I haven't had too much to say about the team this year. It's not because I don't care, it has just gone so smoothly compared to the last couple of seasons under Zeke.
Right now the Pacers have an opportunity to also win 60 games for the first time in franchise history AND can wrap up home court advantage throughout the playoffs with a few more wins.
While this team has battled a few nagging injuries, most have been minor and have not been a major problem. The team, and I am knocking on wood, has not lost three games in a row all season. They have weathered a point guard rotation, games without superstar JO and primadonna extraordinaire Al Harrington and Jonathon Bender as well as a new coaching regime that extended into the front office.
Once again, Donnie Walsh looks like a genius. Well okay, he looks like the Creature from the Black Lagoon, but that is beside the point. He and Larry Legend have put their stamp on this team and while I doubted coach Rick Carlisle's ability, he has been the captain that has kept this crew focused and winning. Something the previous coach could not do.
How will the Pacers do in the playoffs? Who knows. Most national pundits feel they are the only team in the east that can challenge for the championship. Detroit will be tough, Milwaukee , until last night owned us this season. We have no answer for Baron Davis and New Orleans and the Knicks are much improved despite Isaiah Thomas. But bottom line is this team can do it.
Stay tuned as this one could have us wearing the headphones out at the track this May listening to playoff games!
Right now the Pacers have an opportunity to also win 60 games for the first time in franchise history AND can wrap up home court advantage throughout the playoffs with a few more wins.
While this team has battled a few nagging injuries, most have been minor and have not been a major problem. The team, and I am knocking on wood, has not lost three games in a row all season. They have weathered a point guard rotation, games without superstar JO and primadonna extraordinaire Al Harrington and Jonathon Bender as well as a new coaching regime that extended into the front office.
Once again, Donnie Walsh looks like a genius. Well okay, he looks like the Creature from the Black Lagoon, but that is beside the point. He and Larry Legend have put their stamp on this team and while I doubted coach Rick Carlisle's ability, he has been the captain that has kept this crew focused and winning. Something the previous coach could not do.
How will the Pacers do in the playoffs? Who knows. Most national pundits feel they are the only team in the east that can challenge for the championship. Detroit will be tough, Milwaukee , until last night owned us this season. We have no answer for Baron Davis and New Orleans and the Knicks are much improved despite Isaiah Thomas. But bottom line is this team can do it.
Stay tuned as this one could have us wearing the headphones out at the track this May listening to playoff games!
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