F1 in USA

[ScrapeApe]

I know it's 4 wheels vs 2 but........I don't get why F1 racing in America does not catch on. I went to my first F1 race in Indy last year. The race itself was a joke. Only 6 cars started out of 20 due to a Michelin tire error. Of those 6, only 2 were competitive (Ferrari). But I was hooked. Practice and qualifying was awesome. The sound of v-10's @ 18-19000 rpm was amazing. The people in attendance were respectful and knowledgeable (compared to IRL, NECKCAR, etc.) and the women were beautiful. I recommend attending this year. I will be there (Turn 1). It very well may be the last time the Bernie circus comes to America.

 

[twowheelnut]

Simple: Bernie Ecclestone and his buddy, Mad Max Mosley. They've got that series in such a tight twit - eh, **** - what good is a race series if the only passing is done in the pits? Stupid, expensive parade and the drivers are not accessible to the fans. If F1 were modeled after NASCAR (not the roundy-round part, but the marketing and regulation) we would follow the series.

 

[benneyb]

Scrape,

US F1 fans are out there. There aren't huge numbers of us, but we are here.

I got hooked on F1 when flipping the channels late one night, and came across the GP of San Marino on ESPN back in '87 or so. After watching for about 2 minutes, Gerhard Berger hit the wall in Tamburello, his car bursting into flames. I felt sure the guy was dead. Instead he leapt out of the car, with nothing but mild singeing.

Been a rabid fan ever since, although Senna's death in '94 reduced my passion a bit.

I've been fortunate enough to go to the USGP at Indy twice, including last year. What a clusterf**k. The best part of that weekend was the 2 sessions we spent go-karting at Whiteland Raceway. :lol: B) Huge Fun!

Also been to Canada 3 times, and Belgium once. That, my friend, was racing Nirvana.

 

[TestPilot]

Do you get any coverage of the series? for example, the Australian GP held in Melbourne this last weekend. Changes made in the past year have certainly increased the on-track racing spectacle.

 

[panthercity]

SPEEDTV covers qualys and races.

 

[ScrapeApe]

Benneyb-

"Gerhard Berger hit the wall in Tamburello"

Isn't that the same corner where Senna was killed?

Anyway, qualifying certainly has added a new twist this year and also the (un) reliability of the new v-8s. The Austrailian GP was the most eventful GP I've seen in a while. SpeedTV shows live coverage of practice, qual, and the races. The Austrailian GP was live Saturday night @ 10:30 EST and then repeated for the masses (?) on Sunday afternoon. Anyone planning on attending the USGP (F1) this year?

 

[Bike Effects]

Not enough passing for me. I did go to an F1 race in Montreal. The sound is something you will never forget. I also attended a practice day a few years ago at Jerez. Awesome!

 

[Geezer]

I am a F1 fan and watch the races on SpeedTV whenever possible. I looked into tickets one time and it is pretty costly to actually attend a race. Guess I'm just too frugal.

 

[orestes]

Also been to Canada 3 times, and Belgium once. That, my friend, was racing Nirvana.

I've always wondered about F1 at Elkhart Lake. That would be pretty close to Spa for spectacle.

 

[Sherman]

I Tivo all the F1 events from practice thru the races - get to edit out the commercials and watch it when I'm ready. Qualifying is nearly as good as the races. And it's always fun to guess where the BMWs will explode. Beats the hell out of the American ovals. The speed announcers are very insiteful and humorous.

BTW where can I get one of the F1 tail lights to mount on a backrest? Those will back a cager off.

Bruce

 

[ScrapeApe]

The F1 contract at Indy is over after this year's race in July. There was talk of canceling the USGP for 2007 and beyond or moving it to the Las Vegas Strip (street circuit). Can you imagine that? There is nothing but 90 degree corners around the strip. They had a GP in Vegas in the 80's and it didn't go over very well. I think it should move to Barber Motorsports Park along with MotoGP. Awesome track built to FIA standards but lacks hotel space and fun stuff to do in the area.

 

[panthercity]

Barber is awfully tight. Superbikes are just barely getting into top gear. MotoGP looked at it and turned it down. I'd be surprised if F1 would like it with the short little straights.

 

[JimLor]

I started following it as a kid and watched Jimmy Clark, Jackie Stewart, Phil Hill, and those guys. Lost interest for a long time and bought a book on F1 cars about 3 years ago - amazing cars! I'll watch it on the speed channel when I get the chance, but gotta say it doesn't seem as exciting as when I was a kid. The races just don't get my blood going, almost as if they finish where they start and not enough passing, etc. Saw a show where Jeff Gordon and Pablo Juan Montoya switched cars at Indy (Gordon got the better part of that deal) that was interesting. Gordon was pretty impressed with the downforce the F1 cars generate and said just taking your foot off the gas is like putting the brakes on. Also said that all you gotta do is get into the corner clean and then floor it - the traction control will keep the car from spinning out and won't accelerate more than it can handle. Sure would love to drive one.

 

[benneyb]

"Gerhard Berger hit the wall in Tamburello"Isn't that the same corner where Senna was killed?

Yup, the very same corner. Man, what a lousy day that was.

I've always wondered about F1 at Elkhart Lake. That would be pretty close to Spa for spectacle.

Road America absolutely gets my vote for best road racing track in the US. Of course as someone else said, no where near the accoutrements that Bernie and Co. seem to need, so we'll never see F1 go there.

Also said that all you gotta do is get into the corner clean and then floor it - the traction control will keep the car from spinning out and won't accelerate more than it can handle. Sure would love to drive one.

IMHO this is the downside of the technology used in F1 - beyond the extreme G forces, the cars are too easy to drive. No one has to manage tires or engines or fuel anymore. The electronics do it for them. For me, it definitely has lost some luster, but still fun to watch.

 

[JimLor]

benneyb, I agree that the technology is replacing driver skill. But then again F1 is the testing ground for new technologies - gotta get a balance in there somehow. I think taking the "human" component out of the race car (and replacing w/technology) is a big part of what, to me, makes these races much less exciting than I remember.

 

[Windjammer]

I went to the first 3 Indy F1 races. Had some pretty good tickets, but the buddy I was going with lost interest and with no one to share expenses I was done. It was a cool experience, especially the first race. Indy is a unique place, lots of stuff to see there that you can't see anyplace else. And they have those huge TV screens everywhere, so you can see the action when the cars are not near you.

Having said that, I think F1 fails to deliver in terms of racing drama and excitement. Most of the races are boring to watch, with fairly predictable endings. I go to the Indy 500 every year, have been going for over 15 years now, and while it's a "roundy-round" race, I find it to contain much more drama and excitement than the F1 races I've seen. A few years ago, I had a chance to host a European friend, who happened to follow F1 closely. I took him to the Indy 500 while he was here and he told me it really opened his eyes. He expected to be bored and found it to be more entertaining than F1.

All of which goes to show that you don't need right turns to make a race interesting and entertaining.

Oh, and I also went with my European pal to the FIM World Trials event in MN. First time for both of us on that deal. VERY interesting event, try one if you ever get the chance, you won't be sorry!