The US Grand Prix

[f1.redbaron]

Well, hopefully we'll be spared of flying beverages this time! Bernie hasn't exactly been on a charm offensive either ... he's sent a letter to India, telling the folks there that IF they'll have a purpose built race track set up in time for a GP at an indeterminate date during 2009, he'll grant them one. That's a pretty big if as far as I'm concerned - but comes in handy when making statements such as the races in Indy (or US for that matter) not being "vital" for F1. How, exactly - vital like a hart, lungs or a brain perhaps? I seriously doubt Ecclestone could've used a lesser word for all his worldly ambitions to be realized ...

I wonder if that is it for F1 in US? The '05 race really killed F1 in that country, and I doubt that Bernie will ever be able to dig himself out of that mess. Also, it is becoming obvious that there are many emerging markets which are dying to host an F1 race, which means that Bernie will still get his fees and maintain the same number of races, even if US never hosts a GP again. India with its population of 1 billion, seems like a better market than US' 300 million. So, I think that Bernie had given up on the US.

I remember reading an article a few months back that talked about the big spike in car sales in India. What better place to promote your vehicles than to bring F1 to that country (well, OK, there are better ways, but you guys get the point).

[vyselegend]

Vettel replace Kubica finally!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/59765

[modbaraban]

Vettel replace Kubica finally!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/59765

A wise decision. Who knows what would happen during high G-forces

[checkered]

Well, I for one am

relieved that Robert will get some "rest", even if I know he must be pretty p****d by now. My personal experience from being knocked out in various circumstances (Five times thus far, I think - and always sober if anyone's left wondering - hope it doesn't show too much ...) is that you certainly can feel fine and yes, even excellent, soon after ... until you innocently do a movement you never even thought as something special and you immediately feel all is not well. After that, one doesn't have to think twice about the merits of taking it easy for a while.

I'm a bit disappointed that they just went ahead and chose Vettel, though. Not that I have anything against the guy, it's just that they flew Glock out to Indy too and I was expecting a shootout of some kind between the two for the Friday practice. It would've been a nice "mini race" between the two. Well, Vettel does have more experience so perhaps it's rational to minimize any additional risks.

Here's a link to a trancript of the Thursday press conference. Did you notice where Scott Speed was at when Kubica's accident happened, btw? ...

"Well, actually after my accident at the very beginning of the race, I was kind of stranded on the track there without a way to get back to the pits. So I was using a chair and watching the big screen in front of me about 3 meters away from where Robert hit the first wall. So I was quite startled to say the least. Initially was just really, really concerned because it was such a huge-looking crash, especially as close as I was to it. Yeah, waited like everyone else to make sure he was OK."

Robert on the sideways head movement that has been discussed here, too, with regard to his accident ...

Q: This is to Robert. The image of the accident showed that the first impact, the protection you had inside the cockpit, your side flew in the first impact, leaving your head to move to all sides after that. Don't you think there is something to review in the safety area?

Robert Kubica: I think you are not right, frankly.

[Militia Est Vita]

If Vettel has been given a shot I think It'll be nice to see what the kid's got in action though

[Venom]

If Vettel has been given a shot I think It'll be nice to see what the kid's got in action though

Imagine Vettel beating Hamilton

[mx_tifoso]

New engines for Massa and Raikkonen! I'm not sure about the rest, but should be similar.

US GP will bring the same fortune for Ferrari as last year, a comeback into the title chases.

[pRo]

Will Alonso manage to keep young Lewis behind him?

Keep? I think Lewis is ahead of him and he has some catching up to do now. But yes, I think Alonso will be the better one this time.

What about Ferrari?

This would be easy, if they weren't on different tyres here. I haven't really figured out the tyre game yet, so basically I have no idea how they will do here. If the tyres don't have too much of a role here, I'd bet for McLarens. Remember Monaco? So obviously they have an advantage on the twisty part of the track. Which would mean they can run less downforce than others to still be competitive, which in turn would mean higher speeds on the straight(s). It would be very heard to beat them, but I hope Ferrari gives a serious attempt.

And in the end, wasn't Canada a bit like US anyway? Long straights and tight curves? The results should be similar.

[ds.raikkonen]

Imagine Vettel beating Hamilton

That ll be a sight!!! , hope HK does good this time around...P4 in Montreal shud ve boosted him

[checkered]

And in the end, wasn't Canada a bit like US anyway? Long straights and tight curves? The results should be similar.

Yep, it will be hard to beat the McLaren, the car's response, adaptability and controllability seems to be really good. Importantly for Ferrari, the kerbs play a lesser role in Indy, they have seemed more sensitive when the fastest driving line has the car going over those a lot. Fisi beat Alonso in Indy the last time around, so much depends on how fast Lewis comes to grips with the track. On the other hand, if Fernando nonetheless comes out on top on a track that evidently doesn't agree with him, it will be a clear indication of just how strong a car McLaren has.

[pRo]

Fisi beat Alonso in Indy the last time around, so much depends on how fast Lewis comes to grips with the track. On the other hand, if Fernando nonetheless comes out on top on a track that evidently doesn't agree with him, it will be a clear indication of just how strong a car McLaren has.

Yeah, last year Fisi was 3rd and Alo 5th.

You should consider their engines though. Alo was using the same engine he had in Canada, while Fisi got a new engine for US. And not just a new engine, but also a better engine, which was believed to be 3-4 tenths faster in US.

[monkeyboy1976]

Free Practice 1 notes:-

1 F Alonso 1.11.925
2 N Heidfeld 1:12.391
3 L Hamilton 1:12.628
4 S Vettel 1:12.869
5 K Raikkonen 1:12.966
6 N Rosberg 1:13.020
7 F Massa 1:13.040
Great start for Vettel being just under a sec off Alonso, half a sec off Heidfeld. Although he did 33 laps, the most of all the drivers.
Alonso has the upper hand on Hamilton 0.7 sec ahead.
Ferraris not up to speed yet.

[Militia Est Vita]

Gosh! Nick is on fire!

[eidetic]

PS: predictins: big mess in the 1st corner -> Davidson for podium

Hell yeah, with Alonso desperate to pass Lewis, with Lewis desparete to hold position and Kimi desparate to have a podium It'll be quite a mess hehe

I hope Alonso to win this one though, if not, double podium for the Macs at least.

Is Lewis really "desperate" at this point though? I don't think he is. I think he's sitting rather pretty.



While I like Kubica, and hate to see him out of a race, I think it's a good idea to keep him out. Even if he seems perfectly fine, another shunt could be worse than it normally would be simply because of the last concussion. You see it in football (American football that is, not what we call soccer here), where a player will have to sit out a week due to a concussion the week before.

[m3_lover]

Well, hopefully we'll be spared of flying beverages this time! Bernie hasn't exactly been on a charm offensive either ... he's sent a letter to India, telling the folks there that IF they'll have a purpose built race track set up in time for a GP at an indeterminate date during 2009, he'll grant them one. That's a pretty big if as far as I'm concerned - but comes in handy when making statements such as the races in Indy (or US for that matter) not being "vital" for F1. How, exactly - vital like a hart, lungs or a brain perhaps? I seriously doubt Ecclestone could've used a lesser word for all his worldly ambitions to be realized ...

I wonder if that is it for F1 in US? The '05 race really killed F1 in that country, and I doubt that Bernie will ever be able to dig himself out of that mess. Also, it is becoming obvious that there are many emerging markets which are dying to host an F1 race, which means that Bernie will still get his fees and maintain the same number of races, even if US never hosts a GP again. India with its population of 1 billion, seems like a better market than US' 300 million. So, I think that Bernie had given up on the US.

I remember reading an article a few months back that talked about the big spike in car sales in India. What better place to promote your vehicles than to bring F1 to that country (well, OK, there are better ways, but you guys get the point).

Isn't Ferrari, BMW Mercedes biggest market in the world the U.S?