USF1 -- F1's All-American Challenger

[Chaparral]

Yes CMSMJ1 one of my best friends was Steve Clark apart from Phil & Joe - thats the business Ive worked in for 30 years......but its OT.....


Axle - Wiki is incorrect on Windsors birthplace..................according to the man himself.

[Paul]

Thanks axle. Windsor says in 2007:
"I would change nothing. I think F1 is fantastic as it is. If you want to watch a million meaningless overtaking manoeuvres and lots of shunts go and watch NASCAR or bikes or IRL or something."

Do you reckon the good ol' boys in Charlotte are aware of that one?

I suppose the team is part of his secret plan to introduce Americans to true motor racing.

[Ciro Pabón]

Thanks axle. Windsor says in 2007:
"I would change nothing. I think F1 is fantastic as it is. If you want to watch a million meaningless overtaking manoeuvres and lots of shunts go and watch NASCAR or bikes or IRL or something."

Do you reckon the good ol' boys in Charlotte are aware of that one?

I suppose the team is part of his secret plan to introduce Americans to true motor racing.

Welcome, Paul, your post made me smile. Thanks.

However, I have to confess something: I'm one of the persons here that love F1 AND, nonetheless, think that the pencil-sharpener engines and the cabin space enough for two midgets that european and asiatic cars have developed over time are not exactly what I call "the pinnacle".

I also confess I prefer the sound of NHRA engines over F1 engines. To me, it's like comparing the roar of a lion with the buzz of a mosquito, BUT I'm used to hear people around this site saying that there is nothing like the sound of an F1 engine.

IMHO, a large majority of american racing fans are knowledgeable, something you cannot say of all F1 fans. Perhaps that's why F1 is not that popular in America, ehem.

[timbo]

IMHO, a large majority of american racing fans are knowledgeable, something you cannot say of all F1 fans.

Maybe it is because of the coverage? I watched some NASCAR and Top-fuel broadcasts and what stuck me is how much background info they present. Driver statistics, tech details from racing engineers etc...

[donskar]

IMHO, a large majority of american racing fans are knowledgeable, something you cannot say of all F1 fans.

Maybe it is because of the coverage? I watched some NASCAR and Top-fuel broadcasts and what stuck me is how much background info they present. Driver statistics, tech details from racing engineers etc...

Excellent point, timbo. F1 broadcasts seem very thin on technical info AS WELL AS very short on the human side. There are lots of comments in another thread about the lack of "characters" in F1. For all we know there might be such colorful personalities in F1, but the goal seems to be to keep a curtain between fans and the human element of F1. No access to the paddock; no autograph sessions; etc. Maybe an offshoot of the personalities of Ecclestone (cold, acidic, cynical) and Mosley (the less said the better?)

Coverage of US racing, on the other hand, is quite different: Lots of interviews with drivers, team owners, mechanics and tech directors. And they are generous with their time -- there is none of what we see before F1 races - Peter Windsor scuttering about like a mouse at a cat convention, sticking his mike in people's faces, trying to get a few words out of them.

Here in the US "colorful characters" are encouraged and we learn about the human beings in auto racing. "Technology, passing, and pinnacle" aside, NASCAR, NHRA, and IndyCar are much more transparent and more human than F1.

[xpensive]

Indeed. The problem in small European countries is that we haven't had a pan-european coverage since the days of Eurosport. That's why we now have to endure the infantile comments of Eje Elgh rather than John Watson in Swedish broadcasts. Norway is actually a little better. But not a whole lot.

[Professor]

I agree with the comments about US coverage. I attend a number of ALMS races each year and the access is incredible. When Peugeot had probs at Sebring last year, I hustled over to the paddock and watched them change the leaking fittings on the oil supply lines.

USF1 will allow access to their facilities and personel unlike we've ever seen before.

[nae]

bites tongue

Me i watch for the racing
if i wanted personalities i would watch
soap operas or the Oscars or buy celb mags

the tech is interesting dont get me wrong
but knowing how many sh*ts a driver or manager
pairing has had together doesnt mean didly

shut up and race

[Afterburner]

There are already rumours about Rubens Barrichello joining USF1, that was presumed when Peter Windsor said that they needed at least one experienced driver, Rubens may be back next year.

It's in portuguese: http://autosport.aeiou.pt/gen.pl?p=stor ... ries/66763

Translated: http://translate.google.pt/translate?pr ... ry_state0=

[nudger]

Microsoft ECU software.

urm, what microsoft ecu is that. Oh, you must mean the Mclaren ecu and softare that is branded as microsoft, but has absolutely naff all input from them.
I did raise an eyebrow when i heard this geezer say most the technology originates from the usa in first place. Had he said most of the components, then he may have had a point...but not the technology that they are put into...thats just garbage.
Dont get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with american technology...so much so that they really dont need to talk such drivel


hi all by the way.

nudge

[Professor]

First, you have posed a gramatical question. ECU is an adjetive that modifies the noun, software. microsoft is an adverb that modifies ECU. So, I never said Microsoft made ECU's. I said that microsoft makes ecu software. Grammar across many languages is sometimes difficult, so I appreciate the misunderstanding.

If microsoft does not write the operating system for the Macca produced ECU, who does? Linux? Steve jobs? Mr. Coughlan?

Please provide a link to your answer. Thanks.

[nudger]

mclaren electronic sytems ...funnily enough.
the system that is being joint branded by microsoft is exactly the same (other than the ecu housing is not expensive magnesium) that mclaren racing were using prior to the single ecu deal.
if you want to look into it, i suggest you read about their data aquisition software, atlas, that is part of the package...which has been around for many years now. the system monitor software will probably be metioned somewhere on mclaren electronic systems website id imagine.

sorry bout my grammer...but who cares on a message board right

[Miguel]

If microsoft does not write the operating system for the Macca produced ECU, who does? Linux? Steve jobs? Mr. Coughlan?

Maybe... FreeBSD developers? At least some early network exes in Windows were nothing but adaptations of BSD code. And Microsoft surely didn't write those. I'm just joking here, by the way.

Seriously speaking, I think it's perfectly possible that McLaren are associate partners of Microsoft and, with some external support, the ECU software was mostly written by McLaren engineers. Due to licensing or whatever, or maybe because they used two guys from microsoft that wrote assembly code into the ECU, the source legally belongs to Microsoft and that's why it's called that way.

PS: I was going to write how the analysis you made on the syntax of "microsoft ECU software" is totally different in spanish, but I suppose this is not a language forum. The turning cog told me that.

OT: Am I the only linux user here?

And, yes, F1 coverage is horrible. Drivers are mantained far away from the fans, engineers are kept under rocks, least they say something interesting and TV broadcasts are really horrible. Come on, even in Golf they have protrace, to see how some golfers attack the pin using fade/draw. Why can't we have something similar for F1? Why can't we have some more serious analysis on performance?

[Professor]

sorry bout my grammer...but who cares on a message board right

True Guy, I was just messing with you. My point was microsoft doesn't make the ecu. Much like you, i suspect only microsoft's name is on the product. They agree to pay for the costs of development in order to put their name on it. Macca guys do all the donkey work.

Of course this begs the question: do they have an inherent advantage since a company within their corporate umbrella produces, provides software, and monitors the usage of every ECU in F1?

[donskar]

Of course this begs the question: do they have an inherent advantage since a company within their corporate umbrella produces, provides software, and monitors the usage of every ECU in F1?

Uh-oh! Please do NOT go there AGAIN. We had several hundred posts (or at least it seemed that way) on this topic and finally came to the unanimous conclusion that Mcl definitely did have a great advantage and definitely did not have any advantage at all.