Source: http://www.metrof1.com/blogs/metrof1/2011/05/vettel---and-others---get-lucky-in-monaco.html
Sunday, 31 July 2011
2012 Mercedes ML63 AMG spied with minimal camouflage
Our spies have caught new pictures of the 2012 Mercedes ML63 AMG. Details inside
Felipe Massa - classic F1
Ferrari's Felipe Massa is the latest driver to choose his five all-time favourite grands prix for BBC Sport's classic Formula 1 series. The idea of this series is to whet your appetites for the race coming up. And, for better or worse, the Brazilian will always be linked with the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Massa produced one of his best performances at the Hungaroring in 2008. An intense battle with Lewis Hamilton ended when the Englishman's McLaren suffered a puncture, seemingly handing victory to Massa. But, with only three laps to go, the engine in his Ferrari failed. The points from that win would have made the Brazilian world champion that year, rather than Hamilton.
The following year, Massa suffered a terrible freak accident in qualifying for the same race. He was hit on the head by an errant spring from the car of his friend, Brawn driver Rubens Barrichello, and taken to hospital in, what doctors called, a "life-threatening but stable condition". Amazingly, he made a full recovery, returning to Ferrari for the start of the 2010 season.
Massa, like many Brazilians of his generation, grew up idolising the late Ayrton Senna, so it comes as no surprise that three of his five choices feature the former world champion. The other two reflect key moments in Massa's own career.
Massa's choices are as follows, in chronological order:
The 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix.
It was a quite brilliant drive from Senna, who was recording his first victory in his home race. He held off the faster Williams of Riccardo Patrese despite spending a significant portion of the grand prix struggling with no fourth gear. He also lost the third and fifth gears in the final two laps.
After taking the chequered flag, Senna had to be lifted from his car, exhausted and in agony. When he finally did make it on to the rostrum, his face contorted by a mixture of pain and unadulterated joy, he sent fans - and the country that loved him - wild.
This was the race in which Senna brought to an end Nigel Mansell's dominant start to the season, although the Briton would go on to claim the championship.
At Monaco, like the five races before it, Mansell and the ground-breaking Williams-Renault FW14B were controlling the race before a late pit stop caused by a loose wheel nut put him behind Senna. Mansell tried everything to pass in the closing laps but was beaten by Senna's guile and experience in the tight confines of the track.
The one race that has come to epitomise Senna - and therefore the inevitable choice by any driver who is a Senna fan.
The race at a wet Donington Park has passed into F1 folklore. A quite brilliant first lap lifted Senna from fifth at the first corner to first by the last - and he proceeded to drive at a higher level to the rest of the field on his way to one of the greatest of his 41 wins.
This was Massa's first F1 victory, an impressive and dominant performance from the front after taking pole position ahead of Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher.
Dig below the surface, though, and it was not quite as impressive or dominant as it looked. This race is often held up as evidence that Massa was occasionally fast enough to get on terms with Schumacher, who was in the final year of his first F1 career.
That's what it looked like from the outside. But Schumacher would have beaten Massa to pole, despite a higher fuel load, had he not made a mistake on his qualifying lap.
In the race, too, Schumacher was on target to win until the advent of the safety car meant Ferrari had to 'stack' their drivers in the pits. The German rejoined behind Renault's Fernando Alonso and failed to get past the Spaniard for the rest of the race.
Massa has chosen this because it was his first win at home - and it was a victory that was as dominant as it looked. He took a comfortable pole and never looked like losing the race, winning by 18 seconds from Alonso, who claimed his second consecutive title.
The action was all behind them - and it centred on Schumacher, for whom this was the last race before retirement. The German, whose faint hopes of winning the title ended when he suffered an early puncture, fought back from 18th to fourth to end what turned out to be his first F1 career in style.
Highlights of the race, not broadcast since the day itself, are embedded below. Beneath them are links to short highlights of last year's Hungarian Grand Prix.
In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.
CLICK HERE FOR SHORT HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2010 HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX
CLICK HERE FOR LONG HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2010 HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX
The classic grands prix will be available on the BBC red button in the UK as follows:
Satellite and cable viewers will be able to watch them from 1500 on Wednesday 27 July until 0850 on Friday 29 July.
On Freeview, they will be shown from 2200 on Wednesday 27 July until 0600 on Thursday 28 July, from 2110 on Thursday until 0245 on Friday 29 July and again from 0435 until 0600 on Friday.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2011/07/felipe_massa_-_classic_f1.html
'75 Plymouth Duster NHRA Funny Car rear window question
Hi,
I just bought the Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen '75 Duster funny car 1:25 scale model, but I am having a very hard time finding detailed reference photos of the real car. The main concern I have is with the rear window. The kit comes with a vented window decal, but I do not know if it is accurate to the real car. I have built kits before that came with a vented window, so I found it odd that this kit came with a decal. Does anyone know if the real car has a vented window, or is it really just a decal? I would really like to scratch build a window to make it more realistic.
thanks,
Carlos
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/970609.aspx
BMW to adopt new naming structure
BMW's naming system is about to get a major overhaul as a flood of upcoming entry-level models have made things difficult. 
Source: http://feeds.worldcarfans.com/~r/worldcarfans/Jxfz/~3/ec1Emkv4If4/bmw-to-adopt-new-naming-structure
Campaign launched to save Team Lotus
 |
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/campaign_launched_to_save_team_1.php
Gilles Simon to head PURE V6 turbo programme
Gilles Simon has left his role as the FIA?s Director, Technical and Powertrain to join Craig Pollock?s new P.U.R.E. organisation as technical director. P.U.R.E has the support of Jean Todt, who is keen for new entrants to come to F1 … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/07/28/gilles-simon-to-head-pure-v6-turbo-programme/
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Karthikeyan Makes Surprise F1 Return With HRT
Narain Karthikeyan has made a surprise return to Formula One after being announced as one of Hispania HRT’s drivers for the 2011 season. The Indian driver was unveiled as the first racer to be working with the Spanish based squad, who look likely to enter into a second season of racing despite on-going financial concerns. [...]
Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/karthikeyan-makes-surprise-f1-return-with-hrt/
Skip Barber Paolo Barilla Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels
Karthikeyan Makes Surprise F1 Return With HRT
Narain Karthikeyan has made a surprise return to Formula One after being announced as one of Hispania HRT’s drivers for the 2011 season. The Indian driver was unveiled as the first racer to be working with the Spanish based squad, who look likely to enter into a second season of racing despite on-going financial concerns. [...]
Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/karthikeyan-makes-surprise-f1-return-with-hrt/
Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews
mid engine corvette update 7/28
with all the talk about a mid engine corvette I decided to try my luck at building one. took a c6 corvette moved the mid section forward (cab forward design lol). did not want to change the wheel base. moved engine to back by using a second front suspension. may not use this engine but set in here so you can see the idea. reshaped the back end of the vette. wheels are off the concept camaro. there are also bits and pieces of a ferrari in there also.
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/929996.aspx
Kurt Ahrens Jr Christijan Albers Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi
Friday, 29 July 2011
Ferrari engineers examining nuts
Ferrari has confirmed that Felipe Massa?s crucial last lap pit stop delay in Germany was due a problem with a wheelnut design that was new for the British GP. In the race for ever faster stops Ferrari introduced the new … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/07/26/ferrari-takes-a-look-at-nut-problem/
Philippe Alliot Cliff Allison Fernando Alonso Giovanna Amati
Button: DRS has ?helped? but created ?boring moves? | 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix
"DRS has obviously made a couple of boring moves, but I think it?s helped tremendously."
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/WoI6cT9oj0A/
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Revamped Silverstone wins over the fans
At Silverstone
Silverstone's owners have spent �40m in the last two years to modernise the historic Northamptonshire circuit that Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone once famously described as a "country fair masquerading as a world event".
Of that cash, raised by the British Racing Drivers' Club, �28m has been absorbed by a state-of-the-art pits and paddock complex, and the rest has gone on improving spectator facilities.
This year, ticket-holders to the British Grand Prix have their own "fans zone" - which curves round the Luffield section of the old grand prix track - new steeped, grass banks to watch from and two brand new grandstands at Farm and along the pit straight.
There's even the equivalent of Wimbledon's "Henman Hill" - which has been unofficially dubbed Hills' Hill after father-and-son world champions Graham and Damon Hill - where fans can watch the racing from a giant screen.
Silverstone has a rebuilt pit lane but not everyone is happy about it. Photo: PA
The philosophy behind the facelift was to give fans the opportunity to rove around in a festival atmosphere - but has the investment improved the experience?
"The last time we came was four years ago and the difference is unbelievable," said Louise Torrance from Aberdeen.
"At the campsites there are now loads of showers, films like The Italian Job at night and a disco as part of the entertainment.
"Was the investment worth it? One hundred percent. We've heard other people saying it's much better than last year, so it can only get better from here on in."
Sarah Davies found herself sharing the weekend with first-time British Grand Prix visitor John Beazley after their mutual friend broke his ankle at the circuit during Friday practice.
Sarah, from Oxford, said: "The medical staff were fantastic. The paramedics took him to the medical centre, set it straight away and took him to hospital."
Beazley, who hails from Sheffield, added: "I've wanted to come for years and years. I've been following motorsport since the Nigel Mansell days and I'm just blown away by the noise and the amazing atmosphere."
The Formula 1 world championship was born at Silverstone 61 years ago when the former World War II airfield hosted the opening round of the sport's inaugural season.
But two years ago Ecclestone was ready to pull the plug on the circuit, leaving the existence of the British Grand Prix in real danger.
The pledge to plunge millions of pounds into Silverstone saved both the circuit and the British GP, and on Sunday a record sell-out crowd of 120,000 fans will come through the gates.
The BRDC can ask for no better vindication than that, but the revamped circuit is not without its problems.
The new pit lane slopes below the level of the track and that means the fans' views of the pit stops from the opposite grandstand are obscured.
The plan had been for the slowest teams on the grid to occupy those garages but the layout was switched so that members of the "Paddock Club" - who pay a premium for their seats - could watch the race-defining stops at Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari.
The team principals at Red Bull and McLaren, who have been bickering for most of the weekend over a controversial change in the sport's technical regulations, were united in their criticism of the issue.
"For those in the grandstands, who can't see the pit stops, it's a bit of a shame," said McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh.
His Red Bull counterpart, Christian Horner, added: "The spectators are not going to see many Red Bull or McLaren pit stops this weekend. It's not great."
There are also concerns that the relocated podium isn't in front of a grandstand and so fans could be tempted to surge onto the track, just like in less safety conscious days, at the end of the race.
And in times of austerity, it is no surprise that some spectators find Silverstone's ticket prices challenging.
Sarah Davies added: "The prices are expensive. It cost me �300 this weekend which is a lot of money when you're on a budget. Silverstone could do more."
Surprisingly, there was one thing the fans were, on the whole, not complaining about - the temperamental British weather, which sent sheeting rain and gusts of wind across Silverstone.
After all, for British fans there's no place like home.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/sarahholt/2011/07/revamped_silverstone_wins_over.html
Ford Explorer EcoBoost gives class-leading fuel economy
Designed for fuel-conscious shoppers, the crossover features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 240 hp (179 kW / 243 PS) and 270 lb-ft (366 Nm) of torque. 
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Six hours and 20 minutes after the race?
GrandPrix+ is Formula 1′s original e-magazine. Started in 2007, it is still the fastest magazine in Grand Prix racing, coming out around six hours after each F1 race. Averaging 80-pages, the e-magazine arrives in your computer in PDF format, allowing you to create an electronic archive which you can take anywhere. For the annual subscription [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/07/24/coming-soon-6/
CUP: First Major For Kyle Busch?
Kyle Busch is looking for his first Brickyard 400 victory...
Source: http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-first-major-for-kyle-busch/
Mário de Araújo Cabral Frank Armi Chuck Arnold Rene Arnoux
Mercedes-Benz Black Falcon SLS AMG GT3
Mercedes will be entering this year’s 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) with a special edition SLS AMG GT3. This special edition will be donning a look inspired by the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG with which Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz achieved a class victory and overall second place 40 years ago.
The special Black Falcon SLS AMG GT3 will be distinguished by a red paint finish, the start number 35, and special sponsor stickers that will give it the exact same look as the legendary 300 SEL 6.8 AMG. The car will be driven by Kenneth Heyer (31, Wegberg), Thomas J�ger (34, Munich), and St�phane L�meret (37, Ophain-Bois-Seigneur-Isaac, Belgium).
Kenneth Heyer said: "It’s a great honour, exactly 40 years after my father’s success, for me to be bringing the Black Falcon SLS AMG GT3 to the starting line of the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps. Together with my team colleagues, I will be trying to achieve at least second place. The car will no doubt attract plenty of attention in the line-up with its look reminiscent of the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG, but naturally the focus will be on a good racing performance. The SLS AMG GT3 has the potential for a place on the winner’s rostrum, but as we all know, a 24-hour race obeys laws of its own."
Mercedes-Benz Black Falcon SLS AMG GT3 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 26 July 2011 21:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/mercedes/2011-mercedes-benz-black-falcon-sls-amg-gt3-ar113107.html
Martin Whitmarsh: ?Sebastian made a couple of mistakes??
Martin Whitmarsh says that McLaren can?t expect to rely on Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull hitting problems – but can at least try to put the championship leaders under pressure while improving the team?s own form. Vettel has still not … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/07/25/martin-whitmarsh-sebastian-made-a-couple-of-mistakes/
Buemi loses German GP qualifying time
Sebastien Buemi has lost his 16th place qualifying time for a fuel irregularity, and will thus start at the back of the grid. The team had the option of appealing but after Shell’s technicians ran their own test on STR’s … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/07/23/buemi-loses-german-gp-qualifying-time/
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Eric Boullier: ?I?m not satisfied with where we are??
Lotus Renault boss Eric Boullier says he was disappointed that upgrades for Germany didn’t move the team forward, and says it just has to work harder. Although the car was more competitive than at Silverstone, the true picture was disguised … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/07/26/eric-boullier-im-not-satisfied-with-where-we-are/
Button Steps Up Pre Season Training With Lance Armstrong
Jenson Button teamed up with record breaking cyclist Lance Armstrong, as he continues to prepare for another Formula One season. The McLaren driver excitedly tweeted that he would be riding with Armstrong, the 7 time Tour de France winner, in Hawaii. Armstrong responded via Twitter “I hope he doesn’t ride as srong as he drives [...]
Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/button-steps-up-pre-season-training-with-lance-armstrong/
Lewis Hamilton - classic F1 2011
Lewis Hamilton picks his five all-time favourite races ahead of the British Grand Prix, in the latest instalment of BBC Sport's classic Formula 1 series.
This year, we have asked all the drivers to make such a choice, and we are serialising them before each race to whet your appetites for the action ahead.
The drivers have taken different approaches to this task so far.
Multiple world champions Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, for example, chose a mixture of their own races and events that resonated with them from before their own time in F1.
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, by contrast, did not take his own races into account at all.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Hamilton - like reigning champion Sebastian Vettel before him - has gone for his five favourite races from his own F1 career. And what a selection it is.
Hamilton has been F1's most exciting driver since he entered the sport with a bang in 2007, and in that time he has produced drives that are not only among the best of his era, but will stand the test of time as all-time great performances.
His five choices reflect that, and you can watch him discussing his choices with F1 presenter Jake Humphrey in the video embedded immediately below. He starts off by talking about this season's Chinese Grand Prix.
In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.
Hamilton has included a couple of career landmarks because of what they mean to any driver - a home race, a Monaco win, for example - so not all of them would necessarily be on a list of the five greatest drives of his career. But at least three of them would.
His superb wins in Belgium 2010 and Hungary 2009 do not make his list, nor is there a mention for his breathtaking qualifying lap in Japan last year.
Nevertheless, I'm sure many could make a case for the other two as well, and all are stand-out performances from a man even his team-mate Jenson Button describes as "super-talented, one of the best drivers Formula 1 has ever seen".
Hamilton has not ranked them himself, either in order of preference or in order of status, so I have done so myself, after discussing their merits with our F1 commentary box producer Mark Hughes.
In what we perceive to be reverse order of merit, they are as follows:
5. The 2008 Monaco Grand Prix
Hamilton has chosen this because, he says, as a grand prix driver "you always remember your first Monaco". He undoubtedly drove superbly to win in mixed conditions, but the victory owed a lot to luck.
He crashed into the barrier at Tabac corner on lap six, damaging a rear wheel, as rain began to fall more heavily. But he managed to get the car back to the pits undamaged, enabling him to take on more fuel and delay his final tyre change to dry tyres until he had built a winning lead.
4. The 2007 Canadian Grand Prix
Hamilton made an instant impression in his debut season in F1, overtaking his team-mate Alonso around the outside of the first corner at the first race of the season in Australia.
After a series of increasingly impressive performances, and podium finishes in every race, his maiden victory came at the sixth race of the season, the Canadian Grand Prix.
It was a dominant performance, leading from lights to flag, despite four safety cars, and such was Hamilton's superiority that it appeared to completely unsettle Alonso.
The Spaniard went off at the first corner after the start disputing the lead with his team-mate and, most uncharacteristically, ran off the track there a further three times during the course of the race, eventually finishing seventh.
3. The 2007 Japanese Grand Prix
Run in horrendous, monsoon-like conditions on the Fuji Speedway in the shadow of Japan's iconic mountain, this was the first real indication that Hamilton had the almost supernatural ability on a wet track that marks out the truly great drivers.
He led the race throughout, coping well with a safety car intervention, while other drivers - including Alonso - were caught out by the rivers of water that were running across the track or the appalling visibility.
Hamilton joked with Humphrey that seeing his team-mate, with whom he was at the time disputing the world championship, had crashed was one of the reasons he remembered the race so fondly.
He describes it as "the race in the wet in Fuji where Fernando crashed".
"That made it great, did it?" Jake asks.
"Yeah," Hamilton says with a laugh, before adding: "No, it was a great race because it was the trickiest conditions. And you've got a two-time world champion who's been racing a lot more than me and he's put it in the wall. And the others who were trailing around and struggling, to have those races and keep the car on the track in those conditions, it doesn't compare to anything."
2. The 2011 Chinese Grand Prix
Hamilton's only victory so far this season was the result of a breathtaking drive, in which all his raw pace and daring overtaking skills were on display.
He chased Vettel down in the closing laps and passed him brilliantly into the 150mph Turn Seven to take the lead. That was impressive enough.
But the win hung on an equally stunning overtaking move on Button earlier on, diving audaciously down the inside into Turn One at the last possible moment. The two came very close to disaster, Button having a wobble as he noticed his team-mate was there and took avoiding action.
"Every moment was amazing," Hamilton remembers. "To express what you feel in the car, you can't put it into words.
"I race a Formula 1 car. It's crazy to be able to even say that. I've been racing since I was eight and now I've got my own F1 car that I can race and help develop. I feel very privileged.
"When you're in that race and you feel you've got the car beneath you, overtaking Vettel, the world champion, was amazing - and also doing it in a place where he didn't expect it.
"It's definitely one of the best grands prix I've had."
1. The 2008 British Grand Prix
Hamilton was brief on the subject of this race, his first and so far only win in his home grand prix, describing it as "wicked". Another way of looking at it is as one of the greatest wet-weather performances in F1 history.
It was a drive that reminded onlookers of Ayrton Senna's iconic victory at the 1993 European Grand Prix at Donington Park, Michael Schumacher in Spain in 1996 or Jackie Stewart's at the Nurburgring in 1968 - a day when one man is on a completely separate level from his competitors.
In treacherous wet conditions, Hamilton was at times four of five seconds faster than anyone else. It was, as McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said at the time, "an astonishing performance".
Highlights of that memorable afternoon are embedded below, with beneath it links to short and extended highlights of Mark Webber's victory for Red Bull in last year's British Grand Prix.
In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.
CLICK HERE FOR SHORT HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2010 BRITISH GRAND PRIX
CLICK HERE FOR EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2010 BRITISH GRAND PRIX
Short highlights of Canada 2007, Japan 2007, Monaco 2008, Great Britain 2008, China 2011 and extended highlights of the 2010 British Grand Prix will be broadcast on satellite and cable from 1500 BST on Wednesday 6 July until 1830 BST on Friday 8 July. They will be broadcast on Freeview from 1040 BST until 1240 BST on Friday 8 July.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2011/07/lewis_hamilton_-_classic_f1_20.html
Buemi penalised for Heidfeld clash
Sebastien Buemi has received a five-place grid penalty for the Hungarian GP after a collision with Nick Heidfeld. Ironically the German had been awarded a drive through penalty for an earlier collision with Paul Di Resta, but the Buemi crash … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/07/24/buemi-penalised-for-heidfeld-clash/
Monday, 25 July 2011
Stefano Domenicali: ?The performance is where it should be?
Stefano Domenicali has reiterated that Ferrari has to focus on doing its own thing and not worry about the margin to Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull. Fernando Alonso has scored more points than any other driver over the last three … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/07/25/stefano-domenicali-the-performance-is-where-it-should-be/
Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh Lucien Bianchi Gino Bianco
Audi wants its own Mexico plant - report
But VW Group executives believe it's more efficient for Audi to share production with VW at its U.S. plant in Tennessee. 
Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews
Rising star Ricciardo relishing Hispania opportunity
At Silverstone
For a man making his grand prix debut this weekend, Daniel Ricciardo finds himself with an unusual amount of Formula 1 experience.
The Australian Red Bull protege has driven three different F1 cars in the last 12 months.
He piloted Red Bull's championship-winning RB6 car at a test for young drivers at the end of last season, and then became Toro Rosso reserve in 2011 before he was loaned out to Hispania as their race driver for the rest of this season just in time for the British Grand Prix.
Despite going from the fastest car on the grid to the slowest in the space of a few months, Ricciardo is viewing his promotion to Hispania race seat as a big step in the right direction.
"The car can't be compared to the Red Bull but it's still an F1 car," said the 22-year-old with an ear-to-ear smile. "It does some amazing things speed-wise and the potential under braking is still pretty strong. I'm definitely having fun.
"I was only 18 when I was picked up by Red Bull, and I knew there was still quite a few years to prove I could go through the categories and get into F1. It's only become a reality now."
The wet and windy weather that buffeted Silverstone on Friday meant Ricciardo did not have the best conditions in which to show his capabilities during his first full day of practice.
But he made a solid start, closely matching team-mate Vitantonio Liuzzi in the morning and beating the experienced Italian by 0.209 seconds in the afternoon.
All drivers use the man on the other side of the garage as their initial benchmark but Liuzzi presents an interesting comparison for Red Bull as they assess Ricciardo. The team know just how far Liuzzi's talents reach because he drove for Red Bull in 2005 before joining Toro Rosso.
Does Ricciardo's future with the Red Bull family hang on whether he can regularly beat the Italian?
"It wouldn't hurt," responded Ricciardo. "I'll drive as fast as I can and where I end up will determine my future.
"Tonio is quite experienced and has spent more time with the team than I have. Going by the pace today I was quite happy to be in a competitive range and we'll see how it goes in the dry.
"The plan is to be around and to race in F1 for many years to come so with that I have to be fast and to prove myself."
Ricciardo asked fellow Aussie Mark Webber for some advice this weekend and there is even speculation that Ricciardo could be fast-tracked into Webber's seat in 2012.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has even compared Ricciardo's situation to Damon Hill's route into F1.
Hill stepped into a race seat with Brabham halfway through the 1992 season when he was a reserve for Williams. The next season, Hill was promoted to a race seat with Williams and four years later he won a world title.
So, does Ricciardo fancy a seat with the fastest car in the field?
"Having a connection and a link with Red Bull, it's somewhere in the back of my mind and it would be nice one day," said the Australian, who handily already lives near the team's headquarters in Milton Keynes.
"The news I got last week has filled up quite a bit of space in my head so I will just try and enjoy that at the moment.
"My main objective this weekend is to finish the race. Of course I'll push and try and get as much as I can from the car.
"I don't think we'll be fighting with Red Bull or Ferrari but I don't plan running at the back and having my own race. If I can be a few more places up the grid then of course I'll go for it. It would be nice to be involved in a good fight and I'll be pushing through all the race."
At the end of his first media session as an F1 racing driver, Ricciardo made another unusual gesture as he gathered up the dictaphones in front of him and handed them back one-by-one to each member of the media.
"There are a few more people here than I thought," said Ricciardo, with another trademark grin. "It's nice that people are taking an interest."
It's fair to say that there are plenty of people watching this space. After all, who's to say Ricciardo won't emulate former Red Bull protege Sebastian Vettel and rise through the ranks of Toro Rosso and Red Bull to become a world champion?
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/sarahholt/2011/07/ricciardo.html
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Meanwhile in Mexico City?
There has been an upsurge in Mexican interest in Formula 1 with the arrival at Sauber of Sergio Perez and the possibility that he will be joined sooner or later by another Mexican youngster, Esteban Gutierrez. One should add that since Jean Todt took over as FIA President the influence of the Mexicans has increased [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/meanwhile-in-mexico-city/
GRAND-AM: Ganassi Wins New Jersey Scorcher
Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas return to victory lane; SpeedSource gives Mazda first GT victory of season...
Source: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/grand-am-ganassi-wins-new-jersey-scorcher/
Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz Birabongse Bhanubandh Lucien Bianchi
Journalists shocked at Korea award
 Scarecrows adorn the entrance to a barren Korean International Circuit |
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/12/journalists_shocked_at_korea_a.php
Fernando Alonso: ?We will wait for some mistakes from Red Bull??
Fernando Alonso says that he and Ferrari have not given up on 2011, and will take things race by race instead of worrying too much about the title battle. The Spaniard?s Silverstone win was the team?s first of the year, … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/07/21/fernando-alonso-we-will-wait-for-some-mistakes-from-red-bull/
Fernando Alonso eyes home win at the Spanish Grand Prix 2010
Spanish Grand Prix will kick start on Sunday bring enough joy to the home crowd. The 2010 Spanish Grand Prix will feature three local drivers – Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) and Pedro de la Rosa (Sauber). There is obviously much to cheers about these three lads especially Fernando Alonso if he can [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/formula-f1/~3/F75cOQhYomI/
Zsolt Baumgartner Elie Bayol Don Beauman Karl Gunther Bechem
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Video: Ferrari 458 Italia starts drag race against Dodge Viper in reverse
You could say that the driver of the Ferrari 458 Italia was a little too eager in making his rival Dodge Viper eat his dust. You could even say that his heart was a racing a little and the adrenaline got the better of him. But to start a drag race like this with so many people watching? A little embarrassing, if you ask us.
Watch the video and you’ll see the Italian supercar and the American sports car in a nice and friendly quarter-mile race. Everything looks ready to roll except that when the light turned green, the 458 Italia went backwards. As in reverse. As in ’oops’.
The driver’s brainfart caused him to shift his car’s dual clutch auto transmission into reverse, which would have probably been more understandable if he wasn’t sitting behind the wheel of a 458 Italia.
But a car of that stature to start a drag race in backwards fashion is just well beyond humiliating.
Check out the video and watch the drag race folly at the 0:39 mark.
Video: Ferrari 458 Italia starts drag race against Dodge Viper in reverse originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 23 July 2011 12:00 EST.
Christian Danner Jorge Daponte Anthony Davidson Jimmy Davies
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