Fear & Loathing

A Throwback F1 Debut

With a 1-2 finish last week in Melbourne and another pole and win in today's Malaysian Grand Prix, upstart Brawn GP -- rising from the ashes of Honda's recent Formula One failure -- has ushered in a throwback era of Formula One competition. Historic Upset At the Australian Grand Prix. As Bob Varsha commented on Speed TV in the US, Ross Brawn has managed to garner more poles and victories in two races than Honda and its predecessor team, BAR Honda, did in 170+ grands prix. 

New, revolutionary rule changes have shaken up more than a decade of parade-line finishes in F1. In fact, it has been 30 years since a Formula One team (March, with 3-time World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart) took pole and a win in their maiden race. What a wonderfully refreshing change. Yes, the cars look different, with tiny rear wings and sleek bodies shorn of barge boards and aerodynamic winglets. But overtaking is a reality, in-season testing restrictions permit smaller teams once again to be competitive, and behemoths Ferrari, McLaren and Renault are struggling just to get into the points, let alone on the podium.

This is shaping up to be a tremendously exciting season!!

Posted via email from glenn's posterous

Spa Day

I was in Provincetown for the weekend (bypassed by Hannah almost totally) and the really cute guest house we stayed at did not receive SpeedTV.  So I missed the live broadcast of what seems like the best Formula One race of the past several seasons.  Hamilton Fights Back for Spa Win [BBC News].  Making things worse, however, my DirecTV HD-DVR froze on Saturday night, so the race was not recorded, either.  Technology can be really annoying sometimes!! Luckily the race will be re-aired Wednesday afternoon, and I can watch it knowing that the Belgian G.P. race stewards disqualified the winner, a decision F1 legend Nicki Lauda called the "most perverted judgment" he had ever witnessed in the sport.

M1 Revival

I still remember the first time I saw a BMW M1 -- summer 1981 in Los Angeles. What an extraordinary automobile. And now it is coming back to race. BMW M1 Procar Revival at Hockenheim [Worldcarfans.com]. Wow.

Silverstone No More at 54

Bernie Ecclestone, impresario of Formula One, has had the audacity to drop the British Grand Prix at venerable Silverstone from the Grand Prix calendar for the 2005 season. Weep for the British Grand Prix [GrandPrix.com]. Nigel Mansell called this move "an absolute disgrace." I agree wholeheartedly. Silverstone was the home of the very first F1 world championship race in 1950 and has been the scene of some of the most famous races of all time. Ecclestone says that the race could still be restored to the schedule if the British Racing Drivers Club, owner of the circuit. can come up with an extra £1.5m. Just another slick, money-grabbing move by Bernie with complete disregard for the history and traditions of the sport.

Ferrari Rolls On

Michael Schumacher may be the only man left in Formula One who is still amazed when he wins. Sunday's British Grand Prix win was the German's 10th in 11 races this year, the 80th of his career and fifth in a row. Schumacher Makes It 10 Wins Out of 11 [theage.com.au]. Like last week's win in France, Schumacher used some blistering lap times -- setting fastest lap four tours in succession -- to pull out enough time to pit and remain in the lead. But at Silverstone on Sunday he was closely chased for much of the race by Kimi Raikkonen in a newly revised McLaren-Mercedes. No difference; the Schumacher machine rolled on anyway.

Another F1 Season Begins

Well, the 2004 Formula One season is just days away, and I still have not updated my Formula One Art & Genius web site. Sorry, fans. Here's some of the latest news and gossip. F1 Melbourne Diary [europosrt.com].

Six World Championships

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher is about to accomplish what, for Formula One motor racing fans, was once -- and for many still is -- the unthinkable. By winning yesterday's U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis, Schumacher needs only one point in the season's last race at Suzuka in Japan to walk away with his 6th World Championship title (and fourth in a row). [BBCSport.com]. The legendary Juan Manuel Fangio won five championships in the 1950s. Passing Fangio will make Schumacher literally a legend in his own time. Herald Sun: Schu on Brink of History [30sep03].

The Other Michael

He's led 398 laps in 13 races, the most of any racer, without a victory in the Indianapolis 500. [rpm.espn.com] He's saddled with the famed "Andretti Curse," begun by his father Mario, which mysteriously causes their machines to break -- over and over again -- agonizingly close to the checkered flag while leading. So Michael Andretti's last driving appearance at the Brickyard has got to be an emotional favorite in this weekend's Memorial Day classic. I know I will be cheering for him.

Ferrari's On Fire

Even a pit lane fire, caused by a malfunctioning fuel delivery rig, could not stop Michael Schumacher from notching his third consecutive Formula One victory of the 2003 season yesterday at the A1 Ring in Austria and pulling to within a hair's length of the lead for the World Driving Championship. Headline writers around the world had a field day, but the risk was a lot less than it seemed. Ferrari Fight Flames for Third Win in Row [Guardian Unlimited Sport]

I Luv My Car

BBC Sport - Schumi Grateful for New Car. After winning the Spanish GP, Michael Schumacher sang the praises of the new Ferrai F2003-GA.

This new car is something very special. It works so beautifully and so fine. I am so much in love with this car. It's just fantastic what they (the team) have done. We were lucky to be here with the new car because I think in the old car we would not have made it.