F1 Fanatic round-up: 19/9/2010

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What are you doing with an F1-free Sunday? Let us know in the comments…

Here’s today’s round-up:

Links

Hamilton eagerly waiting to drive in 2011 Indian GP (Times of India)

“There were hardly any fans at the Turkey Grand Prix. But with the huge number of fans and support in India, I look forward to it.”

Comment of the day

Yesterday’s article on how many fresh engines each of the championship contenders has left led some to question whether the engine rules should be relaxed. Stamos says no:

Engine durability is and should be part of the game. If F1 is used as the lab to develop better technology for the road, rules regarding the number of engines used should stay in F1.

This is in par with F1 apparent decision to lower cubic capacity and revs in the near future, in addition to introducing "green" solutions like KERS. Therefore, I think those hoping to see the limitations on the number of engines per race disappearing, they will be disappointed.

Now, I have no saying regarding the specific number of engines that should be allowed but it should be a "happy medium" to stress the importance of durability but not compromise the fun of the game.
Stamos

From the forum

Someone’s already thinking ahead to the long, dull off-season. PortuGoose is wondering how GP2 Asia can be improved.

Happy birthday!

No F1 Fanatic birthdays today. If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is by emailling me, using Twitter or adding to the list here.

On this day in F1

Speaking of GP2 Asia, I must admit I felt a bit smug when I re-discovered the following I wrote about Karun Chandhok three years ago today:

A leap straight into F1 next year would surely be too premature for the 23 year-old. But with another season of GP2, plus perhaps GP2 Asia where local knowledge will surely pay dividends, an F1 testing deal in 2009 could pave the way nicely for that all-important arrival on the grid in 2010??
Karun Chandhok

The Indian Grand Prix was slated for the 2010 calendar at the time, it’s now scheduled for next year. The question now is, will Chandhok be back in an F1 car in time for it?

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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36 comments on “F1 Fanatic round-up: 19/9/2010”

  1. Huge crash at Silverstone today in the megane cup yesterday. Lucky escape for Caroline Grifnée. Check the video out http://bit.ly/90LMOf #WSR

    1. Is it just me or are there more big accidents than usual this year?

      1. you’re spot on!…

        since Henry Surtees fatal accident last year, we’ve had some very big accidents way too often!

    2. MouseNightshirt
      19th September 2010, 1:49

      Maaaaaaaan, glad I wasn’t in that car! Testament to how well they build the roll cages, that’s about all that’s left of that Megane…

      1. There was also a big one in the Wold Series by Renault race. Jon Lancaster did the most pathetic piece of driving I have ever seen and droped the car off the line then spered Daniel Ricciardo in the side and sent him into a barrel role.

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6fEw3hShLQ

        1. What’s funny is after rolling the car and getting out, Ricicardo goes back to fit the steering wheel to comply with the regulations.

          Probably one of the most pathetic front row starts I’ve seen in a while too.

        2. wow Macca, thats one hell of a mistake!, wheel spin off the line, loses control and punts the championship leader out of the race.

          In the dry too?

        3. He must have been quick to get on the first row, but what a mistake at the start.

          Good thing, nobody got hurt.

  2. What am I doing with a free Sunday? I’m avoiding a mountain of paper work that’s due next week by creating higher priority issues like worrying about the track design of the Indian GP.

    Regarding Hamiltons comments on the Indian GP, I wish drivers would say something about the track and not just the great fans. I know it’s good PR and good business, but how do that rate the track itself?

    I was looking at it on paper and it didn’t do much for me. I found a few videos on Utube but alas they failed to please. It looks like it could be an interesting track for a wet race but the same can be said of just about any track.

    1. I know it’s good PR and good business, but how do that rate the track itself?

      They can’t rate it until they drive it.

      Also, the circuit was designed in conjunction with the teams and drivers (kind of like what Tilke did with the Aragon circuit; Pedro de la Rosa had some input).

  3. In Dublin for the All Ireland football final. Down vs Cork. Up Down!!!

  4. I agree with Hamilton that there will be more crowd in India then there were on average in the last two Turkey GP. They said that the price of tickets will be less.

    Chandhok should look for two places, Force India or Lotus if he wants to be in a racing seat in 2011.

  5. I get the feeling the Indian GP will be ridiculously packed.

    1. much like India then…

  6. “What are you doing with an F1-free Sunday? Let us know in the comments…”

    Watch Indycar, F2, WSBR, MotoGP.

    1. Richard Smillie
      19th September 2010, 7:21

      “What are you doing with an F1-free Sunday? Let us know in the comments…”

      NFL! I realize I am labeling myself as an American, but F1 Sunday or not, the NFL is where it is at.

      Luckily, the two don’t coincide on race weekends. Morning of F1, afternoon of football;

    2. “What are you doing with an F1-free Sunday? Let us know in the comments…”

      Watch Indycar, F2, WSBR, MotoGP.

      I’m doing the exact same thing. :)

  7. I have been doing some more obscure marshalling work with my marshals club, organising runners into their starting groups for a fun run today. Was a bit of fun, and a good chance to wish luck to some of the marshals who are travelling to singapore.

  8. I hope Chandhok can get himself a seat, preferably with a team that isn’t run by Collin Kolles. He performed pretty well against his team mate all things considered (certainly better than Yamamoto has in his stead). It would be a great thing to see him in a Force India for the inaugural Indian GP, but it doesn’t seem likely to transpire after the comments Mallya has made a couple times this year.

    1. I agree, that he gave the impression of being pretty good in the race, even though his car was not material to blitz qualli with.

    2. No kidding there I to hope he get a seat. Before the Monza race it looked if I recall right like Chandhok had more new team “points” then Senna yet he been out of the car for numerous races at that point. He for sure drove better then what Yamamoto managed so far. Plus CHandhok is one of the really cool personalities in F1, friendly, down to earth and just fun to follow. Maybe a STR seat? After all he drove RBR demo car maybe that might be a indication here?

  9. I think Vijay is being a bit of a fool on this one.

    He has mentioned aspirations to have an Indian driver in the Force India seat and it would make sense to have someone in there for the inaugural Indian GP – its a marketers dream. First of all he said no to Narain Karthikeyan given he said there were some up-and-commers of greater potential. One of these up-and-commers makes the F1 grid, does pretty well all factors considered and is snubbed.

    Vijay must remember that Adrain Sutil was once deemed the bunny of the F1 grid, and look what happens when he is surrounded by a decent setup with a fast car. Chandhok keeps the car on the road and keeps a steady pace with his teammates.

    If Adrain Sutil, the German, is popular in India, imagine what Kuran Chandhok, the Indian, driving a Force India, in an Indian GP would do for popularity.

    Lopez from Renault mentions holding onto Petrov as it give access to a whole new market. Chandhok in a Force India is that theory but to the extreme. I was unsure about Chandhok at the start of the year but I think he has justified his place on the grid.

    My prediction – Schumacher retires, Sutil to Mercedes, Karun to Force India.

    1. But i suppose India is not the market he is looking at with his entrerprises.

      1. Majority of Vijays enterprises are Indian based, aimed at the Indian public.

        I wasn’t suggesting Karun to Renault…..

  10. Did anyone else watch the GT1 race yesterday from Algarve, Portugal? Amazing race, very entertaining. At one point there were about 8-9 cars seperated by less than 2 seconds, they would be going through series of corners in rows of 2 abreast (and no before some smart-alec says, it wasn’t the formation lap).
    A definite highlight was Westbrook/Mutsch driving from 21st to 5th.

    Race 2 is on later today, if its not on your tv you can stream it live (and later a full replay) through gt1world.com/gt1tv

    Apart from F1, nowadays GT1 is the only series I have to watch, its fantastic and I definitely recommend you get onto it.

    1. Yes I did watch that. The fight for the lead was pretty good to watch also. Just a shame there wasn’t a Ford-GT in the battle. :)

  11. “What are you doing with an F1-free Sunday?”

    Watching the BTCC plus the support races from Donnington (11:30-18:00 on ITV4). The Tom-Tom Calor Gas burners are on the front row.

  12. What am I doing this weekend?? Wishing that there was a f1 race to watch!!! Might re watch spa again …..

  13. Today I’m recovering from the ngiht before, watch some motorsports and day dreaming about Singapore.

  14. I just waved my parents and brohter goodbye after their visit to us this weekend. Their on their way home to the Netherlands (a 1000 km drive, but mainly highways)

    And a bit of recovery from yesterdays visit to the wine feast in Melnik where we had a decent amount of new wine to celebrate.

  15. http://eu.gran-turismo.com/gb/news/d14592.html
    It was teased a while ago that Red Bull would have some involvement with Gran Turismo, and this is it, the design of the X1 prototype which is a race car designed by no regulations to be the fastest it can possibly be.

    1. Yeah, that was posted a couple of days ago.

      1. Oops my bad. Wish I’d seen it a couple of days earlier then.

  16. My first kid was born on friday night. I could use an F1-free weekend.

    1. Congratulations Greg. Hope baby and mam are brilliant :) Enjoy the lack of sleep :P

    2. Congratulations, and best wishes for the child and its mom.

      You’ll be all to happy to switch on the TV in the middle of the night and hear the engines go in no time to replace the cries ;-)

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