Full Throttle

It was a race of surprises in the “Nearly Smokeless” (explaination forthcoming) Hungarian GP. The largest, to me at least, was the length of Michael Schumacher’s first stint. Most thought his pole winning effort was aided by a light fuel load and expected a very early stop for fuel. That turned out not to be true as his first stop occured on the 14^th circuit of the Hungaroring and was 3 laps later that Kimi Raikkonen.

The second major surprise was Michael’s brother Ralf who gained his first podium finish of the year placing third in his Toyota followed by teammate Jarno Trulli in fourth. Jenson Button, Nick Heidfeld, Mark Webber and Takuma Sato - also a surprise finish, but probably not enough to save his BAR Honda seat - rounded out the point-scoring positions.

Kimi Raikkonen avoided the bad luck that has plagued him the last few weeks and went on to an impressive victory. The McLaren team used a short-fill pit stop to give the lead to Raikkonen on the second pit stop. The Finnish driver then used the open track to his advantage by posting the fastest lap of the day on lap 40. At that point the race was effectivly over.

The win sliced into Fernando Alonzo’s Championship lead which now stands at 26 points and puts Kimi within striking distance of his first World Championship but will still need one or two more non-points paying finishes by Alonzo to make a race of it.

Alonzo was one of the many victims in a series of first lap shunts that saw his Renault and the Ferrari of Ruebens Barrichello suffer damage. Both Red Bull entries suffered major damage and retired from the race. Christian Klein - in what may be his last drive for Red Bull - got the worst of it after touching wheels with Jacques Villeneuve and being launched into a slow barrel roll (pictured) that left him right side up outside turn one and out of the race. Teammate David Coulthard didn’t fair much better as he hit the front wing of Alonzo laying on the track and the contact sheared off the right front suspension. Alonzo’s wing had been damaged when he touched the rear of Ralf Schumachers Toyota, also in the first turn skirmish.

All in all it was an entertaining event considering the Hungaroring is infamous for providing “parade lap” type races. With three weeks off until the next event in Turkey, “Buttongate the Sequel” and other stories of driver switches should provide more than enough reading material.

As for my title, “the smokeless Hungarian GP.” Sharp eyed viewers will note the change in sponsorship logos displayed by some, but not all cars. Sunday was the end of tobacco sponsorship as mandated by the European Union. The Intel Corporation is rumored to fill some of the gap created but it remains to be seen what the total effect will be.

This writer took note of McLaren-Mercedes replacement’ for it’s previous tabacco sponsorship with liquer producer Diageo and it’s Johnnie Walker brand with the “Striding Man” logo displayed. In addition the company will be invest

Michael Schumacher and Ferrari returned from it’s season long dream state to grab the pole for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. The pole is Schumie’s 64^th and leaves him one shy of the late Ayrton Senna’s record.

Schumacher’s performance was impressive considering he lost all of the second practice session to alternator failure. With nearly a full second advantage over second place I suspect we’ll see the Ferrari make an early fuel stop and confirm he gained the pole on a light fuel load.

The McLaren’s of JP Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen looked to be odds on favorite to claim the front row as they consistently posted quick times throughout the four free practice sessions, but Kimi was hampered by being first out to qualify. The notoriously slippery tarmac of the Hungaroring took it’s toll and Raikkonen rolls off from fourth position Sunday. Teammate Montoya will start second on the grid.

Third place went to Jarno Trulli in the Toyota, in another fine qualifing effort that has been his trademark this year. His biggest problem may come on race day. With Kimi, Alonso and Barrichello all just behind, the biggest race of the day may be those three trying to jump past Trulli at the start, as we’ve seen before a bit of a backlog can build up behind him on track.

Renault is not on the pace it expected this weekend and BAR was not exactly speedy either, but a lot can happen over a race distance.

For the moment Michael is sitting pretty - it’s so difficult to overtake at the Hungaroring so pole position is exactly where you want to be. He has to be a good bet for the win if he can stay ahead at the start but that’s something the rest will be eager to change.

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As NASCAR enters it’s “chase to the Chase” segment of the season - and with only six events til it’s official start - lets us pause for a moment and reflect on the new Dodge Charger and the soon to be Ford Fusion. At this point the Charger has not lived up to it’s winning tradition with only Kasey Kahne’s May win at Richmond and Ryan Newman’s continued pole winning efforts to appease the “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” crowd that infests the corporate board rooms..

The lack of performance can be attributed the dominance of the Roush Fords and to a lesser extent the Hendricks stable of Chevy’s. Another factor are the shear numbers, the Dodge teams are simply out numbered. The numbers should become more balanced if the Evernham and Ganassi teams add cars to their stables as rumored.

There is been some design issues with Dodge as well. The configuration of the Chargers grill lead some to believe it contributes to an overheating issue. I’m of the belief the grill is more than sufficant and the teams are using way too much tape looking for downforce. The root cause probably can be traced to the internals of the engine, but who am I to judge, I haven’t torn down a Hemi in 35 years. And don’t intend to start at this late date.

But their are people that are intimately involved and with the introduction of the new Ford Fusion some changes have been made in how things are done.

Ford Racing aerodynamicist Bernie Marcus and NASCAR field manager Ben Leslie handled the physical development work on the Fusion racer. This is in stark contrast to the development road followed with the 1997 Taurus, where Penske Racing South was contracted to be the lead team responsible for this effort. The idea was to let the teams concentrate on the week-to-week racing while Ford worried about the future. “It’s a philosophical difference from how we did things in the past,” says Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology, “but we now have the internal capability to handle more of these projects, and take some of the load off the teams.”

Leslie, Marcus, and Ford body specialist Jerry Painter went to the teams late last year and asked them for their ideas about the new car. They took a poll of the issues the teams were struggling with, and compared these notes to create a matrix of common concerns to be quantified before wind tunnel work began. Most of the work concentrated on the nose and tail sections to retain at least some resemblance with the production Fusion while developing a package that would be competitive on all of the tracks NASCAR runs.

The trio will be working with the teams throughout the season to refine the shape and keep pace with changes made up and down the pit lane. However, this is only some of the work they will be doing during the year. The greater part of their effort will be spent designing a completely new NASCAR Fusion to go with the sanctioning body’s rules changes for the 2007 season. That car will be taller, and carry over little of what has been learned during the past decade of racing in terms of aerodynamics. But at least the headlight, grille and taillight decals will probably remain unchanged.

Ford fans take note of the highlighted section. If the Fusion comes out of the box and runs like a three legged dog, remember the teams got what they asked for, much as all the teams got when they requested a “softer” Goodyear tire. Now that tires are popping like cheap circus balloons no one wants to admit they had any part in it.

If I were to guess, the Fusion teams won’t face nearly as many teething problems as the ones running the Charger. Dodge had only been back into [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/cup.jpg]NEXTEL Cup[/avatar] a few years before retooling again with the new Charger. Ford doesn’t have that disadvantage and have a much larger data base to work from.

Here’s another thing to keep in mind. Remember the days of Ford, Chevy and Pontiac and how hard it was telling one brand from another as they streaked by your TV screen? With out the familiar paint schemes you were hard pressed what brand was what. Now with the Charger and the new Fusion and their distinctive grill designs the phrase “cookie cutter” bodies is almost relegated to the dust bin. At least until 2007, then it’s a whole new ball game.

I’m not sure what to make of this, but it’s interesting none the less.

Honda intend to give F1’s V10 formula a rousing farewell in China by aiming to break the 1000hp barrier with a one-off engine. ”It’s possible,” the Japanese marque’s Otmar Szafnauer told Autosport magazine. With the power boost, Honda - co-owner of Jenson Button’s BAR team - hopes to fulfil the seemingly impossible pre-season team objective; to aim for ‘race wins’ in season ‘05. F1 will revert to 2.4 litre V8s next year.

I could say something snarky… well no, I will say it.

It appears as though Honda wants to close out the season with a “bang.” That’s bang as in the large bang heard when piston meets valve face or when a crankshaft slips it’s moorings and smacks the tarmac!

Now that I have satisfied the little smart assed fellow that resides on my left shoulder, here’s the deal. Of the following choices which is the most likely to occur. All selections relate to when the first BAR Honda engine explosion occurs.

• As Jenson Button hits the blend line exiting the pits during the first practice session.
• Race morning. At the very moment Button leaves the Shanghai Dazhong Merrylin Hotel the last Honda V10 shudders in disbelief at the possibility of facing the Shanghai circuit in anger. When Button arrives in the paddock he finds his Honda’s life blood drained out onto the floor and it’s shifting paddles locked in the neutral position. The T-car is missing and has been reported to authorities as a possible run away.
• Race day. As Takuma Sato exits the 2^nd gear turn 6, and in the split second between 3^rd and 4^th gear the V10 coughs, sputters and a piston is seen rocketing towards the stratosphere. NORAD issues an alert and the US President orders DEFCON 1.
• All of the above.

Bonus question for extra credit. At what distance will Sato’s piston land from turn 6?

• In the BAR Honda garage, under a tool box still red hot and smoking.
• Buried in the gravel outside turn 10.
• Oxford, England. On the grass outside the home of Nick Fry, BAR Honda Chief Executive Officer

There you are ladies and gents. Make your choices and place your bets!

“Jos the Boss” Verstappen will return to racing two years after leaving Formula One when he competes for the Jan Lammers owned Dutch A1GP team.

Verstappen¹ who drove for Benetton, Arrows and Tyrrell-Ford in a varied Formula One career which ended at Minardi in 2003, will carry the flag of his home country Holland in what is being billed as the World Cup of motorsport. Verstappen recently attempted to catch on with the Champ Car series but failed to secure what he thought was a competitive ride.

“Of course it’s very unusual having to defend your country. The fact that next week I will climb into a bright orange car not to represent a team or a sponsor, but an entire population does make this very special,” Verstappen says of his new drive. “I find it an honour that I will be able to do this. Off course I do not have to explain to the real car - and race fans what the potential is of the combination Jan Lammers, Huub Rothengatter and Jos Verstappen.”

Verstappen is, by most accounts, the most popular driver in Holland and should be an excellent addition to the team.

1. Verstappen Formula One career [back]

NASCAR has announced changes for the Busch Grand National North & West Series events. On first read I like their idea and tend to believe they should be emplemented for the [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/cup.jpg]NEXTEL Cup Series[/avatar] and [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/bgn.gif]Busch Series[/avatar] events.

The changes will include lining cars up two abreast on restarts, but with a twist. The twist being all lapped cars will be placed at the end of the field vice on the inside line. If that would have been in use last weekend in Pocono Dale Jr. never would have been in a position to possibly influence the outcome of that event. Here are the changes printed in full.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 27, 2005) - In a move that is expected to improve competition and create more side-by-side racing action, NASCAR has instituted two significant changes in the NASCAR Grand National Division, which includes the Busch North Series and West Series.

NASCAR Grand National Division (Busch North Series and West Series) races will now feature “double-file” restarts after any [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/caution.jpg]caution[/avatar] periods. The cars will be aligned in two rows, in the order they were running when the caution period began. Any lapped cars will be placed at the rear of the field, also in double-file formation.

In addition to changing the restart procedure, NASCAR Grand National Division officials will also institute a “beneficiary” rule, which allows the first driver off the lead lap to return to the last position on the lead lap, under caution. This rule has been instituted to give competitors a break if their car is just a little off the pace, as well as ensure more
orderly caution periods and restarts.

Previously, NASCAR Grand National Division events utilized “single-file” restarts, in which the lead-lap cars were lined up in a single line with the leader alone at the front. Any lapped cars were lined up separately on the inside row.

“We have instituted these changes in an effort to improve the competition in the Grand National Division,” said Don Hawk, NASCAR Director of Regional Racing Development. “These changes give more competitors the chance to race wheel to wheel, fender to fender and have a more exciting product for the fans.

“I believe it gives more drivers a chance to be on the lead lap, it gets the lapped cars away from the leaders and allows both groups a race within a race,” said Hawk. “The rule is known as the ‘beneficiary’ rule but it’s the
fans who should be the real benefactors as more cars should stay in contention, on the lead lap or at least have a chance. On some race tracks, going down a lap has basically ruined someone’s night under the old procedures.

“It is another phase of changing our competition model,” added Hawk. “We have been gathering as much information and as many ideas as possible, to continue to provide the competitive NASCAR racing that our fans have come to expect.”

The Busch North Series will implement these changes at its next event, July 30 at Adirondack International Speedway in Beaver Falls, N.Y. The West Series will also be in action July 30, at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., and will implement these changes to its race procedures .

Note the section I highlighted. With this rule everyone on the lead lap will have the ability to race each other without being blocked or otherwise interfered with as they race for the lead. The same can be said for those a lap or more down, they race among those they can pass for position and not be bothered with having to move over and let the faster leaders go past.

Brilliant, it should be made effective at all levels of NASCAR.

A member of F1’s travelling circus died after falling from the eighth floor of a Budapest hotel.

29-year-old Darren Hawker, who worked for McLaren’s catering company - Absolute Taste - had been standing on a terrace of the Marriot hotel which was not normally used, a police spokesperson said.

”The exact circumstances are still being investigated by the relevant authorities,” a spokeswoman for McLaren added.

Hawker, a Briton, had worked for McLaren for a year.

Source: F1 Central

The inevitable has happened. After the success of the [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/cts.gif]Craftsman Truck Series[/avatar] race at Daytona this year - a race that featured a three-wide photo finish - the announcement that NASCAR will stage a truck race in Talladega is not only unsurprising, but a welcome addition for those of us that remember the pre-restrictor plate days of [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/cup.jpg]NEXTEL Cup[/avatar].

The first Talladega [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/cts.gif]Craftsman Truck Series[/avatar] race will be held as part of the UAW-Ford 500 weekend Oct. 6-8, next year. The trucks should put on a similar show to Daytona and with their boxy shape, smaller carburetors and shorter race distances many are of the opinion the resulting action is better than [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/cup.jpg]NEXTEL Cup[/avatar] or the second tier [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/bgn.gif]Busch Series[/avatar], myself included.

For the “post restrictor plate fans” it will also put on display a racing tactic they may know very little, if anything about, the “slingshot maneuver.” The current aero package for the Cup cars has seen the tactic fall by the way side due the the slipperyness of their shape as they slice through the air.

The trucks with a more upright stance and larger frontal area create a larger hole in the air. That “hole” creates a vacumn behind the lead car the trailing car sucks itself into. As a result the trailing driver can actually lift the throttle slightly and not only maintain position but gain a speed advantage on the lead vehicle. The discovery of the draft is generally credited to Junior Johnson in 1960 while driving his Chevy and chaseing down the, then red hot, Pontiacs.

Via Autosport:

Andretti Green Racing will hold an emergency meeting with IRL bosses this week after all four of the team’s driver boycotted last weekend’s official autograph session - because Danica Patrick was given a separate queue for the second time this season.

As Autosport is a paid subscription site the only section available is the quoted section above. I also have not found another reference to this story on other media outlets as yet.

If this report is correct I say the [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/irl.png]IndyCar[/avatar] drivers, and more specificly the AGR Team, are flat out wrong.

I fail to see a problem. If the attraction is so strong for Danica Patrick’s autograph wouldn’t it be to everyone’s benefit, both drivers and fans, to separate those wanting Patrick’s scribble from the rest of the drivers? The line for AGR Team drivers would move along faster and benefit all concerned. The same can be said about those desiring only Patrick’s autograph.

Shorter lines means less wait, a win, win situation as far as I can see. I have a feeling this story will be updated as the story migrates to more media resources. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: There seems to be a little fire where this smoke is. This quote is from the moderator in the weekly [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/irl.png]IndyCar[/avatar] teleconference:

MODERATOR: I do have an announcement. I would like to ask the members of the media, that you do not ask questions of Dan [Wheldon] about the Milwaukee autograph session. The team has requested that questions about that matter go through Andretti Green Racing, their PR person, Al Larson. We’d ask you to contact Al on that matter.

And the plot thickens!

UPDATE II:Based on this USA Today report there is apparently a re-think by the big-wigs at Andretti Green Racing.

Andretti Green Racing drivers will attend a mandatory autograph session around Sunday’s IRL race at Brooklyn, Mich., one week after boycotting an appearance near Milwaukee because organizers set up a separate waiting line for popular rookie Danica Patrick, the series’ only female driver.

IndyCar Series points leader Dan Wheldon, who missed the session along with teammates Dario Franchitti, Bryan Herta and reigning series champion Tony Kanaan, promised Tuesday that all four would participate in Friday’s event in Jackson, Mich. But he stressed that last week’s decision to boycott Milwaukee was made by AGR co-owners Kim Green and Kevin Savoree.

The picture gets a little clearer. At least we know who instigated the boycott in Milwaukee but no reasons were given as to why it occured.

On a side note, I e-mailed AGR’s PR. contact Al Larson asking for a statement to be published here, as yet I have not received word from him. He did issue this statement to USA Today: “The misconception is that we have a problem with Danica Patrick, and it’s not about Danica,” AGR spokesman Al Larsen said. “Beyond that I don’t want to say too much. But we like where it’s going. Our drivers did not make that call.”

If the boycott was called by team owners and it isn’t “about Danica” what is it about? Was the placement given to Patrick a hinderance to those that wanted AGR Team drivers autographs? Was the space allotted larger? Who the hell knows?!

As it stands I’m sticking by my original assessment, I see no valid excuse for a boycott over separate tables used during the autograph sessions. It makes even less sense when you consider Patrick isn’t a member of the AGR team.

UPDATE III: Here is a little more to add via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal newspaper (free reg req’d)

The team’s issue is not with Patrick but with the format of the session, an Andretti Green spokesman said.

Having separate lines leaves the impression that there are two classes of drivers, and the team apparently was concerned that the series is not doing enough to turn Patrick’s new fans into fans of the sport.

The team co-owners stated they were concerned about how Patrick was being marketed in relation to a perceived slight the other series drivers have gotten. The impression I get is their main complaint is strictly marketing and not Patrick per se.

Fine, I can understand that and in no position to judge one way or the other whether they are correct. But I do have a simple question. If the concern is “marketing” series participants other than Danica Patrick, just how much did they gain in public relations by withholding AGR team drivers from the session? Whether legit or not a more adult method to voice their concerns should have been used. It should also be noted the story points out “No one complained they couldn’t get an Andretti Green autograph,” said Jim Tretow, the track’s public relations director.

So where’s the problem? I still have a few more sources to check but have little time at the moment. More later.

UPDATE IV: As per my last post in the comment section I didn’t think I would be adding to this story. The officials of [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/irl.png]IndyCar[/avatar] have seen fit to make it newsworthy again. They have decided a financial penalty to Andretti Green Racing is the correct response to their action in Milwaukee last weekend.

AGR was penalized for violating Section 7.1 (B) of the IndyCar Series Rule Book (Additional Driver Activities) which states:

If former NASCAR star, and Daytona 500 winner, Geoffrey Bodine has his way the current stars of [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/cup.jpg]NEXTEL Cup[/avatar] will not only be sliding, but racing down hill. On a bobsled run!

John Morgan has lived and breathed bobsledding as a driver, broadcaster, and coach. He says he’s never seen anything like this.

“I’ve been promoting the sport all my life, and during a pre-Olympic year you always get some stuff,” Morgan said. “But this is amazing. Our phones have been ringing off the hook.”

Apparently, the prospect of watching Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson race a bobsled down the Lake Placid-area track on Mount Van Hoevenberg has piqued the interest of auto racing fans who have heard about Geoffrey Bodine’s latest effort to help the U.S. bobsled program.
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