Formula 1 Turning Left? Unique Track on the Calender

Rene v G — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:17:46 -0400

Formula 1, the so called highest class in Motorsports. Well, at least for openwheel. But this is not going to be an discussion about F1 being the highest race class or not. This is about the F1 callender.

The season, mostly arround 16 or 18 races, has some street tracks (crown jewel Monaco) and normal circuits (if I am right they call them roadcourses). Recently, F1 got its first nigh trace in Singapore, but still...my racing heart is missing something.

IndyCar has ovals and streettracks, NASCAR runs at ovals and two roadcourses, F1 races on streettracks and roadcourses. But why no ovals? That is really my question. I don't need/want much ovals on the F1 callender, only one is enough to make me feel the championship is complete.

I think that an oval race would be another special race of the season. For me, races like Monaco, Spa, and Monza have a different experience than tracks like Shanghai, or Istanbull. I think a cool oval race (three-wide close pack racing) could really add something.

It would be interessting to see how teams develop their cars for that single race. Maybe a back-marker team can win on this track, because they saw their opportunity there.

But...is it possible? F1 cars are completly different from IndyCars. F1 cars are more fragile. When they brush the wall, I think they would break into pieces, where an IndyCar can still continue. The whole car needs to be adjusted to oval racing. To make it simple, they need to build a whole new car, for just that single race. And that doesn't fit in the costs reducing program.

I am interested in your opinion.

Johnny Herbert Going to NASCAR?

Rene v G — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:01:36 -0400

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has announced that he wants to race in NASCAR.

Herbert, who is now 45-years-old, drove in F1 almost 10 years ago. His last F1 season was the year 2000 (Jaguar).

Last year he drove in the Speedcar series with much success, as he became champion. He also was very successfull at the Le Mans 24hrs.

Herbert says, "I've always wanted to have a go at NASCAR; I've been looking at it for a couple of years now; I enjoyed Speedcar so I'm hoping that I'm going to like driving a stock car on an oval too. I know I can't just waltz in and say 'I'm an ex-Formula One driver, give me a drive'—you've got to try to put a deal together and get a bit of sponsorship to make it happen."

Now I hope Johnny isn't going to face the same problems as Villeneuve did. Maybe he is more like Montoya, but I really don't know what to expect from Herbert in NASCAR.

Should Herbert come to NASCAR?

Bleacher Report - Articles by Rene v G

Formula 1 Turning Left? Unique Track on the Calender

Johnny Herbert Going to NASCAR?