Dream Team: Why Ferrari Is Smiling

Rob Morrow — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:29:23 -0400

Luca Di Montezemolo has a lot to smile about these days. It is almost certain that the 61-year-old Italian businessman and president of Ferrari probably flashes his pearly-whites at just about everyone.

And why not?

Since taking over at Ferrari in 1991, Di Montezemolo has not only revitalized the struggling company's road car endeavors, but also returned it to its once fabled position as the juggernaut of Formula One. With a personal net worth exceeding $400M, his accomplishments speak for themselves, and it's not going to stop any time soon.

He is particularly noteworthy when one considers that it is ultimately his word that dictates who slides behind the wheel of either of his multimillion dollar F2008 Formula One cars.

His word, thus far, has dictated that Finnish phenom Kimi Raikkonen pilot the first of the Italian squad's craft. Fresh from McLaren, the Finn's maiden season with the Scuderia in 2007 produced not only the WDC (World Drivers Championship) but the WCC (World Constructors Championship) as well.

The appropriately named Iceman delivered an unbelievable underdog performance in the second half of the season to drag the two McLaren-Mercedes of rookie Lewis Hamilton and then-reigning and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso all the way to the final race in Brazil.

When the smoke cleared Raikkonen stood victorious and proved what he and others had said all along: he always had the talent, he just needed the car.

Brazilian sensation Felipe Massa occupies the second F2008 cockpit, and after putting in his own strong bid for the 2007 WDC was content to play Robin to Raikkonen's Batman.

In doing so he enabled Raikkonen to win at the season-ending finale at Sao Paulo. The duo did it in grand style, completely dominating the competition.

Immediately following the race both were offered extensions to already impressive contracts: Massa through 2010, Raikkonen through 2009.

But it's lonely at the top, and being at the top of Formula One is no different.

During the offseason, Fernando Alonso, double world champion and the wayward son of Renault, returned to the French squad amidst rumors of a contractual caveat that would allow him to leave Renault at the end of 2008.

Media outlets, Alonso fan boys, and even Fernando himself all fueled the fire that he would join the Scuderia for the 2009 season. At the same time Kimi Raikkonen announced his hopes that Ferrari would be his last team in Formula One.

The beginning of the 2008 season saw a continuation of the Alonso-at-Ferrari rumor despite Di Montezemolo politely acknowledging that, while Fernando was a great driver, he wasn't exactly Ferrari material.

Nonetheless, the rumors persisted. For those who insist it's going to happen, here's a brief rundown on why it's not going to happen:

Both Raikkonen and Felipe have already proved themselves worthy drivers behind the wheel of a Ferrari Formula One car. If you doubt that, I encourage disbelievers to take a gander at the three-way tie in the Drivers Championship. How many McLaren-Mercedes are there? Ferraris? Of the front-running teams, Ferrari is the only one to have both drivers in heavy contention.

Raikkonen's contract with Ferrari does not end until the end of the 2009 season.

Massa's contract with Ferrari does not end until the end of the 2010 season.

Fernando Alonso has proved time and again that he is not a team player, a trait that landed Massa his contract extension following last year's season finale in his home race.

Fernando Alonso teamed with rookie Lewis Hamilton. The result was epic failure. Pairing Alonso with either Raikkonen or Massa will produce different results? Unlikely.

Di Montezemolo has already flatly denied any interest in Fernando Alonso. Instead, the apple of Ferrari's eye appears to be young Sebastian Vettel.

Kimi Raikkonen has already plainly stated that while he will probably retire soon, his contract does not expire until the end of the 2009 season.

The 2008 season has been full of surprises and idle chit-chat.

Who would have guessed that Felipe Massa, anything but perfect at the season opener, would be tied for first place following the mid-season Silverstone race?

Who, also, would have wagered a guess that both Ferrari drivers would be tied for first at the same point?

And so it is that we enter the second half of the 2008 season with Ferrari holding a commanding lead in the WCC and both drivers gunning for that all-important WDC.

Could we see a repeat of the 2007 second half? Will Raikkonen and Massa once again paint the town (Ferrari) red?

That is a pair of questions that even Luca Di Montezemolo would be hard-pressed to answer, but one thing is abundantly clear: he has plenty to smile about.

Formula One: Watch Out Jenson Button, Here Comes Danica Patrick

Rob Morrow — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:35:05 -0400

I'm not going to lie: I like Danica Patrick.

She's the all-around package: attractive, successful, smart and skilled. She has accomplished much with very little and against great odds.

Her maiden IndyCar victory at Motegi this year was truly amazing. At only 26 years old. she's on the rise in IndyCar, and with the reemergence of ChampCar and IndyCar joined at the hip, she's going to have her hands full very soon.

However, try as one might, it's impossible to deny one's dreams. Danica dreams of moving beyond IndyCar to the pinnacle of motor sports: Formula One. Who can blame her?

To be the best, a racer must suffer the trials, tribulations, and circus atmosphere of triple-digit corner-apexing speeds, physical stresses virtually unheard of in any other sport, and truly international competition and acclaim, all packed within the confines of the most advanced, fastest and expensive open-wheel race cars in the world.

We like you in IndyCar, Danica, but you're needed elsewhere.

The last American to grace the grids of Formula One was Scott Speed. The California native enjoyed little of the experience behind the wheel of his Scuderia Toro Rosso, a team admittedly created simply to reward the winner of the Red Bull Driver's Search program.

As unfortunate as his exit from the sport was, it was even more unfortunate in that it fueled the fires of the international community that Americans simply weren't cut out for the sport.

Further fueling that fire was the fact that since an American wasn't participating in the sport, its popularity began waning with the American audience.

Combine that with the (then-) awful state of open-wheel racing between the competing IRL and ChampCar leagues, and it's quite easy to see why Formula One was reluctant in signing a new contract with Indianapolis Motor Speedway hotshot Tony George.

Disappointment was had by all, and the future seemed dire for open-wheel racing—Formula One in particular—in the United States.

Then comes 2008 and the tides of change. Rumors abound of Tony George's IRL making nice with ChampCar and finally merging. Then comes fresh rumors of Tony George working to secure title sponsors for a 2009 United States Grand Prix, just in time to celebrate the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's centennial birthday.

After making the IRL/ChampCar merger official, Tony has gained a little more credibility, and many believe that if anyone can bring Formula One back Stateside, it's him.

With a united open-wheel scene and a return to IMS in 2009 in the works, it would seem that, despite a dire situation, things are looking to be on the upshot. The only way in which to make this situation any better would be if there was an American driver to rally behind.

Honda F1's Jenson Button, when previously interviewed by men's lifestyle magazine FHM had joked, "a girl with big boobs would never be comfortable in the car, and the mechanics wouldn't concentrate. Can you imagine strapping her in? You wouldn't want to be on the circuit with them, would you?"

Funny you should say that, Jenson. Danica Patrick just called. She said she wants your ride.

Yesterday, Honda CEO Nick Fry admitted to Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung that Danica will indeed test for the car company's Formula One team. The test, using the year's best configuration of the Formula One car, will occur at either Barcelona or Jerez in Spain in November. Both of these are popular testing grounds for the Formula One teams.

The last woman to attempt entry into the height of motorsports: Italy's Giovanna Amati. She lasted all of three qualifying sessions for Brabham in 1992 before being ousted in favor of Damon Hill.

Bleacher Report - Articles by Rob Morrow

Dream Team: Why Ferrari Is Smiling

Formula One: Watch Out Jenson Button, Here Comes Danica Patrick