What a Race Fan Can Be Thankful For

Suffice to say, I have recovered from the hangover that was the 2008 F1 Season and am privileged to bring you a Thanksgiving Eve edition of the Slipstream for all US readers, and standard Thursday edition for all of the international readers out there.

First off, I would like to say thank you to all of my readers so far and I do apologize for not being more active in the community.  I would love to find the time to write more and be as active as I used to, but life catches up with us all eventually. 

As the title suggests, this is a reflection on what us as fans of domestic and international motorsport can be thankful or at least appreciative of. 

As we all know, times across the globe are tough.  All it takes is a click of a mouse or press of a button on a remote control to bring about the troubled times that have approached us all.

I am thankful and I am sure countless are also, of an outlet like motor sports that enables people to sit back, relax, and even shut out the world around them in order to support and cheer on a certain driver, team, or the sport in general. 

Whether it be NASCAR, the IndyCar Series, F1, DTM, or Super GT, the essence of motorsport transcends language, culture, and creed to provide competition on a global scale only a few other forms of athletic expression can bring. 

For all the arguments and bitter debates on this forum, one single thing unites us all as fans, and that is our pride in the worldwide spirit of motor sport.  For that, I am very thankful for.

My thanks and appreciation also goes out to the drivers and teams of the F1 World Championship.  There were some bumps along the way but for the world championship to be decided in the last corners of the last lap of the final race is something that doesn't happen often in this sport.

Lewis Hamilton may have grasped the world title that Sunday in Brazil, but fans across the world could point to F1 with pride, despite team allegiance, and say that the Schumacher era had ended and a new era had begun. Those of you who follow the Slipstream know my criticism of Hamilton, but he is a deserving champion.

The lucky win in Singapore and the not so lucky but skeptic-silencing win at Fuji for Fernando Alonso is something I didin't expect to see but am glad did happen in the Spaniard's return to Renault.

The rise of a new wunderkind in Sebastian Vettel, and the win he brought to the team formally known as Minardi gave F1 fans something to be proud about as well.

So much happened this year on and off the track that to try and cover it all would take many hours, but each of those hours would be well spent.

On the domestic front, I am very thankful for the return of a single open wheel racing series in the United States. 

The demise of Champ Car and the rise of the IndyCar Series brings a lot of hope and wishful thinking to followers of US open wheel of a return to the 90s, in which open wheel racing challenged NASCAR in ratings, fan attendance, and interest. 

The road ahead will be rocky, and the timing could not have been worse, but a unified open wheel series is just what the doctor ordered for those sick of hearing BOOGITY BOOGITY BOOGITY!!!!!!!! at the start of each NASCAR race.

Once again, I would like to thank the readers of the Slipstream and again apoligize for my static activity on this nexus for F1 writing. 

Coming soon to the 'stream is the Golden Slingshot Nomination special for F1 and a second run of nominations for other areas of motorsport.  I promise you that the Golden Slingshot Award nominations will be out in the next two weeks. 

For those who reside in the US, have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving tomorrow and for the international readers, have an enjoyable Thursday.  Thank you once again for your interest in The Slipstream.