Racing Eagles

Why USGPE should not go under the proposed FIA budget cap.

The recent spat between FOTA and the FIA over next years' budget regulations has caused great consternation in the sport the last two weeks. The idea of a two tiered championship for the sport has caused a schism so bad, that the grid may not feature a red car for the first time in the sport' history.

Since USGPE have already lodged their entry for the 2010 season, they have a rather interesting decision to make. Do they support the team that are revolting against the proposed cap or go along with the FIA and Max Mosley? It will all come down to whether Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor support a budget caps or the teams.

I personally think it is a terrible idea for Formula One and for USGPE to support the FIA proposed budget cap. If USGPE a hear to the budget caps, then they would have ceded all control of their team to the FIA. It's simple as that. As the only legitimate team coming onto the grid next year, they are the only team in a position to a hear to the rules set forth by Mosley. Besides that if USGPE turns it back on the rest of the teams on the grid, I believe it will have terrible consequences down the road. After all, everyone believes that this fight is about a budget cap for the sport. Not quite, it is about Max getting control of the wallets of the teams. After all if the teams are losing money, wouldn't they naturally cut back? Why does the FIA need to dictate to the teams what they are already know and doing. If we are going to lose teams because of cost in the sport, then oh well. Renault have been playing that game for years and Toyota would be better off teaming up with Williams F1 then propping up their own outfit. My point is this; Formula One survived for decades with Ferrari being the only manufacturer in the sport. Grand Prix racing survived two world wars and countless manufacturers and teams leaving. We will always have Formula One. The question is who will control the sports' destiny.

USGPE would be in a lot stronger position if they supported FOTA. It would submarine the argument that Max has been propagating that this new budget cap is needed to attached new teams to the sport. More importantly, it will help USGPE integrate in the paddock for the long-term. The future of the sport does not belong to Max or Bernie but with the teams. In the end, they are what make the sport Formula One. They will be around a lot longer than Max and Bernie.

Plus, if USGPE does show potential and their income grows with sponsors, why on earth would they limit themselves?

Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor can make their impact felt on the sport right now. Just say no to the budget cap. However, I get the feeling that they will continue to stay low and won't say anything till their entry is accepted. The question is, who else will be on the grid in Melbourne next March?

USGPE news round-up (5/18/09)

A lot of things going on in the USGPE / USF1 / Team USF1 / Team Google /Team Oracle / team whatever universe. A lot of the news revolves around the current FOTA/FIA war. However, what is interesting is that Ken Anderson is starting to come into the sunlight and share what is going on with the team. He was at the Spanish Grand Prix and apparently gave a lot of interviews judging by the amount of quotes.

Autosport.com has a great Q&A with Ken Anderson. A lot of good things in this interview, worth reading the whole thing. I particularly like the realistic approach Ken is taking. He knows it is going to be rough for a few years at least while they settle into the sport.

The Motor Report reports, Ken Anderson reveals a timeframe for the team with the team producing parts by mid-June and testing a car on track by January.

GrandPrix.com reports that the team has hired Dr Eric Warren. Great move by the team. I know many people outside of the United State may not know Dr Warren, but in the states he is known as one of the top aerodynamics in US motorsports. Before you scoff an aero guy coming from NASCAR helping on an F1 team, take into account that the guy used to work for NASA and every team he has been with have improved with him aboard.

Finally this gem from Eurosport on Yahoo. GOD NO!

Oh no. Here we go again.

There has been so much made of the recent FOTA versus FIA spat the last week. I won't go over the previously reported ground because I am sick of the headlines. For really good analysis of this situation, I would check out Joe Saward's blog. I agree with every single point which he has made.

There are several things I would like to add; my two cents on this situation if you will.

Bernie is in a situation which he has always had and dreamed of. FOTA and the FIA know it is pointless to go after FOM. So they decide have a go at each other instead. Instead of FOTA pressing Bernie for the bigger piece of the income pie, they get enveloped in a fight with the FIA over control of their own wallets. Instead of the FIA going after Bernie for renegotiation of their previous lopsided deal, they go after the teams in a vain power grab in disguise of helping new, low-cost teams.

In the end, Bernie is the only one which has what both FOTA and the FIA want; cash. Whatever side loses in this, Bernie can easily smooth over rough feelings with a few million pounds. However, we are facing an important juncture of the sport. The direction which Bernie takes will dictate the future of Formula One.

Bring Back Long Beach...

Last month the streets of Long Beach, California came alive with the 35th annual Grand Prix of Long Beach. This year was the first time the IRL series visited the track with Dario Franchitti (or as I like to call him, the luckiest man alive) taking the checkered flag. The event drew well over 200,000 people. I say races because in addition to the IRL the weekend featured a short ALMS race, an Indy Lights race, a celebrity race, and other jointing events. This "Speed Week" at Long Beach has turned into one of the premiere non-NASCAR events in American motorsports.

Formula One used to hold a race in Long Beach. From 1976 to 1983, The Formula One raced in Long Beach proved popular and successful for the sport and the city. It raised the profile of the city in the world and raised the awareness of Formula One in the United States. Formula One was at its’ peak of popularity in the U.S. when Lauda, Andretti, and Villeneuve were blasting down the boulevards of the Los Angeles suburb.

Of course it was such a good thing that Bernie and company had to ruin it. The relationship between Formula One and the race organizers in the early eighties deteriorated to the point where the event' organizer, Chris Pook, decided that Formula One was too expensive and went another direction by making the feature race a CART series event instead. However instead of the event dying it continued on. Even with the death of CART, the IRL has picked up where its’ fallen rival had left off. The event has been doing well without Formula One and will probably continue to do well without Formula One.

Yet despite F1's 26-year absence from the streets of Long Beach, I for one want F1 to come back. Why? Because I think the streets of Long Beach is the most viable way of raising awareness in Formula One in the states and the best location for Formula One to thrive in America.

Back in black...

First, sorry to the readers of this blog. I've been away the last two weeks. Usually people would write this type of post before they leave, but I didn't have such foresight. After two weeks, a 3,000 mile road trip through 11 states, and one heck of a weekend in New York, I'm back.

It is amazing how much you can miss in the world of F1 in two weeks. Anyhow, I catching up and have some (hopefully) interesting posts coming up.