Racing Eagles

Of U.S. Federal Financial Regulators, Lehman Brothers, the FIA, Crashgate, and the Future

It has been a really depressing year on many fronts.

It has been one year and about ten days since the Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury, and government in general in all of their grand stupidity let Lehman Brothers fail in a spectacular fashion which catapulted the world towards a near total collapse of the banking industry. It was the biggest failure in of these quasi-government entities since they failed to regulate the saving and loans industry in the 1980's.

It is ironic that eleven days after this spectacular failure that the FIA made one of their own. When Nelson Piquet Jr crashed on lap 14 of the race, it handed his teammate Fernando Alonso a golden opportunity to win the race. The internet was afire with speculation that Nelson crashed intentionally as soon as he cut the engine. All the evidence was there for the FIA to investigate this dodgy situation. Yet they didn't thus creating the mess we have in Formula One right now.

I guess the people at this Puma store must be pretty bored.

USF1 Endorses Formula 2000

USF1 formally endorsed Formula 2000 as one of their "offical" feeder series. In a joint statement, Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor stated that:

"We love the concept of the F2000 car:  it has a great 2-litre engine, wings, slicks and 'real' suspension;  and we love the road courses featured on the F2000 calendar.  As such, F2000 gives young drivers a tangible opportunity to learn about track-craft, set-up and preparation without the higher costs and neutralizing affects of big-brand, hi-tech spec formulae.  Joel Miller, Patrick Barrett and JR Hildebrand are just three of the stars of tomorrow that F2000 has helped to nurture;  no doubt there will be many more."

I know this might sound a little over the top since after all; any single seat series is a potential feeder series to USF1. However I am encouraged by how the team is reaching out and developing relationships with these junior formulas. USF1 doesn't have the resources to do what some of the manufactures in Formula One have done and start their own junior racing series like Renault and BMW have done. So it makes USF1’s relationships with F2000, Formula BMW Americas, Formula Atlantic, Formula Mazda, and Indy Lights so important.

A final note. I believe that we’ve produced enough talented drivers that could have developed in possible F1 talent the last two decades. The problem is once they start showing promise; NASCAR takes them away. Tony Stewart, A. J. Allmendinger, and Sam Hornish, Jr. are three examples of drivers who looked to have promising open wheel careers only to be snatched by the guys who drive in circles. In my opinion, it is one of the biggest factors of why the IRL is in trouble. It’s great that USF1 is going through the junior formulas of America in search for talent. Maybe we can finally have a stable of great American driver who sticks to open wheel racing once again.
  

USF1 news round-up: Montagny and FOTA (9/07/09)

Here is a USF1 news round-up as we come into Monza with the silly season well underway.

Montagny: Sky Sports reported last Wednesday that Franck Montagny is the latest driver who has been rumored with USF1. After thinking about this, Franck would be a interesting choice.

Here is my case. He is a proven tester. He tested for both Renault and Toyota extensively. He and Allan McNish helped test and develop the Renault powered GP2 race car. He has tested the Peugeot 908 which he drove to a stellar second at this year's LeMans. He has recently tested for Andretti Green Racing in the IRL. Needless to say, he knows how to develop a car.

Yet there is more to Franck Montagny. LeMans this year is a perfect example. The man drove to a second place at the 24 hours of LeMans, which is the most demanding single race in the world, with A BROKEN LEG! The man is gutsy, talented, and a very technical driver. Just forget his time with Super Aguri because he really wasn't given a chance. This is one of those guys who should of been given a better chance in Formula One. He would be a interesting pick up for USF1. It's a pick I like.

USF1 joins FOTA: AUTOSPORT.COM has reported that USF1 has applied to join FOTA. Two questions. First, with the Concord Agreement signed will FOTA survive? I think it depends if Jean Todt wins the FIA presidency. If he does, would Ferrari work keeping the organization together or tear it apart. To me at least, USF1 joining FOTA is a nice step but I just don't know if FOTA will survive next year.

My second concern is the other two teams that are supposed to be on the grid next year. USF1 has been going through all the motions that you would expect from a team that will be on the grid. Campos and Manor are not. I am really starting to question whether either will make it on the grid next year. Things are a little too quiet from these two teams.