The Motorsport Thread (was the F1 thread)

sleeper wrote: JJLehto wrote: Figures. Oh, any news on the F1 split? A friend told me it looks to be resolved and the split isn't happening. I have not heard a thing about it though. Check the last few posts on the previous page, though arguments between the FIA and the teams will never stop (the battle for controle of F1 has been going since the early 70's, its just the players keep changing or switching sides).

Oh I'm aware that these politics have been going on for a very long time.
I was just wondering if there was any word about the..most recent...talk of a split and if it has been resolved  for the time being....

As much as I really do not want one, maybe a split would be a good thing...

Do not know him, but I am guessing he's the son of British Champ John Surtees?
Also sad when a racer dies in doing what they love
RIP

I've just seen this very sad news, RIP Henry Surtees.

I wouldnt say that he was going to be world champion, but he was shapeing up to be a very strong driver.

The surprising thing about this accident is that the Williams built F2 cars are designed to 2005 F1 saftey regulations and in some areas excede them. So sad to see him die in a series that really shouldnt exist.

I was surprised too, Andy.  I thought they would have the same wheel technology that F1 brought in after the death of Ayrton Senna.  Meaning that wheels should stay attached to the car.

I also feel sorry for the other guy too, he'll probably have a lot of guilt for something that really was just an accident and out of his hands.

Luca Pacchiarini wrote: F2 is an unuseful series imho... we already have many feeder series below GP2:   Euro F3 Euro F.Renault Euro 3000 F2 Formula Masters   things are confusing when there are so many series...   plus: too many series > few entrants for each championships > more costs....and  more crashes.     Requiescat in pace Henry. Eighteen is not a good age to go. My thoughts are with the Surtees family.

Well, if your going to start listing like that you'll  have to add Renault 3.5, the national F3 championships (of which Britain and Japan are on equal footing with Euro) the national Formula Ford, Renault and BMW championships as well as Euro FBMW, and next year we get GP3 as well. I guess you can say the same about A1GP and Superleague Formula but they're not ment as part of the singel seater ladder.

Either way, we need a serious cull of unessescarry championships.

Felipe Massa was in qualifying crash and is currently in the hospital in critical condition.

A piece flew off Ruben's car and struck him in the helmet. His car then veered off into the tire barriers. Sounds like he was just knocked unconscious and his car was going....

God Damn...
Sounds like he is in critical condition but stable.

JJLehto wrote: Felipe Massa was in qualifying crash and is currently in the hospital in critical condition. A piece flew off Ruben's car and struck him in the helmet. His car then veered off into the tire barriers. Sounds like he was just knocked unconscious and his car was going.... God Damn... Sounds like he is in critical condition but stable.

Fractured skull and concussion from being hit by a suspension spring but luckily it seems that he is stable and on the mend.  It's a good job that he still had the presence of mind to brake before hitting the barrier.

Neil wrote: sleeper wrote: Luca Pacchiarini wrote: F2 is an unuseful series imho... we already have many feeder series below GP2:   Euro F3 Euro F.Renault Euro 3000 F2 Formula Masters   things are confusing when there are so many series...   plus: too many series > few entrants for each championships > more costs....and  more crashes.     Requiescat in pace Henry. Eighteen is not a good age to go. My thoughts are with the Surtees family. Well, if your going to start listing like that you'll  have to add Renault 3.5, the national F3 championships (of which Britain and Japan are on equal footing with Euro) the national Formula Ford, Renault and BMW championships as well as Euro FBMW, and next year we get GP3 as well. I guess you can say the same about A1GP and Superleague Formula but they're not ment as part of the singel seater ladder. Either way, we need a serious cull of unessescarry championships. Why?  Who says that they are unnecessary?  If people come to watch and drivers enjoy them then what is the problem?

The problem is that the single seater ladder used to be very clear cut, Formula Ford to Formula 3 then on to Fromula 2/3000 and finally Fromula 1 if you were good/rich enough. These days the best drivers can come up the ranks without ever having raced against each other in cars (though almost certainly would have in Karts). My next problem with them is that most of these series are one make spec series so engineering and design creativity is being stifled. Designers, engineers and mechanics used to come up the same way that drivers did, but this has stoped now (except for mechanics) because there's nothing to be done in the majority of these lower series for them. F2 is the worst because its centrally run, doing away with teams all together (nodoubt Max would love to use the concept in F1 as well).

People dont actually come to watch most of these series, they tend to be on the bill with bigger and more popular series or are just backwater series strugleing on with a few good drivers up front and half a grid of no-hoppers.

Who did Alquesuari replace, was it Bourdais?

Sad news about Massa but it seems he'll be all right.  However, his head injuries may affect his future in racing.  Let's hope this is not the case.

Panis came back from two broken legs and I know Schumacher broke his leg too but a head injury is potentially worse.


Edited by James - July 28 2009 at 10:14

Yeah, I just do not see how his career can bounce back after an accident like that..
Shame, I really did like Felipe. But what's most important is at least he is alright and as Luca said, his personal life will be fine.

Even today, no amount of precautions can make motorsports 100% safe