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F1 Begins @ Melbourne Australia today on NBC Sportsnet
Check your local listings for schedule on NBC Sportsnet Channel
Practice on now as I post this. Check out these 2013 Tech details here http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2013/ Such as "Blown Wheel Hubs" here http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2013/0/1040.html Enjoy! |
Front Wing Development http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2013/0/1035.html
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Vented Nose details http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2013/0/1039.html
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Passive Double DRS http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2013/0/1038.html
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Teams and Drivers http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/
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Pirelli 2013 F1 Six Tire choices http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...3/1/14205.html
Includes color code identification. |
Down to 19 races for 2013 from the previous 20 in 2012.
NYC / NJ circuit not able to contract in time for 2013 that would have made 2 U.S. races including the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX. |
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Thanks for the links! Looking forward to this weekend's F1 race. I saw some of the practice sessions on NBC Sports last night, and visually, the cars haven't changed much. Next year will be the big change, as the new mandated engines make their debut.
I'd love to see Vettel capture his 4th championship in a row. He's had an amazing career so far, with 101 starts, 26 wins, and 46 podiums. I think he's an incredible driver, and fits in the Michael Schumacher mold. The IndyCar folks are pretty upset about NBC-Sports taking over the F1 broadcasts. NBC-Sports covered all the IndyCar races, but many IndyCar fans felt they weren't promoting IndyCar enough over the past few years. Now that NBC-Sports has taken on F1 (SpeedTV had exclusive F1 rights in America for the past 17 years), IndyCar feels that they will be promoting F1 over IndyCar, and there won't be enough room for two open-wheeled series. |
Color and Bar Coded
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So far, Bob Varsha, is the only commentator MIA from the previous SPEED FOX coverage of F1 that I can see. And if you listened carefully to his farewell comments (last SPEED broadcast @ 2012 Seasons end) about Bernie, that may be why Bob is NOT now on board with the NBC-Sportsnet Team. It was said that it was "due to contract issues" but based on the blasé "non-reaction" by his former fellow F1 crew I’d say Bob was too critical of F1 and Bernie during broadcast and paid the price. IMO Indy-Car has been way too boring recently, and a non-event. Even with the intro of other powerplants than the “one size fits all” Honda, the new cars look too kit car like, or something just looks wrong about them IMO. To gauge the “real excitement” of the average “non-car person” I go partially by my wife’s interest: • NASCAR – No • Indy Car – No • Top Fuel Drag Racing – Yes • F1 Racing – Yes She WILL watch with interest the practice/3 qualifying sessions/and complete race season of F1 & NHRA. Not being a hater here. Just, she and I both get bored pretty quickly with the others. Although, I DO like the High Bank NASCAR races…and ALMS & Grand Am; so… For now I’m sticking w F1 and let the rest work out their issues. Now the 2014 F1 Season, now that may be another story... Let’s see how well Hamilton does with MB this season in F1. |
Yes, it was sad to see Varsha's last broadcast last year. You could tell there were tears in his eyes. I was sad to see him go too, he was the voice of F1 for 17 years. While not a Murray Walker type of legend, he definitely was the voice in America for F1.
Vettel is simply awesome, and the rumors about it being "just the car" that won him those 3 championships have long been laid to rest. And I've always liked Kimi Raikkonen too, for his strange off track attitude, and his weird interviews. When you want to win, hire a Fin. Alonso is another one of my favorites, and I always like to see the Ferrari's do well. |
Watched last night, good to see the 1st session televised. I read on a F-1 site RB may have a funky adj wing. I'll have to see if I can find it.
Al you hitting Texas again? I plan on doing Monteal this year & maybe TX. thanks for the links!! gonna check them out before Quali. |
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X2 I would like to see Hakinan stay a little longer and beat Schumi a couple more times. He was the only one who could. Love Kimi when he speaks. Oh wait cannot understand a word he says. Party on Kimi. Alvin well done. Thank you for taking the time to post the links. Takes passion to do what you did. :) patrick |
Some trivia about Kimi...
He had only 23 races under his belt by 2000, all at the junior level, when the FIA granted him an F1 license. Many drivers protested, claiming that he was WAY too inexperienced to be given an F1 license, and hadn't gone through the proper indoctrination. Many top name drivers signed a petition to keep Kimi out, and the president of the FIA agreed that he was too inexperienced, but Sauber convinced them to issue Kimi a license. This would be the equivalent of having a 22-year old drag racer, who had raced in only 23 events in a Pro Stock car, being allowed to make the jump to Top Fuel, getting a license, and allowed to drive a Top Fuel dragster without going through any of the Comp Eliminator or Alcohol levels. In Kimi's first F1 race, he scored a point, and he completed his rookie year scoring 9 points for the struggling Sauber Team. After his first year, McLaren picked him up, and even though McLaren was plagued with engine problems all year, Kimi scored 24 points and ended up 6th in the championship. In 2009, he left F1 (with 1 World Championship in 2007) and went to the Rallye circuit, running the little Citroen Red Bull car. In 2011, Kimi shocked the racing world again, announcing he would run the Camping World Truck Series on a limited schedule in America. In his first race he finished 15th. He also ran one Nationwide Series race, finishing 27th after getting a speeding penalty and having some debris stuck under the car. He's a character off the track. If you look him up on YouTube, there are dozens of clips of Kimi having fun with the media, as they love to follow him around. He's one the last true playboys of the racing world, a crown he took over from the legendary James Hunt. |
Thanks Guys - Glad you enjoyed the info & links
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If you do go, recommend you take time to visit Quebec and outlying areas...beautiful country and the Castle up top and below into the village with shops and restaurants worth investigating and enjoying. Quote:
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Reminded me that World Ralley Championship - WRC - is another series my Mrs and I liked to watch. Coverage here has been spotty since change to Velocity Channel and Speed programming info on Comcast didn't match the content even DVRd. Mrs likes to quote Seb Loeb: "Ya, it is good for me to win!" Hard racing in all kinds of weather, terrain, and road conditions...love it! Also: I like the CWTS especially the larger faster tracks...jury still out on the dirt..time will tell...for now IMO - F1 Rules! |
Good Stuff.
I'll be setting my alarm for O-Dark-Hundred to watch the race! Agree it's great to have Kimi back in the mix- |
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If you are going to watch it LIVE you may be interested in new for 2013 Live Timing http://www.formula1.com/live_timing/ Streams live data to teams. |
Link for videos and on-board laps http://www.formula1.com/video/
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One of the great moments of the 2012 F1 Season was at the Abu Dhabi race, where Kimi won for the first time after his return to F1. When the team principal told him on the radio that Alonso was behind him (Kimi was leading) and that he would keep him updated on the gap, Kimi replied, "Just leave me alone, I know what to do."
I never heard Bob Varsha and David Hobbs laugh so hard. |
SPOILER ALERT!
Q1 was quite the challenge - to put it mildly.
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Spoiler Alert II
Here for latest update http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...3/3/14351.html
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Great race with some real surprises! Tire strategy and usage look to be a big factor in this seasons outcome.
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The Iceman Cometh. http://www.smilieshq.com/smilies/happy0021.gif
Mark Weber will never make it in the NHRA. I've never seen an F1 driver so notoriously bad at getting off the line, and he did it again in Australia in front of his home crowd. |
Kimi Kan!
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And WHAT IS UP with Mark Weber's terrible starts?!!! I used to think that the car software was set to retard the engine RPM etc., but this guy seems to be overly afraid of "SMOKING THE TIRES" at a start, or something... In front of his home country crowd too. Weird at best. |
Amazing technology at work in those cars.
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There are big tech changes in the works for next season, smaller engines w boost packages, etc... Quote:
http://motorraceportal.files.wordpre...12/f1-kers.jpg http://bioage.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83...03c8970b-800wi http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/image...kers_av512.jpg |
Round 2 starts this am from Maylasia.
I love the DVR for the early early am races. Can Kimi make it 2 for 2 to start the season? I think so. patrick |
Thanks for the heads up reminder! I forgot to set the DVR. Looking forward to round two of this nineteen race season.
Will be interesting to see how well MB Hamilton et al will adjust cars for better wear with the SuperSofts |
Old Habits Die Hard!!!
As per my OP, Reminder to all to go to NBC Sportsnet for F1 programing...by default I searched 1st on SPEED then remembered the move after 17 years on SPEED/FOX to NBC!
Old Habits Die Hard - Indeed!!! |
I got up for it, and have my alarm set for quali at 4am. I haven't missed one live since they started televising.
This is gonna be a very interesting race. Teams might be out of tires before the end of this one! Kimi or one of the Ferraris I think will rule the race. I'm putting my money on Massa! |
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Here's a link to some Melbourne pics http://www1.skysports.com/formula1/g...-race-pictures IIRC Force India Team was able to get over 30 laps on their first set of primes? |
any thoughts on an F1 grid girls thread?
just curious. I like the technical stuff alot........but..........:D patrick |
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Malasia race looks to be either a "klag fest" or a "frog swallower"
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Red Bulls small rear wing is interesting. patrick |
Bob Varsha is back in the broadcast booth
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I wonder if the reinstatement of Varsha in F1 broadcasting was partly due to he being the only American? That was my impression. Seemed odd timing wise that F1 -as they expanded their presence and market to two races in the USA and three total in North America -would no longer have the seasoned US person in the booth. Potential turn off to their USA market. Most here know that all of these same TV personalities broadcast from alternative networks following the race series no matter who broadcast any particular race. |
Ayrton Senna
Senna would have been 53 last Thursday.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1424432/ http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...amazonvideo-20 |
Vettel
Commentator mentioned Vettel is superstitious and names each of his race cars.
"This one he has named "Hungry Heidi". |
Red Bull blaming pre race lap traffic lag for overheating his clutch and causing his poor Melbourne start.
IIRC the back markers did take quite a long time to take their positions on the grid... |
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what a bad weekend. imo the best at getting the most for 1 lap. patrick |
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Webber podium comments right on the money
Red Bull Sez: Vettel - you got some slpaining to do!!!
Was a great race and a real nail biter...so much so that Hamilton pulled into McClaren pit stall instead of his new Merecedes Benz box. Amazing that he podiumed and was refreshing to hear him acknowledge that he was slower than his team mate... Vettel not so much... |
From Safe Is Fast website Jim Hall Engineering the Race Car video
http://safeisfast.com/sections/8-rac...g-the-race-car |
What a fantastic race! The post-race cool down room and the post-race interviews were priceless. Mark Webber (2nd) wouldn't even LOOK at his teammate Vettel (1st) after the race, or on the podium. They don't talk to each other, they don't like each other, and you can cut the tension with a knife.
Webber was ticked off because while he was running first, and Vettel 2nd, Red Bull gave the team orders that they were to "tune down" their setups, meaning they would turn the proper knobs and flip the proper switches to conserve the engines, and cruise home to the finish. But Vettel wanted the win, and against team orders (according to Webber), Vettel battled Webber for the lead, and took home the win. It's tough being Mark Webber. He can complain that Vettel isn't following team orders, but the team will always side with 3-time World Champion Vettel. And if Webber takes matters into his own hands, he'll be reprimanded by Red Bull for upsetting their #1 driver Sebastian Vettel. Classic F1. Reminded me of the Prost-Senna relationship when they were both on Team McLaren! |
Agree100% with you Mike...real no-win for Webber. Damned if he does or doesn't.
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Webber is a great driver, but he's stuck between a rock and a hard place. Nothing unusual really, as every F1 team has their primary and secondary driver, team orders must be followed, and this happens with all teams.
Heck, I don't blame Vettel. You're driving a race car, pulling 4g turns, 5g's on braking, and it doesn't stop for 2 solid hours. You never get a break to rest your hands, grab a water bottle, or break your mental concentration for even a second. One mistake, you're not just hobbling your car back to the pits with damage, you could be seriously hurt with the speeds and g forces these cars attain. So if you're Sebastian Vettel, 3-time world champion, the killer instinct of a great driver like Schumacher, and one of the most famous names in all of motorsport, it would be very unlikely that if you had the power to pass the 2nd place car and win the race, that you would sit still and twiddle your thumbs, allowing the #2 driver to win. |
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