[Alvin]

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!

[Alvin]

Front Wing Development http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2013/0/1035.html

[Alvin]

Vented Nose details http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2013/0/1039.html

[Alvin]

Passive Double DRS http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2013/0/1038.html

[Alvin]

Teams and Drivers http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/

[Alvin]

Pirelli 2013 F1 Six Tire choices http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...3/1/14205.html

Includes color code identification.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Passive Double DRS http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2013/0/1038.html

Active double drag reduction systems (DDRS) are banned for 2013. Lotus and Mercedes were the only teams to trial passive versions in the latter part of the 2012 season (insets) and both have continued experimenting during the winter tests (with Sauber and Red Bull following their lead). The main drawing shows Lotus's latest interpretation. Airflow is sucked in via the airbox above the driver's head and at lower speeds simply exits via the rear of the car (lower blue arrows). However, when a certain speed is reached, the force of the airflow becomes such that it activates a passive fluid switch and the airflow is instead directed up a vertical duct (red arrow) and blown onto the rear wing (upper blue arrows). This helps separate airflow from the wing and stalls it, cutting downforce and drag. When the car's speed again drops below a certain level, the switch is deactivated. The tricky part is getting the switch to activate and deactivate at the same speed. Unlike active DDRS, the driver has no control over the system, and if it proves unpredictable he could find himself robbed of valuable downforce at inappropriate moments - at the start of a braking phase for example. Until teams get a proper handle on this behaviour - a long and delicate process, if testing is anything to go by - no one is likely to race a passive DDRS, at least in the initial rounds of 2013.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Vented Nose details http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2013/0/1039.html

Red Bull technical chief Adrian Newey has followed Sauber's lead by introducing this twin-duct concept to the RB9's nose section. Air is sucked from the high-pressure area underneath the chassis into a duct (red arrow). The air then travels through the chassis (inset, right) via an s-shaped duct before exiting out of a hole on the top of the chassis (inset, left). The increased airflow on the top surface of the car helps to keep the airflow coming off the front wing 'attached' and thus improves airflow further back along the chassis's surface.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Front Wing Development http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2013/0/1035.html

Pirelli's 2013 tyres have a different construction to their predecessors and therefore respond differently under aerodynamic load. Mercedes were the first team to introduce a revised front wing (lower picture) in order to cope with the new shape of the tyres. As you can see, the new wing is comprised of five elements which has increased the number of slot gaps from two to four (1). A small turning vane has also been added (2), whilst the fin on the outside of the endplate has been removed (3).

[MikeNoun]

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.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

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.

Welcome Mike. TY for the kind words.

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.

[MikeNoun]

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.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Welcome Mike. TY for the kind words.

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...

Appears that all is well and back to the past 17yr norm w Bob Varsha back in the broadcast booth. Anyone with any links or info please feel free to chime in.

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.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Such as "Blown Wheel Hubs" here http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2013/0/1040.html

Enjoy!

Last year the FIA prevented Red Bull from running a blown wheel hub concept because the air was blown through a rotating part of the hub and could therefore be considered a moveable aerodynamic device - not allowed under the regulations. This year Williams are using a similar concept, channelling air from the inside to the outside of the wheels via a hole in the axle. This improves the aerodynamics around the wheel, but - crucially - the hole is static, making the Williams solution legal.

[mrrat1]

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.

[keith k]

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-

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by keith k

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-

Cool Keith.

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.

[Alvin]

Link for videos and on-board laps http://www.formula1.com/video/

[MikeNoun]

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.

[Alvin]

Q1 was quite the challenge - to put it mildly.