THSCC Forums

I knew you guys just ignore me....

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David Teague
2015 Lexus IS 250c
1994 Honda Del Sol HS 39
2009 Dodge Journey R/T
http://teaguefamily.us

I don't really think F1 has ever been about the fans. Come to think about it, most Professional Sports aren't really about the fans.

Unless;
A) Marketing to fill more seats or buy more junk to pay their over-priced salaries.
B) Players wanting sympathy and noise made so they use the "fans" as the reason they are doing this.
C) B. Only substitute the name Players with Owners.

Whether it is Michelin or FIA. I think it is some of both and this peeing contest between them won't end for some time to come.

I do think F1 has pretty much screwed themselves for running at Indy next year. I wouldn't be surprised if the US is dropped from their schedule next year.

I do feel bad for a couple of our members who went there to watch a Ferrari T&T. I was supposed to go with Rob Lupella and hang out with Phil Wheman for the weekend and go see the USGP. My back wasn't up to a 12hr drive each way. So I bailed on the idea. Turns out to not have been a bad decision. Sorry you guys and all the other fans got shafted!

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http://www.greywinds.com

You drive a del Sol, so we have to.

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Rich
http://www.v8mongrel.com/

Ouch.... thats pretty rough coming from a guy with a focus I do have a 73 challenger thats gotta be wirth something.

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David Teague
2015 Lexus IS 250c
1994 Honda Del Sol HS 39
2009 Dodge Journey R/T
http://teaguefamily.us

MLB suffered because of the fans after 1994. Until Sosa/Maguire brought it back. Minor league ball is extremely fan friendly.

NASCAR, though, is the most fan friendly sport out there.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Here's a good artcle.

http://msn.foxsports.com/motor/story/3704212

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David Teague
2015 Lexus IS 250c
1994 Honda Del Sol HS 39
2009 Dodge Journey R/T
http://teaguefamily.us

THATS IT!!! The Bridgestone tires are on ROIDS!!!!

I demand drug testing!!!

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

i have seen Days of Thunder. i wish i could apply this line of reasoning to Nicole Kidman.

Ok, I will do my best.

I think it started out that way. And a number of people at the top probably feel that way now. Team owners may only do the sponsorship thing for the money. But for companies like BMW, Honda, Toyota, etc. It is not 100% about the racing. They have to sell their budget to someone on the board and they expect some type of ROI. That ROI is maybe win on Sunday sell on Monday, generate a new image in a particular market, etc. Ultimately it means connecting with the fans of the sport. This is why Ford left. They were not getting enough out of it for what they put in.

What happened this weekend is not what the big players wanted. There is probably some long term agenda politics going on, but I really believe that modern motorsports is about the fans at this point. Only because it is the fans dollars the fund the entire thing at some level.



You know, I think that those at Indy are furious. Let’s say they do drop the USGP for next year. I think that it would be snapped up in a second (assuming Bernie doesn’t price it so high nobody can afford to put it on) by someone else in the US. The US market is where some of these companies (Honda, Toyota) want to be. Even Ferrari acknowledges how big the US market it to them (their biggest?). They can’t ignore it from a marketing point of view.

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

There will be a USGP next year, but Ferrari won't be in it. It'll be held by members of the GPWC such as BMW, Mercedes and Renault.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Actually, according to Peter Winsor on Wind Tunnel last night, Michelin DID test the new Indy surface, with two drivers, Fillippe Massa and another test driver. Apparently they did not provide enough data to the Michelin engineers for them to make a good tire.

Also, according to FIA rules, the track CANNOT be changed from what it was in qualifing due to the parc firme (sp?) rule. The cars are impunded after with the tires and fuel as set after qualifying. If they HAD changed the course, they would have had to allow the drivers to practice on the new course, not possible since they have to start the race with the set up they qualified on.

Also, if they DID change the course, they would have had to throw out the qualifying times and re-ran everyone since some cars would have been potentially faster on the new course.

I don't think Hoosier drivers would ask the SCCA to change the course at Nats this year because their tire was "unsafe" on the course given. Would you?

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Todd Breakey
STS 42 - 1992 Sunburst Miata
Dammit!
"You souldn't play leap frog with a porcupine. You might get hurt." - Eliza

A couple of other points...

Michelin was a major advertiser during the race. With Bibendum driving the SL500 on "race breed" performance tires.

Proposed FIA rules for 2008 according to David Hobbs...
1. Single tire supplier(this would have eliminated the debacle yesterday)
2. 90% reduction in customer engine cost
3. 90% reduction in down force(this would have slowed the cars down and potentially solved the problem yesterday also)

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Todd Breakey
STS 42 - 1992 Sunburst Miata
Dammit!
"You souldn't play leap frog with a porcupine. You might get hurt." - Eliza

They would also have had to allow the Bridgestone teams time to bring over their faster compounds. Remember, the Bridgestone teams had another faster compound to choose from, but knowing what Indy would require brought the slower but more durable compounds! Basically the entire set up, practice and quals would have to be started over to make it fair. Not much chance that would happen!

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Phil Wehman
Caterham Super 7

I agree Phil.

I wanted to go to the race this year but our trip to Disney and racing in FLA won out. Now I'm glad I didn't spend the money.

How long did you guys stay? And how long do you think it will be before a class action law suit will be filed against Michelin, Bridgestone, FIA, F1, IMS, Speed TV, Tony George, Bernie Ecclestone, Mary Hulmann-George, You, Me, etc.?

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Todd Breakey
STS 42 - 1992 Sunburst Miata
Dammit!
"You souldn't play leap frog with a porcupine. You might get hurt." - Eliza

Not true at Indy. They run low downforce anyway to INCREASE their speed at turn 13. Downforce = drag. That beats out the downforce that they wouldn need at the slow infield portion, but the Esses require 1st gear, so they rely on mechanical grip instead. Watch Speed's coursewalk with Fisichella and the Renault engineer for more info about this topic.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.