Jalopnik: F1 racing

Portrait Of F1 Star Lewis Hamilton Created From Hole Punch Dots

Andrew Stoy — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:40:00 EDT

British artist and Formula One race fan Nikki Douthwaite has taken Seurat's pointilism to a whole new level, creating an eight-by-five portrait of Lewis Hamilton out of discarded hole-punch dots. Roughly 250,000 individual pieces went into the work, which Douthwaite finished just before Hamilton drives for an F1 title attempt at the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend. But why a race car driver? Says Douthwaite: "I was at the British Grand Prix just a couple of days before I graduated and that's when I decided what I would do next. I am a massive Formula 1 fan and I have been since I was a little girl. And I've always supported McLaren." [Telegraph.co.uk]

Mosley Stands By His Spec Engine Plan For F1 Racing

Andrew Stoy — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:20:00 EDT

FIA president Max Mosley, having put all that Nazi fetish prostitution scandal business behind him, is back promoting his cost-cutting spec engine plan for Formula One. Mosley appears convinced that F1 must develop technologies that can make their way to everyday cars in order to remain relevant — technologies like KERS and other energy-recovery techniques. Says Mosely: "[Using spec engines] will give F1 far more relevance and credibility than the use of vastly expensive racing engines, or extremely light and sophisticated gearboxes, both of which are almost entirely irrelevant to modern road transport." Heresy! But we also understand where he's coming from.

It's interesting that Mosley is promoting energy-efficient programs as the future of F1 racing, and it shows quite a bit of foresight. After all, kinetic energy recovery as developed under grueling race conditions has a good chance of resulting in improved systems for road-going cars. The question is, will race fans give a damn about how one team's KERS system is giving them an extra second per lap, or would they rather hear a tiny pneumatic-valve V8 spinning at 10,000 RPM as the driver bangs through a seven-speed sequential 'box? [Autosport.com]

2009 French Grand Prix At Magny-Cours Cancelled, May Move To Disneyland Paris For 2010

Andrew Stoy — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:30:00 EDT

First we lost the Canadian Grand Prix from the 2009 Formula One schedule, and now the 2009 French Grand Prix has been dropped — only the second time since 1950 that the French have not hosted a Grand Prix event. A statement from the French Motosports Federation said simply "For economic reasons, the FFSA has decided to cancel the (2009) French Grand Prix." The race was to be the last at the famed Magny-Cours track in rural France; Disneyland Paris is a rumored replacement for 2010 thanks to its ~~famed racing heritage~~ easy rail access and hotel accommodations. [BBC; Image: France24watch]

Lewis Hamilton: Child Prodigy Turned F1 Star

Mark Arnold — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:45:00 EDT

As a child, we mean, more of a child than he is now, well before being a superstar of the racetrack, Lewis Hamilton was already in the limelight. The McLaren-Mercedes driver may be the biggest thing to happen for British F1 fans since Damon Hill claimed the championship 12 years ago, but how has the 23-year-old become so successful? As with most superstars of any sport, it all started at a very young age. This clip from a 1997 BBC program, features an interview with a young Lewis, chronicles his early career from racing remote-controlled cars at the age of six, to his early meeting with McLaren boss Ron Dennis. So much for our dreams of being an F1 driver, it's a bit too late to start now. [via GridCrasher]

1968 Monaco Grand Prix In 8mm Glory

Mark Arnold — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EDT

This silent Super-8 film of the 1968 Monaco Grand Prix is the perfect time warp to watch in contrast to the dazzling spectacle of the recent Singapore Grand Prix. The raw footage of the then-savage sport captures the essence of what a street-circuit F1 race was 40 years ago. For better or for worse, things have certainly changed. Film below the jump.

Shots From Singapore Formula 1 Night Race Show An Amazing Light Show

Mark Arnold — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:45:00 EDT

This past weekend's Singapore Grand Prix, the first-ever night race in Formula One, was guaranteed to grab the attention of even the most disenfranchised F1 fan. But why is that exactly? In a word, "unpredictability." The clear reason so many people have become bored with F1 is not because the cars aren't fast enough, and probably not chiefly because of the lack of overtaking either. It's because you already know what's going to happen before the race even starts. Not so with Singapore. Highlights video (with spoliers) after the jump.

Yes, F1 has been degraded to a soap opera. The only drama is the interaction between the characters, and if you haven't been watching every episode for the past few seasons, you'll be lost and bored. But even your mother would have been fascinated by the Singapore GP. The local TV ratings in Singapore were higher for the race than they were for the Beijing Olympics' opening ceremony. Just looking at the track, which seemed like it'd be visible from space, you could have easily believed it was the setting for some Hollywood sci-fi movie set. It wasn't just the track either; the entire city was interwoven through it and glowing proudly. As for the race itself, we won't ruin it for you if you've still yet to watch it, but full results can found here.

[via Axis Of Oversteer] [photo: Reuters via dailymail]

KERS Electric Shock Explained; Watch Your Pencil Protectors

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:40:00 EDT

According to BMW Sauber, the reason behind the KERS electric-shock incident, seen above, which occurred during testing at the Jerez Speedway, was magic. Or at least, that's what the formal explanation looks like if you don't have a solid knowledge of electrical engineering. We're pretty good at chasing sparks and figuring out circuits, but wading through the engineer-speak is a toughy here. After slipping on our decoder ring, it sounds like the combination of a bad KERS controller and a leaky capacitor led to some extra electrons floating around. Deadly? No. Enough to shock the crap out of someone, though. See if you can decode it yourself; key quote below the fold.

"The mechanic suffered an electric shock after touching the sidepod and steering wheel of the car. There was a high frequency AC voltage between these contact points, the cause of which has been traced back to the KERS control unit and a sporadic capacitive coupling from the high-voltage network to the 12-volt network. The voltage ran through the wiring of the 12-volt network to the steering wheel and through the carbon chassis back to the control unit."

See, we told you: Magic. [F1-Live]

Here's What Being Electrocuted By A Formula One Race Car KER System Looks Like

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:20:00 EDT

Remember when that mechanic for BMW Sauber's F1 team got electrocuted after he touched their KERS-equipped (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) Formula One car? Now we've got video. True, it wasn't enough to kill the poor guy, but still a pretty rough day if you're that mechanic, right? No, there weren't any giant lightning bolts emanating from the car as we had hoped, but "shocking" nonetheless. [Gridcrasher]

Toyota F1 Boss Says Team's Hybrid System May Not Be Ready For 2009 Season

Andrew Stoy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:30:00 EDT

Following the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) shock received by a BMW/Sauber mechanic earlier this week, Autosport reports Toyota may not have their KERS system ready in time for the start of the 2009 season. Toyota F1 team president John Howett expressed concern about the new technology in an interview, saying "Whether [the issues] can be overcome to a satisfactory, safe level before the first race, I can't hand-on-heart tell you." Fans, on the other hand, are expressing great interest in the electrified lithium-ion-coated exploding-battery fest that the 2009 season promises to become.

While Team Honda is believed to be the first organization racing with an active KERS system, the fact that Toyota, acknowledged as world leaders in hybrid technology, is admitting potentially insurmountable problems may lend credibility to calls for postponing KERS implementation. The system is intended to recover energy during braking, allowing it to be stored for later use as an electrical "boost" when needed.

We think the introduction of KERS could provide a new reason to watch what's become a rather dull sport, at least for the first season, as fans tune in to see how things play out. At the same time, if the system can't be proven safe above all else — not just for the drivers and mechanics, but also safe for track workers, rescue personnel, and spectators who could be in the vicinity of an accident — then rushing KERS into the program is a recipe for disaster. And, of course, higher TV ratings.
[Autosport.com; Photo Credit: AutoCult.com.au]

F1 Hybrid System Zaps BMW Mechanic

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EDT

BMW Sauber Racing was out testing their kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), a hybrid setup mandated for the 2009 Formula One season, when a mechanic pushing the car got zapped. Thankfully, the guy wasn't seriously injured, but it seems all of the new-fangled gizmo-gadgetry associated with KERS has been acting up a bit lately.

About a week ago, Red Bull Racing was forced to evacuate their garage as the battery pack associated with their KERS system went wrong, threatening fire and explosion. Of course, this kind of news makes us think the next F1 season may actually be interesting to watch. Sure, the sport is great fun when guys other than Schumi are winning, but nothing draws eyeballs like fireballs. [AutoSport]

Lewis Hamilton Buys "LEW 1S" License Plate For $392,000

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:20:00 EDT

Doing his best impersonation of a UAE oil sheik, Mercedes-Benz F1 racer Lewis Hamilton has picked up the very vain "LEW 1S" vanity plate for a smooth £200,000, or about $392,000. This, of course, leads us to believe Hamilton is 11 years old and still likes to write his name on desks, in bathroom stalls, and onto tree trunks. Then again, we don't drive F1 cars for a living and get paid $27.8 million a year to do it, so what do we know? Considering Hamilton is living every 11-year-old boy's dream anyway, why not buy ridiculous things with your piles of loot? More importantly, what car is it going on?

While we can't nail it down specifically, the license plate will likely be going onto a Mercedes SUV, which tops out at around $111,900 for the 2008 G55 AMG. Thus Mr. Hamilton will have hung a very expensive plate on a pauper's car. Hey, maybe it would have made more sense to buy a new Porsche Carrera GT to replace the one his dad took one off into foul territory. Ah, the rough life of an F1 superstar. [ITV.com

Formula One: The Multi-Billion Dollar Machine

Mark Arnold — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:40:00 EDT

With the recent departure of the Super Aguri Honda team, some are stopping to take a look at what the the Formula One circus has become. After all, many of the rule changes in the past few seasons were made with the justification of lowering operating costs and allowing smaller teams to be more competitive. So what does F1 really look like when you follow the money trail? [SPEEDtv]

Senna Hits Stray Dog, Ends Day At Turkish Grand Prix

Ben Wojdyla — Sun, 11 May 2008 19:30:00 EDT

We watched the first part of the Turkish Grand Prix this morning and after the first corner featured some serious car over car accident action and the Ferrari/Mercedes slap fest, we got a little bored and sought out better things to do with our Sunday. Our mistake. We missed the Bruno Senna stray dog destruction derby. Yep, Fido (do wild dogs have names?) and a friend wandered onto the track. Fido's friend escaped but Fido wasn't so lucky, and ended up being struck by Senna's right suspension. Both the suspension and the dog found their end. Yeah, Felipe Massa may have won the race, but we definitely know who lost. Poor, poor Fido. This video is not safe for members of the ASPCA, small children or anyone else with a strong dislike for seeing dogs accidentally run over on a track. [Eurosport and Youtube]

McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen's Close Scare

Mark Arnold — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:40:00 EDT

There was a scary moment at yesterday's Spanish Grand Prix that may not have been as scary as Stephane Ortelli's car flying through the air with the greatest of ease, but was scary nonetheless. The fear factor began when some part of the front left ~~tire~~ wheel on Heikki Kovalainen' McLaren Mercedes exploded, sending the car straight into a wall. Race stewards at Barcelona worked for about 10 minutes to safely free the Finnish driver from the wreckage who was taken to the track's medical center wearing a neck brace. But all signs point to a full recovery as he gave a reassuring thumbs-up sign to spectators. Mike Utley did that too, right? Kovalainen is said to be in stable condition, which is more than can be said for the shredded McLaren MP4-23. [AP, Axis of Oversteer]

Jalopnik Weekend Motorsports Preview

burstein — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:30:00 EDT

Starting this week we've asked our resident expert Girl on Cars to become a Race Girl on Cars and try her hand at a race preview we'll drop every Friday around noon, just in time for your weekend viewing pleasure. All of the upcoming hot weekend racing action can be found just after the jump. — Ed.

Formula 1
What: Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai International Circuit
When: Qualifying Saturday, race Sunday

The second-to-last F1 race of the season will be another nail-biter for Fernando Alonso fans. The returning world champion has 95 points in the driver's championship, while rookie Lewis Hamilton leads with 107. Kimi Räikkönen is in third with 90 points, but it's doubtful he'll become a serious contender at this stage in the game. Kimi will, however, win the FIA After-Party and Nose-Picking Championship once again this year. At least in our book.

NASCAR Nextel Cup
What: UAW-Ford 500
Where: Talladega Superspeedway, Alabama
When: Qualifying Saturday, race Sunday

Move over Ricky Bobby! Them NASCAR drivers are coming to kick yer butt. Last year, Brian Vickers won his first race at this track after doing a little Shake 'n' Bake with teammate Jimmie Johnson. Vickers bumped Johnson into race leader Dale Earnhardt Jr., then went around the ensuing wreck for the win. This year, Johnson is in first place with 5506 points; Jeff Gordon follows close behind with 5500. Am I the only one who still wonders how crashing into other cars is legal in this series? I suppose you've gotta do what you can to keep things interesting when you can't turn right.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
What: Mountain Dew 250
Where: Talladega Superspeedway, Alabama
When: Qualifying Friday, race Saturday

What could be more fun than watching stock cars drive in ovals? Watching pickup trucks drive on the same track. Woo hoo! At the last race, the Smith's Las Vegas 350, former F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve debuted in the series, placing 21 out of 35. If his NASCAR career is anything like his last few seasons in F1, we should be seeing Jacques hit a wall any day now.

NHRA
What: Torco Racing Fuels Nationals
Where: Virginia Motorsports Park, Richmond, VA
When: Qualifying Friday and Saturday; eliminations Sunday

The eliminations this weekend for the NHRA POWERade Countdown to One will set the fields for the Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock categories. According to the NHRA website, after the race, only the top four competitors in each pro category will be eligible to win world championships during a two-race shootout in Las Vegas and Pomona, CA.

Brandon Bernstein currently leads the Top Fuel category with 21 points ahead of Bob Vandergriff Jr. The Funny Car division will be a battle between Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, Gary Scelzi and Mike Ashley for the final two spots in the top four. In Pro Stock, Allen Johnson and Jeg Coughlin hold the third and fourth place spots, but could be challenged by Kurt Johnson and Jason Line.