2005 US Grand Prix Formula 1 Pit Walkabout

[Paul_arbouw]

http://www.arbouw.com/Photos/Photos.cfm?details=112

I spend yesterday at the track getting up close (as close as security would let me!) with Formula 1 cars. Was not lucky enough to get invited into the garage like the two "afro" guys did (see pictures) and the "chesty" chick, but had a great day and got one of the original driver ID decals that sit on the side of the cockpit which has the drivers name, blood type etc on it (Takuma Sato).

Can't wait for Sunday's race!

Paul

[bumpzter]

I wish I could have gone with you. Watched most of Speed Channel's coverage today. Will watch qualifying tomorrow, and the race on Sunday.

I want to be there. :(

[Paul_arbouw]

I'll post pictures after the race as well :P

Paul

[bumpzter]

I'm looking forward to your report, Paul.

What an unexpected turn this spectacle took. When did you, and others around you, figure out what was happening?

[AirBoss]

Sadly, the USGP has been a joke since it left the Glen ... and for several years before it left.

[bumpzter]

Why was it a joke the last few years at Indy?

[AirBoss]

The money factor, primarily, and Ecclestone, secondarily. It hasn't been sport, as opposed to business, since the late 1970's when privateers could race with cottage industry "factory rides". Ecclestone's influence was the coup de grace, so to speak; he is the image of money personified.

[bumpzter]

OK. But name me a professional sport that is not business these days. Hell, even so called 'amateur' sport is all business.

Sport or not, F1 is a great show. If it were not, there would be no sponsor money, would there?

[AirBoss]

Name me a professional sport that hasn't screwed up its fan base by overexpanding... in search of TV rights fees. Some even crash and burn like hockey and baseball. The whole market space is of decreasing interest and has been for years.

[chiph]

Looks like the race wasn't much of a race.
:( :(

I'd be surprised if F1 was back in the US anytime in the next 10 years after today's fiasco.

Chip H.

[AirBoss]

The implications may be much wider than the US market.

A number of teams, including Ferrari, have for several years been motivating for a separate series, a la CART vs. IRL/USAC. Bernie Ecclestone (FOCA/FOA Czar) isn't the most-likable or liked guy in the sport...

[bumpzter]

The implications may be much wider than the US market.
Maybe so, but on the other hand it just may increase interest in the series. Temporarily, anyway. This was the #1 story on every newscast, and even our local newspaper had it on the front page. And this is a rag that totally ignores motor racing unless a driver gets killed. The same thing happened after Barrichello let Schumacher pass a couple years ago. Suddenly everyone tuned in to the following races, and the interest skyrocketed.

Certainly this weekend's actions were in no way the fault of the speedway. And no fault of the 3 teams who did race. They delivered as promised. Throwing trash on the track was inexcusable.

[Paul_arbouw]

The race that could.. but didn't.. it it may never again in Indy!

What can I say.. there really is nothting to say about last Sunday's F1 race because there was no race! I believe F1's time in the US has come to an end again.I live 30 minutes away from the track and what happened yesterday seriously makes me think about going to Montreal next year; IF there even is a race still here in Indy.

Who messed up? Almost everyone. The track was badly resurfaced which may have contributed to the tire issue with Michelin (Bridgestone was aware of the bad track due to Firestone being the IRL tire company). Michelin could have flown in additional tires and the teams could have all changed tires on safety reasons after 1 or 2 laps under regular FIA rules. Ecclestone should have understood what this would do to 100000+ fans that showed up to see a race and were given a farce.

Speed TV joked " June 19, 2005.. the night Indianapolis was burned down by F1 fans"... I'm surprised that didn't happen. All the fans (no arrests were made) behaved surprisingly good considering what happened. I do believe an IRL or NASCAR crowd would have torn down the track if a similar debacle was pulled during the Brickyard 400 or the Indy 500.

It was a VERY sad day overall for motorsports.

The few pictures I took (including the NO checkered flag finish) can be found here: http://www.arbouw.com/Photos/Photos.cfm?details=112

Paul

[bumpzter]

Thanks for the pictures, Paul.

I'm glad there were no riots. Real race fans understand that there was more than one side to this issue. Childish behavior would not have solved anything.

[chiph]

I agree with the (relatively) well-behaved fans in the face of this disaster.

Imagine if they'd been British soccer hooligans....

Chip H.

[bumpzter]

.............. or half drunk rednecks at a NASCAR race and Jr didn't win. :lol:

[AirBoss]

I agree with the (relatively) well-behaved fans in the face of this disaster.

Imagine if they'd been British soccer hooligans....

Chip H.

"Relatively" ?

In the normal course at the Glen, fans staged ritual tour bus burnings in "the Bog" as sacrificial offerings to the F1/CanAm/F5000 gods. Ah, those were the days (or was that "daze"?).