Tomorrow I’m heading up to Birmingham for the start of the Autosport International show. If there’s anything you’re particularly interested in going on at the show let me know and I’ll try to report back. In the meantime, here’s today’s round-up:
Links
We will be on the grid – Campos (BBC)
Adrian Campos tells the BBC “we are very near a budget”. However Corriere dello Sport believes Bruno Senna is on on his way to Toro Rosso.
Comment of the day
On the article about Nelson Piquet Jnr heading to NASCAR, PJA asked a series of questions I’d like to hear some more answers to:
Could anyone please tell me how the NASCAR community in general view the events of Singapore 2008, was the race fixing scandal even big news in America other than with F1 fans?
Also what is the opinion on Piquet Jnr himself with NASCAR followers, will he be just another former F1 driver, and is that generally a positive or a negative, I know a few F1 fans make jokes about NASCAR such as only turning left and seem to look down on it so I wondered what NASCAR thought of F1?
If he came back to F1 I wouldn’t be surprised if he received a hostile reception from spectators, what are the chances of a response like this from NASCAR fans?
PJA
From the forum
I’m hugely impressed by some of the Photoshopping skills on display in the forum. Have a look at this Repsol-liveried Toro Rosso. Will have to do an article later to round up some of the best efforts.
Site updates
Got one update going on the site today, will have an article up explaining all in a few hours’ time.
Happy birthday!
No F1 Fanatic birthdays today. If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is by emailling me, using Twitter or adding to the list here.
On this day in F1
Remember when F1 teams were allowed to test when they pleased? Three years ago Renault took their new F1 car secretly to Silverstone and a few spy pictures leaked out.
Katy
13th January 2010, 0:14
Will the 2009 cars be at autosport or some old cars in the new liveries. When we went last year, the Ferrari was a good 5 years old painted in the 2008 livery!
Katy
13th January 2010, 0:18
Found a picture of the Ferrari from “2008”
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v648/196/110/197817094/n197817094_43668500_941.jpg
sato113
13th January 2010, 1:00
would have looked better in the metallic red.
Ratboy
13th January 2010, 0:40
wow, thats nothing like the 2008 one!! why did they do that?
they couldnt of actually thought that it would of fooled the fans did they?
sato113
13th January 2010, 1:06
how about John Booth becoming team principle of Virgin racing? news to me!
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80823
three4three
13th January 2010, 11:41
I think that’s fantastic for both Booth and the Virgin (Manor) team!
sato113
13th January 2010, 1:20
also here’s a picture of Glock’s new helmet design-
(go to the second photo)
http://www.virginracing.com/drivers/timo/#/gallery
wasiF1
13th January 2010, 1:36
All the best Keith for the Autosport International show,hope you will have some pictures.
mfDB
13th January 2010, 2:15
Let me start by saying – I am not a fan of NASCAR. Here is my take on PJA’s questions. Also, I have not heard any news in the US of Piquet, I’ve only heard it here.
1) There was a brief article on Yahoo sports when the Singapore events unfolded, but it was brief and didn’t last long. No one outside of F1 cared.
2) Former F1 drivers are not viewed negatively by NASCAR, but the view is always spun slightly against them, as though they are not as good of drivers as NASCAR drivers. When Montoya got to NASCAR, I heard comments like “he can win the Indy 500 and Monaco and other F1 races, but he can’t win NASCAR….therefore NASCAR is the pinnacle of motorsport” (complete B#$%SH#$)
3) He will not get a hostile reception from the general fans. When they here of the news, there will be fans that hate him for obvious reasons and then there will be fans that love him because he is the “bad guy” and if his PR people spin it right, he’ll be the bay boy of NASCAR….and there are idiots that think that is cool.
mfDB
13th January 2010, 4:18
In the last comment in my post…I am referring to anyone who would be a fan of Piquet because he is the bad guy….
Macca
13th January 2010, 13:13
They don’t think NASCAR is the pinnacle of motorsport, the driver just needs a completly different skill set.
C4
13th January 2010, 6:31
Here in the US I heard of the Piquet Jr. story here first but within in a few days or so it was on ESPN (major sports tv network). It was just a little side story and nothing big like I guess it would be in Europe. As far as fans go, NASCAR fans will make fun of an F1 driver just like F1 fans make fun of NASCAR drivers. They’ll say that since there’s not much overtaking in F1 then he won’t be able to race side by side and makes passes. But of course if you don’t know much about F1 then I can see how you might say that. Just like people on this site who don’t know crap about NASCAR try to say its all left turns. To each his own, I watch both.
C4
13th January 2010, 6:38
Also, people have crashed on purpose in NASCAR for its entire history. Not from team orders, but if a guy ****** you off then he’ll be getting moved towards the wall or the infield courtesy of your bumper. Which usually results in one or more cars wrecked if someone can’t hang on to their ride.
Bewildered
13th January 2010, 9:13
Classic BBC mistake…
“Schumacher test drives new F1 Mercedes”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8455983.stm
Err, no actually BBC, it’s a GP2 car.
ajokay
13th January 2010, 9:47
Wow, that’s one hell of an error.
DanThorn
13th January 2010, 10:22
Haha, epic fail!
vettelfan
13th January 2010, 10:22
I am going to Autosport too :) If I get any good pictures I shall post them in the forum.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
13th January 2010, 11:03
Ferrari are doing a live chat with Stefano Domenicali on their website later today: http://nfw-app.weebo.it/ferrari-chat/
PJA
13th January 2010, 13:41
Woohoo, I was chosen as the comment of the day.
Willian
13th January 2010, 17:59
I’ve talked with Press Officer of Senna and he said:
“There are not anything between Bruno and Toro Rosso. That is one more fool story which always is on web.
Campos staying in search of investors or sponsors. They will have news soon.
Bruno is at Sao Paulo to intensify his physical conditions. He stays very calm about his debut in Formula 1 and, safely, he will be driving car #21 at Bahrain in start of the new Season.”
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
13th January 2010, 18:07
That’s great thanks Willian.
Hallard
13th January 2010, 18:01
PJA:
“Could anyone please tell me how the NASCAR community in general view the events of Singapore 2008, was the race fixing scandal even big news in America other than with F1 fans?”
NASCAR Community:
“What the hell is ‘Singapore’?!”
Ben
13th January 2010, 23:51
“Must be one of dem funny Yooroopiiiin countries”