tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36900284774800704302009-07-16T11:27:57.002-04:00Formula One news and opinion from an American point of view.SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.comBlogger479125blogspot/oNQLhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-15280829290019927912009-07-16T11:25:00.001-04:002009-07-16T11:27:57.011-04:002009-07-16T11:27:57.011-04:00Former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt, endorsed earlier this week by Max Mosley for the presidency of the FIA, <a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9628.html">has officially confirmed he will run</a>.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=jean%20todt&amp;iid=2852850" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/f/f/b/8/Malaysian_Formula_One_e1e6.jpg?adImageId=1910884&amp;imageId=2852850" alt="Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix: Practice" width="380" border="0" height="253" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />He joins former world rally champion Ari Vatanen in the running for Max Mosley's position.<br /><br />In a letter to the FIA, Todt laid out his proposed leadership team and promised to"continue and expand the outstanding work of President Mosley."<br /><br />Todt's close affiliation with Ferrari is sure to disturb FOTA, who have been calling for an independent candidate.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-1528082929001992791?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/nl5X0Qc-gts" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/todt-throws-his-hat-in-ring.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-51884082199495424412009-07-16T08:39:00.002-04:002009-07-16T08:42:36.485-04:002009-07-16T08:42:36.485-04:00Toro Rosso have made it public, <a href="http://www.tororosso.com/Team/Team-Profile/News/Bourdais-Leaves-Scuderia-Toro-Rosso/">the team is splitting with four-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais</a>.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=sebastien%20bourdais&amp;iid=5377133" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/8/2/f/1/F1_Grand_Prix_8cbf.jpg?adImageId=1909125&amp;imageId=5377133" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Germany - Race" width="380" border="0" height="253" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />A brief message on the Toro Rosso Web site by Team principal Franz Tost confirmed the decision.<br /><br /><blockquote>“In Sebastien’s second year with us, the partnership has not met our expectations and therefore we have decided to replace him as from the next round of the World Championship, the Hungarian Grand Prix.”</blockquote><br /><br />His expected replacement is young Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari, the reigning British F3 champion who took over as reserve driver earlier this month. If so, the Red Bull Young Driver Development programme product would be the youngest ever driver to start a race in F1 history.<br /><br />Bourdais never seemed comfortable with the Faenza outfit, outperformed last season by wunderkind Sebastian Vettel and this season by rookie Sebastien Buemi. Like Alex Zanardi a decade ago, his removal will likely fuel the debate over the quality of drivers who rise through the U.S. system.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-5188408219949542441?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/gmEz0LAWRxM" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/now-its-official-bourdais-out.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-55088791050267607522009-07-15T10:15:00.003-04:002009-07-15T10:19:18.602-04:002009-07-15T10:19:18.602-04:00<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8151549.stm">Max Mosley says he really will stand down at the end of his term</a>, and is touting Jean Todt as his replacement.<br /><br />Mosley threatened to retract his decision to go softly into the night after "misrepresentations" by the FOTA squads, but sent a letter to the FIA confirming his intention not to seek reelection, the <span style="font-style: italic;">BBC </span>reports.<br /><br />Todt has not stated an intention to run, though the <span style="font-style: italic;">BBC </span>reports he has been campaigning. Ex-rally champion Ari Vatanen has put his hat in the ring.<br /><br />Mosley has not ruled out a "modest" role for himself post-presidency.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=mosley%20ecclestone&amp;iid=4407419" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/5/c/b/6/F1_Grand_Prix_7dff.jpg?adImageId=1893131&amp;imageId=4407419" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain: Practice" border="0" width="380" height="248" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bernie "here to stay," but how long?</span><br /><br />Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-1199687/Ecclestones-boss-hits-F1-ringmaster-disgusting-praise-Hitler.html">Bernie Ecclestone appears to have survived his "Hitler" comments for the moment</a>, despite a tongue lashing in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Daily Mail</span> from Sir Martin Sorrell of CVC Capital Partners.<br /><br /><blockquote>"His comments were disgusting. He issued a full apology after taking advice. Any other CEO in any other business would be gone."</blockquote><br /><br />The newspaper also reports moving Ecclestone into an "honorary role" was discussed, and speculates a move upstairs could be in store for the F1 ringmaster in the coming months, despite claims he is "here to stay."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">German GP facing the chop?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Grandprix.com</span> says the management of <a href="http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns21650.html">the Nurburgring will not be hosting next year's German Grand Prix</a>, which was slated for Hockenheim before the local government pulled its support, unless the price comes down.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-5508879105026760752?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/1Ssm1YLx2FU" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/max-quitting-really-as-of-now-anyway.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-48107871242413184482009-07-13T19:29:00.004-04:002009-07-15T10:19:09.040-04:002009-07-15T10:19:09.040-04:00Sebastien Bourdais, rumored to be on thin ice heading into last weekend’s German Grand Prix, is set to be replaced by Red Bull reserve driver Jaime Alguersuari in Hungary.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=bourdais&amp;iid=5005657" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/0/3/d/d/F1_Grand_Prix_6ed1.jpg?adImageId=1877659&amp;imageId=5005657" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain - Practice" border="0" width="380" height="253" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">AUTOSPORT</span> says <a href="http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76945">an announcement will be made in 48 hours</a>. It also speculates the young Spaniard may benefit from Repsol.<br /><br />Multiple sources say Bourdais was told after qualifying 20th Saturday at the Nurburgring his services would no longer be needed after Sunday’s race.<br /><br />That may have been the explanation for the Frenchman’s hugging of teammembers following his departure from the race after a hydraulics failure.<br /><br />According to ITV-F1, however, <a href="http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=46379&amp;PO=46379">Bourdais told French broadcaster <span style="font-style: italic;">TF1</span> he has a contract in place</a> and will be in Hungary.<br /><br />The team Web site, as of this posting, <a href="http://www.tororosso.com/Team/">is still touting the four time Champ Car champion as one of its drivers</a>.<br /><br />Sources say due to the lack of testing, STR want to get the young Spaniard time behind the wheel of an F1 car in preparation for a full season in 2010.<br /><br />Alguersuari, British F3 champion, would be the youngest F1 driver in history at 19 years and 125 days. He replaced Brendon Hartley as third driver for RBR/STR at the beginning of the month.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Willis leaves Red Bull</span><br /><a href="http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns21644.html"><br />Red Bull Technical Director Geoff Willis has left the team</a> after his position was eliminated.<br /><br />Willis, who made a name for himself at BAR before being let go by Honda, was reunited with Adrian Newey at Red Bull, whom he had worked with in the 90s.<br /><br />According to sources, Willis is often credited as the man who makes Newey’s designs work reliably on the track. Interesting timing, considering Red Bull’s sudden surge as a title contender.<br /><br />A young driver backed by Repsol, a high level position being made redundant? Pure conjecture here, but the underlying thread in both of these RBR/STR moves could be money.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-4810787124241318448?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/_GgWwFvZF8Q" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/pair-of-moves-at-rbrstr.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-53613414093527728342009-07-12T11:44:00.008-04:002009-07-12T16:33:42.495-04:002009-07-12T16:33:42.495-04:00Nothing was going to keep Mark Webber from getting his first F1 win this afternoon. Not a drive through penalty, not the famous Nurburgring weather, nothing.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=f1&amp;iid=5356633" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/b/2/e/7/F1_Grand_Prix_bf90.jpg?adImageId=1866291&amp;imageId=5356633" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Germany - Race" border="0" height="572" width="380" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />When all was said and done, the Aussie headed a Red Bull 1-2 in the German Grand Prix and closed the gap on Jenson Button and Brawn GP, as the Red Bull boys continue to turn what just a few weeks ago looked like a cakewalk for Button into a pretty entertaining race for the title.<br /><br />A harrowing first corner saw Webber cut across on Rubens Barrichello, a move deemed dangerous by the stewards who awarded the drive through. It seemed Webber’s best chance at a victory was lost, but he quickly made the ground back up, a testament to how superior the Red Bull was to the Brawn on this track.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Heikki Kovalainen’s good start led to a “Trulli train” behind the Finn that held up points leader Button, Felipe Massa and Sebastian Vettel, quickly making it into a two horse race.<br /><br />Button clashed with Lewis Hamilton’s KERS aided McLaren at the start, but a bold move from the champion saw him go off. A cut tire forced Hamilton to pit, and he finished the race the only lapped runner of the day.<br /><br />A refueling rig problem put an end to Barrichello’s challenge, and the Brawn three-stop strategy did the rest, handing Vettel the second spot. Massa finished third to give Ferrari a podium. Nico Rosberg took a deserved fourth in the Williams.<br /><br />The best the Brawns could do was fifth and sixth, Button getting his teammate in their final stops.<br /><br />Fernando Alonso and Kovalainen rounded out the top 10.<br /><br />Heartbreak of the day goes to Adrian Sutil, who once again saw a chance at points taken away when Kimi Raikkonen took off his front wing. The Force India was emerging from the pits after his first stop. The German, a victim of Raikkonen last year in Monaco when looking at a points finish, wound up 15th.<br /><br />Sebastien Bourdais, in perhaps his final race for Toro Rosso, and Raikkonen were the only retirements.<br /><br />As we head to Hungary, Red Bull creeps ever closer to Brawn at the top of the constructor’s race. Meanwhile, both Red Bull drivers move ahead of Barrichello -- Vettel into second and Webber into third -- in the driver’s championship, where Button still holds a 20-point edge at the top of the table.<br /><br />You have to go all the way back to 1981 to find the last time an Australian won a grand prix. Considering where Mark Webber was at last winter, recovering from a broken leg and dislocated shoulder, that can only make his win maiden win all the sweeter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">German Grand Prix (60 laps)</span><br /><ol><li>Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault</li><li>Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault</li><li>Felipe Massa, Ferrari</li><li>Nico Rosberg, Williams-Toyota</li><li>Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes</li><li>Rubens Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes</li><li>Fernando Alonso, Renault</li><li>Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes</li><li>Timo Glock, Toyota</li><li>Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber</li><li>Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India-Mercedes</li><li>Kazuki Nakajima, Williams-Toyota</li><li>Nelson Piquet, Renault</li><li>Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber</li><li>Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes</li><li>Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari</li><li>Jarno Trulli, Toyota</li><li>Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes +1 lap</li></ol><ul><li>Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 34</li><li>Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 18, Hydraulics </li></ul><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Missed it? <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8146066.stm"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The German Grand Prix as it happened...</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9611.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">German Grand Prix - selected driver quotes</span></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9612.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">FIA post-race press conference - Germany</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKIndia-40985220090712?pageNumber=2&amp;virtualBrandChannel=0"><br /></a></span><a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKIndia-40985220090712?pageNumber=1&amp;virtualBrandChannel=0"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Barrichello rages at Brawn</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GP2</span><br /><br />Nico Hülkenberg made it a clean sweep this weekend, claiming all 20 points available at the Nurburgring and moving into the lead in the driver’s championship.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-5361341409352772834?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/fNKMCUgtW_0" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/webber-takes-first-win.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-16837921508858526062009-07-11T13:40:00.004-04:002009-07-11T13:51:01.355-04:002009-07-11T13:51:01.355-04:00Mark Webber put Red Bull in the top spot for Sunday's German Grand Prix, taking his first career pole at the Nurburgring.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=mark webber&iid=5348618" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/2/5/9/e/F1_Grand_Prix_2fc3.jpg?adImageId=1858966&imageId=5348618" width="380" height="253" border="0" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Germany - Practice"/></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />The Brawns of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button start second and third, while Sebastian Vettel slots into fourth on the grid.<br /><br />The resurgent McLarens make up the third row, and in the dying moments of Q3, Lewis Hamilton, fastest in morning practice, gave the Brawns and Red Bull's a run for the top spot.<br /><br />Force India made a lot of noise leading up to this weekend, and while Giancarlo Fisichella was a Q1 victim, Adrian Sutil delivered, qualifying seventh and ahead of the Ferraris. Nelson Piquet rounded out the top 10 in his Renault, out qualifying teammate Fernando Alonso.<br /><br />Things look glum here for Toyota, BMW Sauber and Williams, all buried deep on the grid, while Sebastien Bourdais, rumored to be on thin ice at STR, did nothing to improve his job prospects by qualifying last. Bourdais will move up to 19th, however, after Timo Glock was penalized for the 'potentially dangerous' blocking of Alonso in Q1.<br /><br />Once again, weather was a factor, rain hitting at the start of Q2, and cool and wet looks likely to continue to be the story tomorrow as Webber looks for another career first.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Provisional grid and pre-race weights</span><br /><ol><li>Mark Webber, Red Bull, 661kg</li><li>Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP, 647</li><li>Jenson Button, Brawn GP, 644</li><li>Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 661</li><li>Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 654.5</li><li>Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 664.0</li><li>Adrian Sutil, Force India, 678.5</li><li>Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 673.5</li><li>Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 674</li><li>Nelson Piquet, Renault, 676</li><li>Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber,</li><li>Fernando Alonso, Renault, 668.2</li><li>Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 683.6</li><li>Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 683.7</li><li>Nico Rosberg, Williams, 689.6</li><li>Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 673.5</li><li>Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 674.5</li><li>Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India, 662.5</li><li>Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 689.5</li><li>Timo Glock, Toyota, 662.3*</li></ol><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">*penalty</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Missed it? <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8145221.stm"><span style="font-weight: bold;">German GP qualifying as it happened</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9597.html"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Qualifying - selected team and driver quotes</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9600.html"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">FIA post-qualifying press conference - Germany</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9579.html"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Weekend weather update - threat of showers in Germany</span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-1683792150885852606?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/Jd-rnp_bjBY" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/webber-takes-maiden-pole-in-germany.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-28083401585781493602009-07-10T13:33:00.006-04:002009-07-10T15:39:21.983-04:002009-07-10T15:39:21.983-04:00Lewis Hamilton put McLaren in front Friday in cool, occasionally wet conditions at the Nurburgring, posting a 1:32.149 to kick off the German Grand Prix weekend.<br /><br />Mark Webber had set the fastest time in practice 1 with a time of 1:33.082, ahead of Jenson Button and Felipe Massa. Teammate Sebastian Vettel's morning ground to a halt with mechanical issues.<br /><br />But Vettel was back in action for the second session, finishing second to Hamilton and edging rival Button, who finished third. Webber ended the session fourth.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=f1&amp;iid=5348818" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/2/0/9/4/F1_Grand_Prix_ca65.jpg?adImageId=1851088&amp;imageId=5348818" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Germany - Practice" border="0" height="253" width="380" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">First session - German GP</span><br /><ol><li>Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault, 1:33.082</li><li>Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes, 1:33.463</li><li>Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:33.745</li><li>Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1:33.795</li><li>Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India-Mercedes, 1:33.839</li><li>Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:33.840</li><li>Nico Rosberg, Williams-Toyota, 1:33.902</li><li>Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault, 1:33.909</li><li>Kazuki Nakajima, Williams-Toyota, 1:33.952</li><li>Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1:34.148</li><li>Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:34.221</li><li>Rubens Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes, 1:34.227</li><li>Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:34.483</li><li>Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1:34.694</li><li>Nelson Piquet, Renault, 1:34.738</li><li>Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 1:34.827</li><li>Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 1:34.878</li><li>Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:34.893</li><li>Timo Glock, Toyota, 1:34.911</li><li>Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes, 1:35.092</li></ol><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Second session - German GP</span><br /><ol><li>Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:32.149</li><li>Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault, 1:32.331</li><li>Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes, 1:32.369</li><li>Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault, 1:32.480</li><li>Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1:32.511</li><li>Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes, 1:32.585</li><li>Rubens Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes, 1:32.664</li><li>Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1:32.774</li><li>Kazuki Nakajima, Williams-Toyota, 1:32.872</li><li>Nelson Piquet, Renault, 1:32.992</li><li>Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:33.012</li><li>Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:33.052</li><li>Nico Rosberg, Williams-Toyota, 1:33.128</li><li>Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1:33.161</li><li>Timo Glock, Toyota, 1:33.172</li><li>Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:33.182</li><li>Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:33.724</li><li>Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 1:33.903</li><li>Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 1:34.025</li><li>Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India-Mercedes, 1:38.877 </li></ol><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/f1releases/2009/Pages/f1_conf_ger2.aspx"><span style="font-weight: bold;">FIA Friday press conference - Germany</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9590.html"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday practice - selected team and driver quotes</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9579.html"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Weekend weather update - threat of showers in Germany</span></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />---<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Plus, Ari Vatanen, an ex-rally champ, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8137698.stm">confirms he is running for the FIA's top spot</a>.<br /><br />And the <a href="http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76848">German police tried to impound Force India's motor home</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-2808340158578149360?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/Q1nw-7ISZgM" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/hamilton-claims-top-spot-in-practice.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-37547427541766134322009-07-09T14:03:00.003-04:002009-07-09T14:14:26.561-04:002009-07-09T14:14:26.561-04:00<center><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/626910340" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=28981522001&amp;playerId=626910340&amp;viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://console.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&amp;servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&amp;cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&amp;domain=embed&amp;autoStart=false&amp;" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swliveconnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" height="338" width="400"></embed></center><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><br /><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9582.html"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9582.html">FIA Thursday press conference - Germany</a><br /><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9579.html"><br />Weekend weather update - threat of showers in Germany</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-3754742754176613432?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/66eRVFu-vmA" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/lap-of-nurburgring.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-63705556372830467102009-07-08T14:01:00.000-04:002009-07-08T14:03:41.795-04:002009-07-08T14:03:41.795-04:00In another show of F1's new-found peace, the FOTA teams walked out of an FIA technical meeting Wednesday at the Nurburgring.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=f1&amp;iid=5013018" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/3/6/a/1/F1_Grand_Prix_c300.jpg?adImageId=1831527&amp;imageId=5013018" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain - Race" width="380" border="0" height="253" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />FOTA's squads were meeting with the FIA to finalize the 2010 rules, and the meeting also included newcomers US F1, Campos Meta and Manor Grand Prix.<br /><br />While some progress was made at the meeting, the teams could not agree on weight limits, nor the legal agreement to reduce costs.<br /><br />According to the FIA, FOTA's eight members left the meeting when asked for input on further rule changes.<br /><br /><blockquote>"The eight FOTA teams were invited to attend the meeting to discuss their further proposals for 2010. Unfortunately no discussion was possible because FOTA walked out of the meeting."</blockquote><br /><br />FOTA claims it was informed by Charlie Whiting its teams are not currently entered in the 2010 championship and thus have no voting rights.<br /><br /><blockquote>"During the course of this meeting, the team managers were informed by Mr Charlie Whiting of the FIA that, contrary to previous agreements, the eight FOTA teams are not currently entered into the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship and have no voting rights in relation to the technical and sporting regulations thereof."</blockquote><br /><br />When a postponement of the meeting was requested, it was denied, FOTA says, leaving the teams no choice but to leave the meeting.<br /><br />The FOTA statement goes on to remind that the rules are already set for 2010, a continuation of the 2009 regulations, as per the FIA.<br /><br />This is fun.<br /><br />Read both the <a href="http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/f1releases/2009/Pages/2010_fia_fota.aspx">FIA</a> and <a href="http://www.teamsassociation.org/press-release/2009-07-08/press-release">FOTA</a> statements.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-6370555637283046710?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/sBWKB3VReLY" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com1http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/fota-leaves-fia-meeting.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-27850216329421168872009-07-06T10:10:00.002-04:002009-07-06T10:14:32.449-04:002009-07-06T10:14:32.449-04:00Seems teams are taking this three week break to heart, with little of note happening since the sides reached an agreement in Paris and Max Mosley threatened to tear it up.<br /><br />The little news in F1 has been reflected in the lack of news here at <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">SpeedRead</span>, but we’ll be back to the racing this weekend in Germany, and it will be interesting to see if Brawn and Button have an answer for Red Bull.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=" bernie="" ecclestone="" iid="5012748&quot;" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/1/0/3/c/F1_Grand_Prix_2376.jpg?adImageId=1811723&amp;imageId=5012748" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain - Race" border="0" height="254" width="380" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />Still, it wasn’t all quiet, as <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article6633340.ece">Bernie Ecclestone made some odd comments</a> that managed to draw world condemnation...<br /><br />... And <a href="http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=46286&amp;PO=46286">US F1’s Peter Windsor revealed, well, very little</a> about a possible tie-up with YouTube.<br /><br /><blockquote>“I did see Chad at Silverstone, he was around and it was good to see him there. People have tied him to our team, which is incredibly flattering, and who knows?”<br /></blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9569.html"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9569.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">German Grand Prix - team and driver preview quotes</span></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-2785021632942116887?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/9Riw7gLrsIg" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/relatively-quiet.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-3581976728939325752009-06-30T19:29:00.006-04:002009-06-30T19:44:49.707-04:002009-06-30T19:44:49.707-04:00In news that likely doesn’t matter much to most of the F1 world, but is monumental here in the States, <a href="http://www.racer.com/2009/06/tony-george-out-as-president-and-ceo-of-ims/">Tony George is out as head of the Hulman-George companies</a> effective July 1.<br /><br />Current IMS executives W. Curtis Brighton and Jeffrey G. Belskus take over, George remains on the board.<br /><br />A statement from Mari Hulman George, IMS chairman of the board, said George was asked to restructure the management staff and “now would be the time for him to concentrate on his team ownership of Vision Racing with his family and other personal business interests he and his family share.”<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=tony%20george%20indianapolis&amp;iid=4197035" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/8/c/3/1/Tony_George_dff1.jpg?adImageId=1763056&amp;imageId=4197035" alt="Tony George" border="0" height="253" width="380" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />George had been rumored to be on his way out in the spring, but had emerged with his position intact.<br /><br />In his role, he was chief negotiator with Bernie Ecclestone for the United States Grand Prix, which dropped off the calendar after the 2007 edition when the two sides failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension.<br /><br />The IRL support staff remains untouched, with Terry Angstadt president of the commercial division and Brian Barnhart president of the competition division. Joie Chitwood remains president and chief operating officer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Speedcar shuts down</span><br /><br />The Speedcar Series, a NASCAR-ish stock car championship run on road courses primarily in the Middle East, which had supported several Formula 1 events in its two seasons, is no more, according to backer Union Properties.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.crash.net/f1/news/149178/1/speedcar_goes_pop_as_financial_bubble_bursts.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Crash.net</span> reports.<br /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">A1 GP in trouble<br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Telegraph</span> reports the British company which runs much of the operations for A1 GP, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/5664677/British-A1-Grand-Prix-arm-stalls.html">A1 Grand Prix Operations Limited, went into liquidation last Wednesday</a>, leaving the future of the “world cup of motorsport” in doubt.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Superleague Formula kicks off</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.superleagueformula.com/superleague/News-Media/News-archive/Liverpool-Two-Up-After-Opening-French-Races">“The Beautiful Race” is back</a>, and Liverpool took two of the three races last weekend at Magny-Cours. AC Milan took the third, with the ever hopeful Giorgio Pantano at the wheel.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Talking KERS</span><br /><br />Remember this gadget? Nigel Roebuck weighs in on <a href="http://www.motorsportmagazine.co.uk/2009/06/26/kers-another-costly-mistake-by-mosley/">KERS – another costly mistake by Mosley</a> for <span style="font-style: italic;">Motorsport</span>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-358197672893932575?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/xTDYOBNP8eU" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com1http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/tony-george-out.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-7476504827594463892009-06-25T22:29:00.003-04:002009-06-26T09:53:34.775-04:002009-06-26T09:53:34.775-04:00Peace in F1? We knew it couldn’t last.<br /><br />Angered at FOTA’s “deliberate attempt to mislead the media” regarding who has authority over the sport, Max Mosley has threatened to withdraw his decision to stand down at the end of his term.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=max%20mosley&amp;iid=5005142" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/8/3/4/6/F1_Grand_Prix_bfd5.jpg?adImageId=1675711&amp;imageId=5005142" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain - Practice" width="380" border="0" height="253" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />This according to a letter sent to FOTA chairman Luca di Montezemolo, which appeared on the website <span style="font-style: italic;">www.racefax.com</span> and later was seen by <span style="font-style: italic;">Autosport</span>.<br /><br />At issue is a statement by FOTA representatives that Mosley was no longer overseeing F1, but rather FIA Senate president Michel Boeri.<br /><br />Unless FOTA corrects the offense, Tuesday’s deal could be out the window.<br /><br />Read the nitty gritty <a href="http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76529">here</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teamsassociation.org/press-release/2009-06-25/fota-press-conference-transcript"><span style="font-weight: bold;">FOTA Press Conference - Transcript</span><br /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-747650482759446389?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/mCWLvgskpUU" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/angry-mosley-threatens-deal.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-73936130529502750562009-06-24T08:10:00.005-04:002009-06-24T14:33:09.258-04:002009-06-24T14:33:09.258-04:00An agreement has been reached in Paris to prevent a split and lower costs. In exchange, Max Mosley stands down at then end of his term.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=silverstone&amp;iid=5012239" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/f/7/e/2/F1_Grand_Prix_fe80.jpg?adImageId=1666138&amp;imageId=5012239" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain - Race" width="380" border="0" height="253" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br /><span>The relevant part of the FIA press release:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><span></span><blockquote><span>Press Release<br />World Motor Sport Council<br />24/06/2009<br /><br />The World Motor Sport Council met in Paris on 24 June 2009. The following decisions were taken:<br /><br />FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP<br /><br />All currently competing teams have committed to the FIA Formula One World Championship.<br /><br />There will be no alternative series or championship and the rules for 2010 onwards will be the 2009 regulations as well as further regulations agreed prior to 29 April 2009.<br /><br />As part of this agreement, the teams will, within two years, reduce the costs of competing in the championship to the level of the early 1990s. The manufacturer teams have agreed to assist the new entries for 2010 by providing technical assistance.<br /><br />The manufacturer teams have further agreed to the permanent and continuing role of the FIA as the sport’s governing body. They have also committed to the commercial arrangements for the FIA Formula One World Championship until 2012 and have agreed to renegotiate and extend this contract before the end of that period.<br /><br />All teams will adhere to an upgraded version of the governance provisions of the 1998 Concorde Agreement.<br /><br />The following teams have been accepted for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship.<br /></span><span><br /></span>TEAM , CONSTRUCTOR<br />SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO, FERRARI<br />VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES, McLAREN MERCEDES<br />BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM, BMW SAUBER<br />RENAULT F1 TEAM, RENAULT<br />PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING, TOYOTA<br />SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO, STR TBA<br />RED BULL RACING, RED BULL RACING TBA<br />AT&amp;T WILLIAMS, WILLIAMS TOYOTA<br />FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM, FORCE INDIA MERCEDES<br />BRAWN GP FORMULA ONE TEAM, BRAWN TBA<br />CAMPOS GRAND PRIX, CAMPOS COSWORTH<br />MANOR GRAND PRIX, MANOR COSWORTH<br />TEAM US F1, TEAM US F1 COSWORTH<br /><span><br />In view of this new agreement and with the prospect of a stable future for Formula One, FIA President Max Mosley has confirmed his decision not to stand for re-election in October this year.</span></blockquote><span><br />So, it seems that's it. </span><span>A painful split is avoided, </span><span>and Max is out. Both sides get to claim they got what they wanted. The BBC has <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8116756.stm">a pretty good comprehensive</a>.<br /><br />Obviously, the details will reveal themselves in time. For now, we can move forward with a good idea this year's champion will get to defend his title, and F1 as we know it continues. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-7393613052950275056?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/OEOZldcyejc" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com2http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/agreement-reached.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-60668999170271763662009-06-23T16:30:00.002-04:002009-06-23T16:40:03.778-04:002009-06-23T16:40:03.778-04:00If Max Mosley wasn’t going to leave office over last year’s colorful scandal, no one should have believed he would voluntarily stand down and retire at the end of this term. After all, it is only what he said he was going to do.<br /><br />In news that certainly won’t come as a shock to anyone, Mosley has been making noise about standing for re-election.<br /><br />Mosley says it is for the FIA to decide who its leader shall be, and he will not be removed. Insiders have been saying Mosley’s removal is one of FOTA’s goals, and that is certainly the way the FIA chief sees it, and that's why he may need to stick around.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=max%20mosley&amp;iid=5011870" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/a/5/a/1/F1_Grand_Prix_eff2.jpg?adImageId=1658058&amp;imageId=5011870" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain - Race" border="0" height="253" width="380" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />The BBC quotes from a letter Mosley sent to FIA members:<br /><br /><blockquote>“Over recent weeks it has become increasingly clear that one of the objectives of the dissident teams is that I should resign as president of the FIA.<br /><br />“Last year you offered me your confidence and, as I wrote to you on 16 May 2008, it was my intention not to seek re-election in October this year.<br /> <br />“However, in light of the attack on the mandate you have entrusted to me, I must now reflect on whether my original decision not to stand for re-election was indeed the right one.<br /><br />“It is for the FIA membership, and the FIA membership alone, to decide on its democratically elected leadership, not the motor industry and still less the individuals the industry employs to run its Formula 1 teams.”<br /></blockquote><br />Meanwhile, FOTA moves forward in setting up its new series, while some members continue to talk about finding a compromise.<br /><br />The World Motor Sport Council meets Wednesday, and there is some interesting analysis available ahead of the meeting.<br /><br />The<span style="font-style: italic;"> BBC’s</span> F1 Mole blog <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/f1mole/2009/06/breakaway-threat-still-the-hot.html#more">takes a look at how things got to this point</a>. Of interest:<br /><br /><blockquote>“The Mole's sources say that on Wednesday last week, the teams' umbrella group Fota had agreed a compromise with FIA president Max Mosley that would have seen everyone sign up for F1 in 2010.<br /><br />It appears, though, that when Mosley sent through the documentation the following morning, he had changed the date until which the teams had to commit to F1 from 2012 to 2014.<br /><br />For Fota, it seems this was the final straw - one more piece of evidence of what they see as Mosley's autocratic and arbitrary decision-making.”<br /></blockquote><br />While James Allen goes into <a href="http://allenonf1.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/high-stakes-poker-ahead-of-world-council-meeting/">what we can expect from tomorrow’s WMSC meeting</a>.<br /><br />And Joe Saward <a href="http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/what-is-formula-1/">waxes philosophical</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br />Hey, Ferrari would like to know <a href="http://151.1.163.23/index.php?sid=83829%C3%A2%C2%8C%C2%A9=en">if you are with them</a>. So let them know, OK?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br />Heavy stuff. Let’s lighten the mood:<br /><br /><center><object height="243" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZCvdTXrXsBc&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZCvdTXrXsBc&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="243" width="400"></embed></object></center><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-6066899917027176366?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/fwR0eZq6mRQ" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/mosley-aint-going-anywhere.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-39040485569430200002009-06-22T14:34:00.000-04:002009-06-22T14:35:55.314-04:002009-06-22T14:35:55.314-04:00<center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=bernie%20ecclestone&amp;iid=5005151" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/0/e/f/8/F1_Grand_Prix_d0d2.jpg?adImageId=1647688&amp;imageId=5005151" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain - Practice" width="380" border="0" height="253" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br /><blockquote>“I have given 35 years of my life and more to Formula One. My marriage broke up because of Formula One, so I am sure as hell not going to let things disintegrate over what is, in the end, basically nothing. If you analyse the problems, there aren’t any that can’t be easily solved.”<br /><div style="text-align: right;">--Bernie Ecclestone</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><br />Read the Full article from <span style="font-style: italic;">The Times</span> <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article6549903.ece">here</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-3904048556943020000?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/oVGUgtw1c8Y" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/bernie-speaks.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-88896886160702498112009-06-21T13:37:00.007-04:002009-06-21T13:59:08.890-04:002009-06-21T13:59:08.890-04:00Sebastian Vettel took his second victory of the season, heading a Red Bull 1-2 at Silverstone and reminding the world this championship is far from over.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=for&amp;iid=5012704" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/0/a/a/3/F1_Grand_Prix_622e.jpg?adImageId=1639939&amp;imageId=5012704" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain - Race" border="0" height="253" width="380" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />There was never a doubt as Vettel dusted Rubens Barrichello off at the start and sped off into the lead. Teammate Mark Webber dispatched Barrichello in the first round of pit stops, and barring mechanical difficulties Red Bull looked sure to deliver on the promise it had shown all weekend.<br /><br />Barrichello took third in the lead Brawn. Championship leader Jenson Button provided some of the best action in the closing stages of the race. The Briton, after suffering a start that saw him drop back to ninth, battled back to put pressure on Nico Rosberg for fifth. For a few moments, even fourth place Felipe Massa looked to be vulnerable.<br /><br />In the end, Button would settle for sixth, his starting position, and valuable points. Massa and Rosberg finished fourth and fifth, respectively.<br /><br />Last year's winner, Lewis Hamilton, had a race to forget, one lap down in 16th, but that didn’t stop him from thrilling the fans with some donuts after the race.<br /><br />Only two retirements, both as a result of the same incident, when Sebastien Bourdais made contact with Heikki Kovalainen in an attempt to overtake at Abbey.<br /><br />So, on to Germany. A difficult weekend for Button, but he only lost three points to teammate Barrichello, second in the championship. Silverstone suited the Red Bull, but the real question is whether the team have taken a real step forward. If so, the second half should prove a real humdinger.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Provisional results (60 laps)</span><br /><ol><li>Sebastian Vettel, RedBull-Renault</li><li>Mark Webber, RedBull-Renault</li><li>Rubens Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes</li><li>Felipe Massa, Ferrari</li><li>Nico Rosberg, Williams-Toyota</li><li>Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes</li><li>Jarno Trulli, Toyota</li><li>Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari</li><li>Timo Glock, Toyota</li><li>Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India-Mercedes</li><li>Kazuki Nakajima, Williams - Toyota</li><li>Nelson Piquet, Renault 1 lap</li><li>Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber 1 lap</li><li>Fernando Alonso, Renault 1 lap</li><li>Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber 1 lap</li><li>Lewis Hamilton, McLaren - Mercedes 1 lap</li><li>Adrian Sutil, Force India - Mercedes 1 lap</li><li>Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1 lap</li></ol><ul><li>Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso - Ferrari 23 laps</li><li>Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren - Mercedes 24 laps</li></ul><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/6/9542.html"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/6/9542.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">British Grand Prix - selected driver quotes</span></a><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/f1releases/2009/Pages/f1_conf_gbr3.aspx"><span></span></a><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/f1releases/2009/Pages/f1_conf_gbr3.aspx">British GP Press Conference</a><br /><br />Missed it? <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8110915.stm"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The British Grand Prix as it happened</span></a> (BBC)<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GP2</span><br /><br />Alberto Valerio took his first victory in race one yesterday, ahead of Lucas di Grassi and Nico Hülkenberg. In race 2, Pastor Maldonado won his second of the season, going wire to wire. Andreas Zuber and Karun Chandhok rounded out the podium.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-8889688616070249811?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/MWsTN_gy9kk" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/vettel-dominates-british-grand-prix.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-29167195376748480512009-06-20T20:28:00.004-04:002009-06-20T20:35:56.899-04:002009-06-20T20:35:56.899-04:00Red Bull has been looking good at Silverstone, and Sebastian Vettel continued the domination, taking pole for Sunday’s British Grand Prix.<br /><br />Vettel’s time of 1:19.509 bested Rubens Barrichello in the lead Brawn. Vettel’s Red Bull teammate Mark Webber starts third.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=formula&amp;iid=5009453" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/a/1/a/1/F1_Grand_Prix_9af6.jpg?adImageId=1634665&amp;imageId=5009453" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain - Qualifying" border="0" height="252" width="380" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />The best championship leader Jenson Button would manage was sixth, behind the Toyota of Jarno Trulli and Kazuki Nakajima, who put in a last minute stunner to take fifth.<br /><br />The big losers for the day were Adrian Sutil and Lewis Hamilton. Sutil, who nailed third in Friday’s second session, lost it at Abbey in Q1, resulting in a red flag that ruined Hamilton’s flyer and left him on the outside looking in at the end of the first session.<br /><br />So, once again, Vettel is in prime position. But he will want to avoid a mistake, because he has two hungry vets on his tail, both looking to take that first big win of the season.<br /><br />Meanwhile the odds look long for the championship leader. It all adds up to a memorable send off for one of F1’s storied tracks, if this is indeed the end of the road. Bernie told the BBC if Donington’s not ready, “Silverstone will ‘for sure’ host the British Grand Prix next year.”<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The grid and pre-race weights</span><br /><ol><li>Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 666.5 kg</li><li>Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP, 657.5</li><li>Mark Webber, Red Bull, 659.5</li><li>Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 658</li><li>Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 652.5</li><li>Jenson Button, Brawn GP, 657.5</li><li>Nico Rosberg, Williams, 661.5</li><li>Timo Glock, Toyota, 660</li><li>Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 654</li><li>Fernando Alonso, Renault, 654</li><li>Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 675</li><li>Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 689.5</li><li>Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 695.5</li><li>Nelson Piquet, Renault, 682.5</li><li>Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 665.5</li><li>Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India, 668</li><li>Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 687.5</li><li>Adrian Sutil, Force India, 692</li><li>Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 666</li><li>Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 672.5</li></ol><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/6/9531.html">FIA post-qualifying press conference - Great Britain</a><br /><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/6/9530.html"><br />Qualifying - selected team and driver quotes</a><br /><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/6/9506.html"><br />Saturday weather update - cloudy but dry at Silverstone</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Missed it? </span><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8109838.stm">Qualifying as it happened</a> <span style="font-weight: normal;">(BBC)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-2916719537674848051?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/94ZFZSfmJSQ" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/vettel-on-pole-at-silverstone.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-68270189923513917962009-06-19T13:36:00.004-04:002009-06-19T15:49:27.236-04:002009-06-19T15:49:27.236-04:00With so much going on off the track, it might have escaped notice Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber put it to the Brawn boys that they mean to challenge at this weekend's final appearance at Silverstone.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=f1&amp;iid=5004216" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/a/4/f/4/F1_Grand_Prix_dfef.jpg?adImageId=1622901&amp;imageId=5004216" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain - Practice" width="380" border="0" height="259" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />The duo led both sessions, heading Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello in the first, and besting a surprising third place Adrian Sutil in the second.<br /><br />But it isn't all sunshine and flowers, as Webber's car rolled to a stop before the end on the second session with some kind of gremlin.<br /><br />The second session saw the Brawn cars much further back, Button in particular complaining about grip, but we have seen this before and Brawn's attention may have been focused on race preparation rather than qualifying runs.<br /><br />Silverstone seems to suit the Red Bulls, though, and it should be interesting to see how it shakes out Saturday.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Practice 1</span><br /><ol><li>Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault, 1:19.400</li><li>Mark Webber, Red Bull - Renault, 1:19.682</li><li>Jenson Button, Brawn - Mercedes, 1:20.227</li><li>Rubens Barrichello, Brawn - Mercedes, 1:20.242</li><li>Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1:20.458</li><li>Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:20.471</li><li>Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1:20.585</li><li>Lewis Hamilton, McLaren - Mercedes, 1:20.650</li><li>Nico Rosberg, Williams - Toyota, 1:20.815</li><li>Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India-Mercedes, 1:20.838</li><li>Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes, 1:20.913</li><li>Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren - Mercedes, 1:21.029</li><li>Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:21.103</li><li>Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:21.179</li><li>Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso - Ferrari, 1:21.384</li><li>Timo Glock, Toyota, 1:21.386</li><li>Kazuki Nakajima, Williams - Toyota, 1:21.489</li><li>Nelson Piquet, Renault, 1:21.525</li><li>Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso - Ferrari, 1:21.590</li><li>Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1:21.801</li></ol><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Practice 2</span><br /><ol><li>Sebastian Vettel, RedBull - Renault, 1:19.456</li><li>Mark Webber, RedBull - Renault, 1:19.597</li><li>Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes, 1:20.141</li><li>Kazuki Nakajima, Williams - Toyota, 1:20.209</li><li>Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1:20.237</li><li>Rubens Barrichello, Brawn - Mercedes, 1:20.244</li><li>Lewis Hamilton, McLaren - Mercedes, 1:20.417</li><li>Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1:20.458</li><li>Nico Rosberg, Williams - Toyota, 1:20.468</li><li>Nelson Piquet, Renault, 1:20.608</li><li>Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1:20.622</li><li>Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren - Mercedes, 1:20.733</li><li>Timo Glock, Toyota, 1:20.762</li><li>Jenson Button, Brawn - Mercedes, 1:20.767</li><li>Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:20.932</li><li>Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso - Ferrari, 1:20.945</li><li>Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:21.005</li><li>Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:21.132</li><li>Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India-Mercedes, 1:21.413</li><li>Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso - Ferrari, 1:21.668</li></ol><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Missed it? <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8108629.stm"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Practice as it happened</span></a> (from the BBC)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/6/9519.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday practice - selected team and driver quotes</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/f1releases/2009/Pages/f1_conf_gbr2.aspx"><span style="font-weight: bold;">FIA Thursday press conference - Great Britain</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/6/9506.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday weather update - cloudy but dry at Silverstone </span></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-6827018992351391796?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/14cdRdMnxLo" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/red-bull-dominate-friday-at-silverstone.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-7337294901843475112009-06-19T07:45:00.003-04:002009-06-19T11:27:06.528-04:002009-06-19T11:27:06.528-04:00In the latest round of the war over the 2010 regulations, the remaining FOTA teams have refused to drop the conditions on their entries and instead announced they are preparing a rival championship.<br /><br />The announcement followed a FOTA meeting Thursday night.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=f1&amp;iid=5003545" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/4/3/3/0/F1_Grand_Prix_b052.jpg?adImageId=1620991&amp;imageId=5003545" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain - Practice" width="380" border="0" height="253" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />Text of the FOTA statement:<br /><br /><blockquote><br />Press Release<br />Date:<br />19 June, 2009<br /><br /><br /><br />FOTA UNITED ON THE FUTURE<br /><br /><br />Silverstone, 18 June 2009 - Since the formation of FOTA last September the teams have worked together and sought to engage the FIA and commercial rights holder, to develop and improve the sport.<br /><br />Unprecedented worldwide financial turmoil has inevitably placed great challenges before the F1 community. FOTA is proud that it has achieved the most substantial measures to reduce costs in the history of our sport.<br /><br />In particular the manufacturer teams have provided assistance to the independent teams, a number of which would probably not be in the sport today without the FOTA initiatives. The FOTA teams have further agreed upon a substantial voluntary cost reduction that provides a sustainable model for the future.<br /><br />Following these efforts all the teams have confirmed to the FIA and the commercial rights holder that they are willing to commit until the end of 2012.<br /><br />The FIA and the commercial rights holder have campaigned to divide FOTA.<br /><br />The wishes of the majority of the teams are ignored. Furthermore, tens of millions of dollars have been withheld from many teams by the commercial rights holder, going back as far as 2006. Despite this and the uncompromising environment, FOTA has genuinely sought compromise.<br /><br />It has become clear however, that the teams cannot continue to compromise on the fundamental values of the sport and have declined to alter their original conditional entries to the 2010 World Championship.<br /><br />These teams therefore have no alternative other than to commence the preparation for a new Championship which reflects the values of its participants and partners. This series will have transparent governance, one set of regulations, encourage more entrants and listen to the wishes of the fans, including offering lower prices for spectators worldwide, partners and other important stakeholders.<br /><br />The major drivers, stars, brands, sponsors, promoters and companies historically associated with the highest level of motorsport will all feature in this new series.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Note to Eds: Statement issued by FOTA on behalf of BMW-Sauber, BrawnGP, Scuderia Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, Renault, Scuderia Toro Rosso, Toyota.</span><br /></blockquote><br /><br />The FIA has since responded:<br /><br /><blockquote>Press Release<br />2010 FIA Formula One World Championship<br />19/06/2009<br /><br />The FIA has noted the latest press statement from FOTA.<br /><br />The FIA is disappointed but not surprised by FOTA’s inability to reach a compromise in the best interests of the sport. It is clear that elements within FOTA have sought this outcome throughout the prolonged period of negotiation and have not engaged in the discussions in good faith.<br /><br />The FIA cannot permit a financial arms race in the Championship nor can the FIA allow FOTA to dictate the rules of Formula One.<br /><br />The deadline for unconditional entries to the 2010 FIA Formula World Championship will expire this evening.<br /><br />The 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship entry list will be announced tomorrow.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">UPDATE -- </span>This was somewhat inevitable:<br /><br /><blockquote>Press Release<br />The FIA and FOTA<br />19/06/2009<br /><br />The FIA’s lawyers have now examined the FOTA threat to begin a breakaway series. The actions of FOTA as a whole, and Ferrari in particular, amount to serious violations of law including wilful interference with contractual relations, direct breaches of Ferrari's legal obligations and a grave violation of competition law. The FIA will be issuing legal proceedings without delay.<br /><br />Preparations for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship continue but publication of the final 2010 entry list will be put on hold while the FIA asserts its legal rights.<br /></blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-733729490184347511?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/hxVwXQ7xls4" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/fota-announces-breakaway-plans.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-11765174094264825322009-06-18T10:19:00.002-04:002009-06-18T14:39:24.947-04:002009-06-18T14:39:24.947-04:00<center><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/626910340" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=26720699001&amp;playerId=626910340&amp;viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://console.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&amp;servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&amp;cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&amp;domain=embed&amp;autoStart=false&amp;" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swliveconnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" width="400" height="338"></embed></center><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/6/9510.html">FIA Thursday press conference - Great Britain</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/6/9506.html">Weekend weather update - cloudy but dry at Silverstone </a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-1176517409426482532?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/eL0KDdGYQR4" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/virtual-lap-of-silverstone.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-19005973132651745322009-06-17T11:32:00.005-04:002009-06-17T15:50:13.424-04:002009-06-17T15:50:13.424-04:00<a href="http://www.lolacars.com/newsstory.asp?NewsId=88">Lola has pulled the plug</a> on its planned return to Formula 1.<br /><br />Passed over in the initial entry list last Friday, the team was thought to be a wild card to replace an existing entry if no solution could be reached with the FOTA squads.<br /><br />Lola's omission was a bit of a surprise, given the organization seemed pretty far along in its development and was likely well funded.<br /><br />Does Lola's decision mean, as some are speculating, Lola knows something about the negotiations we don't? That might be a leap.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=lola&amp;iid=4984806" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/c/1/d/2/Le_Mans_24h_1201.jpg?adImageId=1608250&amp;imageId=4984806" alt="Le Mans 24h Race" width="380" border="0" height="253" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />The official statement:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lola withdraw F1 application</span><br /><br />Lola F1 Team Ltd has today advised the FIA of the decision to withdraw its application to enter the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship.<br /><br />Significant financial investment has been made in producing its 2010 contender and the FIA had requested that the Lola F1 Team remain in a state of readiness for a possible future entry.<br /><br />Lola F1 Team has thanked the FIA for giving its application to enter the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship serious consideration.<br /><br />No further comment will be made.<br /></blockquote><br />Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns21566.html">FOTA has sent a letter</a> to Max Mosley, Bernie Ecclestone, and all members of the FIA World Council and Senate calling for a compromise.<br /><br />The letter reiterated FOTA's key points in the dispute, while also asking for the entry deadline to be extended to July 1.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">UPDATE: </span>The FIA has since responded, in the form of <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8104912.stm">a letter from Max Mosley</a>. Mosley stands firm on the Friday deadline. It is possible we are inching toward a solution, but just as likely this power struggle is beyond resolution...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76269"><span style="font-style: italic;">Autosport </span>goes a little more in-depth</a> on the Mosley response.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-1900597313265174532?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/efYJHtySMOI" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/lola-out-fota-sends-letter.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-18240543234438287952009-06-16T11:49:00.005-04:002009-06-16T15:53:53.202-04:002009-06-16T15:53:53.202-04:00The FIA has released a statement putting forth its view of the current crisis facing the sport. You can read the full statement by following the link below.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/f1releases/2009/Pages/fia_fota.aspx"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Press Release</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The FIA and FOTA</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">16/06/2009 </span></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-1824054323443828795?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/wT9P2DQo66o" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/fia-makes-its-case.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-81368076666737380972009-06-14T21:02:00.004-04:002009-06-14T21:17:06.072-04:002009-06-14T21:17:06.072-04:00Peugeot won the 24 Hours of Le Mans Sunday, ending Audi’s five-year stranglehold on the event when perennial F1 test driver Marc Gene brought the No. 9 diesel home ahead of the second, No. 8 Peugeot machine.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=le%20mans&amp;iid=4984668" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/6/0/1/c/Le_Mans_24h_0951.jpg?adImageId=1590325&amp;imageId=4984668" alt="Le Mans 24h Race" border="0" height="291" width="380" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />Gene shared the No. 9 with a couple of other F1-ers, David Brabham and Alexander Wurz, while the French-driven No. 8 sported current STR driver Sebastien Bourdais, F1 refugee Franck Montagny and Stephane Sarrazin finished second.<br /><br />The top Audi was third overall, with Allan McNish, Rinaldo Capello and Tom Kristensen behind the wheel.<br /><br />Team Essex won the LMP2 class. The Corvette No. 63, driven by Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia and Johnny O'Connell won the GT1 class, and Risi Competizione won the GT2 class.<br /><br />55 cars started the race, 21 failed to finish.<br /><br />See the final results <a href="http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/pages/accueil_gb.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, at Le Mans as official starter, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/feedarticle/8556964">told reporters F1’s manufacturers are prepared to set up a breakaway series, and left open the possibility of a return to Le Mans</a> if Ferrari were not participating in F1.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Lola head Martin Birrane said <a href="http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76194">the company will decide Tuesday if it will remain in contention for a spot on the 2010 entry list</a>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Autosport</span> reports.<br /><br />While Lola was not on Friday’s official list, should one of the current teams not drop the conditions on its entry by June 19, the FIA would look at the current pool of applicants for a replacement.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-8136807666673738097?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/m0kbceAw2d0" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/peugeot-finally-cracks-top-spot.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-67778112476312404962009-06-13T08:24:00.004-04:002009-06-13T08:39:41.493-04:002009-06-13T08:39:41.493-04:00It's that time again! The biggest race in the world! And it is chock full of F1-related folks!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=le%20mans&amp;iid=4971841" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/9/f/3/c/Le_Mans_24h_ecc7.jpg?adImageId=1580052&amp;imageId=4971841" alt="Le Mans 24h Race - Qualifying" border="0" height="253" width="380" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />Follow the action on <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://rlm08.0157.org/#"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Radio Le Mans</span></a>, and keep up with all the goings on at the <a href="http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/pages/accueil_gb.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">official site</span></a>.<br /><br />Here in the States, <span>the combination of </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Speed</span> and <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.speedtv.com/programs/24-hours-of-le-mans/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">SpeedTV.com</span></a> have you covered for the full 24, and all the action will also be on <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Sirius </span>126 and <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">XM </span>243.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-6777811247631240496?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/5ouqmxRc1Wk" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/le-mans.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690028477480070430.post-84063119768913797262009-06-12T12:17:00.004-04:002009-06-12T12:27:54.873-04:002009-06-12T12:27:54.873-04:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">Team US F1, Campos and Manor granted entry, Prodrive out</span><br /><br />The FIA released the official entry list for 2010, as scheduled, and all the current teams are on it, plus three newcomers.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=fia&amp;iid=4949182" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/3/8/7/7/F1_Grand_Prix_00cc.jpg?adImageId=1571825&amp;imageId=4949182" alt="F1 Grand Prix of Turkey - Qualifying" width="380" border="0" height="262" /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></center><br /><br />But don't think for a moment that is the end of it. Five teams on the list have asterisks based on their conditional entries, and have until the 19th to drop those conditions. In fact, it is all a bit confusing, as the FIA has some FOTA squads listed as unconditional entries, specifically, the two Red Bull teams and Ferrari.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.teamsassociation.org/press-release/2009-06-12/press-release">FOTA released a statement</a> to set the record straight, and <a href="http://www.ferrari.com/English/News/Pages/090612_F1_CS_Ferrari_shall_not.aspx">Ferrari released its own statement</a> saying it had not changed its stance. <a href="http://www.redbullracing.com/Season/2009/Britain/News/2010-Season-Entry/">Ditto Red Bull</a>.<br /><br />Perhaps just one more play in the gamesmanship between Max Mosley and the teams? Destabilize the remaining eight FOTA squads and ignore Ferrari's position in one fell swoop?<br /><br />Joining the grid are three new outfits: Team US F1, Campos and Manor. <a href="http://www.cosworth.com/Default.aspx?id=1097019">All three plan to use Cosworth power</a>, marking the organizations return to the top level of motorsport.<br /><br />Obviously, US F1's inclusion is interesting news for stateside F1 fans. Campos was somewhat expected. The big surprise was Manor. The FIA has a short info section on the three newbies <a href="http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/f1releases/2009/Pages/f1_entry2.aspx">here</a>.<br /><br />Surprisingly, two names that one might have thought would be among the new squads were not included on the list: Lola and Prodrive.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.prodrive.com/p_releases.html?id=233">David Richards expressed his disappointment</a> at being excluded, but noting how quickly things change in F1, remains optimistic an opportunity will still present itself, perhaps by the 19th?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lolacars.com/newsstory.asp?NewsId=78">Lola is also keeping an eye on the 19th</a>.<br /><br />The FIA has a Q&amp;A explaining its decisions <a href="http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/f1releases/2009/Pages/f1_entry1.aspx">here</a>.<br /><br />The official statement from the FIA:<br /><br /><blockquote>Press Release<br />2010 FIA Formula One World Championship Entry List<br />12/06/2009<br /><br />Following the completion of the applications process for teams to compete in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship, the following teams have been confirmed.<br /><br />TEAM , CONSTRUCTOR<br />SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO, FERRARI<br />SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO, STR TBA<br />RED BULL RACING, RED BULL RACING TBA<br />AT&amp;T WILLIAMS, WILLIAMS TOYOTA<br />FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM, FORCE INDIA MERCEDES<br />CAMPOS GRAND PRIX, CAMPOS COSWORTH<br />MANOR GRAND PRIX, MANOR COSWORTH<br />TEAM US F1, TEAM US F1 COSWORTH<br />VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES*, McLAREN MERCEDES<br />BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM*, BMW SAUBER<br />RENAULT F1 TEAM*, RENAULT<br />PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING*, TOYOTA<br />BRAWN GP FORMULA ONE TEAM*, BRAWN TBA<br /><br />*These five teams have submitted conditional entries. The FIA has invited them to lift those conditions following further discussions to be concluded not later than close of business on Friday 19 June.<br /><br />The maximum number of cars permitted to enter the 2010 Championship has been increased to 26, two being entered by each competitor. Pending completion of the discussions referred to above, further due diligence is currently taking place on other potential entries.<br /></blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">But hey, it's still 2009</span><br /><br />For those who are more focused on this year's championship:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/6/9492.html">British Grand Prix - team and driver preview quotes<br /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---<br /></div><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpeedRead/45435754918" target="_blank">SpeedRead's on Facebook - Become a fan!</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3690028477480070430-8406311976891379726?l=speedreadblog.blogspot.com'/></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/oNQL/~4/331jvZaHv44" height="1" width="1"/>SpeedReadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980519102043635999SpeedReadBlog@gmail.com0http://speedreadblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/fia-releases-official-entries.html