Trash Talk – F1 Circus Begins and Elite Eight
It is here; can you feel the anticipation? That’s right, the start of the 2009 Formula One season. There are many changes for the coming season as Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosely try to reel in the costs of fielding a ride on the F1 grid. Bernie is his usual cocky self, but Max had a bit of a rough year last year (If you aren’t familiar, do click the link; it is an, interesting story. The hot and kinky video here).
The big news for the 2009 campaign are the new rules on engine and car design intended to equalize competition and reduce costs across the sport. A very cool video is provided and it is narrated by Sebastian Vettel of the Toro Rosso (Red Bull) team. Here is a good written synopsis of the new rules.
Enough of the chit chat, let’s get down to business. The opening race of the year is down under in glorious Australia. The Australian GP is run at Albert Park in Melbourne (circuit diagram here). Here is the grid of teams and drivers for 2009. Toyota and Mercedes looked hot in practice last night. Qualifying is starting tonight soon after I post this; coverage on SpeedTV. The race will be live tomorrow night on SpeedTV at 1:30 am EST and 10:30 pm PST/FDL time.
Same as every year, my heart rides with Ferrari. Always has, always will. There is a reason Ferrari Red is blood red, that is what the heart pumps. Felipe Massa will, I think, again be ahead of Kimi Raikkonen. Both will be trying to reclaim the crown for Ferrari from Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes-McLaren. Keep an eye out for young Robert Kubica though, the guy is an up and coming talent behind the wheel.
Also on tap this weekend is the Elite Eight in NCAA Basketball. My brackets got semtex exploded Thursday with both Duke, and the team I picked to win the Championship, Memphis, getting taken out. I am truly screwed in my group pool. Oh well, what ya gonna do? Good golly did Missouri and Villanova look good though. Louisville absolutely kicked the you know what out of my local Arizona Wildcats. Oklahoma ripped Syracuse. Michigan St. and Carolina round out the Elite Eight. Who ya got? Trash is open!
So, regenerative braking in F1? I thought that that was only for Priuses! If it’s good enough for F1, I want one at home.
I figure this is the best shot I have to win a hub cap, so I’m goin “ALL IN” here
if I don’t get that hub cap, I’m going all AIG on this joint
I didn’t put the mines there, but I’m willing to pull all the pins out and watch this place blow
I learned a lot of UGLY SECRETS while I was sleeping on the couch and rooting thru the fridge for pizza crusts, and I’m willing to go public
here’s a sample, just sos ya no I’m serius:
so, as you can see, I’m serious here
if you want to keep me from telling the world how MTWHLL 4.2 tried to take over the planet that time, you can just send me the hub cap now
and have it engraved like I won it honestly (and never speak of this again)
once again, extortion is an ugly word, and probably costs a lot to engrave, so just leave that part out
I await your reply
oh, an Y’ALL better be rooting for the SOONERS
cuz, you know, this is a real nice blog ya got here, it would be a shame if something was to happen to it …
Jeebuz, I hope it wasn’t some kind of DCKCHNY.bot posing as an MTWHLL installer.
I knew not to click on that DCKCHNY.exe file.
Dammit!!
Love you, bmaz, but I think this is the stupidest “sport” on the planet.
Actually, Loo Hoo, I know a mechanical engineer and a chemical engineer who are totally engrossed by F1 and who have convinced me that it has merit in terms of moving technologies forward.
Also, unlike NASCAR, which is a bunch of (white) guys driving in circles, F1 has to navigate real-world driving conditions, and no two races are ever supposed to be alike. In other words, lots of ‘fluid intelligence’ and ability to make multiple types of judgments instantly required — top F1 drivers are said to be in excellent physical condition because the metabolic requirements are actually quite high.
Besides, any sport that can produce that video can’t be all bad; that’s one kick-ass video and I’ll watch it again later.
As for freep, jeebuz… what I drink is sooooooo boring it would make him gag.
Sadly, tonight’s blend was some organic decaffy English Breakfast, w/ just the right amount of milk. Only two mugs tonight. ( randiego might describe them as, “White, but not sweet; no bikkies.” Or, ‘tea with enough milk, but no sugar. And no cookies… yet.’ However, I hate to embarrass myself by admitting that I generally use tea bags; no doubt his Aussie soul would scowl upon a mug not properly brewed with a teaball and full leaves.)
Back to the F1: the mechanical engineer has me persuaded that Hamilton drives like some modern version of Hermes (who, IIRC, was the fleet-footed messenger of the gods), so I’ll root for Hamilton. Also, this year’s rules are said to be really quite the big deal; unlike NASCAR, the F1 organization has developed rules aimed at solving problems of fuel efficiency and design problems aimed at reducing friction. (bmaz will let me know if I’m mistook on this point.)
Now, I gotta find a teevee…
No, you have got that all about right. Lewis Hamilton has a rare balance of smooth and fast; a rare and winning combination. He despite being returning World Champ is still awfully young though and does still make mental mistakes here and there, which he will start to eliminate over time I think. The other youngster that I find possessing special talent is Robert Kubica. Those, along with Sebastian Vettel, are the young guns. You can never count out more experienced drivers like Felipe Massa, Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso, especially becuase they are with top rung teams like Ferrari and Renault.
Your friends have schooled you quite well. The new rules this year look to be transformational in terms of bringing the various teams closer to parity across the field. It has been really limited to Ferrari and McLaren at the top for a while with a battle for the rest behind them. I think this year is going to be different and that would be a great thing.
Like some of the guys have said, F1 has been responsible for many cutting edge technologies, which have trickled down to reg’lar folks.
If you’d ever seen Senna drive, you’d know that it’s more than NASCAR, it’s poetry in motion. (engages shields)
bmaz, I’m with you … this looks to be an exciting season with Brawn starting 1-2 … let’s see if legal wranglings will increase contention to the sport or if the powers in charge will settle this quickly so we can enjoy a great season.
The rule change for awarding the Championship based solely on wins, which was then withdrawn once their drunken stupor cleared up, is not a good sign.
hey Loo Hoo;
only if gator raslin isn’t a sport
I’ll never understand why we would do this to our environment without a good splicky, freep. Guess we’ll just have to trust rOTL that something worthwhile is being accomplished.
RrrrrVVVVVV.
Oh, you male chauvinist pigs! The Ladies Sweet 16 has its big weekend this week. One of the #1 seeds (Duke) has already been upset (by 9th seed Michigan State), but the other three #1 seeds are in good shape. Undefeated Connecticut, coached by the awesome Geno Auriemma, is everyone’s favorite to run the table.
Michigan State, by defeating Duke, is the designated Cinderella team. That game had additional interest because Duke’s coach, Joanne P. McCallie, coached Michigan State to the national finals just a few years ago. So she got spanked by the team she jilted. Michigan State has a skinny 6′9″ center, Allyssa DeHaan, who can hit jumpers from outside, and block shots inside. BTW, for all you male chauvinists, 6′9″ in women’s basketball is REALLY TALL. Most centers are around 6′4″. But MSU’s scoring leaders were Mia Johnson, who scored a season-high 17 points, and Lauren Aitch, who had 15. Duke was doomed because it was outscored 16-2 for the last 7 1/2 minutes, and couldn’t make a shot. But Michigan State, if it is able to get past Iowa State on Saturday, will face either #2 seed Stanford, or #3 seed Ohio State, who battle it out for a spot in the elite 8 this weekend.
The other two high seeds are Maryland, led by seniors Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver, and Oklahoma, led by Senior twin bangers Courtney and Ashley Paris, are easy favorites to make it to the Final Four. Courtney (6′4″) is the Shaquille O’Neill of women’s college basketball– but she is surprisingly nimble for one so big, and has good hands. In their last game, Courtney had 6 blocked shots, and sister Ashley (6′3″) got 16 rebounds. But they were led in scoring, steals, and assists by sophomore guard Danielle Robinson.
There will be some great games in this mix, and I’m planning on watching at least 4 of them (on ESPNHD).
Bob in HI
Ever hear of Stan’s Sports Bar in NY?
I remember we played the Red Sox in ’91,” Mr. Mondi said, “and right in that corner, some guy came in wearing a Red Sox jersey, and they ripped it off his body, they lit it on fire, and they urinated on it. Right here in the bar.”
Can we, at some time, have a baseball opening trash day?
Yankees suck.
Agreed, all due respect to the F1 and basketball afficianados, but for me, late March is the sweetest time of year because Opening Day is soon at hand. I suggest that following topic for debate – the Boston Red Sox, great team, or GREATEST TEAM?
PS Yuck the Fankees.
well then, lets just check the “Great Teams” locker, an see what we find:
nope
no boston redsox in there
the footnotes say the redsox almost made it, but they traded some guy named “Ruth” to the yankees, and the yankees subsequently could have had the spot, if the yankees were eligible to be called a great team …
hey
I found this in the Great Teams locker too
it’s a hockey team, from something called the CCCP
says they dominated something called “Olympic Hockey” for twenty years or something, so I figure they gotta be Canadian, or European …
it’s like the ultimate “defunct Franchise, no ???
Jeebus Freep, how can you insult EW like that? If there is a great Red hockey team, it is the Detroit Red Wings
Don’t the 2004 Sox, down three games to none with the Yankees,
deserve a peekie boo?
Reggie Jackson hit three dingers in one world series game, and he has to buy a ticket
you know why ???
it has to with the uni he was wearin at the time
beat the yankees when you were down 3 to 1, good job, but there is still that problem of the unis on the opposition
do it for or against the yankees, and ya buy a ticket
I might be a bit prejudiced …
Commies are Okay, but the yankees can kiss my shiny metal ass
and yo, bmaz, I’m only half convinced that hockey even exists, an Detriot can take it, they’re tough …
(wink)
RIP my bracket. Three of my final four, including my champion (I also had Memphis) are dead. My twelve year old is way ahead of me in my pool and I have the distinction of now having the lowest “best” possible final score out of a pool that includes a number of folks who grew up in other countries.
freep: Since my Jayhawks went down last night, I’m throwing my loyalties over to Mizzou for the rest of the tournament. I just can’t get there on the Sooners (even though I was born there). I realize it’s not nice to judge from appearances, but I just can’t get over the feeling that Blake Griffin looks like he has an IQ in the George W. Bush range.
Kid can play though. The only thing I have left is that I am seriously wailing on the Chief Executive’s brackets. His Elite Eight and Final four still look in better shape, so he may be able to come back though..
bmaz:
PTS PCT(%) RNK PPR
780 97.13% 133093 400
Obama:
PTS PCT(%) RNK PPR
670 53.91% 2134404 880
Can’t hear you, bmaz. The NCAA D-1 men’s hockey tournament just started yesterday, and it’s already been wild.
Half my bracket is toast, with Duke and Syracuse heading home earlier than I had thought. On the other half, however, I’m still looking good with Louisville, UConn, and Michigan State. (Mrs Dr. Peter is ticked that I went against Kansas and Missouri — two of her alma maters).
I’ve got Michigan State to take the whole thing, so I’ve still got that to hope for. Just three more games, fellas.
But I’m also down with Bob in HI. Women’s hoops is great — I just wish it would get more visibility. Bob, I trust by calling UConn “everyone’s favorite” you meant that in terms of “the one everyone expects to win” as opposed to “the one everyone wants to win.” I, for one, have had enough of Geno. My old boss in Berkeley (a former Notre Dame hooper herself) is a huge Cal booster, and I’d love nothing better than to see Cal take down UConn.
Peter, I just cannot support that as that would mean Cal would have to beat Charli Turner Thorne and the Lady Sun Devils. They would meet if each wins their next game; let’s hope they at least get that far…..
No, Cal plays UConn tomorrow at noon, while ASU plays Texas A&M at 2:30. If both win, THEN they would play each other. Cal doesn’t have to beat ASU to take down Geno.
Yeah, you got that right. I got a number of ponies in this race, and ain’t none of them UConn. Right now, Vanderbilt is dismantling Maryland with speed, quickness, and desire.
Bob in HI
My picks for the Elegant Eight(who thought of this title ?!!) are:
Nova over Pitt
Mizzou over UConn
Cards over Spartans
Tar Heels over everyone else !
Two little tidbits for bmaz’ Trashing fun.
First, I gotta say I’m seeing a WHOLE lotta green and white flags out these days, in ANN ARBOR. Lots of people jumping on the Spartan bandwagon in Wolvietown, I guess.
Second. Guess what the first NCAA hoops prediction I ever made was? In 1985, when I was watching hoops with a guy who had played with Pat Ewing in high school, I predicted ‘Nova would win. (My Dad was an alum, but I also followed college hoops enough to believe they might pull the upset.) When all was said and done, I was just grateful that Ewing’s old buddy put his first through the wall, and not my head.
Since then, there has seemed no point to picking winners. It’d all be downhill from there.
Show off.
To be fair, I didn’t pick them in a formal bracket. I just showed up at my bro’s dorm that weekend, started trash talking hoops, and quietly said (repeatedly) that I thought ‘Nova would pull it off.
Most there dismissed me as a teenaged crank. After all, girls don’t know hoops (though that is when I knew hoops the best, which was pretty damn good).
Without pictures, I don’t believe that Ann Arbor is breaking out the green and white flags. Indeed, isn’t there a city zoning ordinance forbidding those colors?
A while back, I almost decided to spend four years in East Lansing, where one of the teams is doing well in ncaA now, though football was my interest at the time, that and physics. In fact, the physics at MSU was foremost in my regard. Instead I spent an isolated year in grad school studying writeups in Car and Driver, between reading medieval history logs in one of the Castillas. At one time I would guess the best place to find me would be to look at Latitude38, but something seems to be saying the mooring is changed and the Ranger is not there anymore. You gotta like Ferrari, but Honda always was so much more balanced. Must be the spring energy. Time to do stuff today.
I’ll start carrying a camera.
see
she’s just startin to figure out how this whole “journalism” thingy works
I toll ya she was an actor
(ducking and running)
The diffuser used by Brawn, Toyota and Williams have been deemed legal by the FIA stewards. It’s obvious that their “higher” venturi has a tremendous effect on the aerodynamics. Next race, everyone will have equivalent parts. At that point, one engineer will interpret the rules, and give his team a somewhat illegal advantage.
The cars look extremely weird with their wider front wings, and high and narrow back wing.
I think Barichello had a very spirited drive this morning, kudos to him.
And to conclude this, the folks at Honda have to be wondering which executive decided to scrap Formula One. A few Harakiri’s will be performed…
Heh heh, yeah all Honda had to do was starting running Mercedes engines. Go figure.
Granted.
I think that Brawn devised and built a great chassis.
The fact that they’re not bothering with The KERS system, and adding weight to their car was very intelligent, for the moment. Later on, in the season, they’ll sorely miss those six seconds use of an 80 horsepower boost.
At last a trash talk I can join in!
What’s with you Bmaz? The team’s called McLaren Mercedes, not the other way round! However Mercedes do seem to make a pretty good engine. Which is more than can be said for the guys from Woking, who seem to have created a really poor car this season, even taking account of the diffuser row. I suspect Hamilton will struggle.
The really great thing about Brawn is the saving of the skills of the Honda team. We do little enough in the UK since our successive Governments thought all we should be doing was banking (!!!!). Motor racing chassis design and development is one of the things we can do.
The other good thing about Brawn GP is it gives another chance to my hero, Rubens Barrichello, who deserves real success if only for putting up with Schumi at Ferrari over all these years.
bmaz great video, and looking foward to a good race.I must say I like the changes made to the cars
Dangit! I left the Gator baseball game this afternoon after the eighth inning, with the Gators down 7-2 to Alabama. The inning ended with a line drive into a double play, and I decided that probably finished them off. Driving home, we heard Alabama score yet another run in the top of the ninth. We made it inside to catch the end on TV. Thanks to three errors (and the 30 mph wind, which played a factor in deciding to go home, and with very threatening clouds) the Gators scored 7 runs in the bottom of the ninth to win it. Alabama has to be totally demoralized. Yesterday’s game started with the Gators spotting them a 4-0 lead, only for the Gators to come back for an 11-4 win. Adding today’s total collapse should make them a pretty shell-shocked opponent for tomorrow’s series finale. I won’t leave that one early, no matter what the score is.
‘NOVA!
Great game. Incredibly good.
Bmaz, thanks for the F1 preview! I followed the sport for years (in the days of wire wheels, when McLaren was a driver, not a car) and between the video walkthru of this years cars and the vid of Mosley getting caned by a…what would you call her, a fille de whoppe?, I feel like I’m Rip Van Winkel caught in an Onion featurette. 18,000 rpm!!? Regenerative braking? Now you’ve got me curious–are these things cars or Transformers??
It was either Graham Hill or Stirling Moss who had an offhand, dismissive characterization of the guys who played the lesser sports–”stick-and-ball boys,” as I remember. Thanks for getting me curious about F1 again!
did everyone see today’s race from Melbourne and who won ? wow.
p.s. gearhead spouse points out the winning team is using a technology ‘recycling’ energy under braking – giving engines another 80hp. reminds me of Phoenix Woman post a few weeks back re: MIT kidz using ‘energy’ from shocks to increase fuel effic. and hp. wonder if they’re related technologies (am so over my head here)
Brawn is not using KERS. They’re taking a weight penalty. If they develop the Kers system for that car, they’ll kill the balance this car has already achieved.
The Brawn is a stable platform, with better aerodynamics and a great chassis that gets the power down on the asphalt. Barichello banged into a few cars, and he still managed to get back in second. Hamilton in third is quite amazing, last year’s championship, being decided in the last race, means that Mercedes could not develop this year’s car to their liking. Contrary to Brawn who scrapped last season to concentrate on building this year’s car.
Their new aerodynamics package has definitely given some much nicer racing. The fast circuits will be fun, the guys will draft and slingshot…
Looking forward to this years championship, I’m only sad that Montreal was scrapped by bernie, the guy acts like a neo-conservative. Screw him and his platform shoes.
thank you very much for the response and the 411 on KERS – got the news 2nd hand from the resident gearhead. I was just wondering aloud if the two technologies (MIT and KERS)were related
will try and remember the F1 fans are here in the future
The FIA officials specifically set the horsepower gain available through the KERS exactly in an amount to offset the weight gain added by the equipment necessary to use the system. They wanted to encourage different tactical decisions by different teams and cars. So far, it looks like they set it about right.
for the record, driving 500 miles BY YOURSELF isn’t an amazing or unbelievable concept
when F1 starts packing 14 suitcases, 2 dogs, a goldfish, 4 kids, Grandma, and the wife, in the car
then you got a sport I could watch
can’t ya just see the pit crew pulling little jimmy thru the window and taking him to the bathroom
and my own personal favorite”
I might even PAY to watch that
In other world sports news, Israel ties Greece at home and continues to be competitive for the World Cup slot.
Benayoun(ISR): We should qualify
Looks as if Cal made a game of it for 25 minutes, but it is all UConn now.
Looks like the final GP of the year might be having problems getting ready for it’s november date. It’s been said for a few weeks that the construction of the track and facilities are at a standstill, due to the economic situation.
Rumors in the paddocks was that Bernie would ask Montréal to save his ass. Montréal is already in talks with him to reinstate one of the most eventful race of the calendar. They are not interested in a one shot deal.
Six months is very little time to get this to work, But Legault’s organisation could do it, in accord with the new team responsible for Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, who are also organising a Nationwide Nascar race in august.
If this happens, the biggest problem will be tires. Late october, early november means temperature that are close to freezing at night, and in the forties during the day. So, that means huge problems getting any power to the track. I could very well see an inch of snow on the ground on sunday morning…
Sacre Bleu … an F1 race with Snow Tires !