Anyone else pumped for F1?

[Jand3rson]

I don't know why the rednecks wouldn't love rally, these there cars go off the roads for muddin' and what not.

That's easy. A bunch of French and europeans driving French and european cars.

[hamann318is]

That's easy. A bunch of French and europeans driving French and european cars.

You'd think they'd root for the "Built Ford Tough" machine.

[Jand3rson]

You'd think they'd root for the "Built Ford Tough" machine.

The Focus RS? That's as much of an American Ford as a US '84 318i is a Sport Evo M3. :D

It says "Ford" on it. That's about it. Probably the only part on that car that even comes from the US, if that.

[Tvan]

Even M Schumacher has come out and said the Renault has the car to beat this year. Too bad the series is still largely dependant on tire performance, otherwise it would be much more competitve.

I'd like to see McLaren really step up this year, and if Red Bull can't win a race with two teams, then it really will be a sad season. And the Japanese teams will go nowhere, like normal.

[Jon325i]

I'm looking forward to it. As mentioned, a shake up in the rules always makes for an interesting season.....2005 is valid proof of this by finally seeing non-red cars leading the race from start to finish. This years' new engines, aero changes, and re-establishing tire changes during the race will make for plenty of challenges for the team engineers to sort out as the year progresses.

The BMW-Sauber effort will likely struggle since you have two organizations which recently merged.....there will be snags with this. Even the best of plans have wrinkles.

Williams-Cosworth - I really have no idea where this package stands as far as development is concerned. Probably mid-pack for most races.

Ferrari - they've licked their wounds from 2005 and have probably spent considerable time getting their chit re-config'd for '06. I expect them to be contenders.

Toyota - these guys had a their 2006 spec engine/chassis package ready to test before everyone else. This group has made it clear they are out to be front-runners. This will be a team to watch.

Honda - just like Toyota only their engine/chassis wasn't ready as early. With Rubens running with Jenson, they've got experience working for them. Just hope the Honda engines don't grenade like they did with Sato last year.

McLaren - although slightly down on power, they do have good aero work. Last years MP4-20 was the slipperiest car on circuit.....the crown could've gone to Kimi if he didn't change so many engines after qualifying relegating him back 10 spaces on the grid.

Toro Rosso (aka Red Bull II) - I will be rooting these guys on all year. We'll finally have a US driver competing in F1 again....Scott Speed from Northern California.

Renault - defending champs....it will be interesting to see just what happens here. They weren't the fastest last year, just the luckiest. And with Alonso leaving this team to join McLaren in 2007, I wonder just where his heart & mind will be as the season progresses.

The other teams: Red Bull, Midland, and Super Aguri.....don't know much about these efforts just yet. Two of them are brand new so there's no telling what will happen. Minardi rehashes? Perhaps.

Jon

[cgregory]

cgregory.... in your sig, are those the colors mclaren plan to run this year?

No, that's just the test livery. Orange is the traditional color of McLaren from back in the Can-Am days. They used to run it back in the mid-nineties testing and finally brought it back this year.

And for whoever asked, Kimi was out with a cold today:-?

[Tvan]

Old McLaren Can-AM cars for referance. I saw them racing at the BRIC up at Road America this summer. Best vintage racing evar.

[hugh jass]

Joe, you are such a fruit.
You know what I'm looking forward to? World Superbike and MotoGP. F1 is such a freakin nancy boy parade that I'd rather eat broken glass then watch that shit. Motorcycle racing is where the akshun is.

[h0lmes]

Fuck Nascar. They are trying to get a track built here in WA. We don't want any of their redneck, no talent, inbred racing.

[bmwm3n528]

No, that's just the test livery. Orange is the traditional color of McLaren from back in the Can-Am days. They used to run it back in the mid-nineties testing and finally brought it back this year.

And for whoever asked, Kimi was out with a cold today:-?

You going to USGP this year?

Thinking about driving up to Montreal, and then hitting USGP on the way back. Have to see what the schedule allows though.

[Tvan]

I went to Montreal for the '04 Grand Prix, and want to go back like no other.

Here's the view from my spot on the hairpin. :)

[318isbmw]

Fuck Nascar. They are trying to get a track built here in WA. We don't want any of their redneck, no talent, inbred racing.

Go out near Pacific Raceways, all it is is rednecks in that area, my friend and I are the only people w/ BMW's and actually care about them. Everyone else has the old beater trucks and they all think their badass and fast. Around NHRA nationals, that's when the rednecks invade covington and auburn bigtime, it's insane

[Hick]

Damn, i was hoping to see some orange mclarens :[

"Renault - defending champs....it will be interesting to see just what happens here. They weren't the fastest last year, just the luckiest."

I dont agree, Mclaren knew they had a fast car but could only make it the cost of reliability. Renalt made a car that could run two weekends and come home without any issues. Look at Spa, for example, had Giancarlo not spun off at al rouge he would of come from the back [after an engine change] to place very high. italian gp where alanso held off, a for the only time last season, ferrari.

[hamann318is]

You going to USGP this year?

Thinking about driving up to Montreal, and then hitting USGP on the way back. Have to see what the schedule allows though.

Road trip. I'm game. haha.

[cgregory]

You going to USGP this year?

Thinking about driving up to Montreal, and then hitting USGP on the way back. Have to see what the schedule allows though.

I was actually really hoping to take a road trip up the east coast to see Montreal also, then planned on USGP on the way back:) I won't know if I'm going for sure though until I find out if I'm studying abroad next school year. I may be going to Le Mans and the French GP if so:p