All-purpose open-wheel (F1, IRL) racing thread

Why would USF1 want any Sprint Cup drivers?

 

They couldn't sign a Sprint Cup driver if they wanted to. They need a superlicense. It would be virtually impossible for USF1 to have an American driver this season, simply because no one has one and they can't get one yet. Scott Speed is about the only possibility right now, and that's not going to happen.

I still hope they make the leap to pick Jacques Villeneuve, which could have a high entertainment potential. It's more likely to be someone like Alex Wurz teamed with a GP 2 driver, or potentially a current F1 driver who loses their seat.

 

Villeneuve said in a recent interview that he "wasn't American enough for them".

 

According to this there is an exception for IRL drivers.

I'm not sure if they mean a top six in all seasons, or the previous season. But, if it's the later only one American driver would qualify...Danica Patrick.

 

Not what I meant.

Any USF1 news would be buried now.

Wait until Sprint Cup ends and they will have more chance to get press during the downtime of US auto racing.

 

Sayonara, Toyota.

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/toyota-out/

And good riddance. I've said it here before, but F1 was better before the manufacturers took over. I believe it will be better off without Toyota and BMW. I don't think it suffered too badly this year without Honda.

And boy, did Toyota suck. Ugly car, too.

 

No Kobayashi? Boo!

No Trulli? Yay!

Toyota was the ultimate definition of woodwork when it came to their racing team.

 

Renault might be next.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8343221.stm

 

For what it's worth, Joe Saward thinks they're likely to stay.

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/renault-ponders-fia-concerned/

I certainly couldn't blame them if they pulled the plug. Even Alonso thinks they had the worst car by the end of the season, and they figure to be much worse without Alonso's input next year.

 

So just how much did Toyota end up spending in F1? Did it reach a billion?

 

Probably well clear of $2 billion. The low estimates put the annual budget at $300 million.

 

What he said.