there's a blast from the past...
Posted on 08/05/2009 7:57:45 PM PDT by Chode
This will be a general purpose thread for F1 news and pings that really don't require a thread of their own.
how ‘bout parnelli jones? oops!......
there's a blast from the past...
Schumacher cans Formula One return
After much media hype Michael Schumacher has announced that he will not be returning to the sport to replace the injured Felipe Massa in Valencia as hoped due to his ongoing neck injury.
“Yesterday evening, I had to inform Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo and Team Principal Stefano Domenicali that unfortunately I’m not able to step in for Felipe,” Schumacher stated on his personal website. “I really tried everything to make that temporary comeback possible, however, much to my regret it didn’t work out.
“Unfortunately we did not manage to get a grip on the pain in the neck which occurred after the private F1-day in Mugello, even if medically or therapeutically we tried everything possible.”
Schumacher had been expected to test the F2007 again this week ahead of making the final decision in conjunction with his doctors regarding his return.
“The consequences of the injuries caused by the bike-accident in February, fractures in the area of head and neck, unfortunately have turned out to be still too severe,” he continued.
“As there were no improvements after the day in Mugello, I decided at short notice on Sunday to do that thorough examination already yesterday.
“I am disappointed to the core. I am awfully sorry for the guys of Ferrari and for all the fans which crossed fingers for me. I can only repeat that I tried everything that was within my power. All I can do now is to keep my fingers crossed for the whole team for the coming races.”
With Schumacher now out of the running, the team will be busy trying to find a suitable replacement and may be forced to field test and reserve driver Marc Gene or Luca Badoer.
Earl ALEXANDER
© CAPSIS International
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090811094948.shtml
major bummer....if the FIA does not rescind the Renault suspension for the Valencia GP there are going to be a LOT of angry people in the stands...
Unless they suit Alonso in Red ... LOL .. but that's not going to happen this time
I was really looking forward to seeing Michael race again
.
Noooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was looking forwarding to seeing him go at it again.
just damn... yup, there'll be a lotta upset folk for sure.
Cry me a River Ferrari. Maybe Ferrari has a test driver? Maybe Alonso will step into the Ferrari for the race?
I am upset I was really looking forward to seeing Schumacher again. F1 seems to have the same doldroms as cycling did when Lance retired.
Chode...please hit the rest of the list as I can’t open my mail from the office....
Renault win Valencia appeal
Monday 17th August 2009
Renault and Fernando Alonso have won an appeal against a one-race ban, clearing them to take part in Sunday’s European Grand Prix.
The French team were punished after allowing Alonso to leave the pit lane with a loose wheel at last month’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
The wheel came off and bounced across the track at the July 26 race, with race stewards subsequently ruling that the team’s pit crew knew the wheel was not properly secured and failed to tell the driver.
Renault were hopeful the team’s suspension would be lifted - and on Monday motorsport’s governing body the FIA overturned the ban and instead decided to fine the team just over £30,000.
A statement on the FIA’s official website read: “Renault admitted to the court that they breached the sporting regulations, in that they failed to ensure that (the) car complied with the conditions for safety throughout practice and the race, and that they released the car after a pit stop when it was unsafe to do so.
“However, it requested the court to reconsider the severity of the sanction imposed by the stewards.
“Having heard the arguments of the parties, the court have decided as follows:
1) To allow the appeal and overturn the sanction imposed by the Stewards in the contested decision.
2) To issue a reprimand and impose a fine of US$50,000 (£30,600) upon Renault.
“The reasons for this decision will be published in a full judgment in the coming days.”
With the ban overturned Alonso will now race at his home grand prix in Valencia, which is likely to prove highly popular with the Spanish crowd.
The incident happened the day after Felipe Massa was involved in an horrific incident which left him with life-threatening injuries.
The Ferrari driver needed surgery on his skull after being struck by an object dislodged from the Brawn GP car of Rubens Barrichello during qualifying at the Hungaroring.
The previous week, 18-year-old Formula Two driver Henry Surtees - the son of 1964 F1 champion John Surtees - died after being struck on the head by a wheel and tyre while travelling at 120mph at Brands Hatch.
http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_5496832,00.html
this is not a surprise....tickets sales were down but I’m sure the Schumacher news propped them up....once Schumi pulled out they had to reverse this...
ping
They don't call it the Silly Season for nothing
.
absolutely right...
F1 and these teams sound like they’re a bunch of lawyers scared of their shadows for cryin’ out loud. May God bless Peter Windsor in trying to sell this sport to Mericans.
i'm sure not holding my breath on that...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8208384.stm
I hope Massa recovers 100% and performs well.
I have enjoyed the sport since seeing the German GP in 1970, at Hockenheimring, Germany. We spent the night before, with campers in the forest next to the track, drinking wine with folks from all over Europe.
Jochen Rindt won the race, and won the title that year, posthumously. A few weeks later Jochen Rindt died at Monza, during practice for the Italian GP.
We were driving from Germany to Italy the day he died.
Since then, I have attended (non F1) races at Long Beach, old Riverside and Laguna Seca. I want F1 back in the states, with one race on the West coast; Long Beach would be great, Laguna Seca equally fine.
Perhaps best would be the Auto Club Speedway (formerly California Speedway) using the Sports Car configuration. Entire race course visible from stands.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Auto_Club_Speedway_(formerly_California_Speedway)_-_Sports_Car.svg
Now I watch F1 and ALMS as much as possible on TV.
Finally I am a longtime German car enthusiast. Would like to see Button win this year, for Brawn.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Formula_One_season
Renault plan to reintroduce Kers Renault are planning to reintroduce the Kers system onto their car for the Italian Grand Prix on 13 September.
Only McLaren and Ferrari are using the Kers energy storage and power-boost system after Renault dropped it following early-season difficulties.
But the French team plan to employ the system again at Monza as part of a raft of new updates planned for their car.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8222660.stm
Fisichella makes Ferrari switchGiancarlo Fisichella will drive for Ferrari for the rest of the 2009 Formula 1 season before taking a new role as their reserve driver in 2010.
The Italian, 36, will replace Luca Badoer as stand-in for the injured Felipe Massa for the final five races.
"It has always been an ambition," said Fisichella, who has been released from his contract with Force India.
Force India are yet to name a replacement for Fisichella with reserve driver Vitantonio Liuzzi the favourite.
Fisichella, who formerly raced for Minardi, Jordan, Benetton, Renault and Sauber, will begin his Ferrari career on home soil at the Italian Grand Prix on 13 September.
from here http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8231165.stm
I’m shocked! *snort* Badoer was woeful, and after the Spa showing, you knew Fisi was going to get the ride. Good for him.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
_-_Sports_Car.svg){kind=link}