USF1 Type 1 Rendered, more hype, no racing

[TheCracker]

Fair enough then.

 

[Roo]

Well, at least he's honest, if clearly not at home with the whole 'forum' thing.

Scott Speed has already said he isn't the least bit interested and no other US driver has a "Super License" so I doubt very much that Lopez's team mate will be from the US

Speed's will have expired by now (all Super Licenses expire at the end of the year). The only US driver who currently qualifies for a Super License is Danica Patrick.

 

[Ardius]

Rumours are that Windsor & Co were attending the 24 hours of Daytona...possibly to speak to someone? Perhaps Bourdais?

It makes sense, he has a super license (so no need for more "special dispension") and he's vastly experienced. Plus Americans should recognise him, even though he's not an American, it certainly would help promote the team a bit as something credible in America.

 

[The Outlaw]

Rumours are that Windsor & Co were attending the 24 hours of Daytona...possibly to speak to someone? Perhaps Bourdais?

It makes sense, he has a super license (so no need for more "special dispension") and he's vastly experienced. Plus Americans should recognise him, even though he's not an American, it certainly would help promote the team a bit as something credible in America.

I think Bourdais would be an especially good choice for the team at this point...or possibly Villeneuve as well. But either way, I won't be let down or disappointment regardless of who they go with in the end, as I don't have any hopes for them anyway

 

[Ardius]

Indeed, they already appear to have hit rock-bottom with drivers, Lopez doesn't look like a shining star.

 

[F1 fan]

I am ignoring you

Suit yourself.

Why, because he speaks the truth and you have no answer for him?

👍

Well, at least he's honest, if clearly not at home with the whole 'forum' thing.

Moi? I might be new to this forum, but I racked up over 5000 posts (and no spam) at IGN when I was in my teens... Not exactly time well spent, but what the hell...

As for Bourdais... I've said before, he would be a very good choice. He has a lot of experience, winning 4 straight championships at the highest level of American single seaters (although they'd seen better days). He's not an American, but he's probably the best option. Either that or someone like Dario.

 

[yeti]

No - he meant "race'emhard".

C.

 

[F1 fan]

No - he meant "race'emhard".

C.

Aha... thanks for clearing that up for me.

 

[orimarc]

So, according to TheF1.com and Marca (spanish newspaper), Adrián Vallés is very close to being USF1's second driver:

http://www.thef1.com/noticias/noticias-2010/febrero-2010/adrian-valles-ultimo-espanol-con-opciones-en-la-f1

http://www.marca.com/2010/02/03/motor/formula1/1265186365.html

I know this goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway:
Take it with a pinch of salt.

Still, if this is true and if Andy Soucek (F2 champion) can get a seat on Campos Meta, that would make...five, count'em, FIVE spaniards on the grid. Now I know what pride feels like.

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[Ardius]

Just as long as it isn't Natacha Gachnang or Maria de Villota. I'd rather see Bourdais at USF1 though, and Valles doesn't qualify for a super license (as opposed to Bourdais).

Oh and get someone to design a decent car racing track in that country! Catalunya, Jerez and Valencia Street have all been horrible for racing action as they are all suited for motorbikes. (well, I don't know about Valencia Street in that respect, but its not great either way).

 

[Rennsport]

I'd be ecstatic with Bourdais...met him a couple of times when he was still driving for Newman. He's a really cool dude.

Also, i'm wondering why USF1 would launch their car late this month as opposed to an earlier date? With the first F1 practice on March 12th, how much time could they be expected to spend testing the new car? I'd think the more miles they put on it the better, considering that it's a clean slate design.

 

[Ardius]

Indeed, for a team who have been planning this for ages, far ahead of the other new teams (except maybe the mysterious Stefan) it is quite odd they can't manage to put the car together in time for some decent testing.
I think one of the problems is that they have had to outsource too much, as we have seen they did crash-testing in the UK and they have to wait each time Cosworth finish the engines while they are shipped. I think also some of the infastructure that Windsor has claimed is in the US has not actually been there. How much of the NASCAR country supply chain actually supply usable F1 parts?

For the NASCAR fans: What materials do they use in NASCAR? Are the shells made from carbon fibre or what? Is anything in NASCAR outsourced?

My other thought is that the money isn't there or they have badly managed their budget and time. Somewhere along the line they have been delayed, because it can't have been in the plan to be this late.

 

[orimarc]

Oh and get someone to design a decent car racing track in that country!

Let's see...there's Jarama (used in F1 from 1968 to 1981 alternating with Montjuïc, the street circuit)

Motorland Aragón (new track, made by Herman Tilke, this is the FIA layout)

And more, but they are all suited best to bike racing rather than car racing.

I think Motorland Aragon has the best chances of becoming the next Spanish F1 track.

 

[Ardius]

Yeah, Montjuïc was awesome, but it would be unsafe nowadays, well..it was unsafe back then!
Jarama I seem to remember being a bit too narrow, wasn't that where Gilles Villenueve had that legendary race holding up 5 faster cars and they finished very close together?

The thing is, the layouts of the Spanish circuits are quite good, and they do provide good racing in other categories. But they just don't do the job for F1, and this isn't a problem with current cars, as back in the 90s it was an issue too.
I would be a bit happier with Catalunya if they got rid of the stupid chicane they added at the end. Maybe attempt to alter some of the corners and make them wider and slightly easier lines. Too much follow the leader.

 

[Earth]

I think also some of the infastructure that Windsor has claimed is in the US has not actually been there. How much of the NASCAR country supply chain actually supply usable F1 parts?

For the NASCAR fans: What materials do they use in NASCAR? Are the shells made from carbon fibre or what? Is anything in NASCAR outsourced?

Stock cars are just steel roll cages wrapped in sheet metal. That's where they get their weight from. There may be some kevlar in the nose to give it rigidity at high speeds but thats it. The teams build their own cars and engines, though smaller teams may buy cars and engines from the bigger teams.

I think Windsor will have a hard time finding the parts he needs in America. Even the Indycars get most if not all of their parts from European chassis manufacturers like Dallara

 

[Ardius]

I thought so, he was bragging about many F1 parts being produced in America, and I imagine there are parts which are. But I think there are far more in Motorsports Valley and in Italy, as it makes sense for the infastructure for supplies to build up around the team bases.
Windsor appeared to be arguing that he wouldn't need to build much infastructure up, but I think he might have under-estimated that. Its one thing for Sauber to start up in Switzerland having to order supplies from Italy or the UK, its quite another in the US.

Just imagine all the waiting for parts as they travel across the Atlantic, especially the chain from supply, to construction, to the races.

With their apparent ideal of running for cheap, I can see it building up and delaying them, and it might explain why they are testing so late.

 

[Hun200kmh]

Let's see...there's Jarama (used in F1 from 1968 to 1981 alternating with Montjuïc, the street circuit)

You just know that a track belongs to the history of motorsports when the corner names are Nuvolari, Fangio, Farina, Varzi, etc ... and you know it is a spanish one when one of those corners has the name of de Portago

And yes Ardius, Jarama 1981 was the stage for one of the most memorable victories in F1 ... first 5 separated by 1.24 seconds ... courtesy (and last victory) of Gilles Villeneuve!

Top 10 finishing times:

1 - Gilles Villeneuve - Ferrari - 1:46:35.01
2 - Jacques Laffite -Ligier-Matra - + 0.22
3 - John Watson -McLaren-Ford - + 0.58
4 - Carlos Reutemann - Williams-Ford - + 1.01
5 - Elio de Angelis - Lotus-Ford - + 1.24

6 - Nigel Mansell - Lotus-Ford - + 28.58
7 - Alan Jones - Williams-Ford - + 56.58
8 - Mario Andretti - Alfa Romeo - + 1:00.80
9 - René Arnoux - Renault - + 1:07.08
10 - Bruno Giacomelli - Alfa Romeo - + 1:13.65

 

[Watchman]

Thanks for the great video, Hun200kmh. 👍

 

[The Outlaw]

Nice video and all...but why is this being brought up in the USF1 thread?

 

[Ardius]

Nice video and all...but why is this being brought up in the USF1 thread?

Valles & Soucek rumoured for seats -> Spanish pride -> Why there aren't better Spanish tracks -> memories of Jarama and Montjuic.

 

[The Outlaw]

Ok, so I guess the rules don't apply to you guys...well not you guys, but particularly Hun200kmh.

TBH, I couldn't care less what you guys discuss in this thread or any other thread 👍 ...I just thought it was funny that Hun said this:

Why are we discussing F1 test day in the F10 launch thread?

...after I posted F10 lap times (comparative to its competitors) in the "F10 launch thread", for its on track debut on the first day of testing at Jerez.

I'm just pointing out the hypocrisy, as his post is more irrelevant to the respective thread topic than mine

 

[Hun200kmh]

Now I am going to guess that "hipocrisy" in English is not a strong word to use and will leave it at that.

I say this because in Portuguese that is one very strong word to use, a very insulting word really. In my language one can be called to reason and even mocked at because of contradictory actions, but to go from there to calling someone "hipocrit" or to qualify his contradictory actions as the result of "hipocrisy" is - I repeat, in my own language - making it all a lot more serious.

But ok, I will admit, Ardius mentioned the magic word - and, no offense to spaniards, it had nothing to do with Spain - meaning, he mentioned "Villeneuve" and I couldn't help myself from reminding and sharing that particular moment in F1.

So, I am sorry to have dragged this thread to a totally off-topic subject. But I want t explain something. What I wanted to share didn't deserve a thread. And the Valencia tests did. So, my question in the F10 thread wasn' meant as an attack to anyone, it was just "hey, this deserves a thread" . Later I opened it just to see it being merged with the old -already existing one.

So, I'm clumsy. But I'm no hipocrit, whatever strengh that word might have in English.

 

[orimarc]

Back to topic, sorry for derailing, but this kind of thing only happens once-in-a-lifetime. About the Adrián Vallés rumour:

Heart says HELL YES!, but head and common sense says don't even think of it, because the last thing that USF1 needs is another rookie driver. They need a driver with lots of experience to help them build a proper, competitive car. Bourdais, Sato, Marc Gené, Alex Wurz, Christian Klien, or even...Badoer (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, nah, just kidding)

 

[Stevisiov]

As much as I think he is miserable, boring and generally dislike him, I think Bourdais is the right choice for USF1, he has recent experience, he can at least drive, and he is fairly well known in the US, its about as close as they're going to get to a US driver.

 

[Ardius]

Side-shot of the car:
http://wheelnutsjournal.typepad.com/.a/6a0120a5145462970b01287769c2f5970c-pi

 

[Famine]

Well, whomever drives for them, they'll be required to have quite a nasty, high-level tib/fib fracture...

 

[PeterJB]

Do the drivers normally sit at such a slouched angle? And with their asses about an inch from the ground?

 

[Stevisiov]

Do the drivers normally sit at such a slouched angle? And with their asses about an inch from the ground?

Yes.

Should I be worried that we have only seen CAD drawings of the design, and a cast shell? With little over a month to go, with many teams testing already, I thought USF1 were the most prepared for joining F1.

 

[niky]

Given the new high-nose standard, they would have to.

Still no prototypes? Yet? Everyone is doing unveilings and testing and USF1 is still a computer rendering?

 

[ANFD]

Although I don't care much for Bourdais personaly, I feel he did as good a job, if not better, in the Torro Rosso as anyone and his dismissal was unjustified. I agree that he would be a good choice for the USF1 Team. His connection & exposure to the US open wheel fan base could only be an asset in all respects.

Boudais is one of those guys who needs the car to be somewhat built around his personal driving style and that's why he struggled with the Torro Rosso. It would be very interesting (and entertaining) to see him drub the Torro Rosso team with a new USF1 car built around him

Heck, I'd bet I'd tune in for that one