Comments on: Minardi in Champ Cars http://www.formula1latest.com/2006/12/20/minardi-in-champ-cars/ Formula 1 Motor Racing News and Views Sat, 08 Dec 2007 16:50:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Clive http://www.formula1latest.com/2006/12/20/minardi-in-champ-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-835 Clive Sat, 30 Dec 2006 00:27:57 +0000 http://www.formula1latest.com/2006/12/20/minardi-in-champ-cars/#comment-835 Convinced? No, the memory of Michael Andretti's failure in F1 is still too recent for me to be convinced by one test. Bourdais has won consistently in the States, however, and this sometimes indicates talent - witness Montoya at least. I think perhaps it is harder to move from Champ Cars to F1 than the other way around - it may even be easier to go from GP2 to F1 since the tracks are the same. So we are being a bit optimistic to expect anyone fresh from CC to shine immediately. I have no doubt that Bourdais will get another chance and probably a drive in 2008 - we will see how good he is then. Convinced? No, the memory of Michael Andretti’s failure in F1 is still too recent for me to be convinced by one test. Bourdais has won consistently in the States, however, and this sometimes indicates talent – witness Montoya at least. I think perhaps it is harder to move from Champ Cars to F1 than the other way around – it may even be easier to go from GP2 to F1 since the tracks are the same. So we are being a bit optimistic to expect anyone fresh from CC to shine immediately. I have no doubt that Bourdais will get another chance and probably a drive in 2008 – we will see how good he is then.

]]> By: Rob Jones http://www.formula1latest.com/2006/12/20/minardi-in-champ-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-827 Rob Jones Fri, 29 Dec 2006 23:11:06 +0000 http://www.formula1latest.com/2006/12/20/minardi-in-champ-cars/#comment-827 Too true, politics and money men rule F1 and the future rule changes towards more commoditised and sponsored components, like the Microsoft badged McLaren ECUs, and away from bespoke parts will further reduce the 'purity' of F1. We are losing something here - gone are the days of daring rule-bending like ground-force fans (Bernie himself was behind this I believe) and six-wheeled cars. These days we're reduced to daft upright wings as 'innovation'. Re: Bourdais. I'm not convinced he is that good. Is anyone on the inside of F1? His F3000 title was won by default, and for all the noise in the press about his Torro Rosso drive chances, he hardly set the world on fire. Too true, politics and money men rule F1 and the future rule changes towards more commoditised and sponsored components, like the Microsoft badged McLaren ECUs, and away from bespoke parts will further reduce the ‘purity’ of F1. We are losing something here – gone are the days of daring rule-bending like ground-force fans (Bernie himself was behind this I believe) and six-wheeled cars. These days we’re reduced to daft upright wings as ‘innovation’.

Re: Bourdais. I’m not convinced he is that good. Is anyone on the inside of F1? His F3000 title was won by default, and for all the noise in the press about his Torro Rosso drive chances, he hardly set the world on fire.

]]> By: Clive http://www.formula1latest.com/2006/12/20/minardi-in-champ-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-744 Clive Fri, 22 Dec 2006 17:52:20 +0000 http://www.formula1latest.com/2006/12/20/minardi-in-champ-cars/#comment-744 Commercialism, yes, but this is America after all. ;) It's the endless politicking of F1 that gets me down, especially the fact that everyone <em>says</em> they're going to help the small teams but then regulates them out of the game. I share your dislike of the red tire walls, the push-to-pass button (and that's on the cards for F1 according to Magnificent Max) and the no blocking rule. But, let's face it, the rules governing Champ Cars are much simpler than F1's. It's not that I'm seriously advocating that we all watch CC instead of F1 - more that I fear that the pinnacle of motor sport is being reduced by the money men to something that is less than CC. Bourdais has won so often in the States that he must be pretty good. As you say, Rob, it will be interesting to watch his progress. As for passion, have we all forgotten Eddie Irvine? Heck, even Senna took a swing at him... :D Commercialism, yes, but this is America after all. ;) It’s the endless politicking of F1 that gets me down, especially the fact that everyone says they’re going to help the small teams but then regulates them out of the game. I share your dislike of the red tire walls, the push-to-pass button (and that’s on the cards for F1 according to Magnificent Max) and the no blocking rule. But, let’s face it, the rules governing Champ Cars are much simpler than F1′s. It’s not that I’m seriously advocating that we all watch CC instead of F1 – more that I fear that the pinnacle of motor sport is being reduced by the money men to something that is less than CC.

Bourdais has won so often in the States that he must be pretty good. As you say, Rob, it will be interesting to watch his progress.

As for passion, have we all forgotten Eddie Irvine? Heck, even Senna took a swing at him… :D

]]> By: Rob Jones http://www.formula1latest.com/2006/12/20/minardi-in-champ-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-743 Rob Jones Fri, 22 Dec 2006 17:35:09 +0000 http://www.formula1latest.com/2006/12/20/minardi-in-champ-cars/#comment-743 Whao there Clive! I think Champ is *much* more commercialised than F1, especially in terms of it's coverage. I refer you to the red tyre wall rule (an excuse for commentators to mention the tyre manufacturer), the horrible push-to-pass button (a contrivance to mention the engine manufacturer) and to an extent the "no blocking" rule (which I can just about accept given the narrow street circuits Champ races are held on) to promote "excitement". These rules make the battles a little less enthralling for me. It will be interesting to see if Bourdais takes an F1 drive (Torro Rosso?) in 2008, to see how he measures up against the standards in F1. Having said all that, there was at least one really good punch-up in Champ last year - how long since we saw passion like that in F1? Whao there Clive! I think Champ is *much* more commercialised than F1, especially in terms of it’s coverage. I refer you to the red tyre wall rule (an excuse for commentators to mention the tyre manufacturer), the horrible push-to-pass button (a contrivance to mention the engine manufacturer) and to an extent the “no blocking” rule (which I can just about accept given the narrow street circuits Champ races are held on) to promote “excitement”.

These rules make the battles a little less enthralling for me. It will be interesting to see if Bourdais takes an F1 drive (Torro Rosso?) in 2008, to see how he measures up against the standards in F1.

Having said all that, there was at least one really good punch-up in Champ last year – how long since we saw passion like that in F1?

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