That's a joke from Sniff Petrol.

Just out of the oven:
http://www.corsaonline.com.ar/2010/02/09/N...aca-estamos.php

From Argentina, Philip McGough spoke in the long program (radio Belgrano) and confirmed that the Type 1 will be moved to England to perform crash tests required by the FIA. "Tests performed on the car between 15 and 18 this month," said the reporter.

The fact you had to state that is the funniest thing I've read on this forum in ages.

Oddly he found time to play tennis.;) Of course he would not be the one laying the actual fiber. The machines would cut it (tooling), then the fiber guys would lay it up. Mould would need to come first I am sure, and once you have that everything else is cake in comparison. But I thought the clave they are using is too small for a tray, it barley fits the tub.

Got some positive developments on the @USF1 front today. A long way to go but everyone is working hard to make it happen.

I think it was ESPN who reported a while ago that the floors would be made at nearby Crawford Composites, as they have larger autoclaves.

And Eric Warren also had this on his Twitter 20 hours ago:



Wonder what the positive developments are?

http://www.corsaonline.com.ar/2010/02/08/N...a-companero.php

From Corsa:

[...] Finally, in the past few hours threw the Brazilian press that Bruno Senna would also be knocking on the doors of USF1 to the possibility that Adrian Campos, who is under contract not to compete for their economic problems. [...]

Didn't the fact that the poster thought that the late Steve McQueen was the best choice indicate to ANYONE that maybe he knew it was a joke when he posted it here?

Damn it, sorry about that!

There isn't anything like this reported in the Brazilian press.

Wonder what the positive developments are?

I went searching myself with same results ...nothing to this effect in neither the major media or the specialized media.

Just out of the oven:

http://www.corsaonline.com.ar/2010/02/09/N...aca-estamos.php

Here we are
While Bernie Ecclestone doubts about his participation in Bahrain, the flamboyant lead USF1 Type 1 to England to perform crash tests next week.

The alarm signal lights whenever Bernie Ecclestone, FOM CEO makes statements. In his last start the Maximum pope announced that both USF1 and Campos could call "lost the first three races, something recently allowed by the FIA (the teams can give to occur in three competitions during the season).

However, the U.S. team does not give credit to those words. From headquarters in Charlotte confirmed to the four winds that will be in Bahrain next March 14 and, while acknowledging some delay in the construction of Type 1, ensure that they fit.

From Argentina, Philip McGough spoke in the long program (radio Belgrano) and confirmed that the Type 1 will be moved to England to perform crash tests required by the FIA. "Tests performed on the car between 15 and 18 this month," said the reporter.

Meanwhile, Lopez continues working in a fitness center in the high performance of Austria and next week travel to the U.S. to expect that the car is ready and try to track the route of Alabama, a place chosen by the squadron for debut.

Re the comparisons with the Falcon car - am I right in saying that it never ran on any track, even for a shakedown?
http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/11/1...s/#comment-1668

This is my opinion.

If USF1 are doing crash testing as late as the 18th, they likely won't get time to do anything but a shakedown before Bahrain. I don't know how things are run in F1, but I think it would be best for everyone if they skip Bahrain, and instead have another test session the first week of March. This way they should get most of the kinks ironed out, and would arrive (somewhat) credibly at Melbourne at the end of March. Otherwise there's a good chance they'll be a moving chicane come Bahrain.

The reason the Falcon didn't make it was because the engine manufacturers shut them out. A team had to have a chassis to get an engine lease and the manufacturers weren't keen on supporting another chassis so they would not supply engines to Falcon for testing and forbid lease teams from doing the same. No engines, no car. The project died in spite of having support from Tony George.

And Falcon was only chosen as the third chassis supplier because George wanted to screw Lola for supporting CART. It was an asinine decision at the time, as many pointed out, but not surprising given who was making it.

IIRC Lola had a design ready to manufacture and were never seriously considered though they had more Indycar experience than Dallara and Panoz combined. The fact that Carl Haas was the Lola importer didn't help either. Paul Newman was very vocal at the time regarding the split and that chapped TG's ass to no end. It shows at the time that TG had lost control to the engine manufacturers and was one of a myriad of bad decisions. People feel bad that TG was forced out of the family business recently though that should have been done 10 years ago.

The Argentine businessman and one of the managers so that Jose Maria Lopez ensure a place in the F-1 expressed his happiness at having reached the target and found that the national government's contribution was "vital".


With the satisfaction of having achieved the goal, Philip McGough, one of the architects of the arrival of Jose Maria Lopez to Formula 1 -, expressed his feelings in the Champions radio broadcast by Radio Rivadavia AM 630. The businessman said "we knew there would be a long delivery, but we were able to fruition" and considered "national government support was essential" to finish funding the project.

After sealing the agreement with the U.S. team, Mc Gough confirmed that "Pechito" Lopez will travel next week to Europe to complete his fitness ahead of the start of the season to be held in Bahrain. "It will perform a physical training five days, with three high-performance, two off and two of hard work and then fly to Charlotte to begin preparing the chair and do the first tests," he told the employer.

In addition, it also revealed that the owner of Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has called him or herself of how negotiations progressed in the days prior to initial the link with USF1. "He told me a thousand per cent supported the project and expected to come just so good," said Mc Gough, who added that the concern of top honcho lay in the participation in negotiations with entities such as the Automobile Club of Argentina and Government. "If things go wrong, which is wrong is the Formula 1," Ecclestone told him to Argentina.

Despite the concerns of Scottish businessman by the participation of Government of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Mc Gough considered "fundamental" the support from the Pink for the pilot to climb up onto Cordoba F1. "This is a public-private project. The government was enthusiastic about the project because they had items to promote the country abroad and Formula 1 seemed a valid instrument to do so, "he noted.

Last December, the same Ecclestone had suggested that USF1 was not going to live up to the circumstances and would be able to meet deadlines to be present at the first race of the year. Asked about the development of the car where it will stay on track "Pechito" Lopez, Felipe Mc Gough said: "This will come with the fair," but luckily "the FIA gets it and so gave the team the possibility of test in the United States. Moreover, said that ideally that Lopez can do three races in Alabama before heading to Bahrain for the opening of the 2010 season.

"The team is working to the letter to try to end this week Crash Test which requires the FIA's full monocoque and the entire car. The individual pieces have passed their exams. As I talked with them, there will be no problems getting quiet for the first race, "said businessman and highlighted the work of the team in the development of a transverse gearbox allowing better benefit the flow of air from the diffusers. One element that last year allowed Brawn GP championship.

Asked about the expectations that will Jose Maria Lopez and the team for results to be achieved, Mc Gough said "the USF1 aims to be the best of the four new teams," but made clear that in this account are not involved or Sauber "Returning to the rank-and Williams. "The goal will be as close to Williams because they have all the experience of Formula 1 but also use Cosworth engines like the USF1" he said.

"The decision to hire USF1 Bernard Fergusson, a former man of Cosworth to be the interlocutor between the equipment and the engine plant is very important because he (Ferguson) knows the business from within and from outside and can also ensure that the elements will come, "extended the Argentine and declared:" I think the USF1 has very good potential. "

Meanwhile, Mc Gough also disclosed that the contract between Lopez and USF1 is for a term of one year, but said that "both parties have choices and to follow if we have two options to get out of contract at the end of first year. " "I do not rule us to stay but one has to keep the doors open because if you come to seek a team of half the squad to advance the pilot must be able to move because that is the only way to reach," he said.

After a long journey from Argentina, with stops in Atlanta, Jose Maria Lopez came to Charlotte, USA, to visit the home of U.S. F1 team which will compete in the 2010 season of Formula 1.


"Pechito" was received by all members of the U.S. squad, this time as a member of the team, evidence for evolution and progress on assembling the whole structure of competition and construction of Type1.

Team Managers Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor, along with John Anderson, Team Manager of the team, with long experience in European and American motor racing, were with the Cordovan detailing progress.

"I'm very happy with the way I have been on the computer. Since my visit last year to now there have been many changes and is working hard to get to the first time in Bahrain," said Lopez.

"Tonight I will be traveling to Austria and will return back to Charlotte on February 15," the riotercerense.

The Lopez viajde to Austria will be to continue your fitness plan with Erwin Gollner

I agree, it should be so, henceforth. It just suits him to a T.

Via google translate via: http://www.campeonesnet.com.ar/index.php?m...48&id=18988 Which is a bit older but has some information in it.




Then this:


I understand that computer above should probably refer to the car, reading the actual text that is.

that computer its about team.. "he`s is very happy by the way the team received(?) him"

Scott Bennett is one of US F1 Team's senior designers. A graduate of Automotive Engineering from Loughborough University in London, Bennett has worked in auto racing notably with Falcon Cars and G Force, as well as the aviation industry. A native of Denver, Colorado, Bennett also designs a line of furniture which can be seen at housefish.com

I voted early on in this topic that USF1 would make it to the 2010 grid. After digesting the last 10 pages or so of this thread, I wish there were some way I could change my vote. Too many things that just don't seem to make sense. Maybe the biggest of those is that most of the doubts expressed on this forum could easily be put to rest by the team. Just bring in a reputable member of the press, show them the full state of things, a proposed timetable, and let him report. If everything's going along OK, why not do that?

The only possible (and rather unlikely) reason I can think why not is that PW et al may be so pissed at The Maximum Pope's constant harping, not to mention all the comments on this forum, that they've developed a "F*** you all" attitude. Like "Between $$ from Chad Hurley and 2 drivers, we have all the money we need for a while, and we're going to make you all look like fools by keeping our mouths shut and just showing up at Bahrain."

Anyway, this from Joe Saward's blog today:
"It seems that USF1 will be there despite all the negative chat although the real test is not who turns up in Bahrain and in China (if they need to miss races) but rather who is still around when the teams head off to Singapore in the autumn."

If I was not in Texas I would seriously head down to the team and bang on the door

I voted early on in this topic that USF1 would make it to the 2010 grid. After digesting the last 10 pages or so of this thread, I wish there were some way I could change my vote. Too many things that just don't seem to make sense. Maybe the biggest of those is that most of the doubts expressed on this forum could easily be put to rest by the team. Just bring in a reputable member of the press, show them the full state of things, a proposed timetable, and let him report. If everything's going along OK, why not do that?

The only possible (and rather unlikely) reason I can think why not is that PW et al may be so pissed at The Maximum Pope's constant harping, not to mention all the comments on this forum, that they've developed a "F*** you all" attitude. Like "Between $$ from Chad Hurley and 2 drivers, we have all the money we need for a while, and we're going to make you all look like fools by keeping our mouths shut and just showing up at Bahrain."

Anyway, this from Joe Saward's blog today:
"It seems that USF1 will be there despite all the negative chat although the real test is not who turns up in Bahrain and in China (if they need to miss races) but rather who is still around when the teams head off to Singapore in the autumn."

Could it be that the majority of the press is not US based, and in the US we get very little coverage of F1 news anyway. Or sources are always EU based, or Speed.com and now ESPN seems to be getting involved again a bit. Speed could easily walk down the street and take a look, but for the most part they do not care from a US ratings standpoint. They make money of other crap reality shows, and Nascar. I dearly miss SpeedVision when we could watch more of the EU races, now we barely get anything. There is so much motorsport activity in the US and the rest of the world, and even the vast amount that happens here we do not see on TV. Sad in my opinion, I love visiting my family in Holland so I can watch all the different forms of racing.

If I was not in Texas I would seriously head down to the team and bang on the door, from where I sit it would take over 5 hours just to get out of Texas, if traffic was good. Heck in Houston it used to take me 45mins to drive 16km, sometimes in the rain up to 3 hours.

Maybe we can email/call Speed and ask them to get some real information from the team that is supposed to be open and the YouTube of motorsports.

that its a great idea!!!! nobody from charlotte area??

If they don't make it to Bahrain, Bernie has hinted that he might also miss out on some payments from the $10m he promised

It still doesn't explain why Bernie allowed the teams to miss the races though and, as I understand it, he didn't even know that that clause was in the Concorde until long after it had been signed...

Looks like Mosley outplayed everyone with that one... who else would have pushed to have this in the CA? The other side of the table was rubbishing the 'inferior' new teams at the time.

Quite possible. If you combine that with the fact that, despite the FIA's due dilligence, two of the new teams are reportedly on the brink, one wonders what goal the FIA had with the new teams. It certainly achieved one thing which is to get Cosworth more prominence in motorsport. It also kept Alan Donnelly busy. But will F1 get a bigger benefit from the new teams joining than the damage which will be done if they never start/pull out mid-season? And if the potential damage done exceeds the potential benefit then who let this happen and why...? Sooner or later (cue Tom Bower perhaps...?) someone will tell all.

Teams have gone in the past without too many tears. The employees find another team, or another form of motorsport to work in. The fans cry for a few days and then pick another favorite. Unless you talk about Super Aguri and Minardi maybe, well I always loved the old yellow Lotus as a kid, so I was sad to see Lotus leave the sport. I want to see what Lola and Dallara can do as well, and maybe Swift from the US.

Talking of Suzuki, I wonder what he thinks of the permission for any team to miss three races? It could have saved the skin of his team, jobs and all.

The 3 races deadline could simply relate to how late the regulations were finalized... gotta admit it was quite a blow for the new teams (regardless of their individual merits), having solid regulatory ground to start-up their operation litterally months behind schedule.

But it's not the first three races that the new teams can miss but any three races that any team can miss...

Absolutely. No surprise really given that the new teams could take the money and put themselves into voluntary insolvency before even racing. The problem for several of them (Virgin, USF1 and Campos) is that it looks like they need the money to get to the first race. A slight catch 22 which will be why Mr E is insistent on Stefan GP shipping equipment to Bahrain and Malaysia - a nice reserve policy. It still doesn't explain why Bernie allowed the teams to miss the races though and, as I understand it, he didn't even know that that clause was in the Concorde until long after it had been signed...

Erm, Virgin are already sorted.

Err, can you provide a source for that? Or rather a breakdown of where Virgin will get the £40m from bearing in mind that Virgin's loan is believed to be £5m and its other sponsors are reportedly paying £9m. Even including the $10m from Bernie (which the team won't get before Bahrain) there is still a gaping hole.

The Lloyds Capital investment is believed to be £15m Regarding the other investments I dont know, however if you go on their website, it does name the sponsors. If they couldn't afford it they wouldn't have hired a current F1 driver, which they have done. We know they have a car. It will be testing (weather permitting) tomorrow with the rest of the grid (who have cars ready).
I wont go into anymore detail as I have to go to bed (need my beauty sleep). However they are a long term racing team, they've been in the business for over 20 years. They have Richard Branson backing them up. His name is on the line. He is a very proud man nd he does everything he can to advertise the cheapest way possible.

An advert can cost £1m to make. Then you have to pay for the advertising costs. This is a very cheap way of advertising. He wont let it fail in its firat 12 months. After that who knows.

Err, can you provide a source for that? Or rather a breakdown of where Virgin will get the £40m from bearing in mind that Virgin's loan is believed to be £5m and its other sponsors are reportedly paying £9m. Even including the $10m from Bernie (which the team won't get before Bahrain) there is still a gaping hole.

Virgin is sorted. I am not going to give you my sources, but time will prove me right.

ce.

Virgin - No Twitter feed or Facebook feed (from what I've seen). There is a lowdown of the team, drivers and sponsors.

Virgin is sorted. I am not going to give you my sources, but time will prove me right.

Of course it is. Without any sources all we have to trust this is blind faith - which is about all Virgin has when it comes to looking at the figures behind their budget as set out above