Weirdest USGP Ever

[kbreit]

Here are a few of my pictures from today's Formula 1 United States Grand Prix. What a weird race. However, since there wasn't a ton going on, I had a few opportunities for a few good shots.

http://kbreit.dyndns.org:8080/code/photos_board/IMG_2378_cropped_small.jpg
#1 Not completely clear, but I like how it guides my eyes around the track

http://kbreit.dyndns.org:8080/code/photos_board/IMG_2421_cropped_small.jpg
#2 Narain Karthikeyan during the 6 car race.

http://kbreit.dyndns.org:8080/code/photos_board/IMG_2369_cropped_small.jpg
#3 While not a great picture, it's a picture of the scene that will be incredibly infamous in motorsports history. I just figured that Formula 1 fans (or now ex-fans) will find this picture...interesting.

You can check out more photos at http://kbreit.dyndns.org:8080/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core:ShowItem&g2_itemId=33072

[Pyromaniac]

I think that #3 sums things up nicely.

[3oh6]

yup and yup. thanx for that last shot, tells the whole story 100%. watching it live on tv my heart just sank when i saw them all turn right.

[felix21685]

nice shots..im sorry u shelled out all that cash and traveled etc. even if ur close or whatever..

i was looking for u POTN'rs lol :) did you see ralph hit the wall ?

ok just looked at ur gallery
nice shots man ! im jealous even if the race..was lame

thursday u got some nice shots ? what kind of pass did u have to get to where u did ?

[kbreit]

nice shots..im sorry u shelled out all that cash and traveled etc. even if ur close or whatever..

It's cool. I got to see Ferrari "win". I could also say I was there, when everything in F1 in the US fell to ****.

I didn't see this year. Remember last year when Ralf hit the wall? That was right in front of me. Oh trust me, I was there last year.

Yeah, going is fantastic. It's a whole experience and those cars are...wow. Just wow.

If you buy tickets for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, you're going to get tickets for the walk-about on Thursday. That too is a lot of fun. I had a conversation with one of the Williams-BMW pit members about racing and things like that. If you go to a race in the US, I'd say go for the entire weekend. It's more expensive, but it's worth it.

[felix21685]

oh def. the whole weekend or not at all :)

funny thing i was going to go with the national sales director of PREVOST
they sell Bus-shells i guess they are the official bus of IMS.

I would have stayed in a Coach on the infield..
and had high level access passes..

then some moron who bought a bus from them got sued or something and he had to be in court thurs,fri and monday again..

oh well..maybe next year..lol if there is a race next year

[felix21685]

i caught this on the speedtv message boards:

The Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by U.S. Bank to Honor Tickets From the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix

Indianapolis (June 19, 2005) -- The Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford has always been a series about its fans, and in support of the international open-wheel racing community, the organizers of the Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by U.S. Bank and Champ Car officials have announced that tickets for Sunday's Formula 1 United States Grand Prix will be honored on June 26.

Open-wheel racing fans will be able to see the 750-horsepower Champ Car's battle on the temporary circuit constructed in Downtown Cleveland at Burke Lakefront Airport as the headliners of a full day of racing. Joining the Champ Cars will be the Toyota Atlantic Championship Presented by Yokohama, the Speed World Challenge GT cars and the Formula Ford 2000 series.

Details will follow on www.grandprixofcleveland.com and www.champcar.ws explaining how fans can redeem their F1 USGP tickets for race-day seats at the Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by U.S. Bank.

Fans who are unable to benefit from this unique opportunity, the Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by U.S. Bank will be broadcast live on CBS Sports on June 26 at 1:30 pm ET.

[Belmondo]

That's class. Real class.

[kbreit]

That's great. I doubt I'll be able to afford going, but I think it's great that they're honoring the tickets.

I think it's funny that it's a "Bridgestone Presents...". Nice.

[3oh6]

That's class. Real class.well put.

two huge http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthup.gif http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthup.gif for champ car for doing that. how many will actually be able to take advantage?? who knows, but thats not the point. i think its a smart as all heck idea from the marketing department of champ car that is also a very nice gesture for those that bought tickets for todays event in indy.

[Persian-Rice]

Has anyone been to Champ Car or IRL? It's not really F1, F1 is in a class of it's own, two heads and a shoulders above the rest. It's one thing to get the show the fans got, it's a whole other thing to miss out on the Formula 1 race experience. It's an experience I personally consider one of my most memorable and I have been going for the last 5 years and 8 in total.

In terms of being a friendly gesture, I don't really think so, it's just a really really smart business move by a similar series who have found a perfect opportunity to pounce on disgruntled fans.

It's a real shame to see what transpired. Formula 1 is the pinnacle and identity of motorsport, there is no better, and there is no arguing it, period. To see fans lose out on that is really sad. If you want to know the details, go look what I posted in the other F1 thread. It's a detailed overview of what happened.

[Duder]

I've been into F1 since Mansell nearly won the championship in Australia in 1986, and it's a sport I love. not today though.
Champ Car is much closer to F1 than IRL in their racing philosophies. They're more into drivers being able to actually drive, and racing on proper race tracks, rather than going round in circles.
I've been into champ car for the past few years, mainly because of Franchitti, and now Justin Wilson (unlucky today not to win), and I recently went to the classic Long Beach Grand Prix, and I was pretty impressed. I'd definitely rate champ car as the next most important racing formula after F1, and I hope it grows and flourishes into a worldwide success. speaking of Long Beach, I'd love to see F1 move there instead of Indy.

[felix21685]

going round in circles."

thats what i just cant stand...sorry to all nascar fans..but i guess im biased cause i grew up in europe..germany..and its like the thing u do every 2 weeks get together and watch the race..
young people old people its on 6-7 channels..
here i cant even watch it while im at school because we dont get speed..

[Belmondo]

going round in circles."

thats what i just cant stand...sorry to all nascar fans..but i guess im biased cause i grew up in europe..germany..and its like the thing u do every 2 weeks get together and watch the race..
young people old people its on 6-7 channels..
here i cant even watch it while im at school because we dont get speed..

There are people who race Formula 1 cars, and there are people who race lawnmowers. There are people who race diesel trucks, and there are people who drive 300-mph dragsters. There are people that race on ovals, and there are people that race off-road.

It's all motor racing, and each type has its own nuances and sophistication. Each has its own fan base, and none can claim to be the purest form of motor sport.

So you don't like to watch cars going around in circles? I'm sorry about that. To me, it's a lot more exciting to watch 40 or more cars weighing 3500 pounds apiece that are all virtually equal in performance, trading paint at almost 200 mph.

Not your cup of tea? That's okay. You'd rather see a race that's usually won or lost in qualifying, where all the excitement takes place in turn one on the first lap, and then becomes a matter of pit strategies and making the equipment last. That's okay too.

I simply cannot imagine a situation in any other racing venue where 70% of the drivers in a field would park their cars because the track was too dangerous, or as in this case, they were at a disadvantage because of their tires. In any other form of motor racing, they have to adjust for conditions, even if it means going slower. They don't turn tail and run away.

Like many others have already said, I fear this is the end of the road for the Formula 1 in the US, and I don't think too many people feel all that bad about it. The US auto racing fans won't soon forget this snub, and to be sure, the FIA was never really that keen on racing in the US. I'm sure they'll run the race again, but the interest will no longer be there, especially if there's any chance that 14 millionaires can thumb their collective noses at people who paid a lot of money to watch them do whatever it is they're supposed to do.

Let F1 go back to being the series for the rest of the world. I'll take IRL (never thought I'd say that), Champs Cars, and NASCAR. They at least understand the role of the fans in their success or failure.

[felix21685]

you have good points there..it kinda sucks that michelin didnt bring a backup tire which would have been a little slower but would have lasted..they do this at every race except this one for some reason..
thats why its sad that it happend in a country where there are very little f1 fans .it was getting slowly bigger but now michelin messed up and most likely the fan count will decline..it just sucks for F1.