Well, second race of the F1 season is coming up, and my favorite team (Renault) is playing catch-up.

For you guys that follow it - how's things in the NASCAR world?

LKS,
The way it looks right now, Renault might as well get ready for next year, the lads are definitely not in sync so far. What is your take on Mr. Hamilton, McLaren's phenom?

Yeah, not the best season for Renault. Oh well (or is that C'est la vie). There's always next year. (Hey, does that make Renault the Bo-Sox of the F1 world?)

Hamilton is pretty damn good. First year in F1 and tied for first in points. Three races and three trips to the podium - damn good showing.

Fisichella (Renault) on the other hand is languishing in 6th overall.

LKS,
Curiousity brings this question to mind. Will you make the USGP at Indy this year? I have been to three so far - the atmosphere and WOMEN are like nothing you have ever taken in, and the banshee scream of a Ferrari or Mercedes V8 at 20,000 rpm is music like none other. Vibrates your eardrums like nothing else - well, almost nothing else.
Growing up and living in Flyover Country may seem like a death sentence to my more sophisticated Brethern, but when 100 octane flows through your veins, this is the only place I need to be.
I like the way Hamilton is keeping Massa, Alonso and Kimi, et al, honest - the young man doesn't lack for cajones! It great when someone new comes along and serves notice that they won't take any BS because they are the new kid on the block.
One last thought - how do I put a signature at the bottom of my posts?

Ok, to add a sig:

From the menu select "GO > Personal Zone > Profile".

Then when your profile page comes up, click on "View/Edit Complete Profile". Scroll down and you'll see the textbox for the sig.

The Old School Internet standard says your sig should be separated from your post by two dashs and a space, all on the first line. It helps others know what's your post and what's your sig.

Indy in June? I'd love to. We'll have to see. My wife wants to visit her folks this summer (they live near Layfayette, IN), so maybe I can work that out.

The weather should be good, June is a relatively dry month and it is usually pretty moderate temperature wise. I usually get my seats from scalpers (it's legal) and the last race I went to was the "Michelin" race in '05. My seats were ten rows up from the wall, front straightaway, directly across from the Ferrari pits. Being a diehard Ferrari "Tofosi", if I had died that day, my life would have been complete. The F1 grid girls look better in person too! Gotta tell you, LKS, there is nothing like the auditory overload one experiences during the start of an F1 race - 15,000 HP at 20,000 RPM + 100,000 screaming fans can only be experienced - there are no defining words.

Sounds like fun. I will sure try to make it out there.

Hey, I used Yahoo Pipes to create an RSS feed for Formula 1 news:

http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.info?_id=8hMIcwj42xGqq5oEdrq02Q

If you decide to use it, let me know what you think (please).

Looks like your Ferrari guys are in for a race. I just read that Felipe only managed a 4th place finish in today's practice, and Kimi a 6th.

Looks like McLaren is the team to beat right now.

Well, a team I have a soft spot for (simply because of the history) - McLaren - is nicely out in front of Ferrari right now.

Although Renault is in 4th, they are really not in contention for the championship. But at least we're ahead of Toyota and Honda.

ITC - You have to be pretty happy with where Ferrari is right now.

LKS,
I'm ALWAYS happy with where Ferrari is, even a few years ago when they were a step above a field filler. Tofosi then, Tofosi for life. It's nice to see McLaren back in the mix. Ron Dennis and Co. have done their homework, and I think young Mr. Hamilton is going to be a positive for the team for many years to come.

On a related note, this year marks the 40th anniversary of Dan Gurney's Belgium Grand Prix victory at Spa. His win is one of the top three American milestones in F1 history, the other two being Phil Hill's title in 1961 and Mario's in 1978. Gurney won in a car designed and built in his AAR shop in Santa Ana, Ca. The anniversary date is June 18th, the day after the USGP. I emailed the PR folks at IMS about this historical fact and thought honoring Gurney during the weekend would be appropo, and received a reply that basically said "So?". No wonder F1 is a hard sell in the Colonies.

Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend, remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for this country and make it a point to thank a vet for serving this country, in peace or wartime.

I miss the days when Ford had a bigger presence in racing - check out the 1977 (for example) F1 Constructors Cup standings.

Pity they couldn't make time for a mention of Gurney. You should check out his entry in Wikipedia when you get a chance.

LKS,
Alas, the Circus is gone and won't return anytime soon. The Poison Dwarf has made off with it and will only return it for a king's ransom and the oft quoted left testicle. Such a pity, the babes were incredibly hot this year with the sweltering weather on race weekend. The hotter it got, the more skin was exposed. The racecars were cool, too! I'll miss the banshee scream of the Ferrari and Mercedes V8's humming along at 20k RPM. I know I can watch the Circus on Speed, but it just won't be the same .

I know. Last I heard there'll be no US stop in '08.

I guess we'll still have the American LeMans Series (and, I suppose, some Indy car road tracks), but it will suck without F1. I was already planning a trip to Indy for next year.

As an aside - I'm still a Renault fan. At least we're not as crappy as Honda.

I may have to go check out the MotoGP guys when they are here next year. 200mph on a bike has to be interesting.

I think you will see either an ALMS or GrandAm race at the Speedway in the future. A three or six hour enduro would work well there, any longer length would require lighting which I don't see T.G. doing - but stranger things have happened.

Via, Ferrari!!!

$100 Million fine for McLaren. Ouch! Guess if you're going to spy, you better have a large cash reserve.

At least Hamilton gets to keep his points.