Saturday, August 31, 2019

Formula 2 Driver Dies at Spa

I first heard the news while watching IndyCar qualifying from Portland International Raceway, albeit just catching the tail end of Liegh Diffey noting that Sebastian Bourdais was Honouring his Fallen Comrade.

As 22yr old Frenchman Anthoine Hubert perished from injuries incurred during Saturday's FIA Formula 2 Feature Race, following Formula 1 Qualifying when drifting back into the path of an oncoming competitor.

Ironically Hubert's Fatality is the first since former Countryman Jules Bianchi's Death caused by his accident at Suzuka during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix...

Friday, August 30, 2019

Pato O'Ward Spreading his Wings whilst Carlin Aiming to Fly High again



Red Bull's Newest Junior Driver Academy member Patricio "Pato" O'Ward. (Image source: thecheckeredflag.co.uk)
Although O'Ward's currently completely Out of Sight somewheres' in Japan. I for one, truly Hope he gets the call from Arrow McLaren Racing SP to return to Indy Cars from the Wilderness...

So this past Month 'O may and Beyond certainly has been Frenetic for Carlin during its Sophomore IndyCar campaign, who quickly became my new favourite IndyCar team earlier this year.

As the most intriguing, and surprising News for Mwah was the long ago announcement of Red Bull's inking of Rookie IndyCar Phenom Patricio Pato' O'Ward to its Junior Team, with pretenses to a future Formula 1 Drive?

Although if I was the young Mexican, I'd be weary of Der Helmet's promises, since the Austrian Overlord 'O Driver Development Dr. Helmut Marko is quite quick to toss Drivers out a la Luke-warm Bath Water!


As initially when ponderin' recent IndyCar to Formula 1 Graduates, my mind recalled the names of Jacques Villeneuve, Juan Pablo Montoya and Oh Yeah, Sealmeister B', aka Sebastain Bourdais.

Then thinking a Wee Bitamyte Harder, I remembered that Shorty', aka Cristiano da Matta had driven for the Toyota F1 concern Wayback in 2003-04. Whilst Uhm, I'm 86% certain that le Hamburgular', nee SeaBass' is the last IndyCar Driver to go to F1, circa 2008-09.

With Sebastian's Formula 1 career being less than spectacular at the Back-marker Scuderia Toro Rosso outfit, where Bourdais was Thee 'lil Bulls Team Principal Franz Tost's Punching Bag a Decade ago!

As let that sink in a Wee Bitamyte' Patricio! As All I can Arse-sume' is that the lure 'O Thee Energy Drinks Dinero far outweighed the lack of the requisite sponsorship capital needed to continue racing in Indy Cars, Ci?

Obviously, SNAP! For Mwah, the most successful "Yank" to graduate to Formula 1 from Indy Cars is none other than SuperMario', aka Mario Andretti. With Mario having won the most Grands Prix with 12 Wins to his credit, one ahead of some Plain Jane KuhNuck' Crooner known as Jack Vanilla...

As both Mario and Jacques Villeneuve became Formula 1 World Champions following their beginnings in IndyCar, with Andretti having won the 1969 Indianapolis 500 and Villeneuve the 1995 Indy 500 respectively. With Mario being a Four-times IndyCar Champion (1965-66, 1969, 1984 ) vs. Jacques lone title in '95.

Whilst the only other Modern era IndyCar Driver to graduate to Formula 1 and then win Grands Prix is Good 'Ol Monty', aka Juan Pablo Montoya who netted seven F1 victories in his brief F1 career, with the latter Duo of Da Matta and Bourdais both Failing to Break Thar Ducks!


Although Japan's Super Formula Open Wheel Racing series has become a popular Finishing School for aspiring Formula 1 Drivers, especially  for FIA Formula 2 Champions awaiting a Seat at the Big table, nee F1. O'Ward would be wise to check out the careers of Stoffel Vandoorne, Pierre Gasley and Oh Yeah, the former Red Bull Junior Team Driver Daniel Ticktum he's replacing, and Ahem, What's his Name Brendon Hartley...


Meanwhile, we All know that Carlin had nothing less than a Demoralizing Month 'O May, which strangely began with two of its four Indy Cars suffering from niggling E-E-E-lectrics'  - Hmm, N-O Prince 'O Darkness Lucas Electrics Jokes Here; Hya!

Err electrical Gremlins, with both O'Ward and some Smarmy Spaniard known here in Nofendersville as Fredrico Suave both being afflicted. For which I can only guess were somehow related, possibly in their respective chassis builds?


Whilst I won't belabour the Indianapolis 500 Flop McLaren indignantly endured, especially since I'll say it was mostly Self-inflicted! In what appears to be a case of Arrogance! For which Zachery Brown and McLaren have taken the easy way out.

And we All know of the trouble beginning with not having a proper Steering Wheel ready for Fernando during Thar Texas Test. Along with the ridiculousness of Not being able to run Alonso in practice at Mother Speedway since the Back-up chassis was painted the wrong Shade 'O Kiwi Orange, after Alonso had Smacked the Wall in his primary mount; Aye Karumba!

Damn It! I said Kiwi Orange, Not Sunquisst Orange! Like Do I have to Do Everything' my Gory Self?

Although I cannot remember who it was now? But thinking it was Racer's Marshall Pruett who put it most succinctly when noting how Carlin had basically gone from a Two Car effort to Four, doubling its work load for Indianapolis...


And can it really come down to just one component? Having already lamented the various outcomes of another Minnowesqe' IndyCar Team's struggles with top shelve Dampers; err Shocks; Can Y'all say Harding Steinbrenner Racing?

Interestingly, during the Toronto weekend, probably during Qualie' Me Thinks? 'Ol PT', aka Paul Tracy said that Carlin had just switched from Multimatic Dampers after a year and a half to Penske Shocks finally, and Max Chilton said they totally made a difference!

As we know how the Brit's elected to not G-O Oval-track racing any more, which surely puts another Fly in Carlin's Ointment with its revolving Cast of Drivers, which reminds Mwah of Dale Coyne Racing, Righto?

Yet I'm happy that this gives Conor Daly more opportunities to race in Indy Cars, while 'Ol Narly Pinball', nee Charlie Kimball certainly hasn't forgotten how to Drive, El Correctomundo? Whilst I'd like to see RC Enerson get another outing for Carlin at Portland, since I don't think they've announced who'll be driving the #31 yet?

Although suppose those were somewhat prophetic words, upon learning that 'Ol Narly had "Tapped" thou Wall at Gateway during the final Night-time practice, albeit Daly ended the same Bloody Night session P1!

Then the Noblesville native put on a Highlight Reel performance, with Townsend Bell repeatedly y noting how Daly Owned Turn 3, en route to ultimately finishing sixth after flirting with a podium finish...

As the only miss-step besides not being able to find the necessary Pesos to keep Pato onboard, or did Patricio force Carlin's Hands by jumping to Red Bull's Driver Academy? Has been the curious and hopefully Short-lived return of Sage Dangerboy' Karam, who I think is still in need of covering up?


Although it's too Bad that Josef's become All Penske Button-down Corporate Speak since making that Hilarious video! But then again, suppose Newgarden's got other, more important items on his Agenda right now, Eh?

And speakin' of Newgarden. Could we please Drop the Lame Arse Jo New' moniker Mister T-Bell', Puh-puh-please!

AUTOS: Father of Iconic Porsche 917 Dies



Along with bringing us the All conquering Audi Quattro, and the Bugatti Veyron...

Former Head of Porsche Motorsports, Dr. Ferdinand Piëch, then at the youthful age of 32, very Headily brought about the legendous' Porsche 917 to Competition by seizing a loophole in the FIA's 1969 Sports Car regulations, has passed away recently at the age of 82.


And apparently I've Missed another Memo hear upon thoust Isle 'O Nofendersville. Since I had No Clue until reading 'bout Herr Piëch's Death, just how iconic the Porsche 917 has become in our collective Hearts. Especially the iconic Gulf Oil liveried 917K utilized by Steve McQueen in his epic Le Mans movie.


Per Tipicali, how I acquire much of my riveting conjecture here upon No Fenders, by perusing thou NFB's Newsline for The Blind telephone service's access to a multitude 'O worldwide Newspapers...

I'll leave Y'all with the first story I heard via The New York Times Obituary section, which gives a broader description of his ruthlessness as an Automotive Executive...

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

IndyCar's Other Driver's Championship



But does Anybody really Care?

Although I'd be most Happy to be Wrong! I'm fairly certain Alexander Rossi is Toast, or should that be Cactus? Regarding this year's coveted IndyCar Series Drivers Championship...

As Sadly, and totally Annoying for Mwah; Ho -Hum, Another FREAKIN' Penske Driver wins another Gory IndyCar title; Yawn! Although it'll be funny if Pageantry', nee Simon Pagenaud can pull a Wabbit' outta his Firesuit and Upset Josef newgarden, who I'd say has a pretty firm grasp upon collecting his second Astor Cup, Wee-Wee?

"Therefore, I'm now more intrigued over who'll capture the lesser followed Rookie Of the year (ROY) Honours, which appears to be a two man title fight, with two races remaining.

2019 Rookie Of the Year Standings
1. Santino Ferrucci      326 Points (9th Overall)
2. Felix Rosenqvist      324 (10th)
3. Colton Herta              282 (14th)
4. Marcus Ericsson      252 (17th)
(Points as of Gateway, Round 15 of 17)

And whilst certainly the Media's choice would be the young Colton Herta, especially after the season's long Slobberfest over him... Nonetheless, once again he seems destined to have to settle for second best, a la his Indy Lights career.

While No Noise is being made over Marcus Ericsson, the ex-Formula 1 Driver, presumably since he sits last of the Full Season Rookie Contendahs'.

Yet, of the two Drivers  fighting Hammers 'N Tongs over who'll win this contest, on paper you'd naturally give the nod to Felix Rosenqvist, whom after all is chauffeuring one of the Top-3 IndyCar team's Sleds. None other than for Thee Cheepster', alongside the Defending Series Champion Scott Dixon at Chip Ganassi Racing.

But this Yank' Upstart known here in Nofendersville as The Great Santini! Nee Santino Ferrucci  has Wowed his way to the Front of the Queue, ironically largely on his never ending Highlight Reel Oval-track performances! Most notably with a Treble of Fourth place finishes at Texas, Pocono and Gateway, at the ire of Points Leader Newgarden.

Not to mention his excellent finish of seventh at Mother Speedway, where he was named this year's Indianapolis 500 Rookie Of the year, albeit totally Overshadowed by "Symone" and Rossi's epic Scrum over who'd be Drinking Buttermilk in Victory lane.

And I'll admit, Ferrucci wasn't even on my Radar at the beginning of the season, although Rosenqvist was, since I've liked him ever since his very brief outing in Indy Lights, where he Kicked Tail a few times en route to three Lights W's, before being recalled to Europe at Mercedes beheast.

Thus I'm torn between both drivers, but I'm rootin' for Ferrucci on the basis that he's pedalin' for the small knit Dale Coyne Operation, with assistance from Top Jimmy' (Vasser) and James Sully' Sullivan. Not to mention mentoring from his Pops' le Hamburgular', aka Sebastain Bourdais whom Santino enjoys calling Dad!

Whilst it would be nice for Pancho Carter, his Spotter and Michael Cannon, his Engineer, who's worked with multiple Drivers to also bask in the limelight.


But Santino will have his hands full holding off Felix, since I believe that the Swede's scored better on Twisties', i.e.; Road Courses and Street Circuits, with the final two events being held on proper Permanent Road Courses...