Some IndyCar Stocking Stuffer News

As Santa’s brought some early Gifts for a few notable Drivers…

 

Yeah, where does the time go? Especially when Yuhs Haven’t even begun your Christmas shopping Ho Ho Ho! As the following Gifts have already been wrapped up…

 

Topping the list is the welcomed announcement that Bad Arse Femme fatale Jamie Chadwick will drive Mikey A’s No. 28 Andretti Autosport entry in Indy NXT next year. As Y’all may recall, Chadwick’s completely Dominated the Global Women’s W Series. Having won the championship Three times in-a-row, i.e.; 2019, 2021-2022. Since the series didn’t compete in 2020, being Cancelled due to COVID-19.

 

Looking forward to how Jamie fares as the only Female in NXT, and the first Female to compete Full season since Pippa Mann’s 2010 Indy Lights campaign!

 

As Chadwick’s won 11 races, 18 Podiums and 10 Pole positions enroute to Her three W Series titles, but will have Her Hands Full going up against HMD Motorsports nine car Armada…

 

Next, I’m sure Y’all know about former FIA Formula 2 Driver Marcus Armstrong joining Chip Ganassi Racing’s (CGR) No. 11 IndyCar entry for it’s Twisties’ portion, i.e.; Road courses and Street circuits next year. With it’s Ovalmeister’ to be named soon. As this fourth CGR entry was previously Jimmie Johnson’s #48 ride.

 

And listening to Marshall Pruett’s Dec 2nd Week in IndyCar Podcast recently. With the Help of Marshall’s Tease. I immediately blurted out Takuma Sato’s name for who’ll fill the Oval portion of the No. 11 entry’s roster! Since Pruett seems to think that it won’t be Ryan Hunter-Reay…

 

On the Sports Car side of the equation, it’s No surprise that CGR has announced that Scotty “Thee Iceman 2.0” Dixon will Co-Drive the team’s brand new Cadillac GTP entry at the fast approaching Rolex 24, January 28-29, 2023.

 

As Dixon will join regular season Drivers Render Van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais behind the wheel of Arse-sumedly Cheep’s #01 entry. With the Caddy’s being the only naturally aspirated Hybrid IMSA GTP entry. As you’d think they should have the leg up upon reliability?

 

Whilst it’s somewhat surprising reading that Dixon will be going for His fifth Rolex timepiece for Overall victories, which would tie Him with the races two winningest Drivers, i.e.; Hurley Haywood and Scott Pruett.

 

Oh Yeah, suppose I’d be remiss to not mention that Colton Herta will be part of Team BMW RLL’s #24 BMW M Hybrid V-8 GTP entry. And that Meyer Shank Racing’s (MSR) IndyCar Boyz’ Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud will once again Moonlight at the Rolex 24 in the team’s #60 Acura ARX-06 GTP entry.

 

Lastly, as Pruett had “predicted” following a Tweet from ScottyMac’. It’s now official that Team Penske Drivers Josef Newgarden and Scott Mclaughlin will partner CGR Development Driver Kyffin Simpson. Along with Tower Motorsports Owner John Farano in the team’s No. 8 Oreca/Gibson LMP2 entry at the upcoming 24 Hours of Daytona.

 

Since Marshall also mentioned that in order for Newgarden and McLaughlin to most likely drive their Day Job Boss’s Porsche 963 GTP entries in the future, they’ll need to get their collective “Feet Wet” in Sports Car racing. Since both IndyCar Drivers appear to want to race at the Mack Daddy event, Ye 24 Huers du Mans sometime in the future. And it seems only natural that they’d become Porsche Penske Sports Car Endurance Specialist in the future… 

LE MANS: le Femmes, 2021 Encore

Although how many even remember this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans race now?

 

Presumably only Hard Core 24 Heurs du Mans Aficionados will remember that last year's Le Mans event made history with the advent of two 100% Le Femmes Drivers line-ups, one LMP2 Prototypes entry, and one LM GTE Am Tintops' "Saloon."

 

As the Prototypes entry was the No. 50 Richard Mille Racing Team Alpine A470/Gibson V-8 with Columbia's Tatiana Calderon, then contesting Japan's Super Formula series being the only name I recognized of this  trio of drivers. Due to her being a former FIA Formula 2 Driver and a Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Test and Development Driver.

 

Calderon was partnered with Co-Drivers Sophia Florsch, then a German 19yr old  Teenager contesting her Rookie season in the FIA Formula 3 championship where she finished 29^th out of 35 Drivers Overall. Along with Netherlands Beitske Visser who finished runner-up in the 2019 (Women's) W Series at it's controls. With the trio finishing 13th Overall, and 9^th in Class.

 

For 2021, Calderon, who recently tested an A.J. foyt Enterprises IndyCar at Mid Ohio following the series race, and favourably impressed the Foyt team during her 87-laps outing, remains an Alfa Romeo F1 Development and Test Driver. Along with continuing splitting her time between Super formula and Sports Car racing this year.

 

Twenty-year old Florsch has switched this year to Tintops racing by moving to the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) Championship, driving for ABT Sportsline, aboard an Audi R8 LMS Evo in her Rookie campaign alongside team-mate Mike Rocky’ rockenfeller.

 

Following the cancellation of last year’s Women’s W Series, Visser made her LMP2 Prototypes debut at the 2020 Four Hours of Spa as Thy Leggy Juan’, aka Katherine Legge’s replacement at Signature Team after Legge suffered multiple fractures in a testing accident. Beitske remained with the team for the rest of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) Championship.

 

Beitske is once again contesting this year’s W Series and recently made the Headlines at Spa Francorchamps. As perhaps you heard about the Massive six car Pile-up during their Qualifying session, which included two of the drivers being sent to Hospital for further evaluation, with one of them being Visser. As both Drivers were later released,  with the Dutchi’ Visser being sore from Back and leg injuries and Did Not Start (DNS) the season’s fifth of eight races, further denting her Championship standing.

 

Visser sat 12^th with 18 points vs. Series leader Alice Powell’s 109 points, with reigning Champion Jamie Chadwick tied with Powell, albeit Powell held the tie breaker. As they’ll decide the Championship at the just concluded final two rounds at Circuit Of The Americas as part of the Formula 1 race’s Support Series.

 

As it took quite a Bitamyte’ of energy, and time to discern that the Signature Team was renamed as Richard Mille Racing for the 2020 ELMS season…

 

The Femme Fatale trio  is contesting this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) for Richard Mille Racing aboard it’s No. 1 Oreca 07 Gibson V-8 LMP2 entry.

 

As it’s Funny how I didn’t put together who Richard Mille was until learning of McLaren F1 Driver Lando Norris having his timepiece, a limited edition 1 of 33 Me Thinks? Custom Richard Mille $55k wristwatch in McLaren’s Papaya Orange and Blue team colours stolen off his wrist at the Euro 2020 Finals!

 

But as they say, it All went “Pear Shaped” for the No. 1 team in the sixth hour when Florsch crashed in the Dark during one of the multiple Rain Storms that popped up unexpectedly, frequently during the event. As Sophia went Offtrack and I’m not sure if she either tangled with the #26 G Drive LMP2 or was taking Avoiding action? Since they were both involved in the initial incident.

 

But then it got even Stranger when Florsch was trying to reverse out of either the Tyre barrier or “Kitty litter” and the #74 Racing Team India EurAsia LMP2 didn’t see her in the Flashing Yellow lights/Flags and Plowed into her!

 

As I Don’t recall who said it on the Radio Le Mans Broadcast, perhaps John Hindhaugh? But I recall whomever saying that the Track Marshals were knocking on the roof while Sophia was on her Cell phone to tell her to exit the car, since the collision with the #74 had triggered the In-car Medical Safety Alert, meaning Florsch needed to go for a mandated Medical Check-up, with the No. 1 ultimately being retired.

 

Meanwhile last year’s Gran Torismo entry was the #85 Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GTE Evo chariot in the "lower" tier GTE Am (Amateur) category driven by Rahel Frey, Manuela Gostner and Michelle Gatting. They finished 34th Overall, and 55-laps behind the winner.

 

An as I’ve mentioned before, Frey's name sounded vaguely familiar to Mwah, before learning that she was part of an All Swiss le Femme's Driving trio Wayback in 2010. Aboard one of Matech Competition's Ford GT1's that I've previously scribbled bout here on No Fenders in a story titled Swiss Misses invade Le Sarthe…

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2010/06/swiss-misses-invade-le-sarthe.html

 

Italy's Gostner cut her teeth in regional Ferrari Challenge series, as her family’s name is synonymous with Ferrari’s, along with reportedly being an ex-Professional volleyball player. While Gatting is another Dane' cutting her teeth in Sports Car racing - wishing to follow in the Footsteps of Christina Nielsen, a Two-times IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship GTD (Daytona) Class Champion.

 

Thanks to Raymond Hando’s For the Love of Indy’s Le Mans preview, as ‘Ol Hobbo’, nee HobbsCapp’, aka David Hobbs would say that Boy’s got eyes Sharp as Rats, Hya! I learned that this year’s #85 Iron Links LM GTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Evo entry was sporting a new Driver lineup.

 

Whilst Frey and Gatting remain, Belgian Sarah boby replaced Gostner as of the previous six Hours of Monza round, where she made her FIA World Endurance championship debut, an thus Has  just made her 24 Heurs du Mans debut this year.

 

At one point in her racing career, former Belgian Formula 1 Driver Thierry Boutsen took her “Under His Wing” to help Sarah develop as a race car driver as part of his Boutsen-ginion Team, in GT, silhouette and Touring Cars. This followed Sarah’s Single Seater debut in the Renault 1.6 Belgium series before transitioning to “Saloons” in an On Again, Off Again Sports car career due to lack of funding…

 

Boby was confirmed as one of the inaugural W Series Reserve Drivers and made three starts in 2019, beginning at her Home race at Zolder where she failed to start due to technical issues. She claimed her best finish of 12^th at Misano and finished 19^th at the Season Finale at Brands Hatch after a first lap incident.

 

As No Clue on how Thar race went, other than by my unofficial counting, they finished eighth in Class, listed as 36^th Overall, +39 laps to the winning Toyota. 

Changing of The Guard

Although I expect the Turnover to be Much Higher in Indy Cars shortly…

 

Last week Thee Original Iceman, nee Kimi and His Oomphlats’, aka Kimi Raikkonen announced his retirement from Formula 1 at the end of this season, ending a career in Ye Pinnacle ‘O Motorsports that covers two decades, albeit having been on Sabbatical between 2010-2011 when he tried his hand as a World Rally Championship (WRC) driver.

 

At Age 41, Raikkonen is not only the Elder Statesman of Formula 1, but arguably it’s current Ironman, as he’ll become the first F1 Driver to ever start 350 Grands Prix at Saudi Arabia’s inaugural Street race in Jeddah on December 5^th, provided no more major interruptions due to Covid in this year’s schedule. (Uhm, that was Prophetic)

 

As Raikkonen’s just completed his 342^nd start at Zandvoort, and is Zeroing in upon a milestone once thought incomprehensible. As Kimi eclipsed the previous record holder Rubino’, aka Rubens Barrichello’s feat of 322 Starts last October at the Nurburgring’s Eiffel Grand Prix.

 

Having scribbled that prior to Kimi testing positive for COVID 19 at Zandvoort and being replaced by Alfa Romeo Reserve Driver Robert Kubica, meaning Kimi’s still on 341 Grands Prix Starts prior to Monza. Although Raikkonen’s long ago said he doesn’t care about records…

 

And although Kimi’s departure theoretically opens one seat on the F1 grid for Alfa Romeo, we’re all Ah-Waitin’ the confirmation of the worst kept secret of fellow countryman Valtteri Bottas, Kimi’s Bosom buddy taking his seat for 2022.

 

Guess now that Valtteri’s finally been officially confirmed at Alfa Romeo on a multi-year contract beginning next year, the question is who’ll be his team-mate?

 

Thus Fredrico Suave, aka Fernando Alonso now 40 will take over the mantle of Elder Statesman in F1 next season, and with his confirmation plus Esteban Ocon on a long term contract, there’s no place for the Junior alpine Academy drivers to go.

 

Alpine Academy

Christian Lundgaard, Denmark; (2017) Guanyu Zhou, China; (2019) Oscar Piastri, Australia (2020)

(Year = When Entered Programme)

 

As why do I bring this up? Well you’re All aware of current Alpine Academy driver Christian Lundgaard who’s currently contesting his Sophomore campaign in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, The final rung on the ladder into Formula 1. As the Dane’ recently made his IndyCar Debut in a “One Off” appearance for Bubbie Ruble and Company during the August 14^th IMS Road Course race, part of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s “gong Show” tryout for who’ll potentially drive it’s third #45 entry in 2022.

 

Ferrari Driver Academy

Marcus Armstrong, New Zealand; (2017) Callum Ilott, UK; (2017) Robert Shwartzman, Russia; (2017) Mick Schumacher, Germany (2019)

 

As we know, Juncos Hollinger Racing recently announced the news that it will put Ferrari Academy Driver Callum Ilott behind the wheel of  it’s #77 Dallara/Chevy IndyCar at Portland, as the team reboots  itself with contesting the West coast’s final three IndyCar races before going Fulltime in 2022.

 

As Ilott’s currently the Ferrari F1 Test and Alfa Romeo Reserve Driver, and just finished third in the LM GTE Am Class at Le Mans, naturally aboard a Ferrari 488 GTE Evo. Whilst I’m slightly Cornfuzed over why Mick Schumacher who’s contesting his rookie season in Formula 1 for the Haas F1 Team is still a “Junior” Driver?

 

Red Bull Junior Team

Juri Vips, Estonia; (2018) Liam Lawson, New Zealand; (2019) Jehan Daruvala, India (2020)

 

As it’s interesting how some of the “Major” Players in Formula 1 are seeking alternative “High Octane” Series for their prospective future F1 Pilotes to stay sharp in. As some Noise was made when current Red Bull “Junior” Alexander Albin visited Mother Speedway’s Paddock during the second (IMS) Indianapolis Road Race, and even sat in Romain Grosjean’s Dale Coyne IndyCar cockpit just to get a feel. Although Red Bull’s currently trying to find a seat for Albin in Formula 1 next year either at Alfa Romeo or Williams.

 

Sauber Junior Team (Alfa Romeo)

Theo Pourchaire , France(2019

 

Reportedly Alfa Romeo F1 Team Boss Frederic Vassdur is very High upon Monsieur Pourchaire who’s contesting his rookie season in F2. And thus the possible signing of Albin would potentially be a Roadblock for the young Frenchman’s advancement to Formula 1, since you’d think Albin would want more than a one year deal? Thus should alfa keep current F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi, who just had his best ever Qualifying result at Zandvoort for one more season as a “Stop Gap?” As who knows what the Swiss based F1 outfit will do?

 

Williams Driver Academy

Jamie Chadwick, UK; (2019) Jack Aitken, UK; (2020) Roy Nissany, Israel (2020

 

I included Jamie Chadwick’s name since she’s the reigning Womens W Series Champion and currently is tied at 109 points in a fierce fight with Alice Powel for this year’s title, with Powell holding the tiebreaker with three wins to Chadwick’s two.

 

Jack Aitken and Roy Nissany are both Formula 2 Journeymen and cannot be considered as potential F1 Graduates. While it would seem Odd for Team Willy’ to take Red Bull’s Albin over Mercedes “Junior” Nyck De Bries, the reigning Formula E Champion, since Williams runs Merc’ PU’s (Power Unit) and Drivetrains.

 

As Aitmen who’s Williams Reserve Driver suffered fractures to his collar bone and vertebrae, plus a Bruised lung during a Massive Shunt during the opening hour of this year’s Spa 24 Hours race aboard a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo, and is still recovering a month later.  

 

Other F1 Driver Academy’s

With the exception of Callum Ilott, Mick Schumacher and Jamie Chadwick above, the rest are All current Formula 2 Drivers, and some of the programmes have many more Junior Members on their Books, but I only focused upon F2 since these are the most likely to graduate to F1 or alternatively IndyCar.

 

McLaren currently has No members in it’s Young Driver Programme, while Mercedes highest Junior Team Driver is Frederik Vesti in the FIA Formula 3 championship.

 

Haas only has Pietro Fittipaldi who contested his Debutante Indy 500 this May on it’s Development “Scheme,” but is effectively Ferrari’s F1 Junior Team.

 

Aston Martin doesn’t have a programme at the moment, while AlphaTauri as we know are the ‘lil bulls, aka Red Bull Racing’s “B Team” and thus, share the Energy Drinks “Development Pool” with the Big Bullz’.

 

As it’s interesting how times have changed, since Raikkonen was an exception when he began Formula 1 twenty years ago. Having won 13 out of the 23 scant “Junior” category Single seater races entered, including winning the 2000 Formula Renault UK Championship before jumping straight into Peter Sauber’s F1 Team despite the protests of then major backer Deeter Majestik’, nee Dietrich Mateschitz. Not to mention then FIA President Max Mosley, who put him on a four race probation period.

 

As I Arse-sume it’s just coInky-dense that Red Bull began it’s Junior Driver programme that same year? When Danny Sullivan was helping them to find the next American Formula 1 Driver, Y’all remember Scotty “The Goose” Speed? 

F1: The Race Resumes. No, It Doesn’t!

Although we All know, It’s just a Two Horse race whenever it Stops Raining at Spa…

 

Have to admit, I totally didn’t miss Formula 1 at all over the past month’s Summer Break, and found myself musing over really wanting to go back to following F1?

 

As we All know, Golden child, nee Sir Lewis, or simply known as Lewis Hamilton led the F1 Drivers standings following the Hungarian Grand Prix by 8 points over Max Verstappen, with these two being in Thar own respective Zip code! As I only bothered with the Top five drivers who were above 100 points, since this already feels like a pretty compelling cut-off.

 

Whilst the much more important F1 Constructors standings sees a similar plight, once again with Mercedes and Red bull locked in a Mano e Mano Duel for the top slot. And who knows how many more Grands Prix there will be over the season’s second half, especially with Covid 19’s Delta variant picking up steam itself! And the F1 Calender having been further modified to now only 22 planned Grands Prix. As may be Liberty Media should get the Memo about Not trying to hold a ridiculous 23 events per season, Comprende?

 

And those  were my sentiments before Mother Nature Slapped Formula 1 Upside it’s Noggin’ at Spa!

 

As the following Points Standings were as of the Hungarian Grand Prix, and Don’t reflect the Farcical awarding of Half points at Spa Francorchamps!

 

F1 Constructors Points

(1) Mercedes: 303, (2) Red Bull: 291, (3) Ferrari: 163, (4) McLaren: 163, (5) Alpine: 77, (6) AlphaTauri: 68, (7) Aston Martin: 48, (8) Williams: 10, (9) Alfa Romeo: 3 and (10) Haas: 0

 

F1 Drivers Points

(1) Lewis Hamilton: 195, (2) Max Verstappen: 187, (3) Lando Norris: 113, (4) Valtteri Bottas: 108 and (5) Sergio Perez: 104

 

Not surprisingly, Red bull has elected to keep Sergio Perez for another season, while Ditto for Alpine with Fernando Alonso. With the world waiting with Baited Breath over Valtteri Bottas being replaced by George Russell. With the only question will it be a straight swap or will Bottas replace Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo?

 

Whilst F1 Grizzled Journo’ Joe Saward notes that le Reggie’ (Renault) parted company with it’s  Engine Boss, along with the Scandal over Spa Francorchamps Circuit Boss Nathalie Maillet being found Dead at Home in a suspected Messy Murdered triangle!

 

Mother Nature played Havoc with the Mighty Spa All weekend long, as Friday’s inclement weather saw Max Verstappen bringing out a second Red Flag after crashing in the final moments of Friday’s second practice session, albeit Verstappen was P1 at the end of (Free Practice) FP2.

 

Following the Big boyz’ final practice session, the Women’s W Series saw a six car Pile-up with multiple wrecked cars and two Drivers going to Hospital for precautionary checks, a la Lando Norris following a Wet ‘N Wooly F1 Qualifying session!

 

As All three Qualie’ sessions were held in varying precipitation, with a Chaotic Q3 Top 10 Shootout session Red Flagged for 42mins due to McLaren’s Lando Norris Mega Shunt at Eau Rouge on his first Flying Lap! As the famous corner was the site of multiple incidents and was the center of much consternation over the weekend, along with differing views upon it’s planned renovations for 2022.

 

Then the unthinkable happened, as Team Willy’s George Russell snatches an unlikely Pole position away from Golden Child, nee Sir Lewis (Hamilton) by a scant Millisecond!

 

But Verstappen Pips George Russell by 0.321 second on his final Q3 lap to Deny Russell from taking a Shock Pole for Williams, his first Front Row start, ahead of Golden Child in P3! With McLaren’s Dannyric’, aka Daniel Ricciardo in fourth and Aston Martin’s ‘lil Syd viddle’ (Sebastian Vettel) rounding out the Top 5.

 

Whilst both Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) were serving five place Grid penalties for causing separate first lap accidents at Hungary. And that was before finding out about Kimi Raikkonen changing to a different rear wing on his Alfa Romeo or Norris having had his Gearbox changed, resulting in penalties for  both of them…

 

As little did we know that Saturday’s Qualifying would ultimately determine the finishing order of the race’s podium, albeit I’d say that the race was a total Farce! As I said laughing mirthlessly Clusterfuck! When Nobody could figure out whether or not the race had ever officially started?

 

And Ye Piped Piper Chris Horner has to be wondering about signing Sergio Perez for another season after Checko’ Aqualplaned Offtrack during the Formation lap and initially “Totaled” his Red bull chariot, which definitely Had Wings!

 

Before longtime Red Bull Manager Jonathan Wheatley rightly Argued with F1 Race Director Michael Masi that the race had never started, and therefore Checko’ hadn’t received any “Outside Assistance.” Meaning Perez could resume racing if they could repair the car, which remarkably the Red Bull Mechanics did in record time All to No Avail!

 

And “we” Talk About Drivers earning Thar Money during tricky driving conditions, but I’d say that the Talking Headz’, Uhm Sky Sports F1 Pundits earned their Salaries Sunday Quite Handsomely, especially Pitlane reporter Karun “Cowboy” Chandhok! Whom lead Announcer, Err Presenter David “Kroftie” Kroft was giving much ribbing about being outside in the weather. And how he and Brundle were nice and dry, Warm and had the Heaters on Full Boil, Hya!

 

As they were keeping us entertained and amused as Martin Billybob’ Brundle said incredulously He’s never heard such a comment from trained F1 Personnel, when they played the sound clip of somebody on the Pit wall asking F1 Race Director Masi Did the Race Start or Not? To which Kroftie’ Cheekily said that Sky Sports Analyst ANT’, nee Anthony Davidson hasn’t done this much reading, reading the F1 Regulations since Grade School, Hya! To which ANT’ Brilliantly said Deadpan See Spot Run, Hya!

 

As I’ll admit that I got up at Oh Dark 30’ since I had a feeling after Saturday’s result it was gonna be a Zany race and I didn’t want to miss any of it, which typically gets rudely Sliced ‘n diced and Chopped Off in the ensuing Encore Presentations with multiple interruptions by the Mother’s Shoe Polish lady…

 

So I sat thru the whole Gory thing, for which I’ll tackle the Stupendous Gaff made by F1 in a separate post, since like typical this one’s running a Wee Bitamyte’ long! With two more items to comment upon.

 

Wasn’t paying full Attenzione to the start of the conversation during what clocked in as a 3hr 20mins Red Flag Delay on my Talking Keychain Clock. As think Kroftie’ was asking Brundle about whether or not Vettel should give back his Runner-up trophy from Hungary after later being Disqualified.

 

As my Ears pricked up when Brundle waxed poetically about how he still has the second place trophy along with the chrome screws in his trophy cabinet even though the FIA Record Books say He Doesn’t exist that year! As he muddled on finally recalling he’d passed Elio de Angelis in 1985 but went quiet after mentioning how de Angelis had Died in a Testing Accident.

 

Actually Brundle had finished second in the 1984 Detroit Grand Prix, whilst I’d forgotten he suffered a Horrendous Shunt at the following Dallas Grand Prix where he broke both ankles and feet! And reportedly his left anklw was so bad, that Doctors initially considered Amputating it! While Martin would never be able to left foot brake again! Whilst I’d also forgotten that was his Rookie  F1 season.

 

Although I know of the infamous ’84 Dallas Grand Prix, which I actually paid a friend to make copies of his photos from that race, it was before my Formula 1 Baptism.

 

Yet I am aware from the History Books how Tyrrell was ultimately excluded from that year’s records after presumably rival teams protested Brundle’s Runner Up finish at Detroit. Or was simply Disqualified afterwards for not meeting the FIA’s minimum weight requirements.

 

Since they’d been using illegal lead buckshot in the Tyrrell’s 012 chassis in order to stay competitive vs. the turbo cars as the lone Cossie’ (Ford Cosworth)

DFY  naturally aspirated V-8 runner that year.

 

As the Buckshot was mixed into the car’s onboard water tanks during final Pit stops to meet the minimum weight requirement, but done under High pressure the lead would spill out onto Pitlane, many times into other competitors Pit boxes…

 

Thus “Uncle Chopper’s” (Ken Tyrrell) F1 Team was barred from the season’s final three races and all results nullified, costing him considerable travel funds the following year, not to mention ultimately giving the FIA it’s wish of “Banning” non turbocharged entries for ’85. Albeit Tyrrell soldiered on with the 012 at the beginning of the 1985 season before it’s 014 Chassis with a Renault turbo engine arrived.

 

Whilst my Quip of The Year so far has to be Kroftie’s Brilliant parting words when signing off from Spa, saying in a typical Dry, Imperial British Monotone. We’ve been Talking Awhile Now and We Need some Water. Does Anybody Know Where We cand Find Some?