F1: Ferrari Horses round Under Singapore lights

As what's that 'Ol Sayin' my late Awntie Harriet would Say? Oh Yeah Somme-thun' about The east end of A Horse going West!

Ah, where to begin Kiddoes? As I could mention the sheer insanity of being Blind 'N Sitting in the Dark for the evening's Encore Presentation of a Night race on the City Streets 'O Singapore, which I wryly mused to Thyself is akin to a Triple Negative, El Correctomundo?

Or the part about Damn, that Monegasque Guy sure gets extremely Hot underneath His Balaclava! Making me think of a French Dude with the last name of Grosjean; Aye Karumba!

As I Don't wanna say that the Singapore Grand Prix was a Boring race, albeit mostly processional. Yet instead being a very tactical race of Chess, and who'd Blink First?

Yet this coupled with the TV Pundits focusing upon irrelevant scrums over Positions 14-15-16, and Not being able to S-E-E a Gory Damn thing Occurring On-track, I found my mind Ah-wanderin' per Tipicali.

Thus I took extra notice to the few tidbits Messer Kroftie' threw out during the Sky Sports regurgitated ESPN2 Broadcast, which I knew wasn't gonna be Purdy', especially since we began with le Duesh' chopping off the first 5+ minutes fluff, including the Parade lap. As it was simply Lights Out when the Show began.

Huh? How did Danny Ric', nee Daniel Ricciardo end-up starting P20? Since I know he Qualified P8 on Saturday...

Daniel Ricciardo Fumes over Qualifying Disqualification at Singapore Grand Prix

OH SHIT! Here comes Duh Mothers shoe Polish lady... As we'll return One lap from where we left Off when we "Immediately" resume, Righto Sister?

According to David Kroft, Thars Nothin' Wrong with your TV, that is an Alfa Romeo leading a Grand Prix. As it was Kimi Thee Iceman' Raikkonen's Under-study Antonio Giovinazzi leading his first Grand Prix  ever. Being the first time since the 1983 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps for an Alfa Romeo to lead a Grands Prix; CRIKEYS!

With The Professor' Alain Prost giving Renault a 1-3 finish, with his Junior birdman Eddie "The Mouth!" Cheever third, and Ferrari's Patrick Tambay sandwiched between the two Reggies'

Even more Amazing was the tidbit thrown-out proclaiming it was the First time since Silverstone 2015 when Team Willy' (Williams F1) led the race. Becoming the First time in 4+ years that anybody besides the Top-3, i.e.; Mercedes, Ferrari & Red Bull have led a Grands Prix; SHEISA!

Along with Kroftie' belabouring the factoid  that 'lil Syd Viddle, aka Sebastian Vettel hadn't won a Grands Prix in 392 Days, since Spa 2018!

Sebastian, Leclerc's Faster than You!

And although it was the first time Ferrari's won 3 Races in-a-row since 2008 as the Stats piled-on. Obviously Monsieur "chuck LuhCluck," nee Charles Leclerc, who'd done everything he'd been instructed to by la Scuderia. The 21yr old Monegasque had ample rights to be overly Peeved with how Ferrari had shuffled him to P2 behind Vettel!

For which I swear it was Ferrari Team Boss Mattia Binotto Apologizing in Italian to Leclerc on the Cool-down lap, as the TV Broadcast was rightly having a field Day playing In-Car radio messages...

And whilst I totally believe Leclerc got 100% Hosed! I really couldn't argue with good 'Ol Martin Billybob' Brundle's ARSE-Sessment' of curtly pointing out they (Ferrari) got a 1-2 (finish( instead of a 1-3 due to strategy...

And how come nobody's talking about Valtteri Bottas once again getting told to be the Dutiful Wingman? First being instructed to go Slow in hopes of holding up the grid so Golden Child could possibly catch back up to his rivals. And then further being instructed to Hold Station behind Hamilton to races end.

As once again it Hit Me like A Two Ton Heavy Thing! Feeling somewhat Disillusioned over Formula  1's Machiavellian Team Orders state, making the word Corporatocracy spring to Thy Lips for the very first time regarding thou sport of F1!

As I've had to remind a few Friends that it's the Constructors Championship that only interests the Formula 1 Teams due to its massive Payout scheme of multi-millions each season, and the Drivers championship DON'T Pay Anything!

And Team Orders are nothing new, as Austria-Gate, (2002) Felipe, Fernando is Faster than You and Bloody Hell! Vettel's infamous Multi-21 Affair immediately spring to mind!

Instead I think that it's Team Orders are more Blatant; Err they're just way more transparent nowadays, and I've got to begrudgingly admit, Drivers are just the means to the Teams Financial success.

Which makes it somewhat Harder to Swallow, since I've always had passion for Open Wheel Racing hinge upon individual Drivers accomplishments and not the team's. Even though I'm fully cognizant it's a Team sport, that still Doesn't mean I like seeing a Driver get Screwed for the Team's Benefit!

As what will Vettel's legacy be? Since according to Reuters he's being paid the exorbitant sum of AU $36m per season. Or is that $36 million Dollars? Pounds or Euros? While Ferrari's gonna give Leclerc a  raise to $9m next year vs. his current paltry $3m salary?

Since it appears Vettel's  currently making four times as much as Leclerc, and Ferrari's surely wondering what they're getting for Vettel's services? I'm left ponderin' is Messer Binotto simply trying to Balance his Charges, instill confidence in Sebastian, or simply trying to establish clear Team Orders regardless of who's the better Driver?

Or is it really as simple as getting better Overall results for the coveted Constructirs Cup? And who knows what we'll be talkin' about after Sochi? Where Hopefully Leclerc will be victorious!

RETRO: Distant Thoughts upon Italian GP Outing Two Decades ago

Start of 1999 Italian Grand Prix. (Image source: atlasf1.com)

Like we All say each 'N every Day, Where does Thee Time G-O? Just Ah-Zoom-Zoomin' 'Ah-ways...

Although I still have wonderful thoughts about my Debutante trip Cross Ye Mighty Puddle as Claire Denotes it - to Europe now some Twenty years ago, much of them are simply Distant, Fond Memories in thoust Wayback Machine.

Sadly, I still recall forlorn Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) Aspiring Driver Gonzalo Rodriguez for the wrong reason. Primarily since Bizarrely I'd learn of his Death in Milan, Italy in the brief company of some Chap named Phil Hill; Momma Mia!

INDYCAR: Gonzalo Rodriguez, A Forgotten Driver

Although I'll confess, I had to look the race's date up to learn that September 11th, 1999 was a Saturday, which means I'd just returned from a Full Day's outing at Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

Hence, I think it's safe to say that I was simply too surprised over the News, not to mention the throws 'O ecstasy from the day's Qualie' outing to fortunately Not (stupidly) ask America's first Formula 1 World champion his thoughts upon a fellow Driver's Death, for which think of how that conversation possibly would have went; Aye Karumba!

As why is it twenty years later and I'm now ARSE-Suming that that weekend's tragic events over fifty years ago, on September 10th probably stayed in Hill's life forever, El Correctomundo?

Not to mention that it's eerily ironic that upon the same exact Date 17yrs later, Ronnie Peterson Died at Monza

when America's second only F1 World Champion Mario Andretti won His Crown.

America’s First Formula 1 World Champion – A Half Century Ago

 

Also, I now know that a Decade ago, I posted my thoughts upon this by noting it was a Grave Messer Hill whom informed us over Rodriguez's Death when entering our Hotel's Bar for some fine refreshments before going out on the town for Dinner the night before the 70O Gran Premio Campari d'Italia, ergo 70th Italian Grand Prix.

Hence, I'll try refraining from re-hashing those Fleeting memories over once again, having already scribbled 'bout some of 'em in another No Fenders tome.

Viva Italiano recollections

Thus, whilst I sat in thou Dark Saturday morning wonderin' why I'd Broken My Curfew of getting up at Gory Dark-30 for Qualie'. Nonetheless the mention of the Tiafosi's passion for all things rosso made me recall when I'd been covered over with one of those monstrous Red Ferrari Prancing Horse Banners in those Grandstands!

Not to mention the sheer exuberation of running along the streets in Modena in hopes of seeing one of the Wailing Ferrari F399's practicing at Fiorano.

presumably the Shrieking three-litre Normally Aspirated V-10 we'd heard from the Ferrari Factory was Mika Salo, Deputizing for the injured Michael Schumacher, who'd Broken his leg that year at Silverstone - Before an Annoyed Italian Truck Driver Honked at us Stupidio Touristas to get Off the Bloody road!

Or Phil Hill Daring our tiny contingent 'O Tour group to try running Up as Far as possible upon the Monza Banking! Which I did briefly during Friday's practice session, when one of the Security Guards let us briefly stay there to have our picture taken, before ordering us to leave.

And the amazing Blunder of Thee Flying Finn! When Mika Hakkinen comfortably leading by "A Country Mile!" Inexplicably Spun-off and Handed an unexpected victory to a surprised Heinz 57', aka Heinz-Harald Frentzen driving for EJ', nee Eddie Jordan. Behind the Keyboard of his fully emblazoned "Yellow Jacket" Benson & Hedges Jordan 199-Mugen )Honda) V-10.

For which I recall my Grand Prix Tours roommate later sent me a VHS video-tape including when he'd filmed Mika-the-Finn Disgustedly throwing his Gloves onto the ground in Anger Trackside!

While everybody went home Delightfully Happy, since the Other Mika, nee Salo had brought his Scuderia Ferrari home in third place! While Irv-the-Swerve!' Err Eddie Irvine, now the unlikely Scuderia Ferrari team leader had come level on points with Hakkinen by finishing P6, with just three rounds remaining in that year's title fight. 

Heinz-Harald Frentzen Wins - 1999 Italian Grand Prix

And now I can also recall how every single spec 'O land was occupied by the ravenous tiafosi! Even standing in the Trees, not to mention how crowded it felt everywhere I went those three Glorious Days at Monza!

As Y'all can relive this most enjoyable race in the following Youtube video, which weighs in just over Nine minutes length duration...

VIDEO: Frentzen claims third F1 victory at 1999 Italian Grand Prix

Magnifio!

Ranking IndyCar's Greats

As now Thars' a Baker's dozen of Two-Times National champions...

Although I was ponderin' this prior to reading 'Ol R's, nee Robin Miller's latest Racer masterpiece. Where thou Curmudgeon 'O IndyCar's ponders over the Questione of which Era of IndyCar's Drivers were the Greatest?

MILLER: Which Driver Era was IndyCar's Best ever?

Nope, instead I was Ah-wonderin' when Josef Newgarden claimed his second Astor Cup trophy, how many other Two-Times IndyCar Champions would he be joining?

Which my very Unscientific results garnered a Dozen Drivers preceding Newgarden, with the first to claim the feat being Jimmy Murphy in 1922 and 1924.

The rest in chronological order are Peter DePaolo: 1925, 1927; Wilbur Shaw: 1937, 1939; Rex Mays: 1940-41; Tony Bettenhausen: 1951, 1958; Roger Ward: 1959, 1962; Joe Leonard: 1971-72; Bobby Unser: 1968, 1974; Tom sneva: 1977-78; Al Unser, Jr.; 1990, 1994; Alex Zanardi: 1997-98 and Gil de Feran: 2000-01.

As that's some pretty Heady company Josef joins, as this Baker's Dozen includes a total of 16 Indianapolis 500 wins, which is now the only major item missing from Newgarden's resume.

Although Newgarden's got considerable miles to go to catch current Bad Arse Five-Times IndyCar Champion Scott Dixon! Whom also has three-times as many career wins as the younger Josef does.

As it'll be somewhat interesting to see if Newgarden can join the rarefied Air of Three-Times IndyCar Champions, albeit I'm rootin' for Alexander Rossi to stop the Penske Juggernaut!

Since currently only seven exist, i.e.; Jimmy Bryan, Ted Horn, Sam Hornish, Jr., Rick Mears, Louis Meyer, Bobby rahal and Al Unser.

As "Sam I Am" (Hornish) was the latest member to join this club Wayback in 2006. Whilst naturally, three Drivers were in thou Employ 'O El Capitano', nee Roger Penske. Meaning Josef's in Good Company towards doing so...