How About Them Cowboys? (Denial Edition)

So you may have noticed I haven’t blogged about the Cowboys (or for that matter McLaren) in awhile.  Why?  I’m a sore fucking loser that’s why.  I could blog about Butler, but I get a little to wrapped up to do that rationally.  So it’s probably gonna be politics until the F1 season comes around.

It’s Bernie’s World, We Just Live In It

Ecclestone on a collision between Alonso and Hamilton:

“It would generate a lot of publicity. Imagine if that happened on the last lap of the last race, then the guy that was leading at the time, points-wise, would be the winner. So it would be a controversial end to the championship.”*

What was that line from The Usual Suspects? The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world he didn’t exist?

We’re looking in you general direction Bernie.

*And oh yeah, it’s the only way Ferrari could get back in it.

Japan Grand Prix Thoughts

As I write this there are 8 laps left in a very rainy race at Fuji. Why it’s still running is open for interpretation (FIA hoping Lewis will spin out and give Kimi a chance to catch him. Yeah, I really am this tired of the FIA being completely in the bag for Ferrari.) but it appears it will run to completion. At any rate Lewis Hamilton has run a masterful race, overcoming contact to dominate the race building a 14 second lead in an absolute downpour. Kimi is running 3rd, Massa languishes in 8th, and Alonso is out of the race with a destroyed car; so Lewis is in excellent shape to come out of this race with a healthy increase in his points lead.

Also healthy is his new contract a reported 5 year $110 million contract to stay at McLaren. Which is great news for him, McLaren is the only team he’s ever wanted to run for; and also gives McLaren long term stability. Regardless of what happens with Alonso McLaren has assured itself that it will have the services of a world champion caliber driver.

Kimi and Kovalainen just had an amazing finish, run in near zero visibility that can’t be missed. If you didn’t see it live find a repeat it’s that amazing.

Alonso Says He’ll Stay at McLaren Next Year

Fresh off throwing a season long hissy fit over not being given number one status, accusing the team of supporting Lewis over him, and finally trying to extort Ron Dennis into benching Lewis for the rest of the season to give him a clear shot at the title Alonso is now saying he will return next year. This brings a few questions to mind. First, does McLaren really want him back? If Hamilton can compete for the title, do you really need Alonso and all his baggage?

Second, why would he want to come back? Other then the money that is. Things aren’t really going to be any different next year, Hamilton will still be there with a season under his belt. A season that he performed remarkably on tracks he’d never seen before and without the drama the drama of Alonso. Alonso will never be the clear number one at McLaren as long as Hamilton is there, if anything the odds of Hamilton getting the subtle pushes from the team Alonso has accused him of is more likely to happen as time goes by. Alonso is in his prime, Hamilton is just started and they’re neck and neck. That really has to eat at Alonso.

But it comes down to what I wrote about a few months ago; Alonso has nowhere to really go. Ferrari and BMW are locked in, Renault has an open seat but may not be willing to buy out Alonso’s contract. So Alonso is faced the choice of not racing (something he claims to have pondered in the past) or trying to make the best of it at McLaren. How that goes may be the most entertaining thing about the ‘08 season.

Dad, Lewis is Sitting on My Side of the Car!

So Ron Dennis says if Alonso can’t hack sharing the limelight at McLaren with Hamilton he’s free to leave. What’s he care right? Hamilton is leading the championship as a rookie, and Dennis figures there’s more where that came from having signed half the 13 years old in England (and apparently a few in China as well) to development contracts. If Lewis is going to be competing for championships what do you need Alonso for?

While Dennis probably isn’t bluffing, he did fire Montoya mid season after all, I also think he said it knowing that there aren’t many places Alonso can go. Ferrari? Probably not given that Massa has really stepped up this year, and Kimi is still touted as the most talented driver in the paddock. Williams? Its been awhile since Sir Frank has fielded a championship contender, and with Toyota power and chassis that don’t respond well that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon. Honda? Probably not when Super Aguri is outrunning them. Back to Renault? Maybe, he’d have to spend the rest of his career groveling to Flavio, and the car has been out to lunch at a few tracks.

Which leaving out the minnows, the also running big boys, and the debuting ProDrive team (who would spend the money on a marque name, but is rumored to be a McLaren customer, what’s the point of marching out the front door just to slip in the back door?) leaves one team; BMW. Which makes sense, they’ve been producing unreal horsepower for years; and the cars have really made a leap forward this year jumping to a comfortable 3rd this year in the constructor’s championship. Considering after two seasons they’re well ahead of Honda and Toyota you have to believe there will be another considerable leap forward again next year. Sure Heidfeld and Kubica are nice drivers, but neither are double world champions either. So would BMW make a play for Alonso if he declared himself a free agent? That remains to be seen.

But I expect him to stay at McLaren, why wouldn’t he? He’s not being told to take the second seat to Hamilton, just that Hamilton isn’t going to give way to him. Why would he walk away from a team leading the championship that gives him a chance to win every week and a chance to compete for the championship every year? Would a true champion give that up for a team that give him preferential treatment?

Hank Picks the Winners (Or How I Make a Fool of Myself)

Well if I’ve learned one thing this week its this; nothing drives people away from a blog faster then talking about open wheel racing. I think LJ only slogged through because of the pictures. Oh well, I like open wheel racing, and this site is more about entertaining myself then it is entertaining you.

So now that you’ve seen the 13 drivers with the best odds of winning two of the biggest sporting events in the world, its time to make my picks for the winners. And lets face it, the odds aren’t in my favor.

Indianapolis 500 I think Danica, Tony Kanaan, and Sam Hornish Jr all have great chances at picking up the win, but I think this is the year that Helio Castroneves gets his third. The odds of a team (Penkse) having back to back wins from the pole are admittedly slim, but those things mean less when you’re talking about an outfit like Penske. He has the talent, the temperament, and the equipment to win.

Monaco Grand Prix I really wanted to pick Lewis Hamilton and his perfect record at Monaco, but this week he is the first time he’s looked like a rookie. He has really gotten caught up in the sideshow that is Monte Carlo, and has really been pushing his car to the limits, two things that don’t combine for a good result. Meanwhile his teammate Fernando Alonso has been having a great, if quiet, week. McLaren traditionally does well at Monaco, and Ferrari is seemingly not keeping pace. While Ferrari will undoubtedly close in it would appear to be Alonso’s race to lose.

So on Sunday we’ll see how I am at this prognosticating.

Get To Know Your Monaco Grand Prix Teams: McLaren Mercedes

Our final preview this week is Hank’s favorite race team, McLaren Mercedes.  Since it’s inception its been one of the dominant teams in F1, and this year has been no exception.

Fernando Alonso

Why You Know Him: Two time world champion.

Why He Will Win: With a teammate nipping at his heels, and a three way fight for the world championship he has to.  Also because in 5 attempts he has one win and 3 other points paying finishes.

Why He Will Not Win: So far his rookie teammate has been eating his lunch.

Lewis Hamilton

Why You Know Him: You probably don’t yet, but you will.

Why He Will Win: His  races at Monaco in F3 and GP2 were dominate, going 2 for 2.

Why He Will Not Win: In a welcome to the big leagues moment he’s already had an accident with a shunt into the soft barrier at Ste Devote on cold tires.

Get to Know Your Monaco Grand Prix Teams: Scuderia Ferrari

Our first team in the Monaco preview is Ferrari. I’m not a Ferrari fan, but I’ll try and be impartial. Try.

Felipe Massa

Why You Know Him: He will either go down in history as Michael Schumacher’s successor, or his last teammate. So either his own page in history or a footnote.

Why He Will Win: So far this season he’s leaning more towards having his own page in history with two straight wins.

Why He Won’t Win: He’s only been in the points once at Monaco; not a forgiving course.

Kimi Raikkonen

Why You Know Him: He’s a turn coat who left McLaren Mercedes for Ferrari. One of the youngest drivers ever granted their super license he is now the highest paid driver in Formula One, and considered by many the heir apparent to Schumacher.

Why He Will Win: He won in 2005 and was runner up in 2003, if he’s running at the end he’s usually close to the front.

Why He Won’t Win: He isn’t always running at the end, in less then 7 full seasons he’s retired from 38 races.

Le NAS-CAR?

Sadly for Hank here in America stock car racing is the 800 lb gorilla of motorsports, its everywhere now to the exclusion of open wheel racing.  You certainly cannot fault the marketing of NASCAR; its nothing short of genius, races almost every weekend, family friendly and with drivers that are accessible and easy to relate to.  The racing?  Meh.  Innovation is stifled, the tracks have taken on a cookie cutter feel, and the drivers for most part are interchangeable.

But in the rest of the world NASCAR is a curiosity, sure its racing; but its not what they’re used to.  What they’re used to is open wheel racing and F1 and the Indy Cars to be exact.  Globally F1 is the 1600 lb gorilla; races on every continent but Antarctica, budgets in the hundreds of millions, and a fan base to match.  And while Indy Cars as a series aren’t followed closely the Indianapolis 500 is.  It is the event that made racing a sport and not just a spectacle.

So next Sunday three races will occur, and here in America most of the attention will only be paid to one.  While the Coke 600 is a great race, it isn’t even the biggest race in its series, and has no historical meaning to fans outside of NASCAR’s current run of popularity.  The Indianapolis 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix are races of tremendous history, and are the two biggest open wheel races world wide.

My point?  There are 5 teams with the best chance to win these two races. I will prodile a team each day this week leading up to these two races.   Coming up on Monday will be Andretti Green Racing, followed by Gnassi Racing on Tuesday, Ferrari on Wednesday, Penske Racing on Thursday and finally McLaren Mercedes on Friday.

One of the Many Reasons I Love F1

F1 is hands down my favorite form of racing; the technology is unsurpassed, innovation is required not prevented (cough NASCAR cough,) and the level of driving talent is second to none. But there is one thing that sets it apart from other series, the grid girls.

At each Grand Prix there are a gaggle of leggy beauties from the host country who hold up a sign indicating the car and driver who will start at the position. First off its a great way to learn about local culture, and also hey, beautiful women. All in all incredible sexist and totally hot.

Note: Why the LJ tag? Cause she’s hot.