Well, they're off to a discouraging start: Their web site is agonizingly slow. ;)
I think they have a viable chance. They can bootstrap the project by using an engine Mfg that will use another team ( A US team! ) to promote their product. I have to believe with the spec rules generic parts will significantly reduce those costs. Max and Bernie will kick in $ to fill the grid so that contractual obligations can be met. The wind-tunnel advantage will only be a factor if the 2010 cars are close to identical to 09 cars. If not the new wind-tunnel regs will apply. I like it. And if The Danica wins a few of her next races I will get in her support line. Somehow I think not. Lets get real drivers so this project has credibility. Same with Marco, Rahal, Gurney, Foyt, and the rest of the PR wonders.
Well, they have no motors, buildings, crew, drivers, or chassis. Not a bad start I play Fantasy F1 too, but I don't get the free publicity on SpeedTV...... On a serious note, they're going to have a line of applicants a mile long outside their headquarters next week. NASCAR engineers know what they're doing, and there's been a bunch of layoffs down that way.
That conference did not answer any questions today. Just basically Officially announced that they were going to join F1. Boring
I think it is great and all that they are trying to do this. Why not take advantage of this crappy economy and try. Real Estate has hit the bottom, or almost hit the botton. Nascar Mechanics are out of work and they will more than likely take less money just to work. They are looking at engine suppliers currently in F1 (Ferrari, Mercedes, BMW & Toyota) that even though are from outside the U.S., this is or atleast it was their biggest market. If they have all the availability of all the surrounding facilities that can provide them with anything they need, they are right in taking advantage of the economic downfall. I hope they do get in the game in 2010. We need to get a race or 2 back in North America, and if this is 1 way of doing it, then thats a perfect start. As far as drivers go - I have no preference.
That's pretty bold. How are you connected to the team to get such information? Are you privy to insider information that has not been made public or are you just spouting off because you don't think it will work? Mark
"That's pretty bold. How are you connected to the team to get such information? Are you privy to insider information that has not been made public or are you just spouting off because you don't think it will work?" I'm not connected and have no inside information, but IMO Anderson and Windsor sound like guys who have enough money to look for money. They have a pitch they've refined, which includes the ideas that you don't need a mountain of money and that a recession is a great time to start a race team. And all the time, in the back of my mind, a voice repeats, "sure, these guys are smarter than Honda." Until I can see the money, I'll think USF1 is a well-intentioned childrens' crusade.
Roger Benoit (a close confidant of Bernie) already commented on this and mentioned the number of 10 million USD as their only current funds and that this is nothing more than a forgettable pipe dream. Look, I'd be over the moon if this would happen, but it won't. Windsor has tried this deal before and it was nothing but hot air (as so many things coming from him).
Update: Today the very same Benoit changed his tune and reports that this team really might become a reality in 2010. He completely dropped his critical tone shown previously. And quite frankly, if they have a year's time, they might find sponsors. I still think it is a pipe dream, but I would be very happy to be wrong on this.
Im sorry but I have to laugh at you tifosi12 and I hope every member here understands. You have NO IDEA my connection to the team and still spout off about how you know they have $10M and thats it. Why is that? becuase you heard from a guy who knows Bernie who is a journalist (headlines are how he makes his living) You dont even know that guy personally yet you think his word is the final word on everything in F1? Now all the sudden he has changed his tune, funny isnt that.
WCH- Let me ask you this...have you ever worked for Honda or any car company? I think Honda could build a better hybrid but not run a formula one team any better then 2 guys that have been in the sport for as long as Peter and Ken have. Look back at Honda's glory days, how much of the team was actually Honda? Sorry but that is like saying Honda is smarter than Williams...do you agree? Now if it was Honda BAR then I would agree with you. I think manufacturers have hurt the sport and need to back off and let the racing teams do the racing. (this does not apply to Ferrari and I think we all know why)
Whats up with the picture? HAHAHA My point is he seems to be such the authority and that no one can know more than him. My involvement could be nothing, but isnt that the same as his? Did I take that wrong? was I the only one that felt that way?
I guess the truth is I should have never posted anything. I guess I was just hurt seeing some of the things that were said. The world is in a horrible place right now and nobody is doing anything, by that I mean spending money or doing something other than stressing out and trying to see these times through. As F1 fans, how could we not get excited about this? Who cares what money they have or dont have. What ever happen to people believing in those "dare to be great" situations. Something good has to come of all this cost cutting and rule changes in F1, why not a US F1 team.
It's not that we don't WANT to believe. It's that we've all seen all these stories before. I'm a fan of all the little guys, and they all end up going away and breaking our hearts. IF they make it to the grid, I will be cheering them. IF they make it 3 years, I'll be ecstatic. IF they hire Danica, I know that they're just in it for the press.
HAHAHA thats a good point about Danica, but I wouldnt worry too much. I could see her doing a test but I dont really see her getting a full time ride in all honesty.
Forget about Danica. I vote for Tom Cruise. Lets see how many cars he can wrap around a pole again.....
That's just crazy talk, you're way off base. It'll never get to that stage. Dome and FIRST, move over.
But the involvement of manufacturers is a double-edged sword, the balance of which falls in favor of their presence. Without their generous budgets the sport would never have evolved. I found it interesting to look back at footage from the early 90s and how many also-ran teams were mudding up the grid, and how much attrition there was. Manufacturers have allowed the strong to grow and the weak to die, while providing a stability to this crazily expensive sport that would otherwise see teams come and go. If we want F1 to always push the technological envelope, we need manufacturer money and resources. Otherwise, it ceases to be F1.
Yesterday it was just slow, today is has crashed or experienced technical problems on the installation lap.
I wouldn't mind seeing what Jeff Gordan could do in the car. He probably has the greatest possibility of doing well of any American driver...
