Hey Guys: I just returned from 2nd practice here at Singapore. Very hot and humid (I can't understand how the drivers can stand it. I'm 2 rows up in Turn one at the end of the first straight. I'm so close, I can smell them. If you want to know what it smells like, if any of you have replaced the gearbox oil, that's the smell. Sorry my camera is malfunctioning so no pics today. I'll get it sorted tomorrow. Tomorrow there are two support races: Aston Martins and Porsches. Should be really interesting. This is for anyone who wants to ask a question outside the event or things not covered, let me know and I'll try to answer. So, if you want to know anything in particular that you cant's see on TV, I'm the answer guy (as best I can). Here's a sample question: Which car is loudest? As far as I can tell, the Red Bull has the loudest sound. The Ferrari is actually the least.
And Grosjean proves that Nelson Jr's spin can happen accidently in same turn? Or was that ordered to help Flavio make a point in court when he denies the team orders to crash?
that might be hambones girl actually... she has pretty big fun bags. Q: Are the girls over there as hot as my TV tells me?
Looked at the local papers? Any coverage of "crashgate" in their local press? I'm curious how the party feels about it and that should be reflected in how their press deals with it.
how much were your tickets and how far in advance did you purchase them. have you walked around the track to see if there are better seats. is there any access to the drivers or pits. where are you staying. how far from the track is it. where are the teams staying. are there any sponsored street parties.
Replaced them with Renault. But, there are ING logos around the track. I wondered the same thing about how quickly it could be done. They must have done it here in Sinagapore unless they had prior knowledge before the announcement.
My camera battery is flat but I'll try to get that sorted out today. I will say that the scenery here is outstanding.
They are not hiding from it. There is a big photo on page one of Grosjeans Crash with the title "Deja Vu" and then a discussion about Renault losing sponsorship The sports page has on top "Fallout: How Crashgate still haunts Renault as Sponsors pull out and driver crashes" -- the reference to Grosjeans crash again. You can tell that Button is the local favorite. Being the leader in points helps but there is still a connection here with the UK it seems.
d Tickets were extremely expensive. I think I paid like $750 USD for the weekend. I am sure there are better seats than what I have. One problem is that you're so low, you're looking through a chain link fence. My feeling is that this corner will have a lot of passing in the race. I can't wait to see the Astons and Porsches go through it in mass (or mess!). I bought the tickets online. They sent them to my office in LA by international courier. They came in a really nice box with three hang tags for each day. I bought them a while back. I forget exactly but it was about a week or two before Massa's accident I think. Too bad because he was the guy I wanted to see race here again. I am staying at the Pan Pacific, which is an excellent hotel. The track runs next to it. I have about a 30 minute walk to my section but it's not bad. This area is like their downtown. The track lights are really beautiful. I don't know where the teams are staying. There are many hotels around the track. I can see a lot of people in the hotel with what look to be official badges but I don't think there with the teams. Yes, there are some sponsored street parties. They were going on until about 12:30 last night. There are a lot of activities and concerts planned from the schedule. One I will avoid is the Backstreet Boys concert! Downstairs in my lobby Alfa provided a beautiful red metallic 8C. What a gorgous color and the paint is perfect. I can see down in to the pits, albeit far away. I can see the cars accelerate out of the pit lane. To me, it looks extremely dangerous as you enter almost directly into the driving line of Turn 3. Between turn 2 and 3 they get going pretty fast. Turn 3 is more like a hairpin. There are 3 big screen TV's so you can see exactly what the broadcast is. But, the noise drowns out any commentary. When 3 cars go through the same corner, it's absolutely deafening. I have not walked the track yet. I got to my seat about 15 minutes before the 2nd session started. It's hot here so walking the track is not the most pleasant thing to do! One other thing... the pace cars REALLY MOVE. These guys are flying in those Mercedes sedans. They seem to be going as fast as the car will let them. They have no mufflers and it's interesting to hear the AMG V-12's going with no exhaust.
On SPEED they speculated that ING had multiple sponsorship contracts with Renault. The one that had space on the car was canceled imediatley other contracts with different branding (uniforms etc.) may take longer to quit.
Wow! Alfa 8C at the Pan Pacific? I'll be going there later to perv at it! You should come meet up with the Singaporean Fchatters while you're in town
No celebs so far. I know Mika is here and Jackie Stewart but haven't seen them. Don't know about Hollywood types. Who cares?
Cool! Where are you guys? I just saw a flat red F430 spider at the mall across from me. I assume it's one of you guys?
At the launch party of the new official Ferrari dealership, look for us in the Singapore thread in the Asia section!