I never had any doubts about them being anything but the back end. The real question remains however whether they're even make it there. As under/non-funded as this team is, there is no chance in hell they're going anywhere. They also have nobody of any pedigree in their engineering department nor a crew of experience. It is cute when folks stand by their NASCAR "engineering" people, but let's face it, Charlotte got nothing on Woking, Maranello or even Hinwil. Compared to NASCAR F1 is from a different planet. They could put Schumacher and Alonso in these cars (assuming they exist at some point) and they'd still be dead last. Lets not kid ourselves here. That said, a US based team could make it big in F1. But not with a clown like PeeWee at the helm.
I have read that Campos Meta are having cash trouble, getting it that is, and they looked rock solid at the start. Drivers that come with money is the probably the answer.
+1. Good point Steve. Minardi and Jordan and many other backmarker teams stayed around for years hiring pay-drivers in the 80s and 90s...not through choice but through necessity. In fact the practice was so widespread in that era that Honda were SHOCKED that Williams didn't take on Nakajima (Satoru) to keep the Honda engines after the 87 season. They pulled their engine from Williams and went to McLaren (leaving Williams with the lowly rated Judd engine for the 88 season with the corresponding lack of results- no wins for the defending WCC Williams team). Lotus took Nakajima on in 87 and the dominant turbo Honda engine came with him as well and as long as Nakajima was there they kept the Honda engine. As soon as he left to go to Tyrrell the Honda engines went to Tyrrell as well. The huge budgets and mushrooming costs for F1 teams over the years have meant that many times less talented pay-drivers have to be taken on simply to keep the doors open.
+2 For sure - And, it's been that way since the dawn of the series..... They've *all* used "buy-a-riders" over the years....
I live a couple of hours away in Gerogia and I'm thinking of driving over there if they provide definitive dates. I was at the track a few months ago - they have an awesome motorcycle museum with plate glass windows providing a great view of the track. I'm thinking for the $15 admission I could get a dry, warm view of any testing - assuming theymuseum is open. Btw the museum also contains a few ex-F1 cars and an homage to John Surtees - well worth the visit. It's a beautiful undulating track in a great (albeit somewhat remote) setting.
I think the USF1 plan is just to make it on the grid this year. Then they can (in their eyes) ride it out until... 1) The economy improves AND 2) The cost cutting measures are implemented, making them a realistic contender OR 3) Interest in F1 from manufacturers rises again, and they can sell their spot to one of the big guys who wants to get in. I am sure PeeWee is selling it as a sure thing to any interested parties. Either they succeed in F1 or they sell the "team" for a handsome sum. Unfortunately I think PeeWee will ride the denial bus all the way to bankruptcy. But we'll see
"They" probably won't, but if we can find a source that'll let us know when the trucks show up, be ready...... [A "circuit worker" would be *perfect*.....] No, no, no.... 1 - If it's wet they're screwed - They *may* do an installation lap or two, but I doubt any more.... 2 - We don't want pix from a cozy museum! You've gotta get out there - preferably by climbing thru' fences, getting muddy, etc and grab those spy shots That it's "remote" is good - Security shouldn't be too bad..... Cheers, Ian
Godamit Is! - Beer out the nose!..... "I remember 'em well" - Unfortunately. Not the Luftwaffe, fortunately, but the *legendary* Spitfire - Oh dear, oh dear...... Cheers, Ian
Ah yes. My favorite Triumph moment was when one of my rear wheels passed me in a turn. "All Parts Falling Off This Car are Of The Highest Quality British Manufacture" Good times
*Favorite* moment! The others must've really sucked Ever have one catch fire? That was always good value IME.....
Never had a Fiat catch fire on me - Their problem, IME, was an inability to keep their oil inside their engines....
I was backing out the driveway quickly one morning, hit a hole and one of the rear axles on my Spitfire broke and the wheel rolled on to the lawn. My brother and I just looked at each other and got out of the car without a word.
In Canada, it wasn't oil or fire but ergonomics. Difficult to reach the pedals when your seat is on the ground .
I have never, ever, heard either marques products referred to as "paragons of reliability" before! That sucker must've been *bad*!
When I left the Pontiac dealer's repair shop heading directly to the VW dealer to trade it in on a Jetta the GM mechanics (whom I'd come to know far too well) asked me to call and tell them if it made it and if they actually took it. Bad doesn't come close.
I like how even though the driver is somewhat exposed, the seat is high enough so that if the car rolls over, six people can get under the car to lower the driver out onto a stretcher...LMAO! MB
Mike, I see you have come around: You and I were absolute non believers in USF1 and it looks now, that both of us have moved towards the middle, where we can imagine the possibility of a car on the grid, but not much else. I agree with all your points btw. I think there is a good chance now that they will make it to the grid, be forever dead last with the sole intention of finding sponsors or sell to the highest bidders once the economy of the car manufacturers has turned enough to come back and paying big bucks to be in it. Quite frankly I have a bit of mixed feelings about it: I can't stand PeeWee and wouldn't mind if he fell off the planet forever, but to have a US team in F1 is really enticing and something worth cheering for. Even if they suck, doesn't matter. And as long as PeeWee is busy running USF1, he won't be doing the dreadful grid walk for Speed TV. I just hope his former buddies won't be giving him much airtime through interviews etc.
Here's what I don't get with the reaction to USF1 on here. First there are complaints that nothing's been heard from them and that they appear to be a team in name only. Then, everytime they make an announcment as to their progress, it gets slated as being "alot of hot air" and "it'll never happen". Now apart from: there seems to be very little in the way of queries when in comes to the progress of other teams, who have put out as little, if not less, information than USF1. It seems to be that people are hoping USF1 fail miserably in order to say: "Told you so!".
