Ferrari Mailing List: Ferrari Testing, Stray Dogs, and Sand

[Red5hilser (Red5hilser]

the latest from the F1 soap opera . . . I liked the one about the  French and 
deducting points for their lack of good taste. <g>   --  Yer pal, Ferrari 
Bubba
 

 (http://www.pitpass.com/)             20 Febuary  2009   Nobody Gets You  
Closer       
This week on  Pitpass
 (http://www.grandprixlegends.com/motorsport-and-f1-merchandise/?afc=PITEML) 
All in all, it's been a bit of a crazy week.  
On Monday ING finally confirmed that it is  pulling out of F1, ending its 
sponsorship of the  Renault F1 Team, its trackside advertising and  title 
sponsorship of races.  
With the Dutch banking group having issued a  warning late last year that it 
was to cut back  on expenditure, Monday's news was expected, with  many in the 
pitlane convinced that this will not  be the last sponsor to turn its back on 
the  sport.  
If nothing else, the news means that Renault  might settle on a more 
acceptable livery in  2010. Having just got used to the blue and  yellow paint 
job 
with which Fernando Alonso won  two titles, this year's colour scheme has many  
fans calling on the FIA to deduct points from  the French manufacturer on the 
grounds of bad  taste.  
Talking of bad taste, there have been plenty  of dodgy headlines in the media 
this week  following the news that Richard Branson's Virgin  Group is 
considering buying the beleaguered  Honda team.  
The rumours began on Monday and have  continued ever since. While we have 
heard  soundbites from Bernie Ecclestone, and a warning  from a Honda (Japan) 
spokesman, who said; "the  team may still have to be disbanded if the  
negotiations fail", we have seen little in the  way of facts and no sort of 
comment from 
Branson  or Virgin.  
With the clock well and truly ticking, let's  hope that a solution can be 
found in time. That  said, it goes without saying that we hope that  it is the 
right solution.  
Ferrari, BMW and Toyota continued testing in  Bahrain this week, and while 
there were no  sandstorms - merely a mild plague of stray dogs  - each team has 
its own problems, with Ferrari  suffering at the hands of its KERS system.  
Talking of KERS, Williams has confirmed that  it will not use the device in 
Australia, with  Nico Rosberg claiming that the Grove outfit  won't introduce 
its flywheel based system until  Turkey.  
Next Tuesday, the men behind USF1 will hold a  press conference at which 
details of this  exciting project will be made public. Other than  the prospect 
of 
a new, all-American F1 team, the  other thing that has had people excited 
this  week is that Danica Patrick is being tipped for  a seat. That said, 
earlier 
today the Indy Car  driver said she knew nothing about USF1 and  certainly 
hadn't talked to them.  
While Bernie might be salivating at the  prospect of Danica Patrick and 
Virgin coming  into F1, he will be less impressed by comments  made by Red 
Bull's 
Dietrich Mateschitz this  week, the Austrian claiming that the sport  should be 
owned by the participants, i.e. the  teams.  
Less than 24-hours later, FOTA President Luca  di Montezemolo announced that 
he is hosting a  press conference next month at which he will  give details of 
the teams' plans for the future  of the sport.  
This weekend sees A1GP head to the legendary  Kyalami circuit in South 
Africa, where Team  Ireland will be looking to extend its leads.  Even if team 
boss 
Mark Gallagher wasn't a member  of the Pitpass team we'd wish them well, but  
since he is… good luck guys!!!  
As ever, we'll be here throughout the weekend  bringing you all the A1GP 
action from Kyalami  and, of course, any developments concerning  Honda.  
OK, that's enough from me, see you next week.   
_Chris  Balfe_ (mailto:editor [at] pitpass.com?Subject=pitpass_newsletter) 
Editor  
Check out the pitpass forum _here_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/src/forum/pitpass_forum.php)   
 (http://www.vintagemotorphoto.com/) 
Absolutely everything you need to know about  this weekend's A1GP event at 
Kyalami,  South Africa - session times and reports,  quotes, standings and 
pictures... _right here_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/src/a1gp/seasons/2008_2009/race/gauteng/index.php)   
 (http://www.absoluteauthentic.com/default.asp) 

 (http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=36963) 

    
This Week's Top Headlines  

Ecclestone: Branson keen on Honda _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37079) 
Patrick unaware of USF1 project _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37076) 
Ecclestone would welcome Virgin _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37075) 
A stark reminder from Honda _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37074) 
A1GP: Mexico race dropped _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37072) 
Williams: No KERS in Melbourne _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37071) 
Red Bull will not stand in Vettel's way _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37070) 
FOTA to reveal its plans for F1 _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37067) 
A1GP heads to Kyalami _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37073) 
Branson and Richards in joint bid? _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37065) 
Honda confirms Virgin interest _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37064) 
Mateschitz: Teams should own F1 _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37062) 
Virgin and Honda _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37058) 
Stewart: Britain must not lose GP _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37049) 
Rosberg: No KERS until Turkey? _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37048) 
USF1 targeting Patrick? _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37044) 
Senna: Not signed for Honda _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37043) 
Official: ING ends F1 sponsorship _more_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37042)  

Testing

Bahrain
_16-02_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37046) , 
_17-02_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37060) 
_18-02_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37068) , 
_19-02_ 
(http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37078)   
Next  Test
Jerez - 1 Mar  


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