F1: Is Bernie That Spiteful of North America?...

Ever since F1 dropped the Canadian Grand Prix earlier this month, that's been the multi million dollar question. Since the fiasco at the 2005 United States Grand Prix, F1 in North America has slowly dropped off in popularity and stature, eventually leading to its removal in 2007 from the Formula 1 World Championship. The Canadian GP is a bit of a different story, as bad promoting and unpaid claims between promoters and F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone, head of Formula One Management.

All this makes me wonder...Is Bernie that spiteful of N. America? he even went on saying "Formula one doesn't even need America", shortly after the Indianapolis demise. Some time after that, the FIA has expanded to other tracks around the world - China, Turkey, Bahrain, and most notably Singapore and Valencia, Spain. Basically ignoring the US & Canada entirely

I believe that the continent deserves a race somewhere, anywhere!, personally. Its a global sport, and to take out a major continent, deprives all of the fans of F1 of actually wanting to see a great series around the world. Also, the series is based on manufactures, there's no denying that. Mercedes (McLarren), Ferrari, BMW, & Toyota all have a major automotive market here in N. America, and with the recent dropping out of Montreal, I believe it has irritated the manufacturers just a little bit more, to say the least.

"It is a problem that must be dealt with seriously by Ecclestone. F1 is a global sport and we must be in North America,"
Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari Team President speaking on the issue, after Canada's demise

Recently, the mayor of Montreal, Gerald Trudeau, says its "still possible" to save the Canadian GP. I hope so, to be honest with you, and bring back the U.S. while you're at it, because we're not all huge fans of NASCAR, like many would believe. F1 is very different, as I know, watching a ferarri scream by me at 150 miles per hour and I was 5 feet away from the rumble strips. Don't deny the North American fans of something as exciting as that, Bernie.

Photo Credit: F1 Fanatic.co.uk

Formula One: Alonso to BMW Sauber?

Its a possibility. Rumors were confirmed to the Spanish media that BMW Sauber and 2 time Formula 1 World Champion, Fernando Alonso of Renault have talked about the chance of having a ride with BMW for 2009. This year has been a bit of a disappointment, since he has suffered from 3 DNF's, and no podiums or wins, but nothing probably compared to the nightmare of his time spent in the McLarren stable (a.k.a. "Mclarri" for how silly that season went down) When asked about future commitments in formula one, he said he will not announce anything after the Singapore GP. So in other words, we'll have to wait & see. oh, and a bit of a tip to know? He's been highly praised by Honda Team Engineer Ross Brawn as a driver. Who's the last driver Brawn Praised? Miachel Schumacher, when he and Braun himself worked for Benneton & Ferrari, earning 7 world championships.

Scotty Doesnt Know....How to Quit, Kubica's Comeback, Khane's Win in Pocono, & The Battle of the Diesels - The Remix

Texas Motor Speedway - Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon won the Bombardier Lear Jet 550, extending his lead to 35 points in the IRL Indy Car Series championship over Team Penske's Helio Castroneves. The race ended under caution when second place Marco Andertti (Andretti Green racing) and 3rd place Ryan Hunter-Reay (Rahal-Letterman Racing) at the time collided with each other towards the end of the race

The "Mclarri" (McLaren & Ferarri) Streak is Broken!!!!....Robert Kubica Wins Formula One's Canadian Grand Prix...breaking the stranglehold in the series, usually ending by Mclaren or Ferrari going to the podium. It's his first career win, and BMW Sauber earned its first 1-2 finish. David Coulthard, was so excited to finish 3rd, he was literally running from his parked car in the pits to get to the podium. the next race will be @ the French Grand Prix in Magny-Cours, France (much to the disappointment of most Americans like myself, considering the Canadian G.P. is the only North American stop on the F1 tour this year)



Rolex Series: Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Pruett won the 6 hours @ the Glen in Watkins Glen, NY, extending his points lead....and being a Ganassi fan, kinda makes me a little happy, to be honest. They're 34 points ahead of defending series champions - The Gainsco Pontiac Riley Team, headed by Bob Stallings



NASCAR Sprint Cup: As much as I personally am not into the whole NASCAR thing, I gotta respect Kasey Kahne for winning the race at Pocono. I didn't see much of the race, but i know it was long hard & fought one, mostly because the 500 miles just seem to have gone on forever, almost...at least Toyota still has the manufacturer's points lead, and I hope they might win it, come November in Homestead






Le Mans Series: Finally, the wait is over...The 76Th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is less than a week away. Can the Peugeot Team repeat the dominant-like run of their first few stints of the 12 Hours of Sebring over the Audi R10? It should be an interesting battle of the diesels


Photos Courtesy of: Indy Racing League, American Le Mans Series, Toyota, Canada.com, The UK Mirror

Racing News & Notes - March 9, 2008...

French manufacturer Peugeot getting ready to run the 12 Hours of Sebring - March 15, 2008



NASCAR

Sprint Cup:

Today's race for the is the Kobalt Tools 500, from Atlanta Motor Speedway, and Jeff Gordon is on the pole position for today's race

Craftsman Trucks:

Friday Night, kyle Busch pulled away from Ron Hornaday to win the American Commercial Lines 200, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Busch is currently at the top of the points standings for the second consecutive week

Nationwide Series:

Matt Kenseth wins the Nicorette 300, from Atlanta Motor Speedway , holding off Kevin Harvick in a green-white-checkered finish

Indy Racing League / Champ Car

A little more than a week since the merger between the IRL and Champ Car was made infamous, teams went out to Sebring, FL from March 3-6, 2008 to do some testing of the new road course version of the Indy car. new additions were made to the cars, some of which are: paddle shift gearboxes, collapsible steering columns, & etc. Ryan Briscoe of Team Penske lead the session with a time of 52.42 seconds (114.689 mph) on the final day of testing. The Indy Racing League season begins @ Homestead Miami Speedway for the Gainsco Indy 300, March 29, 2008

American Le Mans Series / Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series

The countdown to the 56Th annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring is less than a week away, and all the teams are ready. for the first time this year, French manufacturer, Peugeot, will race in the 12 hours, most likely as a preparation race for the 24 hours of Le Mans. I personally expect Audi to take the win, like they have done in years past, but other teams, like the Team Penske Porsche's, as well as Peugeot themselves (they finished second to the Audi's at Last year's Le Mans 24 Hour), may make the race a little challenging for them to do so. The race begins on March 15, 2008, and is the season opener to the American Le Mans Series

The Rolex Sports Car Series ends their 4 week long break with some testing taken at the Homestead Miami Speedway, last week. their season continues on March 29, 2008 @ Homestead, on the same weekend as the Indy Racing League Indy Car Series

Formula One

The 2008 Formula One World championship Begins on Sunday - march 16, 2008 in Melborune, Australia, at the Albert Park Circuit. All teams, such as McLaren, Ferarri, BMW Williams, and Renault and the Middle East. It should be an exciting season, especially after the amazing season we had last year, with teams having brand new chassis to start, and since they have concluded their testing at tracks in Europe and the Middle East, as well. It was a great season in F1 last year, as well as a controversial one on and off the track - with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton almost winning the championship as a rookie - missing out to Kimi Raikkonen of Frearri, which has never been done in the history of the world championship, and ended up being the closest points race in history - by a single point. Hopefully, McLaren and Ferarri will keep their noses clean this year

Starting Lap

Hello There,

This is Jessen St. Hilaire- Owner of The Hot Lap. This blog will be on the subject of motorsports, motorsports news...just about anything relating to the one thing I've been passionate about for most of my adult life - Motorsports & Racing. Since living near racetracks Like Homestead-Miami Speedway, Moroso Motorsports Park, & Daytona International Speedway, and being a corner worker on these tracks for the Sports Car Club of America, it helps out quite a bit. I'll try to cover as much as I can, on series like these mostly, if not more:

NASCAR
American Le Mans Series
Grand Am Rolex Series
Indy Racing League
Champ Car
Formula One

And since this is a blog, you're more than welcome to post your opinions as well...good or bad, on any series you can find, anywhere in the world - the Internet, and this blog, isn't only limited to America. And with that, I leave you with this tidbit of me. its a photo of me attending my very first race - an Indy car event @ Homestead Miami Speedway from 2001. Peace.