It's Shades of CART all over again

Jstas

http://jalopnik.com/5296221/eight-teams-break-away-from-f1-form-new-championship

Eight Teams Break Away From F1, Form New Championship

Formula One Teams Association (FOTA), representing eight of F1's major teams, frustrated by deadlocked talks with F1 boss Max "tea-bag" Mosley (pictured), carried out their threat to break away from Formula One and create their own championship series in 2010.

The eight teams, Brawn GP, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso announced their decision following a four-hour meeting tonight ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

FOTA has been frustrated by deadlocked talks with Mosley over his controversial attempt to introduce a voluntary £40m budget cap for teams to curtail a "financial arms race" in F1. Below is the FOTA statement:

Since the formation of Fota last September the teams have worked together and sought to engage the FIA and commercial rights holder (Bernie Ecclestone), to develop and improve the sport."

"Unprecedented worldwide financial turmoil has inevitably placed great challenges before the F1 community.

"Fota is proud that it has achieved the most substantial measures to reduce costs in the history of our sport.

"In particular, the manufacturer teams have provided assistance to the independent teams, a number of which would probably not be in the sport today without the Fota initiatives.

"The Fota teams have further agreed upon a substantial voluntary cost reduction that provides a sustainable model for the future.

"Following these efforts, all the teams have confirmed to the FIA and the commercial rights holder that they are willing to commit until the end of 2012.

"The FIA and the commercial rights holder have campaigned to divide Fota.

"The wishes of the majority of the teams are ignored. Furthermore, tens of millions of dollars have been withheld from many teams by the commercial rights holder, going back as far as 2006.

"Despite this, and the uncompromising environment, Fota has genuinely sought compromise.

"It has become clear, however, the teams cannot continue to compromise on the fundamental values of the sport and have declined to alter their original conditional entries to the 2010 world championship."

This series will have transparent governance, one set of regulations, encourage more entrants and listen to the wishes of the fans, including offering lower prices for spectators worldwide, partners and other important stakeholders," added the statement.

"The major drivers, stars, brands, sponsors, promoters and companies historically associated with the highest level of motorsport will all feature in this new series."

dkg999

About time! Racing should push the man/machine boundries and challenge everyone to up their game. There can also be "drivers" series where the machines are as equal as can be realistically achieved.

As far as limiting budgets, I say let the risk/rewards equation set the budgets. Lower the rewards to bragging rights and you'll lower what people are willing to put into the sport.

ohskigod

I'm not the hugest F1 fan, but I know enough to know those are some big teams leaving.

this is huge....am I wrong?

that guy Mosley just upped the ante on "failed leadership" huh?

F1nut

I'm not surprised it has come to this, the goose stepping Mosley has been trying his best to ruin F1 for a long time. Live live FOTA!

LessisNevermore

F1nut wrote: »

I'm not surprised it has come to this, the goose stepping Mosley has been trying his best to ruin F1 for a long time. Live live FOTA!

FOTAnut?

F1nut

Yeah, I'm not sure what I'm going to do about that.

Jstas

F1nut wrote: »

I'm not surprised it has come to this, the goose stepping Mosley has been trying his best to ruin F1 for a long time. Live live FOTA!

I just surprised that FIA let Ferrari walk or at least get it to the point that Ferrari was threatening to walk. It's almost like Max and Bernie thought Ferrari was bluffing.

Although, once news of Ferrari threatening to walk surfaced I knew the other bigs names would walk if Ferrari did.

Sucks for F1. This is the exact same stuff that killed CART and now we end up with IndyCar, a mere shadow of what CART once was, an actual world class racing championship series.

People have been clamoring for Bernie and his Gestapo to step down for years now. I guess this is what it comes to.




How come it's always the good series that get screwed up and never stuff like NASCAR?

Sami

Jstas wrote: »

Sucks for F1. This is the exact same stuff that killed CART and now we end up with IndyCar, a mere shadow of what CART once was, an actual world class racing championship series.

What makes you think this is actually bad? For F1 yes, but maybe not for the new series. Only Williams and Force India are staying from the current bunch, with 3 newcomers confirmed. Williams hasn't been a power house for years so none of the teams are really a big loss from F1. Biggest issue I see is getting established tracks to run for FOTA as F1 might have exclusive rights that prevent a competing series to run on the same circuits.

ohskigod

Jstas wrote: »

How come it's always the good series that get screwed up and never stuff like NASCAR?

because Nascar actually gives a **** about the fans and the teams. that and their management is not completely inept. just sayin

Vdr1973

Setting budgets for F1 teams makes zero sense. Series like F1 and Lemans actually develope technology that we see in the vehicles we drive today, most recently Audi's
TDI deisel to traction controll, ABS and composites as well as tomorrows KERS systems all of which make todays cars safer and more reliable.I would definitely rather watch
Ferrari vs Mercedes than Toyota vs ???

MacLeod

This is exactly the kind of thing that needs to happen in NASCAR. Brian France and the totally worthless Mike Helton are running NASCAR into the ground!

First they force this stupid new car on the teams that you cant pass in which makes for races where you have one guy lead 397 of 400 laps every race. Then when the drivers **** about it you have this **** stain hold a drivers meeting and tell them all to shut up and drive and if anybody even makes a mean face they get docked hundreds of points and fined thousands of dollars.

These dim bulbs are forgetting about the die hard fans that help make NASCAR what it is in favor or trying to win over some frat boys and soccer moms.

So Im gonna come down on the side of these teams. These a-holes in the top office eventually think THEYRE the reason people are coming to the racetracks and tuning in every week. I would love to see Jeff, Jimmy, Jr, Tony and about 35 others march up to Mike Heltons office and tell them there's going to be some changes around here.

BlueFox

ohskigod wrote: »

because Nascar actually gives a **** about the fans and the teams. that and their management is not completely inept. just sayin

They do??? When did that happen?

If NASCAR did care about the fans there would be no restrictor plate races. The only rule would be a "stock" car has to be based on a model that sells at least 5000 units a year. Other than the basic body style staying reasonably close to the car it is based on, with aerodynamic improvements, there would be no engine, transmission, suspension, etc. restrictions of any kind. Whoever builds the fastest car wins.

Face

Bah, I'd rather see "real" cars again.

W WALDECKER

BlueFox wrote: »

They do??? When did that happen?

If NASCAR did care about the fans there would be no restrictor plate races. The only rule would be a "stock" car has to be based on a model that sells at least 5000 units a year. Other than the basic body style staying reasonably close to the car it is based on, with aerodynamic improvements, there would be no engine, transmission, suspension, etc. restrictions of any kind. Whoever builds the fastest car wins.

If they dont run restrictor plates on the super speedways they would have to severly restrict the cubic inches of the motors at super speedways or run some type of mandated device to limit the rpm's or the cars would be flying off of the tracks and into the stands.A restrictor plate motor makes half as much horsepower as a unrestricted motor and they do this for safety reasons

Systems

W WALDECKER wrote: »

or the cars would be flying off of the tracks and into the stands.A restrictor plate motor makes half as much horsepower as a unrestricted motor and they do this for safety reasons

Yeah think of Edwards accident at Dega if he was going another 20mph faster.:eek:

MacLeod

Im for restrictor plate races cause these guys are doing 205 mph. You let these guys beat and bang on each other at 230 mph youre gonna have a lot more deaths - and spectators will be some of them.

NASCAR has shown they are willing to change (now that their ratings and attendance is dropping) by going to double file restarts. This is a big help in making races fun to watch again. Now if they would go back to the old car (with the new car's safety features) and let the drivers talk trash and theyd really be on to something.

thebluemonkey

Michigan speedway has speeds faster then daga at 205

Vdr1973

Why not change the banking on tracks like Talladega and Daytona? This may be way too
expesive but with less banking you would slow the cars down and put more emphasis
back on the drivers and crew cheifs.

MacLeod

Because as of now, Talladega and Daytona are the most exciting races to watch! This new car is so big and creates so much turbulence behind it that the closer a car gets to its rear, the slower it goes which not only means its much harder to pass but also whoever is in the lead is faster than everybody. Thats why you see so many races where one driver will lead 390 out of 400 laps and as long as he doesnt wreck or get passed on pit road, nothing can stop him.

The super speedways are all about drafting. Pit strategies wont work because you can gain or lose 20 spots in a half a lap. Passing isnt an issue because youre doing it in a draft. So its 100% up to the driver.

Talladega this year had like 26 different leaders. Michigan had maybe 3 or 4 and if you take out the guys that stayed out during a caution to lead a lap youre down to 2. Thats pitifully boring racing right there. So I say keep the super speedways just like they are. Theyre the most exciting races we have right now.

Jstas

This might be some positive news:

Max Mosley forced to quit to avert rebel series

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article6568830.ece


Now if they could just get rid of that creepy Cryptkeeper Ecclestone I think F1 would have a better chance. It would certainly have a better chance in North America. Ecclestone is one of the biggest reasons the U.S. Gran Prix has been such a joke and so few people in the U.S. know anything about F1.

F1nut

About time!!!

Sami

F1nut wrote: »

About time!!!

A bit of an understatement...

Systems

Jstas wrote: »

Ecclestone is one of the biggest reasons the U.S. Gran Prix has been such a joke and so few people in the U.S. know anything about F1.

His greed is why we no longer have a GP,he prefers the Asian and Oil money to tradition.Even though the circuit can't be compared to the likes of Spa,the Montreal race was a popular stop on the GP calendar for fan's and drivers.

F1nut

Proof that he has completely lost his mind.

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-mosley-on-warpath-fota-breakaway-revisited/

Vette C6.r

We need F1 to be F1. There is no other series that has a billion people that watch it.
I'm glad to see that it has now been resolved.

We need more series like the ALMS where you can actually talk to the drivers, crews and see the cars upclose.

Maybe I should change ny sreen name to ALMS nut.

What do yout think Jesse ?

Has anyone ever been to an ALMS event. Very fan friendly. Awesome times.

Vette C6.r

Horrable spelling. Should have proof read. Sorry

Systems

Vette C6.r wrote: »

We need more series like the ALMS where you can actually talk to the drivers, crews and see the cars upclose.

That's what I liked about going to the IMSA GT, SCCA Trans AM and Formula Atlantic races at Mosport back in the day. I even got to walk down the grid minutes before the start of an FA and a TA race.It was a lot of fun and it was nice to see a few of the guys that were there move up the ladder to bigger and better things.

Vette C6.r

AYYY. The IMSA GTP's were the crazies cars I have ever seen. Wicked cool and blindly fast.

I watched the Porsche 962 rocket down the Glen ( before inter-loop ) at 220 mph. On a freaking road course !!!!!!!!

SCCA TA was also awesome. Great cars and 1hr , go like hell, races.

AHHH the good ol' days.

ALMS is still pretty close.

The Vette team is a very friendly and fun group of drivers and crews.

Nothing like real road racing.

Systems

Vette C6.r wrote: »

The Vette team is a very friendly and fun group of drivers and crews.

So I take it you have forgiven Fellows for driving a Mustang (or is that Mudstain?:D)back in his TA days.He' a class act.

Vette C6.r

Awesome guy Fellows is. Class act. Johnny is a close friend. The whole org. is really what racing should be.

His long stint in the Vette's and Caddy's made up for his brief "junk"stang days.

Hard to talk bad about the Stangs. Wouldn't have been the same without the Ford Chevy wars.

Besides Kendall is also a friend and another really friendly person to talk to.

I am guessing GV that you are a hockey fan just like Fellows. Not a huge hockey fan but I thought he was part owner of the Maple Leafs.

Systems

Vette C6.r wrote: »

Hard to talk bad about the Stangs. Wouldn't have been the same without the Ford Chevy wars.

True.Can't remember the year but Scott Sharp in his Camaro smoked Ronnie badly on his home track.:eek: I really liked the body work on those TA cars be it a Stang or Camaro Vette they all looked great.

Besides Kendall is also a friend and another really friendly person to talk to.

Cool.He was a dominate force in TA for sure.

I am guessing GV that you are a hockey fan just like Fellows. Not a huge hockey fan but I thought he was part owner of the Maple Leafs.

Yep I'm a hockey fan but most definately not a Leafs fan.Fellow's is from the metro Toronto area so would likely be a Leafs fan but I'm not aware of him being a part owner,but he may be part owner of their minor league team?