US F1 car to make Alabama debut

[slowautoxr]

F1 info starts at minute 21.

[Jedi1]

do the words Peter Windsor, Integrity and lost it all appear anywhere in there?

[kilgojr]

do the words Peter Windsor, Integrity and lost it all appear anywhere in there?

Bob is pretty hard nosed about it all and does say that it will be a serious blow to American "ingenuity" in the motorsports world if all of this does not come about. He does go into a bit more of the ins and outs of what they have been doing and talking about over at the shop in USF1, and how they differ from some of the other start up teams.

It is not as much of the "put on the nice face, and kiss up to us Youtube" stuff that has been put out there so far.

[Jedi1]

And it seems to be nothing that we didn't already know. It's just that it hasn't been talked about by someone in Varsha's position before. We've been saying exactly the same things for months.

[kilgojr]

http://www.motorsport-total.com/f1/news/2010/02/Campos_und_US_F1_Aus_zwei_mach_eins_10021611.html

German rumor mill.....USF1 and Campos are joining forces? That is what they are saying...Chad Hurley is getting itchy fingers to see the USF1 car on the track. Campos has one driver, USF1 has one driver. Campos has Dallara chassis, USF1 has all the resources but no "official car". Interesting, but hopefully it will become clearer this week as USF1 has their car at Cranfield Impact Centre for crash test.

[kilgojr]

Also Sean, I found the picture of the Virgin wing repair.....kinda janky fix if you ask me.


original
Virgin wing.JPG
fixed
Virgin Wing II.JPG

[Jedi1]

I think the only way either of those teams will see the grid is if they combine efforts. Makes sense in the long run, but it completely kills the intent of "USF1". We knew it was crap from the first uttering of "we fully intend to find competitive US born drivers", but it at least sounded nice for the press.

The season hasn't even started and we already have so much to talk about!

[rodhx]

latest via AutoWeek...
-----------------------------------
An Argentinean media outlet is reporting that the U.S. F1 team has ground to a halt, and that its only named driver, José María López, is trying desperately to find an alternate seat for this season.

Allegedly "with tears in his eyes," U.S. F1 boss Peter Windsor told López, the driver's father and his close associate, F1 TV producer Felipe McGough, that the team will miss the first three races of the season and most likely the whole championship.

The Argentine government was among López's backers and reportedly had paid the team nearly $900,000 of a promised $2 million.

López reportedly has headed for Europe to try to find another seat. The only one still vacant is that at Campos Meta F1, but that team's own future remains under question, despite ongoing negotiations with several potential saviors.

There could also be a possibility at Stefan GP alongside Kazuki Nakajima. The team does not have an entry for its Toyota-built cars, but there remains the chance that Bernie Ecclestone could negotiate a deal that sees the Serbian team in effect take over the U.S. F1 or Campos entry and associated paperwork.

Rumors are also circulating that YouTube founder Chad Hurley has backed out of U.S. F1 because of its lack of progress. He has been linked with Campos, but sources suggest that he may be more likely to take his funding to an established team.


AutoWeek | Updated: 02/17/10, 5:25 pm et

Article URL: http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...1/F1/100219907
Entire contents ©2010 Crain Communications, Inc.

[rodhx]

the news gets worse. from paddocktalk.com this morning...
===========================
F1 UPDATE: All Over For USF1 Except The Obituary ?

USF1 wants permission to miss the first four races of its debut season in 2010, team principal Ken Anderson has admitted.

With the Charlotte based outfit having responded to the latest wave of rumours by insisting "we are not gone", Anderson has now told the New York Times that USF1 is in financial trouble.

"We're working with the FIA to clarify how many races we can miss," he told the newspaper.

Anderson said the Concorde Agreement allows a team to miss three races per season, but the sport's governing body recently clarified that it would "constitute an infringement" of the rules.

He said he is waiting for a reply from Jean Todt, adding: "In an ideal world, we can miss the first four races and show up in Barcelona."

Anderson admitted that the FIA might turn down USF1's request and put the team out of business.

"I guess anything's possible. But what would be the point of that?" he said.

"Why would they give us a franchise and just, the first time there's a bump in the road, yank it and put it out of business? That's definitely not the message that I'm getting from them. They want to help us, not shut us down," added Anderson.

He said a quick answer from the FIA president "triggers funding and we're good to go".

"If it takes another week or two to make a decision, it keeps backing up," said Anderson.

He also clarified that Jose Maria Lopez remains under contract to race for USF1 in 2010, but did not contradict rumours that the Argentine could sign with another team.

"I'm sure he's weighing his options as well," Anderson admitted, also denying that YouTube's Chad Hurley and sporting director Peter Windsor had left the team.



PaddockTalk Perspective

As much as we'd like to see USF1 on track and racing...

If Stefen GP is ready to go at Bahrain... then so be it. USF1 have had more than a year to get their act together... This isn't the first bump in the road this is simply delaying what appears to be inevitable.

[Jedi1]

They are dead. They just are.

[slowautoxr]

Dang.