We are in the thick of summer and about every series is past the midway point. A few series are starting summer breaks. MotoGP is coming back from its summer break next week. Some championships are close, others aren't.
Once again, this is just for fun. In case you are new, this is my gut reaction to headlines without reading the article. Of course, the gripes I have may be answered in the article.
This month we have a dozen headlines and we will start with Formula E because it wants the attention and it knows it.
Pressure Mounting for U.S. West Coast Return
Who? Who on the West Coast of the United States wants Formula E back? Most of Long Beach still doesn't know if ever hosted a Formula E race. Where would Formula E go? I bet it thinks it can shut down Los Angeles and that is how you win over Los Angeles, by creating more traffic. San Francisco is a no. Seattle, pass. Phoenix wouldn't care. Is Denver west enough?
Las Vegas is where this race will happen because it isn't as expensive as Formula One and it could easily be run during the early afternoon when everybody is still sleeping and no one would notice that a junk of the roads are closed in the afternoon. And after a year or two the event will disappear.
Vergne and Lotterer fined for underwear offence
I don't get this one. How do you forget and more importantly, who is checking? How does the checking work? Strip search? Who checks? How do you get that job and what do you say to your parents?
"I got a job."
"That's great, what is it?"
"FIA underwear checker."
What is the response after that? And you got to ask, have there been any oopses where a driver doesn't realize he or she is commando and reveals themselves to a completely innocent person? And if you get that job, you have to realize there is a chance you are going to see something you thought you would never see in your life.
Formula E revises qualifying, raises grid penalties
Yes, because if there is one thing we have learned from Formula One is more grid penalties is what people want. People want a driver who qualified eighth to be knocked back 75 positions in a 20-car field because that makes sense to do.
I don't push IndyCar into the spotlight like some people do but keep it simple stupid. I am not sure grid penalties have saved any teams money nor do I think grid penalties have made it more financially competitive for teams with lesser resources. Let's stop the charade.
Will Formula 1 or Formula E be on top in 15 years?
Formula One. Next... actually, on to Formula One...
Why Singapore is one of F1's most important races
Because it is under the lights and that is about it. It isn't a great race. People aren't drawn to the race itself. They are flies drawn to the lights and more specifically because it is held in a 21st century metropolis they are drawn because of the soft power it gives people to say they went to Singapore for a Formula One race. Is there a more pretentious sentence in motorsports? Give Formula E a minute, it will come up with something better.
Steiner: F1 has no midfield anymore
Give it time; it will come back. You have Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull at the top followed by a 40-second gap then Renault, Haas, McLaren and Toro Rosso and after those teams you have Sauber, Williams and a broke Force India.
So there is a midfield it is just further away that it once way.
Russell: Leclerc's Sauber success helping F1 juniors like me
How George Russell? If anything Charles Leclerc's Sauber success is helping Sauber because Leclerc's presence is getting Sauber Ferrari money and Alfa Romeo branding. If Charles Leclerc didn't have a manufacture willing to spend money to get him on the grid he would be Fabio Leimer or Davide Valsecchi. Ok, maybe he would be Sam Bird or Luca Filippi and end up in Formula E but he wouldn't be in Formula One.
George, you better hope Mercedes is willing to spend the same on you because Lewis Hamilton isn't going anywhere, Valterri Bottas isn't going anywhere and if one of them were leaving Daniel Ricciardo would get the call before you. Oh the trials of a young, successful development driver: Good but not proven.
Norris says 2018 season "my worst ever"
It only gets harder kid. Lando Norris sounds like a nice kid and he gets a lot of praise but he comes off like a snot nose punk. Oh, you are 18 years old and you are facing your first bit of adversity. Poor baby.
Will any MotoGP rider ever emulate John Surtees?
No, not in the way you are thinking in a world champion on two wheels and four. I am sure it is matter for debate but I would say there are a handful of gentlemen who have emulated and gone on to surpass what Surtees did on a motorcycle but in the way we remember John Surtees I do not think Marc Márquez, Maverick Viñales or someone currently in Moto3 will do it.
It is not that I do not think a rider could ever take the risk but I doubt any would and more importantly I do not think there is anyone in the Formula One world who would have the patience necessary to seriously give someone the chance. I think it is possible, especially if a rider decided at the age of 23, 24 or 25 to make the transition, but it would take time and patience and the Formula One teams do not have those two things.
Can two Bay Area IndyCar events thrive?
Apparently not because Sonoma backed out.
Chase Briscoe to tackle the "Daytona of dirt racing" at Eldora
Nobody calls it that. Nobody says the "Daytona of dirt racing" although Fox will run with it now because that is what Fox does. It is Eldora and it is an overrated event for the Truck series. It is a novelty that will soon wear off or be mass-produced to the point where it will no longer be special, you know, what NASCAR always does.
Talladega Superspeedway to undertake $50 million infield renovation
Yes. Because this is where $50 million needs to go. Have any of these infield renovations worked? I know they say they are doing it to improve the fan experience but I think we are inflating motorsports fans expectations. You could improve the experience and spend $2 million, maybe $3 million tops. Just have clean bathrooms, good parking lots, maybe cover a grandstand or two, don't charge an outrageous amount for a suspect hot dog and allow fans to get close to the cars. I am trying to figure out how having the fans watch the cars in garage behind glass or from walkways above like they are at the zoo is better. It sounds worse. It is the illusion of being on top of the action and yet being quarantined.
July was busy and here is August. Silly season will be picking up soon. A few series will start to look to 2019. More sponsors will announce they are leaving series. The fun is just beginning.
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