The Japanese Grand Prix! (spoilers within)

[bigC]

the second to last race of the F1 season, The Japanese Grand Prix! :D :beer:

the race starts at 1:00 AM EST in the Tdot. sigh. i hate the far east.

Alonso has won the championship, but the contructor's is still up for grabs, a fight for first btw Renault and Merecedes, whilst Toyota is fighting Ferrari for third. the drivers are still racing for points, pride, and in the case of people like JV or Sato, seats in next year's season. Friday practice results: Zonta (Toyota) first, Schumie second, de la Rosa third. Kimi in his Mercedes has had yet another engine failure. the season from hell continues. the Toyotas have so far outpaced the Hondas in the battle of the giant Japanese auto-manufacturers.

story: http://www.formula1.com/race/news/3687/749.html
results: http://www.formula1.com/race/result/749/10.html

and, Kimi's woes continue: http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/news_story.asp?id=138980

Sato to drive in a Honda b-team? i'd really like to see the pictures he has of Honda exces in unflattering situations--how else can you explain a team being founded around a sub-par kamikaze driver? still, another team in F1 is good news. http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/news_story.asp?id=138896 or, will he disappear from F1 altogether? http://www.formula1.com/race/news/3683/749.html more on Sato: http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/19977/

changes to qualifying for next year? i don't mind the single flying lap system (it is better then the two day cumulative system they used). but, next year, i really do hope that the teams will be allowed to change tires during the race.http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/formula_one/news_story.asp?ID=138984&hubName=auto_racing-formula_one

Lauda: F1 still needs Schumie, who may be even more detremined to win next year: http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/news_story.asp?id=138802 while Flabio Breeze-atore believes Alonso can be as good as Schumie (in his wet dreams): http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/news_story.asp?id=138801

what are the odds? the other Fernando Alonso: http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/news_story.asp?id=138216

the split of F1 and several main teams (BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Renault, Toyota and Honda) may be on again: http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/news_story.asp?id=138005 but RBR (Ferrari) and Williams (Cosorth) have stated that they will stay in F1. http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/news_story.asp?id=138075 and: http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/news_story.asp?id=138615 umm, will they ever learn? a split will destroy the sport: see IRL/Champ Car, both series have suffered since they parted ways.

JV has said to anyone willing to listen that he will drive for Sauber/BMW next year. umm, not so fast. Wurz (an Austrian) wants the jobs, as does Davidson (test driver for BAR). so, what to do? hire an ageing champ? or, have a shoot-out for the job! the last time this was proposed, JV walked away from F1: http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/formula_one/news_story.asp?ID=137843&hubName=

[Shamrock]

According to SPEEDTV, Sato is absolutely gone. And Honda was so furious that they took over full management, and even bought out BAR from the team. Barrichello and Button is the lineup for Honda. Dunno about the B- team. This isnt confirmed, just SPEED's "sources", so salt it.

I also hope they are allowed to change tires, especially with the new V8's (breakdowns, more torque, etc.)

**EDITED for UPDATE!**

watching qualifying, and they just said that Honda will sponsor Sato "somewhere". Does that mean Honda will provide engines to anyone who will pick up Sato, or will they have the "B Team"? Hmmm....

[bigC]

Toyota's Ralf Schumacher gets the pole, followed by Button in 2nd and Fisichella in 3rd. Schumie, Alonso, Kimi were well off the pace, and JPM had no time, due to a rain soaked course. if there is rain for the race, it should be interesting, like Spa a few weeks ago.

story: http://www.formula1.com/race/news/3694/749.html
results: http://www.formula1.com/race/result/749/22.html

[Shamrock]

Yes, I watched it all...with 6 people to go, it started a DOWNPOUR!

[lightman]

Amazing race by Kimi. Truly a champ. Good race by Alonso, too.

Montoya is an ass, as usual. Dennis should kick him out of the team now and replace him with one of the mechanics, really.

Sato is the usual kamikaze, but I like him for no special reason nonetheless ;)

All in all, a really good race to watch :)

[bigC]

Kimi drove an amazing race, passing Fisichelsa on the last lap to steal the victory (especially since he started in 17th). there was also some superb driving from Alonso, especially the pass of Schumie on the outside of 130R (at 180 mph or so). great race all around. good showing by Webber and DC, but the Japanese auto-giants must be disappointed. while the best driver in F1 (never to win a race) did lead the race for a while, as did R Schumacher, both finished poorly, with Button in 5th and Ralf in 8th. Schumie finished 7th for Ferrari.

Renault now has a two point lead over McLaren-Mercedes in the constructors championship, with Ferrari in third (18 points ahead of Toyota). with one more race left in the season, there is still something to race for.

story: http://www.formula1.com/race/news/3701/749.html
results: http://www.formula1.com/race/result/749/8.html

some race fall-out:

Kamikaze Sato was disqualified from the race because of his idocy, ramming into Trulli,. the interview of Trulli on the ITV feed was priceless--he basically called him the worst driver in F1, reckless and stupid. great stuff. also, JV was penalized 25 secs because apparently he caused JPM's accident (that can't help his chances for keeping the seat in BMW next year): http://www.formula1.com/race/news/3705/749.html

Ferrari: is it 2006 yet? they really can't wait until the start of next season, when they hope to have a competitive car: http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=34303

Alonso: i could have won the race: http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=34298

while Kimi couldn't be revels in his victory: http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=34295

in one week, the final race of the 2005 season, the Chinese Grand Prix! :D :beer:

[FlyVomit]

Wow that was great

[Shamrock]

You call a 5th place finish "dissappointing" for Button? :rofl

That's a GOOD finish for him :-P

[BrianG]

Great drive by Kimi.

Funny moment on the US broadcast - In reference to the pass Kimi made on Fisi, one of the commentators of UK origin said there wasn't room for a "fag packet" between them to which the US guy said, "uhhhh, that would be a cigarette pack".

[bigC]

You call a 5th place finish "dissappointing" for Button? :rofl

That's a GOOD finish for him :-Pwell, there was a point in the race when his PR team, the announcers for ITV, said that he was going to win the race, and they were drooling all over him. starting 2nd and finishing 5th--not good, especially at Honda's home race.