Las Vegas Grand Prix starts off as a sh*tshow...

Puma Cat

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Well, the much-hyped and incredibly-expensive Las Vegas Grand Prix started off as a veritable sh*tshow. Only 9 minutes into FP1, Carlos Sainz runs over a steel drain cover at >300 kph that does extensive damage to his car's underbody, engine and battery system.

b939b950-8506-11ee-b969-621e2963d27b


Carlos.jpg


Then, because Sainz will now require a new battery system, he's been penalized...10 seconds on his grid position.

And here's the icing on the cake, because FP2 got started about 5 hours late, after midnight, and now it's the next day, the organizers kicked all of the remaining spectators out of the grandstands that were waiting to watch FP2 once it got underway....

Vegas-STands.jpg


What a sh*show...and, after F1 invested >$500 million into this event. :(
 
F1 = Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Stephen, perhaps all this 'under-tow' drama will be good, after all Vegas is all about grabbing attention !
 
Well, the much-hyped and incredibly-expensive Las Vegas Grand Prix started off as a veritable sh*tshow. Only 9 minutes into FP1, Carlos Sainz runs over a steel drain cover at >300 kph that does extensive damage to his car's underbody, engine and battery system.

b939b950-8506-11ee-b969-621e2963d27b


Carlos.jpg


Then, because Sainz will now require a new battery system, he's been penalized...10 seconds on his grid position.

And here's the icing on the cake, because FP2 got started about 5 hours late, after midnight, and now it's the next day, the organizers kicked all of the remaining spectators out of the grandstands that were waiting to watch FP2 once it got underway....

Vegas-STands.jpg


What a sh*show...and, after F1 invested >$500 million into this event. :(


This whole thing has been a mess from how they threatened to sue local restaurants, failed to inspect the track per F! rules, told Ferrari "tough crap" on the car issue due track issues, having to dump tickets since few were buying the crazy and more.


I expected better from F1 as an organization after all these decades of putting races on.
 
I remember the first IMSA race in Columbus, Ohio, in 1985 iirc. A miserable street course the drivers did not like. At that time these closed wheel race cars were essentially unlimited in their drivetrains and running gear (1000+HP, ground effects out the wahzoo, etc). Similar to Le Mans cars. Long story short, a few weeks before the race while IMSA crews were in town finalizing the course and setting up where corner workers and safety personnel were to be deployed, 3 or 4 cars ran some reconnaissance laps. A track rat friend of mine worked in downtown Columbus on High Street where part of the course ran. He said when the cars tried to run hot laps they were sucking the 200+# manhole covers 100 feet into the air. That had to be a sight to behold.

The City had to weld every manhole and utility access cover down for the race to proceed.
 
I'll be up along with a few buddies coming over at 11:30pm for pre-race & then the shit show at 1AM :celebrate008_2:

Best to all,

Bob

P.S. I agree --just messing with ya.:hi:
 
This whole thing has been a mess from how they threatened to sue local restaurants, failed to inspect the track per F! rules, told Ferrari "tough crap" on the car issue due track issues, having to dump tickets since few were buying the crazy and more.


I expected better from F1 as an organization after all these decades of putting races on.

Yep, agreed on all points. This is what as known as a "failure of leadership", plain and simple.
 
Just go to the USGP at COTA. Exceptional track and venue, fun city to visit. Teams and drivers routinely give the race high marks.
 
Or....go to the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa! 👍😎

That's a nice track (been there) or for watching the "beautuful people" a stop at Monoco (been) is a must like Monza (been). Wish Hockenheim (been several times) wasn't carved up and on the calendar (never gonna happen).

I told myself I'd never go to a US race after I attended the inaugural Indy race in September 2000. However; things have changed, and Austin could be on my radar.

Best to all,

Bob

P.S. make sure there are double rolls in the 1/2 bath.:roflmao:
 
Pretty clear the intended audience is not the USA based on the timing of the race. I will only see a headline and will then read it in passing.
 
For all of the COTA/Austin comments, I went earlier this year and it was great. Pleasant city to visit and good venue. This year it was miserably hot on Friday (96 or so) and even worse on Saturday due to the humidity (93, but felt much worse), but other than that, it was great. Everything worked well - despite the fact that 420,000 people went through the turnstiles on each of Saturday and Sunday.
 
Let me guess Max won?

Yep -- in 1st turn -- he forced Leclerc off track to take the lead and was given a 5 second penalty & served it at a pit stop. His car was so fast - as usual sealing his win. Perez had worked his way past Leclerc for second but Leclerc grabbed it back at the finish to deny Red Bull its seventh 1-2 finish of the season.. A heck of a race IMO.

Best to all,

Bob
 
Yep -- in 1st turn -- he forced Leclerc off track to take the lead and was given a 5 second penalty & served it at a pit stop. His car was so fast - as usual sealing his win. Perez had worked his way past Leclerc for second but Leclerc grabbed it back at the finish to deny Red Bull its seventh 1-2 finish of the season.. A heck of a race IMO.

Best to all,

Bob

The most important thing as far as Red Bull was concerned regarding Perez was that Checo secured enough points to lock up 2nd place in the 2023 F1 Drivers Championship, so Red Bull finished 1-2 in the Drivers Championship this year for the first time in their history. I’ll add that aside from Max, it is a fact that Checo won twice as many Grands Prix than any other driver this year.
 
The most important thing as far as Red Bull was concerned regarding Perez was that Checo secured enough points to lock up 2nd place in the 2023 F1 Drivers Championship, so Red Bull finished 1-2 in the Drivers Championship this year for the first time in their history. I’ll add that aside from Max, it is a fact that Checo won twice as many Grands Prix than any other driver this year.

Spot on PC -- will mean a lot to RB with extra $$ Perez will bring in.

Williams is hanging at 7th -- Personally, I don't want them to fail & bow out of F1.

Best to all,

Bob
 
Spot on PC -- will mean a lot to RB with extra $$ Perez will bring in.

Williams is hanging at 7th -- Personally, I don't want them to fail & bow out of F1.

Best to all,

Bob
Me, neither. I’ve been very impressed with their progress this year under new team principal, James Vowles; it was a disaster under Claire. And, Alex Albon has been impressive on a number of very good drives. He’s a genuine talent, IMHO.
 
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