It's Official!!!!!!

[Lee Janotta]

And they cost a fortune. And supply is limited.

I'd like to see a 15,000rpm rev limit... The engines sound a whole lot better right around there than they do up at 18,000. And it _should_ help the other problems.

We'd still be better off with the turbos, though, even if it meant eventually going to production-based engines with turbos added.

Remember the Buick V6?

Tuned as far as she'd go, this was a hell of a powerplant not so long ago...

[mac]

Originally posted by Lee Janotta
We'd still be better off with the turbos, though, even if it meant eventually going to production-based engines with turbos added.

What about if we bolt turbos on the side of the F1 engines?

[Lee Janotta]

Then we might be able to break the earth's gravitational pull.

But consider what we had at Indy around decade ago: "Official" CART engines from Chevy, Honda, Cosworth, and Judd... The turbo V6 from Buick, pushrod Chevy V8s...

If we could use intake restrictors, rev limiters, and pop-off valves to equalize all sorts of different engines at about 800 horsepower, we'd never be short on engine suppliers.

And consider the different characteristics... If we had fuel-sucking Chevy small-blocks or turbocharged Porsche flat 6s, vs. F1 engines and the "spec" Cosworths which could start the race on a lighter fuel load. Take refuelling out of the equation, and the F1 engines will get a better start... But as the race wears on, the Porsches and Chevys could start closing the gap, having been allowed a bit of extra power in the equalization... Having different cars which are fast at different points in the race means _lots_ of overtaking opportunities.

And you could have different types of engines winning at different types of tracks. A high-tech production engine could do very well on a street course, while the high-tuned F1-derived engines would have an advantage at Road America.

Y'know, a lot of us decried the N/A formula as "low-tech"... But really, is that _such_ a bad thing, if high-tech only leaves you with the choices of extinction, or becoming an F1 knock-off series with no sense of competition?

I just hated it because it didn't make enough power, and I'd rather cut off my own tongue than admit Tony George did something right.

[Dave S]

This was in the Portland Oregon Newspaper yesterday. Nothing definitive, but the rumors are speading quickly now.
http://www.oregonlive.com/motorsport...0704113620.xml

[greg.n]

Pook is still denying a tie up with Bernie but explains Fed-Ex going away as CART needing a series sponsor who is into connecting with retail customers. FedEx was into commercial and business customers. how about UPS as a sponsor who actually promote CART and their connection with the sport and thus promote CART and its drivers as stars. That is what is needed and Pook may just get his wish. The UPS thing is just my speculation and an example, not a rumour so don't read anything into it.

[greg.n]

As far as they V10 thing is concerned cart could run a detuned V10, with 550-600 hp, if specifically road courses (no Ovals) a lighter more responsive chassis, common (mandatory or generic) ECU's, 200-300 mile races, including a run through Europe to places like Imola, Spa, Jerez and Estoril,a lot mor reliable, (rev limited to 12000 or 14000 rpm)with correspondingly lower costs and involvement from Mercedes, Jaguar/Ford/Cosworth, Renault, Honda, Toyota. The engines would be older technology than F1, so it wouldn't cost a heap more for F1 manufacturers to be involved compared with what Honda, Ford-Cosworth, Toyota, Mercedes Benz, are spending now or have in the recent past.

[Liz]

If you read what Pook is denying, mostly what he's denying is that we are merging with F1, which I think was never the question to begin with, and of course Bernie is not "taking over" Champ Cars, just investing in it.

I have also heard that several other organizations are discussing being title sponsors, which is something Gerry Forsythe is working on. So all is moving along.

Lets just borrow all the turbo F1 cars from the museum at Donington Park and run in those. There's also a lovely Ferrari in the Gilles Villeneuve Museum that I'd like to see on the track again.

[Lee Janotta]

Apparently the car that drew the most attention from all attendees, young and old, at the British International Auto Show, among recent Ferrari, Jordan, Toyota, BAR, Renault, and Jaguar F1 cars, not to mention all the concept cars and production models...

...was a JPS Lotus 79-Cosworth.

Sorry Greg, but I've got to say "no" to less power. 800hp is right about where the cars should be.

[LateBraker]

Originally posted by jcclausen
Most certainly, the USGP will no longer be held at IMS.

Did I miss something? Is F1 pulling out of the race at Indy?!?! That would certainly be good to hear!!!

[Liz]

The contract is under review. No decision is made that I know about, but Bernie is known to be unhappy with what he's been given so far ...

[Dave S]

From today's Gold Coast Bullettin
"GLAMOUR motorsport Formula One may be brought to Surfers Paradise as part of a long-range plan by the series owner, British billionaire Bernie Ecclestone.

Mr Ecclestone is in talks with the motoring organisation, Championship Auto Racing Teams, which stages the Surfers Paradise Indy event.

Yesterday, Gold Coast councillors were briefed by the city solicitor on a planned change to the Indy Act, which would remove all mention of CART.

The revised Act will allow for the running of a 'Gold Coast motor race', not a Gold Coast CART race. This change will smooth the way for the entry of Formula One, which is keen to acquire 51 per cent of CART to use it as a breeding ground for future F1 drivers.

Gold Coast Indy bosses have lauded the possibility of a strategic alliance with Formula One.

Honda Indy 300 chairman John Cowley said that, if a Formula One deal came across the table, 'we'd certainly have to look at it'.

"Our aim is to give the fans the best and we're continually improving this race," he said.

Mr Cowley said the spectacular Surfers Paradise track was often compared to Monaco as a street circuit.

"It could host a Formula One . . . no doubt about that," he said.

In Quebec, Canada, the Molson circuit is used for both CART and F1."

[Jay]

Interesting, I've never heard of the Circuit-Gilles Villeneuve referred to as the Molson circuit... I'm sure Molson loves that though! Especially since they never payed for that!

I'm weary of this.... I really don't want Cart to become a support race for F1. Also, can you imagine how much space that would require for transports etc?!!? The Cart paddock in Montreal actually took up more space than F1 did.

[Liz]

I agree, Jay, the two series could not possibly run together. Talk about a clash of cultures! An open and accessible CART paddock and an F1 paddock patrolled by guards with M-16s and attack dogs, open only to High Rollers and Beautiful People?

CART drivers playing volleyball on the beach with bimbettes in see-through thongs, and F1 drivers locked in Star Wars type motorhomes with the windows blacked out?

CART drivers spending their evenings at local karioke bars and CART Friday night, and F1 drivers in private ballrooms surrounded only by HRs and BP possibly run on a big screen so any downtrodden peasants could glimpse a life they'll never be allowed to share?

Hah!

Champ Cars and ALMS make a much better team if we're only talking about running in tandem. Throw in the V8s and the Atlantics and the Trans Am and you've got enough races for one weekend. And everybody is there "For the Fans."

[tanalised]

Yes, the attitudes in F1 and CART are poles apart. "For the Fans" sounds much better. (Is much better)