formula one

...reckon how many americans closely follow formula one? millions follow nascar, but i'm willing to bet all of the obsessive F1 fans in this country would barely fill up the local Hooters...obviously talent, precision, and cutting edge technology isn't the reason, where one quick trip around any track would snap the neck of a mere mortal...

the real reason is there is no connection to any of the drivers...in nascar, the locals do feel a connection and right at home with the good 'ol boys, and within 3 beers can fantasize without much trouble that "hey, i coulda been a driver too if my daddy was in the business"...but it takes quite an imagination to follow the path and find yourself on the starting grid next to a michael schumacher.

...you'd think Ford or GM could funnel some of that billion or so dollars they "brag" about losing every quarter into sponsoring a top notch formula one team, with a local born and bred driver...heck, jeff gordon showed he was within a second of montoya a couple of years ago... (remember "trading paint" at indy?)

...of course, any serious fan F1 will tell you, the race is almost anti-climactic after the first turn, with the leaders running off to an insurmountable lead, barring an engine problem or sudden downpour or pit stop screw up...with the real fun being played out in the practice and qualifying sessions to determine the starting positions...and that is why you will find me up at 4 am on a thursday, friday, and saturday morning, when the race isn't even til sunday! and no, you can't tape it and watch it later, you have to experience it "live", whether it's from malaysia, bahrain, or italy.

...and one last thing, speaking of rain...why in the hell can't nascar run in the rain??? change tires, slow down, but keep running!!! i just can't watch, all the cautions, stopping, finishing under caution when 100,000 fans have sat there all day watching...or even postponing half the race until the next day due to rain...what a brainwashing job on those fans!

...thankfully, for the first time in recent memory we have a good F1 championship race on our hands this year...i am definitely not a ferrari fan, but they will have my respect if they can pull back in the pack quickly...specifically, schumacher...

CBS is carrying this weekend's race from Itay in a tape delay at 1pm eastern, "the grand prix of san marino", but catch the qualifying on speed tv if you have it...

oh, and go kimi!!! (-: