Bob Barnard Track Engineering

So NASCAR were more than thinking about changing the point system, they have done it, and what a major change it is, not! Last still gets a point, and it is a straight 43 for a win down to 1 for 43rd. But they want to make winning more valuable, so you get three bonus points for winning. Doesn't that mean you get 46 points for winning? And this is simpler? Then there is a point for leading a lap, which I always thought was there anyway, and one more for leading the most laps. Now the news report says that "it is also expected to to keep gaps tighter than in the past." So where's the reward for winning? Then there is the wonderful "Chase" where the last two spots will be decided on who has won the most races out of the next ten drivers, and this is simpler? As I said the other day, deckchairs on the Titanic. Oh yes, and to bring them into the modern world they are going to use vented gas cans to do away with the vent guy. How about a proper fuel rig like any other professional motor sport, and while you are at it centre lock wheels and pneumatic jacks? The only good idea I read was to move away from the CoT and for "the season ahead the cars will have new front ends." Is that this year or next year?  Then "within two years the cars are expected to more closely models being sold." What a concept, isn't that where we came in?

Poor old Flavio, first his yacht, now his bank account with 1.5 million Euros. Italian police have seized the money for tax evasion. This is the guy who is supposedly banned from F1 but still manages two drivers and wants back in. He presumably took the news well at HIS resort in Kenya. One has to ask, how did he amass so much money from being a team manager and driver agent? It's one thing being rich, but he seems like Bernie to have a bottomless pit of the stuff.

So Red Bull say they have a clause in Vettel's contract that if he wins races and finishes within the top three this year they have a contract for 2012. Isn't that the same as many driver contracts that say if I do not win then I can leave? I still have a problem with Vettel going to Ferrari while Alonso is there. If he thinks Mark Webber was a difficult team mate he should ask Lewis about Alonso. I would have thought as a driver I would be happy with the best car of whatever make, so what is it with Ferrari? I mean, I get the history and mystique, but not quite sure why it is assumed every driver wants to go there. Not every Ferrari driver has good memories of the place.

Is there any significance that Ducati chose to debut this years superbike with Rossi on board the same day as the official WSBK test started? There are 21 riders entered for the WSBK, but it looks like the usual suspects. What is the average age does anyone know? Cycle World had this piece on Facebook, "World Superbike CEO Paolo Flammini said on age limits, "The age limits present in 600 and 1000 Superstock classes have been made more generous for two main reasons: The first is that 40 year olds can now become World Champions, so why stop 24 year olds from racing?" Is anyone else confused, and if not can you explain? The Ducati test? It seems Mr. Rossi's shoulder is hurting more than anyone thought. Let's see when the season starts.