Bob Barnard Track Engineering

So Michael Waltrip's team fixed the NASCAR race at Richmond with Bowyer spinning in response to a radio conversation? Shades of Renault F1 and Nelson Piquet Jr. There the driver had to leave F1 as did the team chief and chief engineer. What happens in NASCAR? 50 points deducted and a fine, a large fine, but that's all. Bowyer can still win the Championship. Helton says there was no conclusive proof, so how can you dock points and fine people? Either they did or they didn't. If they did why are they still racing? I know everyone pushes the envelope of the rules, but does this say cheating is just a part of NASCAR? This is stretching team orders a bit too far.

So the hot rumor is Kimi is going to Ferrari to join Alonso. That should be interesting, I doubt Kimi is going to move over when asked. Is Alonso staying? That is the next question. I am not surprised Kimi is going back, he did not want to leave and is smart enough to know to not cut off his nose to spite his face. So, Alonso to McLaren? No Lewis there now. 

Very sad to hear of Robert Fearnell's passing at the age of 57. I met Robert first at Donnington in 1988 and on several occasions after as part of ROPA. One of the real good guys with a solid background in the sport, like so many that England produces. Too young.

The last test for F1 has been completed and produced very close times, with Caterham doing surprisingly well. The other two new boys were conspicuous by their absence, so not expecting too much from them. Kimi and Lotus set the fastest time of the week, but we will really have to wait until Melbourne to see who was sandbagging. Red Bull brought out their real parts this week and suffered a lot of reliability issues, but don't count them out. They seem to have found a way to still use the exhaust gas, but my understanding is that Charlie has said anything that helps the aerodynamics will be ruled out. Could be interesting.

Elsewhere the situation in Austin just gets worse with Tavo now suing the rest of the boys. I've been in this sort of mess when I promoted Phillip Island so I know how it distracts you from the real problems. Following the USF1 debacle the rest of the world must wonder if we know what we are doing.

VJ Mallya's problems continue to mount with the Indian Tax Authorities freezing his airline's accounts.

No sooner had Lotus, nearly wrote Renault there, announced the mass damping, or anti dive, brake system apparently OK'd by the FIA, when the same FIA have come out and said it is probably not legal. As I read it they are saying you could be protested for using it, so don't. Saves all the other teams from spending lots of money to all end up the same.

And money, or the lack of it, is what is worrying Bernie. He sees the European problems causing teams, and presumably promoters, to be squeezed for cash. He continues to talk to Valencia, and the likely outcome is a sharing of the GP with Barcelona, but as I said before, I don't see how that helps except you only lose half as much. Bernie has no such doubts about Bahrain though, they still have plenty to donate to CVC, but not to their staff it seems. The news that the sacked staff were reinstated fell a bit flat when most said no thanks seeing as how they were not going to be back paid for the time they were off.

Daytona 24 hour, sorry The Rolex, is coming up this weekend, the traditional start of the new season if you do not count the Dakar or the Monte Carlo Rally. Lots of interesting cars and drivers this year, with some ALMS crossover like the Risi team.

Talking of interesting cars and drivers, Kimi was in action in a 2010 Renault at the permanent Valencia circuit today to get his eye back in before the real testing starts. No times were released, not that they would give us any idea as no one else tests there. Kimi is reported to say that getting used to the Pirelli tires was his only concern. 

Last but not least, Austin has started to release news on the ticketing for this years race. According to Geoff Moore, chief marketing and sales officer for Circuit of The Americas. "In order to effectively manage the demand, we have created a two-stage ticketing process to help fans better understand the opportunities available. We want every fan to get the ticket that is right and affordable for them. In this first stage, we are showing off the incredible entertainment experience our main grandstand offers."

It had better be incredible, as they are copying a page from the basketball world and selling "seat licenses." To those unused to this term you can buy the right to buy tickets for events. That's right, you do not get to go sit in your personal seat unless you now buy a ticket. And what is this going to cost you ask? $1000-5000 per seat license, to buy the right to buy a ticket. There are only 9000 of these for lucky people with more money than sense, which I am sure there will be. And you thought 480 Euros was expensive at Spa?

Sir Jackie Stewart says he is very concerned at the lack of information coming out of Austin, as well he might. Meanwhile, was anyone else shocked at the amount of empty seats at the NASCAR race in Texas last weekend? With the "Chase" nearly over and two main guys duking it out for the title you still cannot sell tickets! NASCAR is in big trouble.

Another who is looking more in trouble is Bernie. The German court activity has at last woken the sleeping giant, the British tax man, to have a look at what Bernie has been doing and why. This should be interesting.

Great to see Alex Zanardi winning the hand bicycle class in the New York Marathon, you cannot keep a competitor down. On to the Olympics!

Just as you can't stop Kimi from racing it seems. Talks have been confirmed for him to come back to F1 with Williams.

Sorry for the gap in blogs, been on the road to check out our new home in Raleigh, NC. Still, it is quietening down with the seasons ending. I am surprised at the lack of comment my previous blog provoked, but we will fix this one way or another.

Well no cows on track yet, but watch out for those curbs, they jump out and destroy your supension! Well it did to Massa. Very strange why he is the only one the way they have all been grass cutting and curb hopping. I would have thought they would have done something with that second corner of the chicane, concrete it overnight at least. Still, what's a bit more dust.

Unlike most Tilke tracks this one seems to lack any distinctive architectural features, it could be anywhere. Except for the air polution and dust that is. Not a great advert for travelling to India. "Delhi belly" has of course struck with McLaren flying in new troops to replace those effected. Ferrari are in trouble with the tobacco police here in India. With all that air polution I would not have thought smoking was a big issue.

The Massa front wing is drawing some attention, as it should, and Mercedes suddenly found a few seconds a lap overnight, so what were they up to? Still did not help Michael get in to Q3. Toro Rosso did well though. Qualifying was not the usual exciting session, with three cars choosing not to set a time and Vettel clearly quicker. I like Button on the radio telling the crew he has no grip, and he is running around fourth. There are a lot of drivers who would like to have similar levels of no grip. I guess it is down to expectations. How does someone like Ricciardo drive around at the back in the HRT without being mentally destroyed?

Rumors abound that Kimi has signed for Williams. If he is watching this he must know something we don't about next year's car. Still it will be great to have him back and I don't care if he mumbles, it's his driving I want to see.

Finally we have the riot at the cancelled concert by Metallica. Let's hope the race is not red flagged! Still there were a lot more people at the scheduled concert than the track yesterday.