Fearless Predictions: Formula Whaaattt?

Published 3:23 pm Thursday, July 30, 2009

Much to the chagrin of the various organizers and overseers, some of the biggest headlines in auto racing this season are for off-the-track happenings.

From the ongoing Jeremy Mayfield did-he-or-didn’t-he drug scandal in NASCAR to Danica Patrick’s will-she-stay-or-go saga in IndyCar, the actual races have often been afterthoughts.

But no series has seen the off-track churn that Formula One has this season. The news this week that seven-time former champion Michael Schumacher was coming out of retirement to take the Ferrari seat of the injured Felipe Massa should have been a bombshell — imagine Richard Petty strapping in to help save Dodge — but instead it produced from me a tired smile and the words “Why not?”

The season started with arguments over the legality of double-decker diffusers — Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams had them, the others didn’t — and has in recent weeks become an ongoing soap opera over money. The FIA, which governs motorsports worldwide, wanted a budget cap, the teams’ association didn’t — and seemed to have won the battle after threatening to form a breakaway series.

This week’s other big news was that BMW was pulling out at the end of the season, and will instead use the hundreds of millions of dollars it spent on F1 to try to save the company during the worldwide slump of auto sales. FIA, of course, couldn’t wait to say “I told you so,” keeping the wounds fresh.

All this is playing out as a backdrop to the recovery of Massa, who was hit in the head by a spring from another car while traveling at 120 mph during practice at Hungary. Although Formula One hasn’t been able to generate much of a following in America, it is hugely popular in Europe — I lived in Italy for three years and can attest to that — making even the tiniest item on Massa’s progress breaking news overseas.

Almost lost in the noise is the fact that former champion Fernando Alonso of Renault won’t be in the next race, the European Grand Prix in his home Spain on Aug. 23. Renault was suspended for one race as a penalty after Alonso was allowed to leave his pit in Hungary with a loose wheel.

There is a championship battle going on in Formula One, by the way. Jenson Button and the seemingly invincible Brawn GP of the first few events are badly stumbling now that the races are back in Europe. The Red Bull Renault tandem of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber are in the thick of things, and although defending champion Lewis Hamilton won’t repeat, the recent resurgence of his McLaren team and Ferrari will only make the battle between Brawn and Red Bull that much closer.

Danica will stick with IndyCar after getting paid some insane money to do so — my opinion — but all bets are off when it comes to guessing what happens next in Formula One.

The above photo was provided by Howard Harriman, proud father of Richard Harriman who made his NASCAR debut at last Friday’s Camping World Truck Series race at O’Reilly Raceway Park.

Here’s what Howard Harriman had to say in an email:

“On July 24 Richard made his first NASCAR start as a rookie in the Camping World Truck Series. Richard Drove the # 48 CJ Lighting Services.Com / RH Motorsports Chevy at ORP in Indiana. The # 48 truck is owned by Andy Hilinberg out of Charolette NC.

On track action was fast and furious. Richard was able to pass several trucks and make a live pitstop under green flag racing conditions.

A great time was had by all, thanks to Richards crew with Andy Hilinberg as his spotter and Dave McKee as crew chief. Richard’s preformance, smooth driving style, and respect for the other drivers was noted. As a result Richard’s (NASCAR) license was upgraded for competition on one-mile tracks.

On Saturday the 25th it was back to business as usual with Richard working on Mike Wallace and Danny O Quinn Jr’s Nationwide Series cars owned by Johnny Davis. JD Motorsports # 0 and # 01.”

Age is just a number to 81-year-old Hershel McGriff, who became the oldest driver to ever start a NASCAR race in the Camping World Series West event at Portland on July 19. McGriff, who finished 13th in that race, will be back in action with the West series this Saturday at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah.

The top three series in NASCAR will be spread out this weekend, with just the Cup Series in the Eastern Time Zone for Sunday’s Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway (11 a.m., ESPN).

Both of NASCAR’s other national series are in the Midwest for races on Saturday, with the Nationwide Series making its inaugural visit to Iowa Speedway for the U.S. Cellular 250 (1:30 p.m., ESPN), and the Camping World Truck Series returning to the Volunteer State for the Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville Superspeedway (5 p.m., SPEED).

IndyCar is also in the Midwest, returning to oval-track racing after three straight road and street course circuits, for Saturday’s Meijer Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway (5:45 p.m., Versus).

Locally, the big show this weekend is at Skagit Speedway, with the $10,000-to-win 360 Nationals starting Friday and wrapping up Saturday. Running at the same time will be the U.S. Hornet Nationals, making for some great variety on the three-tenths mile banked clay oval in Alger.

The Stinger 8 World Championship is on the schedule at Evergreen Speedway, along with Super Figure Eight, Hornet and Youth Hornet divisions and a Mr. Dizzy stunt.

Farther afield, the 10th annual Idaho 200 is being run at Stateline Speedway in Post Falls, Idaho, with Gary Lewis of Snohomish trying to win the race for a third straight time.

Tony Stewart will be going for the Pocono season sweep, but I like his good friend and Enumclaw native Kasey Kahne to win on Sunday. For Saturday’s races, let’s go with Kyle Busch at Iowa, Matt Crafton to hoist the Gibson guitar in Music City, and Marco Andretti in the Bluegrass State.