Well, the finger pointing, jostling, and politics regarding
this weekend's U.S. Grand Prix are now in full swing, and even though I have
tried to avoid it as long as possible, I guess it's finally time to weigh in.
For many years I have considered myself to be a fan of Formula One racing, holding it up on the pedestal it demands as the pinnacle of motor racing not only due to its worldwide stage, but also its romantic history and legendary personalities. By its very nature, the sport conjures images of the great duels between the likes of Prost, Senna, Fangio, Villeneuve, Hill, and Lauda. Some of the world's most unique athletes have been pitted against each other in a physics and death-defying dance, whilst backed with, quite literally, all the technology in the world.
So, you can imagine how remarkable it is for someone who has an inherent fascination with the sport and enjoys recreationally reporting on all things "automotive" to begin this narrative, for the first time, at a loss for words.
As there is no shortage of accounts of (and opinions on) the subject, I will avoid simply reiterating what did or didn't transpire at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As a matter of fact, I tend to agree with most of what's being said. This current situation is really nothing new for the sport, but rather the latest example of a long string of controversies and trivial politics, which are threatening to permanently cripple the contest.
The sport of Formula One racing is subject to one of the most compelling ironies. Here you have simply the most amazing and expensive pieces of automotive machinery known to man, composed of NASA-esque materials like titanium and carbon fiber, which race around demanding road courses at up to a mind-boggling 200 mph, while being propelled by explosive 1000 hp, 10-cylinder engines revving at an astounding 19,000 rpm. Yet, at the end of the day, F1 needs to worry about being…(gulp) boring.
You see, Formula One history is marked by as many dynasties as it is rivalries. In this sport, a razor-thin margin of hundredths of a second per lap may cost tens of millions in R&D, but it can also lead to consistent pole positions, and even championships. Look at Ferrari's last five-year domination, which was interrupted, in part, by rule changes aimed at making things a bit more interesting than watching two red cars dominate the field every Friday through Sunday, March through October, tends to be.
While NASCAR "racertainment" is a show of pure muscle in a "bumping and grinding" kind of way (multi-car pileups are regularly anticipated), Formula One has to be considered a precision sport with finesse. Even the slightest touch in open wheel cars almost guarantees not finishing the race. And as remarkable as the F1 engines are, they're not built to last; the 24 hours of LeMans alone covers the distance traveled in an entire F1 season.
After years of bashing Max (Mosley) and Bernie (Eccelstone) for their continual exploitation and abuse of the delicate balance between the FIA and it member teams, this year provided so much promise. Surely any momentum the resurgence of Formula One's popularity had in North America has been lost. For anyone who watched the race from home, it will go down as a strange and interesting day – a day when Formula One pulled itself out of the U.S. For the poor fans that made it to Indy, this is confirmation that the sport is simply the play toy of a few very greedy billionaires.
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