Here's the 2003 F1 calendar.....just in case any of you mototrsport fans care to see state of the art vehicles driven by the worlds best road-course drivers. Rally drivers arguably poses the best all around driving skills, so said by the Man himself, Michael Schumacher. If early test reports of the F2003 abilities are correct, it spells disaster once again for Williams and McLaren. So, expect to see Montoya once again claim numerous pole positions (7 last year without a single win) with Michael and Rubens battling out in front.

Although it will be interesting to follow Team Jordan's 2001 F3 Champion, Ralph Firman and Australia's F1 rookie of the year, Mark Webber (now with Jaguar). As well, Villeneuve has a new, stronger, Honda power plant that has put him on top of time sheets of late. Perhaps just the thing this former Cart and F1 Champion needs for an exciting season. Face it, with the Ferraris superiority, and Mikas departure from F1 (presently perusing a Rally Career) the real fights have come from mid pack.

Just thought some of you domestic motorsport fans might find it interesting. After all, there's more to racing than just left hand turns.---Jerry

2003 F 1 CALENDAR

_Date _Grand Prix _

9 Mar _Australia

23 _Mar _Malaysia _

_6 Apr _Brazil _Interlagos _

20 Apr _San Marino _Imola _

_4 May _Spain _Barcelona _

18 May _Austria _A-1 Ring _

1 Jun _Monaco _Monte Carlo _

15 Jun _Canada _Montreal _

29 Jun _Europe _Nurburgring _

_6_ Jul _ France _Magny-Cours _

20_ Jul _ Great Britain _Silverstone _

_3_ Aug _Germany _Hockenheim _

24_ Aug _Hungary _Hungaroring _

14 Sep _Italy _Monza _

28 Sep _United States _Indianapolis _

12 Oct _Japan _Suzuka

Jerry, Thanks for the schedule. I can't wait for the season to start. This year I hope Rubens gives Michel a run for his money. I just hope this season is more exciting than last year. Ferrari can't stay on top forever (or can it).

Originally posted by Ed

Jerry, Thanks for the schedule. I can't wait for the season to start. This year I hope Rubens gives Michel a run for his money. I just hope this season is more exciting than last year. Ferrari can't stay on top forever (or can it).

It took Ferrari around 20 years to get back to the top after Jody Schecker won the Championship, let them enjoy the fruits of the hundreds of millions of dollars (billions of Lira) they've spent.

Has Speed TV announced whether they have signed the contracts to show the races again this year? Last I heard they were still in negotiations with Bernie's boys for the rights. I just hope they stop giving the USGP, Canada, and Monaco to ABC. Those clowns can't cover a race worth wizz.

Should be an interesting season with the new qualifying rules.

Carl

What are the new qualifying rules Carl?

I'm just hoping the new rules will give us some decent racing again. Schumacher is brilliant without a doubt but the races have been sooooo boring. I used to sit up until the wee small hours of the morning just to watch the races live because I didn't want to hear the result before I had a chance to watch a video. The last couple of seasons I didn't even bother videoing them let alone staying up.

Some of the Senna, Mansell, Prost, Berger tussles were fantastic. Mansell in particular was so good at fighting back from the back of the pack it was so much more entertaining.

Maybe they should put the best driver in the worst car to even up the field. Schumacher in a Minardi - now there's a thought. He did a great job putting that Jordan so high on the grid in his first ever race, just like Senna in the Lotus many moons ago.

The best race I have seen though was a Cart tussle between Mansell and Fittipaldi back in 1993 in the Cleveland Grand Prix - two consumate professionals dueling for second place and overtaking each other five times in the last ten or so laps - brilliant.

The worst race I've ever seen was last year's Gold Coast Indy Grand Prix almost the entire race run under yellow because it was raining - ahh poor dears. Wouldn't have stopped Schumi das regen meister.

Oh and what about Damon Hill in the Arrows in Hungary - magnificent!

Originally posted by That Ozzy Guy

What are the new qualifying rules Carl?

Single qualifying laps! They get one lap on Friday, then based on those times, the slowest runs first on Saturday, the Friday's fastest driver goes last on Saturday. THEN the cars are locked up in Parc Ferme. No major work allowed, only very minor stuff under observation by race officials. They must start the race on the tires they qualified with and they cannot add fuel prior to the race. This should mix it up a bit. The teams will have to take race stategy (# of pit stops planned) into account when deciding how much fuel to have on board for Qual.

Originally posted by Nigel MulveySome of the Senna, Mansell, Prost, Berger tussles were fantastic. Mansell in particular was so good at fighting back from the back of the pack it was so much more entertaining......................The worst race I've ever seen was last year's Gold Coast Indy Grand Prix almost the entire race run under yellow because it was raining - ahh poor dears. Wouldn't have stopped Schumi das regen meister.

Yeah, I do know what you mean, I still have many tapes of the 80's and early 90's era that I watch durring the winter when I need a racing fix. I was never a Senna fan, but geez that guy could drive! Mansell was a favorite of mine as well. I remember him trying to push his car across the finish line when it broke down on the last lap of a race. He just couldn't accept a DNF. you don't see that kind of grit from drivers now days.

Though I have enjoyed many CART races over the years, it seems that the people running the show in the past 2 or 3 years have gotten FULL COURSE YELLOW FLAG happy. They really ruin the races with so many yellows. Seems that everytime some car gets stranded on track they have a full course yellow; instead of just hoisting the car over the wall or pushing it to a safe location. If F1 can deal with cars that becaome stranded, I cannot see why these jokers (the officials) have to play this stupid game.

Regarding the Gold Coast Indy race, the rain was awful, but they should have done something besides running the race under so much yellow flag laps then fudging on the rules for calling the race early after some teams had committed their strategy based on the "normal" rules for ending a race early. Again the officials are the problem, not the drivers or teams IMHO.

Carl

Maybe the outsiders will shine more this year, I am thinking of Toyota, they are not there just for show they might be the one with the bigest potential outhere, plenty of money and as much (if not more) staff than Ferrari. They now have one decent driver and they now how to build a real race engine, not a qualifying one, but one that run all the laps...

Could be fun, and don't worry Ferrari's fan it's still a red car...

I think the world is only now beginning to realize the domination that Ferrari has engineered for themselves. For so many years they have shot themselves in the foot so many times, talents wasted and chances blown that everyone is waiting for the Ferrari bubble to burst yet again. But that old Ferrari is long gone; DeMontezemolo, Todt, Brawn, Byrne, Martinelli, Schuey, etc., have all seen to that. For so long producing their own chassis, engine, gearbox, etc., was seen as a distraction from success. The British way, once was the only way, however things change. Now the in-house F1 team can be fully integrated, can plan long term and maximize its package. Toyota are no mugs, they're in for the duration and they've seen the future. If Mercedes and BMW wish to end Ferrari's domination then they're going to have to buy out McLaren and Williams and do it all in-house. However, I don't feel they're as committed to F1 like Fiat/Ferrari are, to them it's just a way to promote road car sales through image until the next big thing comes along.

I think Ferrari are going to cause some barren times for the other teams over the next few years. With global recession looming will they want to invest the sums required to build what Ferrari have just to pick up a bit of silverware?

BTW Carl S---To say I'm impressed with your paddock knowledge would be a gross understatement. Further more, you value Formula One's rich history and it's undeniable significance on modern day F1; a key component normally lost on (us) Americans. It actually borders on frightening.

Carl, sharp wit is one thing, arming it with sophistication is quite another, and it would appear you have mastered both with little to no effort....I'm taking cover! ().---Jerry

Originally posted by BambiKiller240

Has Speed TV announced whether they have signed the contracts to show the races again this year? Last I heard they were still in negotiations with Bernie's boys for the rights. I just hope they stop giving the USGP, Canada, and Monaco to ABC. Those clowns can't cover a race worth wizz.

Those ABC guys really got to me.:sick: :sick:

Originally posted by go z racer, go

BTW Carl S---To say I'm impressed with your paddock knowledge would be a gross understatement. Further more, you value Formula One's rich history and it's undeniable significance on modern day F1; a key component normally lost on (us) Americans. It actually borders on frightening.

Hi Jerry:

Thanks for the kind words! It sounds like you are an "extreme fan" of F1 as well. We have to be to get up at 4:30AM on Sundays to watch the races, right! The technology and heritage of F1 really sets it apart from other forms of auto racing IMHO.

I've loved F1 for many years now, and have been following it as much as possible since 1977. I tape the qualification shows if I cannot be home to watch live, and I get up EARLY every race weekend to watch the festivities "live" and generally tape the race for later review and possible addition to the archives. Over the years a local friend and I have developed a ritual of either visiting one another to watch the race together or we spend the entire race on the phone chatting as it unfolds. While it is true that the outcome of many races in the most recent few years has been a predictable Ferrari domination there are generally some great dices back in the pack for position! (if the local brodcaster is kind enough to show them)

I just hope that a way is found to get the Belgium race at Spa back on the schedule. That race, Monza, and Silverstone are my favorites.

One week to go!!!!!!!

Best Regards, Carl

Hey Carl, and the rest of you F1 fans, here's a little something for you all (I do more than just scribble Z graphics).