The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Kimi Raikkonen
Button Takes All, Fat Lady Leaves the Building
by Erik Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright FerrariMedia
It may not have been a pretty finish, or one that will go down in the record books as a great performance, but Jenson Button’s fifth place finish in the suburbs of Sao Paulo was enough to clinch the 2009 Driver’s Championship. [Read more…] about Brazilian Grand Prix
Giancarlo Fisichella
Red Bull Still in the Hunt
by Erik C. Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
Sebastian Vettel kept the Red Bull team’s title hopes alive for another weekend after leading start to finish in this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. The German wore his Teflon driving suit and was untouchable throughout the race. [Read more…] about Japanese Grand Prix
Giancarlo Fisichella and Kimi Raikkonen
Concrete Labyrinth
by Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright FerrariMedia
Erik Nielsen is traveling.
There must be something about Singapore the cameras just aren’t catching. While the guys at SpeedTV (and a great crew they are), were waxing about the glories of the Singapore Grand Prix on this island nation, what appeared on our Plasma was a concrete labyrinth consisting of myriads of Armco, ungainly fencing hung over miles of concrete barriers, all artificially and cruelly lit by fifteen hundred lights, the result looking more like a modern prison camp than a glamorous race venue. [Read more…] about Grand Prix of Singapore
Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello, and Kimi Raikkonen
Barichello Conquers Monza
by Erik Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
At Spa, we saw the familiar face of Kimi Raikkonen, who seems to be the current master of this circuit, on the podium. Monza is starting to be the favorite track for Rubens Barichello, who has now won in Italy three times, with two different teams. The Brazilian more importantly finished ahead of Jenson Button and closed the gap in the driver’s championship. [Read more…] about Italian Grand Prix
John Bentley at the wheel of the OSCA S/N 769 which won the Index of Performance at Sebring, 1960. Co-driver Jack Gordon tells the story. Credit Jeff Allison.
By Jack Gordon
Jack Gordon continues his narrative of the Le Mans and Sebring events of 1960, in which he and journalist John Bentley competed in two different 750cc OSCAs. His first article covered the Le Mans event (read OSCA at Le Mans) which came after the Sebring race addressed here. Also read Karl Ludvigsen’s track test of OSCA 750 S/N 769.
In 1957 I began to think seriously about driver schools and what to take to school, knowing that my 56 Healey’s handling and (un)reliability needed improvement. A friend of mine told me that John Bentley had a used Alfa for sale that ought to be suitable, so I went over and liked it as the Alfa already had the stock 4.1 axle changed to a 4.55, which is what you want for short or medium SCCA courses.
[Read more…] about Sebring 1960: John and Jack Win the Index
The OSCA 750 of Gordon/Bentley when owned by Oliver Collins. Credit Lucine Collins
In 1960, shortly after the team of John Bentley and Jack Gordon won the Index of Performance at Sebring, Karl Ludvigsen asked them if he could drive the car for an article in “Sports Cars Illustrated.” The report was published in the August 1960 issue. Karl has given VeloceToday express permission to republish that article. Also, read Jack Gordon’s account of the race.
By Karl Ludvigsen
One of the most consistently successful makes of cars in racing over the past decade has been one of the smallest machines from one of the smallest factories: the OSCA. [Read more…] about Tech and Track Report: OSCA 750
Giancarlo Fisichella, Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel, and Stefano Domenicali
Kimi Wins at Spa, Again
by Erik Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
At what is starting to be jokingly referred to as “Kimi’s track,” the flying Finn was able to hold off the Force India car of Giancarlo Fisichella (no, you read that correctly) to earn Ferrari their first win of the season. [Read more…] about Grand Prix of Belgium
Kimi Raikkonen
BRAWN BACK ON TOP
by Erik C. Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
Don’t stick a fork in them. Contrary to some members of the press singing lyrics to Monty Python musicals, Brawn GP is not dead yet. [Read more…] about European Grand Prix
Hot Flash: Schumacher to Replace Massa
Michael Schumacher will be replacing the injured Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix in Valencia. Ferrari confirmed the decision on Wednesday evening.
Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, and Mark Webber
by Erik C. Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
The Formula One season so far seemed to be a shuffle of the teams at the top of the leader board. Brawn GP came out of the ashes of the old Honda effort to mop up the competition. Red Bull Racing played a strong second fiddle; German fans felt they had their next-generation boy wonder in Sebastian Vettel; and, the legions of tifosi were scared that Ferrari had decided on benchmarking their performance to the efforts of the Scuderia in the late 80s and early 90s. This weekend’s results showed more consistency with the pecking order being restored to last year’s table.
The major incident of the weekend was Filipe Massa’s incident when he was hit in the head by an errant spring from Rubens Barichello’s Brawn GP in qualifying. As of 12:17 GMT today, according to a report on Autosport.com, Massa’s doctor, Dino Altmann, said that Massa will be able to race again.
“I have no doubt Felipe will race again,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport. [Read more…] about Hungarian Grand Prix
A podium finish for Massa and Ferrari, but is that all there is?
by Erik C. Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
Tides are Turning
Grand Prix of Germany
The one constant in F1 is change. At each and every race, every team brings new improvements to their cars. Most of the changes are aerodynamic with super computer simulations and thousands of hours of wind tunnel testing to have this element exactly this shape, this size and this angle to maximize performance and fit within the rules.
[Read more…] about German Grand Prix
Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonnen
by Erik C. Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
Red Bull’s second
Sebastian Vettel made the most of his pole position and dominated this week’s British Grand Prix. The young German blew away the competition and brought his Red Bull Racing car home to finish 1-2, setting Brawn GP on notice that the performance gap has been closed.
[Read more…] about British Grand Prix
Kimi Raikkonen and the grand stand. Not a good race for Ferrari; Kimi finished 10th.
by Erik Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
Where are the fans?
It never fails. The race that immediately follows the glitz and glamour of Monaco never seems to live up to the same standard or reputation. Turkey had the honor this year and it seemed like Jenson Button had a good time, but all is not well in F1 right now. Rumors abounded up and down the pit lane that the powers that be actually requested a couple of cameras be turned off during the race, lest someone actually realize that the stands were as empty as they are in Daytona at 2 AM during the 24 hour race, in the rain.
[Read more…] about Grand Prix of Turkey