As it has been an eternity since I have last updated the Feelin' Dizzy blog, there has been much to report.
A ridiculously busy school year is less than a month from conclusion in which I have met a wealth of fantastic new people in exploits both campaign volunteering and reporting for the school paper, The Marquette Tribune.
It's been a great year for me with much exciting news for the future, as a lot of things for 2009 are very much up in the air at the moment. In all likelihood expect this to be a Thursday blog from here on out, but I can't say that is set in stone yet.
Of course blogs seemingly have taken a backseat to Twitter (I don't Tweet... yet... in case you were wondering) and Facebook has changed twice within the last seven months. Life goes on and it's about keeping up with the changes.
As this is mainly a racing blog though, I focus on the new motorsports season. It is really kicking into high gear this weekend, with F1, IndyCar, NASCAR, ALMS, Indy Lights, GP2, WRC, NHRA, and LMS in action.
Formula One began their new era (or a return to an era of bygone?) with slicks, KERS, new aero and seriously reduced downforce with a lack of the gadgets that have sprouted up in recent years, and the daft proposals of Mr. Ecclestone that no-one appreciated and were eventually rejected.
And there was also the ascendance of Brawn GP in Melbourne. From an organization of individuals hanging in the balance as their future was still to be determined, to a miracle 1-2 finish from the front row. A wonderful thing to see as these things don't happen in modern F1.
For Jenson Button, it must have felt like a new career after a couple seasons in the doldrums. The fickle British press, I hope, has not forgotten Jense was in F1 the last two seasons since he seems a better proposition than Lewis this season...
And with only hours until the second round, in Malaysia, where rain beckons, it has been a stormy start for the defending World Champion. The new McLaren is off pace to begin with and Lewis still made it interesting in Australia by improving to 4th by the flag. That was just the start of the madness.
Originally Trulli had 25 secs added, then the radio transcript fell through of what Lewis heard to do versus what he reported to the stewards. And for that indiscretion, he was disqualified. Yet the blame was passed on to a senior team member who was asked to resign after 35 years with the team. I haven't seen enough of this to claim I know what exactly what was going on but it has caused Lewis to have some serious unrest in terms of his place as a sportsman.
Moving stateside and St. Pete is the center of attention this weekend for American racing. IndyCar ends its seven-month long hibernation - roughly the same as this blog - this weekend. A tumultuous off-season littered with many of the similar pitfalls as Champ Car had in its dying years did at least get some good news with three late deals to boast the field to a respectable 22 for this weekend.
With no Milka and Marty, really Stanton Barrett is the only no-hoper out there and since he was good enough for Jack Roush in NASCAR's Nationwide Series at one point, I think he can improve with perennial underdog team owner Greg Beck and veteran engineer Owen Snyder.
And great to see that of the top 14 on the grid, 12 have former CART/Champ Car experience. That should tell you something right there - especially when Graham Rahal and Justin Wilson lock out the front row in cars their teams have only had a year to work on versus five that veteran IndyCar teams have had.
I digress, and will sadly admit my appreciation for the former series. But IndyCar is what we have now and they do appear to be taking some steps in the right direction.
Versus may not get better ratings or be as accessible but they do seem to be making a concerted effort in promoting the series with its coverage, ads, and multimedia content. IZOD, too, has launched a major multi-platform marketing assault which no company has done for open-wheel in my 13 years watching it. It was unfortunate for its driver, Ryan Hunter-Reay, to be sidelined until now but a deal did get done.
The off-season over, it's time to cheer up with the sound of racing emerging after a winter dominated by economic unrest, a lack of good news until very late in the going and frigid temperatures.
My article of today's Indy Lights race from St. Petersburg: http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=323077
Out for now... cheers.
No comments:
Post a Comment