http://www.iltasanomat.fi/formula1/art-1438909408407.html
Bernie Ecclestone wants F1 to Helsinki race. The negotiations took place Hungary GP weekend. Project background Finland is former Grand Am driver and Helsinki Thunder street race boss Robert Lappalainen's ex-wife Marja-Leena.

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IndyCar driver Justin Wilson in a coma after Pocono crash

By Jeff Olson 15 hours ago

LONG POND, Pa. — Justin Wilson was transported by helicopter to a hospital Sunday after he appeared to have been struck by a piece of debris from Sage Karam’s car when it crashed in front of him during the final laps of the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway.

In a statement just after 9 p.m. ET Sunday, the Verizon IndyCar Series said:
“Wilson sustained a severe head injury during today’s event at Pocono Raceway.
Wilson is currently in a coma and in critical condition while undergoing further evaluation at Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest Hospital in Allentown, Pa.
IndyCar sends its thoughts and prayers to Justin, his family and Andretti Autosport during this difficult time. Additional updates to Wilson’s condition will be released when available. “

Karam was leading when his No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet spun on its own in Turn 1 on Lap 179 of the 200 lap race. As parts from his car littered the track, one of the pieces appeared to strike Wilson, who was trailing.

Wilson’s car immediately veered to the left and into the inside wall on the exit of Turn 1. Safety workers immediately arrived and frantically worked to extricate Wilson from the No. 25 Andretti Autosport Honda.

The wall where Wilson hit was covered by a SAFER barrier.

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Here you can see the accident http://sports.usatoday.com/2015/08/23/in...rash-at-pocono/
Would we see such accidents with a closed cockpit? Too late for him, now he is injured. Lets hope the best for him and his family

Oh man, that was a very unlucky accident. Hope he can get through it

I´m sorry, bad news

CNOt0I9UkAAP5XO.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

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Risky sport indeed

May he rest in peace...

Rip Justin.

Such a tragic incident again. What a horrible year of racing this has been so far.

I read an interview with Charie Whiting because I´m interested in his work. Here yo can read if you want:
http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/329569/
I copy something he said over Kimi

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Question: Driver meetings are a key part of each weekend. Could you give us an insight into those?

CW: These days it's arguable if you actually need a formal drivers' briefing. I send the drivers a three or four page document on a Thursday, and I discuss that with the team managers. So really there should be no need to brief the drivers. We tend to have it on Friday simply to allow the drivers to have some experience of the circuit, in order to pass on any comments they may have. But typically, the drivers' briefing, or meeting as we refer to them, would be to discuss any issues that arose from the previous race, first of all, and then discuss anything that they want to talk about from what they noticed on the circuit during the first two sessions. After that, anything in the briefing notes that may be different from last year, just general things like that.

Are there certain drivers who are more outspoken than others?

CW: There's always a small group that will say something. It varies, of course. Some drivers never say anything. You know if Kimi [Räikkönen] says something it's important, because he never says anything. But if he feels strongly enough about it, he will say something, so you need to listen to what he says, because he actually means it. Some drivers will say something because they feel that they have to. I like Kimi. He's a proper star.

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As we have no Mark Webber thread, I post it here. Mark is speaking over his book with Pinky. Nice interview. I liked him not so much in his F1 times. Since he drive WEC he´s more sympathic to me.

https://50buckss.wordpress.com/2015/09/0...er-aussie-grit/

Surprise, surprise

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Massa: Things changed when Alonso came to Ferrari
15 September, 2015

Long time Ferrari driver Felipe Massa says he has no regrets about being ousted by the Maranello outfit.

At Maranello, the Brazilian was competitive alongside the great Michael Schumacher and almost won the world championship whilst Kimi Raikkonen’s teammate in 2008.

Some believe it was Massa’s near-fatal crash in 2009 that subsequently hurt his form, but now fully back up to speed with Williams, the 34-year-old has another explanation.

“Let’s just say I did the right thing at the right time,” Massa, referring to his departure after an eight-year Ferrari career in 2013, told La Repubblica. “It was time to change.”

Now, Massa is back on song even with the highly-rated Valtteri Bottas as his teammate, with some believing the diminutive Brazilian’s pace is ultimately the reason Ferrari decided against signing the Finn for 2016.

“My story with Ferrari was beautiful, intense, honest, like the applause I got [on the podium] at Monza showed. But it was time to feel important again.”

Massa says his status at Ferrari slipped suddenly when Fernando Alonso was signed in 2010, “At first, yes [I was important]. Then things changed when Alonso came. I looked around and saw that suddenly I had no power over things, over the details. And our sport is made of the details.”

“And you can change them only if you have the power. It’s all about power, and I had lost it. The most obvious symptom was that I did not feel important anymore,” Massa explained. “It was enough to see it just by making eye-contact with the people around me. It was impossible to be happy.”

Massa said he thinks Ferrari’s approach to the Alonso era was “wrong”, but admits he also questioned himself during that period.

“So many times I thought I should be less kind. Harder and selfish. But then you look at yourself and take stock. Many things have happened to me.I was friends with a legend like Schumacher and a golden boy like Bianchi.”

“I went through two or three eras of the sport, I saw injustice and the worst time of my life when I was forced to let my teammate past me, but I also won a lot and above all I enjoyed.”

“I fell often, but every time I got up. No, I would not change anything. I have always been myself, Felipe, and if that caused me some difficulty then my strength allowed me to overcome and become a man and a better father,” said Massa.

Asked if he has a message to his harshest former critics, he answered: “No, because before and after they wrote nice things. Consistency is their problem.

“If I was going to say something bad to all those who have changed their mind, I would have no time to drive!” Massa smiled.

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http://www.grandprix247.com/2015/09/15/m...ame-to-ferrari/

I specially liked the last paragraph.

So Kimi says the atmosphere changed when Alonso left, Massa says things changed when Alonso arrived and was treated unjustly (and everyone could see it too)... Later we will read something of this sort from poor Button

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Formula 1 teams set for more tyre freedom in 2016 grands prix
By Dieter Rencken and Lawrence Barretto Thursday, September 24th 2015, 14:00 GMT



Formula 1 teams will be allowed to choose one of their tyre compounds themselves each grand prix weekend under new rules proposed for next year, AUTOSPORT understands.

Currently, F1 tyre supplier Pirelli nominates two compounds per weekend from its selection of four specifications - hard, medium, soft and super-soft - both of which must be used during the race.

For 2016 Pirelli will add a fifth compound to its selection, and it will nominate three choices per weekend - one of which will be mandatory for all teams

Teams will then get to choose which of the remaining two compounds they want to use alongside the mandatory option, and the rule requiring both types of tyre to be used in the race will remain.

The compounds are likely to be labelled from one to five or A through E, with the three allocated choices on each weekend simply known as soft, medium and hard to make it simpler for fans to understand.

Pirelli's fifth compound for 2016 will be a super-super-soft, and it is believed the compulsory tyre for each weekend would be a conservative choice, leaving teams to choose how aggressive they wanted to go for their other option.

Although various proposals are under discussion, this one appears to be the most likely to come to fruition, with all teams said to be in favour of the regulation change as a means of introducing a variable factor.

"[We're going to have a] couple of days of testing after Abu Dhabi to develop a super-super-soft tyre, which will make a lot more sense when regulations come out for 2016," said Pirelli motorsport chief Paul Hembery.

"That's the current situation. That's only at Strategy Group level. It needs to be ratified."

The proposal is expected to go to the F1 Commission by e-vote for approval ahead of ratification by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, which meets in Paris on September 30.

There had previously been suggestions that teams should get complete freedom to pick their compounds from the full Pirelli range, but the current proposal is a development of the tyre company's preferred variation of that idea.

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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120969?

Looking good for Kimi next year

Two good news today:

1. Jensen Button has been confirmed by McLaren for 2016. Not a word about Alonso (although I am sure they will keep him)

2. Manor team has confirmed a switch to Mercedes engines (McLaren might be the last next year on the finish if they don't improve)

Ok, then I'm not sure If I should feel happy or sad for Button.