A US based F1 Team?

[loplop]

A piece on today's announcement about a US Formula one team by Tom Jensen from SpeedTV

It’s a plan as audacious as it is inspired: Build an all-new Formula 1 team from scratch, base it in Charlotte, N.C., hire two American drivers and go racing all over the globe against Ferrari, McLaren and the titans of F-1 in 2010.

But that’s exactly what engineer Ken Anderson and longtime SPEED reporter and former Williams team manager Peter Windsor plan to do with their new USF1 team. The duo was at SPEED headquarters in Charlotte on Tuesday to discuss their plans for the new team and in some cases not discuss the myriad specifics, which are still being kept tightly under wraps.

“How do you do a Formula 1 team? That’s an interesting question,” said Windsor. “There is no book about it. There’s lots of books on how to drive a race car, perhaps, but no book on how to do a Formula 1 team.” So in a very real sense, Windsor and Anderson intend to write an all-new book, or at least a historic new chapter in F-1’s rich history.

For the last four years, Windsor and Anderson have been quietly putting together their plans for USF1, which will be radically different than the traditional F-1 model. “We always wanted to do our own team, our way,” said Windsor. “It sounds very arrogant, perhaps, but we’ve got some history, we’ve got some things we want to bring into the sport that we think we can do well.”

Here are the highpoints:

• USF1 will be based in Charlotte, likely on the north side of town, very near SPEED’s headquarters. The facility will employ more than 100 people and will be modeled after modern NASCAR team shops, which allow fans to visit and watch cars being constructed. Windsor specifically mentioned Michael Waltrip Racing’s Raceworld USA facility in nearby Cornelius, N.C., as a shop he admired. The new USF1 headquarters also will have its own on-site television studio.

And it will be a facility that relies heavily on outside vendors in the motorsports-rich Metro Charlottearea and less on enormous budgets and lavish trappings. “For those of them out there who say, ‘Where’s all the money? Where’s the huge facility? Where’s the money falling out of the sky?’ That isn’t ever going to happen with USF1,” said Windsor. “We’ve always had a very different approach, and that approach will become evident as time goes on and this year unfolds.”

• The team intends to sign two American drivers. A variety of names were mentioned by Windsor and Anderson, including Marco Andretti, Danica Patrick and Scott Speed.

• USF1 will buy engines from another team, to be identified later. USF1 is essentially putting out an RFP for engines, looking for an appropriate supplier among the existing competitors.

• The team has four investors who own a minority share in the operation. Neither the amount they own, nor the identities of the investors were disclosed. Sponsors were not identified, either.

• USF1 will have a European satellite facility where it houses its transporters and other equipment, but the true base of operations will be in Charlotte.

• The team plans to race full-time in Formula 1 in 2010, and hopes to be in a position to finish in the points with some regularity by the following season. “After that, the sky’s the limit,” said Windsor.

Article and video of the announcement . . . http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-usf1-ready-to-roll/f1-usf1-ready-to-roll

[Nakey]

jesus christ, i see nothing but fail...

[Trefellin]

I can just imagine the truck balls hanging off the back of the race cars.

[Caster13]

jesus christ, i see nothing but fail...

I saw Danica Patrick and Scott Speed, then I stopped reading. All of the other drivers, mechanics, and team managers in the other teams are laughing their ***** off right now. Along with all of the fans.

Except me, I'm cringing. Yes, fail. BIBLICAL fail.

[BLACKANGEL32076]

Good luck to them and God bless!

Let's give them a chance before we write them off.

[Fobb]

Its not cool unless you write them off first, don't you know?

[Caster13]

It's because when you look at the success (or lack there of) of past US teams, they have fallen flat on their faces. If this will be different, good. We need another American F1 Champion. But in all likelihood it's not gonna happen. Particularly when a couple names like the ones mentioned get tossed around.

[Nakey]

Let's give them a chance before we write them off.

Why? cause they're American? Yeah, screw that

when European teams are failing, and Manufactuer supported ones are too, why would a US based team, from a country where motor sport is raced on an oval, do any better than teams with long histories like the long gone Jordan and Minardi?

Even ProDrive, one of the biggest names in motorsport pulled out. Tom Walkinshaw Racing, again a huge name in European Motorsport) went bankrupt because of Arrows F1.

Even if this was to be a successful operation in terms of finances and longevity, with Danica Patrick and Scott Speed listed, i expect this to be nothing but fail.

[loplop]

I saw Danica Patrick and Scott Speed, then I stopped reading. All of the other drivers, mechanics, and team managers in the other teams are laughing their ***** off right now. Along with all of the fans.

Except me, I'm cringing. Yes, fail. BIBLICAL fail.

I honestly don't expect either one of them driving for USF1. Who I do see is a Macro Andretti or a Graham Rahal. I'm a Tifosi to the core, but I would welcome a US team

[HSaabedra]

Why? cause they're American? Yeah, screw that

when European teams are failing, and Manufactuer supported ones are too, why would a US based team, from a country where motor sport is raced on an oval, do any better than teams with long histories like the long gone Jordan and Minardi?

Because the situation has gotten to the point where someone with real connections like Peter can get stuff done without having to work too hard with the advantage of having someone like Ken, who is an engineer first and foremost just like Dan Gurney was.

F1 is cycling back to the 60's-70's era where you can be competitive for the same amount it takes to field a top flight NASCAR team now.

Even ProDrive, one of the biggest names in motorsport pulled out. Tom Walkinshaw Racing, again a huge name in European Motorsport) went bankrupt because of Arrows F1.

Even if this was to be a successful operation in terms of finances and longevity, with Danica Patrick and Scott Speed listed, i expect this to be nothing but fail.

They haven't even been confirmed for anything, much less being on the short list.

Tom and the guys at ProDrive were stupid enough to get led on by the manufacturers and investors and let the guys with the pursestrings run the operation which is always a bad thing.

If you actually paid attention to the press interview on SpeedTV.com, you'd know that they are selling minority stakes in the team, but those stakes are only for primary investment and not control.

I really don't see how anyone can pass judgment so early when so much of the US commercial entity funds F1 and most every other major international series on the planet through subsidiaries or joint ventures.

[Nakey]

F1 is cycling back to the 60's-70's era where you can be competitive for the same amount it takes to field a top flight NASCAR team now.

And the only reason for that should have left already, but didn't... I'd say he needs more whipping, but i'm sure he enjoys it...

They haven't even been confirmed for anything, much less being on the short list.

And i hope they never get there.

On the off chance that someone miscontrudes my option of Danica Patrick as sexist (i can see one person in this forum that could...), i WANT a female F1 driver. she hasn't impressed me yet for me to even consider it. From the few top level drivers i've seen, i'd take Vanina Ickx and possibly Susie Stoddard over Patrick. Especially Vanina.

Tom and the guys at ProDrive were stupid enough to get led on by the manufacturers and investors and let the guys with the pursestrings run the operation which is always a bad thing.

Had there not been a legality issue with "Customer cars" (begging the question why is STR still in here), they would have been part of the 08 season. Finance (and the lack of it) would have made Prodrive the Minardi of 08, but they'd still be IN it, with what looked like a fairly competitive package.

If you actually paid attention to the press interview on SpeedTV.com, you'd know that they are selling minority stakes in the team, but those stakes are only for primary investment and not control.

Heard that. rewatched it a few times again just for you. still doesn't change my judgement on it.

I really don't see how anyone can pass judgment so early when so much of the US commercial entity funds F1 and most every other major international series on the planet through subsidiaries or joint ventures.

It's not just finance we're picking on here. It's everything.

At the end of the day, i'd love to be proven wrong. But somewhere along the lines, i've said the same thing about Minardi post Paul Stoddart, Toyota (doubly so cause they axed the WRC program, and ARC had to wait until S2000 regs came in before the Corolla was APRC compliant), Honda/BAR and Super Aguri.

Nationalism doesn't give me a reason for wanting a team and/or driver to succeed. I'm man enough to admit i wasn't expecting Team Australia, nor Marcus Ambrose to do as well as they have either. and while i love him to death, i don't think Mark Webber's got too much more of a future in F1

[Caster13]

And the only reason for that should have left already, but didn't... I'd say he needs more whipping, but i'm sure he enjoys it...

There needs to be a revolt among members of the FIA to get him to leave. Supposedly this is his last year, but for some reason I don't think that's going to happen.

I think in order for the FIA to wake up there needs to be a year without F1, with a bunch of the teams boycotting.

[HSaabedra]

On the off chance that someone miscontrudes my option of Danica Patrick as sexist (i can see one person in this forum that could...), i WANT a female F1 driver. she hasn't impressed me yet for me to even consider it. From the few top level drivers i've seen, i'd take Vanina Ickx and possibly Susie Stoddard over Patrick. Especially Vanina.

I'm going to be in the minority and say that Vanina just doesn't have the x-factor that her dad had. She's got talent in spades, but she lacks the element that Hamilton, Raikkonen and to a lesser extent Alonso have.

Had there not been a legality issue with "Customer cars" (begging the question why is STR still in here), they would have been part of the 08 season. Finance (and the lack of it) would have made Prodrive the Minardi of 08, but they'd still be IN it, with what looked like a fairly competitive package.

The fact Prodrive had to pull out of WRC shows you how little clout they actually had with anyone in the industry. Prodrive never had anything lined up, it was Richards blowing smoke to get manufacturers and sponsors lined up.


It's not just finance we're picking on here. It's everything.

At the end of the day, i'd love to be proven wrong. But somewhere along the lines, i've said the same thing about Minardi post Paul Stoddart, Toyota (doubly so cause they axed the WRC program, and ARC had to wait until S2000 regs came in before the Corolla was APRC compliant), Honda/BAR and Super Aguri.

Nationalism doesn't give me a reason for wanting a team and/or driver to succeed. I'm man enough to admit i wasn't expecting Team Australia, nor Marcus Ambrose to do as well as they have either. and while i love him to death, i don't think Mark Webber's got too much more of a future in F1

That's the thing though: You and everyone else haven't seen anything beyond what's already been revealed, and it doesn't make sense to pass judgment yet.

I could see it if the equipment and facilities were already built and they ended up poorly developed, along with bad driver choices but they haven't even moved into the shop yet.

Can any of you even name any of the kids on the short list that aren't household names? USF1 is a test to see if the Dan Gurney method of F1 participation can work in the modern era, and so far its working to reignite interest in the sport in the US.

It says a lot that as former Williams employee is forcing the issue and not the typical rich American investor with no sense This isn't about nationalism as much as it is about forcing Max and Bernie to look at where everyone wants to be, and it isn't in Europe or Asia.

I've been following Ambrose since his V8 days, and it doesn't surprise me that he's done so well because he drove what is essentially a lighter stock car, but he also lucked out and landed in a good program.

[Nakey]

I'm going to be in the minority and say that Vanina just doesn't have the x-factor that her dad had. She's got talent in spades, but she lacks the element that Hamilton, Raikkonen and to a lesser extent Alonso have.

Call me crazy, but i want the talent. so much for that X-factor if you can't win a race

.. you know... like Jenson Button or Scott Speed...

The fact Prodrive had to pull out of WRC shows you how little clout they actually had with anyone in the industry. Prodrive never had anything lined up, it was Richards blowing smoke to get manufacturers and sponsors lined up.

Prodrive didn't pull out. Subaru did. And between the financial crisis and subaru's legacy (hurrrr) of pulling out in bad times, it's not exactly suprising to me...


That's the thing though: You and everyone else haven't seen anything beyond what's already been revealed, and it doesn't make sense to pass judgment yet.

Look, as i said, i'm willing and utterly happy to be proven wrong. But Super Aguri had more than this at the same point, and look where they ended up.

I'm unconvinced. And will remain so until they show more. They've got nothing that makes me think this isn't going to be, at best, another Toyota F1. Maybe they haven't revealed it. Don't know. Don't particularly care. And i won't until i see constant 6-7-8-9ths on the results...

Let's be said. Even Prodrive had more than this...

Footnote: I'm like Yahtzee (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation). Assume everything's crap until proven otherwise.