52 posts from April 2008

Despite the Toyota F1 team sitting at the eighth position at the constructors table, Jarno Trulli still felt happy about his driving. Trulli finished in the eleventh position at the Spanish GP. The Italian is currently driving for the Toyota F1 team along with teammate Timo Glock. Even though he has not won any championships yet, he stayed consistent in scoring points for his team. And the latest was in Barcelona. When asked about his performance this season. He said that he was pleased to have great finishes on four races. Toyota may not be like the Ferrari or the McLaren teams, but they too have proven that they can be very tough to beat. Like any other team in Formula 1, the Toyota team also experience setbacks regarding their cars. But like what a F1 team should do, the team managed to settle all those problems and get a satisfying performance at Circuit de Catalunya.

The cars are not the only ones who should be in shape at all times. The drivers, too, have to be 100% ready. The spotlight does not always light upon the Toyota team. And it is really good to know the entire Formula 1 community still gives time to feature such wonderful drivers, who are just pleased about their performance whether their at the top, middle, or below the drivers/constructors tables. I hope there are other F1 drivers like Trulli, who thinks positively about his team. I know, someday, he will be able to finish a race at the top of the pack.

What are winglets? These are better known as wingtip devices and are normally found on aircrafts. Now, you can actually find winglets on almost all Formula 1 cars. Yes, F1 cars have applied these efficient devices on their cars. These are actually applied to increase the aerodynamic efficiency of the cars and are normally found on the nose. The Toyota F1 team have already such breakthrough design to their cars and features winglets that wider than the usual length of some winglets. Toyota’s winglets share the same principle to that of the “elephant ear” of the Honda F1 team.

The main objective of applying nose winglets is to further enhance the stability of the car. Such feature allows the car to move efficiently on fast corners and long straights. Circuit de Catalunya is a great example. The Toyota team, in fact, had better front-end stability than they used. But no matter how efficient a F1 car is, victory still depends on the driver. During the Spanish GP, there were simply just better drivers from other teams than the Toyota drivers.

A lot of things have happened during in Barcelona. There were drivers who were not able to finish the race. But there were also some who ended up victorious. Among those drivers who had a real great time during the Gran Premio de España was the Finn, Kimi Raikkonen. Raikkonen finished first and now leads the Driver’s table. He was so great that he called his performance at Circuit de Catalunya perfect. Who wouldn not be delighted about having the pole position? He also had the fastest times during the practice sessions and the car was simply in perfect shape. Ferrari simply had no problems with both cars. That just showed, because Raikkonen together with his teammate Felipe Massa finished at the podium. Because of Ferrari’s victory in Barcelona, the team now leads both the drivers and the constructors table. If the team continues to perform like they did during the Spanish GP, there is no doubt that they will take home the world championship.

It is really scary to see someone crash during a race, whether it is Formula 1 or MotoGP. I know that I prefer to crash on a race track because at least there are medical crew standing by. But the thought of crashing while you are running at high speeds is just overwhelming. The faster you go, the greater the impact will be. F1 cars are made from light-weight but highly durable materials for the safety of the drivers. And I’m impressed with how they’ve worked such magnificent safety technology because it definitely saved a lot of drivers. The latest driver to be saved was Heikki Kovalainen who crashed after a wheel rim failure. The cause of the rim’s failure is still unknown but officials are thinking of debris on the track. They probably recalled that Raikkonen, Massa, and Hamilton also had the same problem with their cars.

"Heikki is a very lucky boy.  If that had happened in my day, he wouldn't have had a hope in hell of walking away from it,” said 3-time Formula 1 Champion, Jackie Stewart. Before Kovalainen goes back to racing, he has to get back in shape and do well at the FIA medical inspection. If he starts his shaping up now, he would definitely make it for the 2008 Turkish GP, which is take place at the Istanbul Park Circuit. The midseason of F1 is about to start, which means that real battle has for the world champion has just begun.

Heikki Kovalainen’s crash at Circuit de Catalunya is probably his worst crash ever. After being released from the hospital, the Finn said that he does not recall anything from the accident that happened during the Spanish GP. He said he only experienced a stiff neck and headaches, which I’m sure, will go away before the next grand prix. Overall, he said he is fine, so, we really have nothing to worry about him. What worry me is that he could not recall what happened? Is he experiencing amnesia? Or the accident was still blurred for him to recall it? Well, anyways, what is good is that he’s okay and he can still race.

At last, I got the names right. Yea, I got the names of the three drivers that will dominate during Spanish GP. Okay, I didn’t get their arrangement right. The right arrangement should be this way: Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa, & Lewis Hamilton. If only I had placed Hamilton on third place. I would’ve predicted the final results right. Back to the final results of the race, Robert Kubica got the fourth place and followed by Mark Webber of the Red-Bull-Renault, if you might ask. With the excellent sweep of team Ferrari in Barcelona, Raikkonen is now sitting at the top spot of the driver’s standings with 29 points. Next to him is Hamilton is 20 points, just a point ahead of the BMW’s Kubica. Ferrari is now way ahead of both the BMW-Sauber and the McLaren-Mercedes teams.

There were only 13 cars stayed on the race and made it through Circuit de Catalunya without a scratch. Sad to say, Hamilton’s teammate Heikki Kovalainen weren’t one of them. The reason for his awful crash was a wheel rim failure. Yes, you heard me right; it is a wheel rim failure. Raikkonen, Massa, and Hamilton have to go through a wheel rim failure as well. But with them, they solved the wheel rim problem during their pitstop. Kovalainen’s crash was even more devastating because his car was running about 240 kph. Fernando Alonso had another wearisome race because of an engine problem. Anything can really happen during the race. Lucky are those who make it to the finish line in tact. And during the Spanish Grand Prix, the lucky ones where Raikkonen, Massa, Hamilton, Kubica, Webber, Jenson Button, Kazuki Nakajima, Jarno Trulli, Nick Heidfeld, Giancarlo Fisichella, Timo Glock, David Coulthard, and Takuma Sato.

I was going over some selected quotes from the drivers; I read this one from Lewis Hamilton. "I am actually quite surprised that we are not higher up the grid as the car felt very good, and I put in some strong laps. Throughout qualifying one and two the car felt extremely well balanced, but it's so close which means that it will be an exciting race tomorrow. Being on the third row is not the end of the world as we are surrounded by good drivers who all want to finish the race. The key is now to make a strong start and hopefully gain a couple of positions, and I am confident as I believe our race pace is competitive, and we have a good strategy." I do think that the McLaren team did well, it just that Ferrari, Renault, and BMW Sauber were just greater. If the car feels good, then, I know Hamilton is going to have a good race in Barcelona. And this isn’t good news for the Ferrari, Renault, and BMW Sauber teams. The McLaren team has fallen behind from these teams, but Hamilton is like the NBA’s Phoenix Suns who is hungry for victory and will not stop until he gets it. Tomorrow’s race is sure to be exciting; there is no doubt about that. The season is just starting but it feels like we’re in the midseason. There’s just so much going on between drivers and teams.

For Formula One drivers like Kimi Raikkonen, winning at Circuit de Catalunya requires a lot of skills and guts. Why? It is because of Fernando Alonso’s usual domination at Barcelona and its crowd most probably. The crowd just loves the Spaniard. And holding on to pole position, gives the Ferrari team a shot to winning the Spanish GP and eventually create a big lead from their rivals McLaren-Mercedes and BMW Sauber. What made Raikkonen happier is the news that all the previous seven polesitters at Barcelona won the race. With Felipe Massa going on third, the Ferrari team can make the most of everything they have just to take the lead from everybody else.

As for the Renault team, this race sure sets a different, actually a more exciting atmosphere particularly for Fernando Alonso. The all-out support by the Spaniards to the Renault is something that is truly remarkable. Before Raikkonen gets the pole position, it was Alonso who was there and feeling the adrenaline rushing through his veins. I think he just has to do better on the actual race; maybe he could try and overtake Raikkonen. But he should know that there are more threats coming from behind than upfront.

One of the threats I am talking about is Robert Kubica of the BMW Sauber team. He does not drive a black and white car but he is one of heck of a racer. He’s just happy that he sits at the fourth spot of the grid but he also thinks that his final lap during the qualifying race was a bit skimpy. He knows that his team needs a win at Circuit de Catalunya or the top spot at the constructor’s table will tomorrow belong to the Ferrari’s or the McLaren’s.

As I have said before, anything can happen during the race. I already have my guesses about who will get to the podium. But what I am wondering about is, will my guesses be right now? We’ll see. The race is hours away and I’m sure that everybody in Barcelona are excited to get to stands and watch another thrilling race from all F1 drivers. Frustrations will kick in and victory will definitely come to those who put all their best to the race.

Like I’ve told on my previous post, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa are having a blast. Well, they really are having a blast. The two Ferraris are doing so well at the Gran Premio de España that the team got the pole position (Kimi Raikkonen) and the third spot goes to Felipe Massa. The second spot goes to the Fernando “El Nano” Alonso. Robert Kubica holds the fourth spot while followed by the two McLaren drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen, respectively. The Spanish Grand Prix is sure to be as exciting as ever with all six, great drivers at the front of the pack.

The 2008 Beijing Auto Show, which occurs from April 22-28, exhibits one of the biggest Toyota-Lexus collections. Toyota announced that the company is going to present a sum of 50 cars at the China International Exhibition Center. One of the most awaited displays from Toyota is the compact Yaris and the Vios. For the Lexus’ lineup comes the Lexus LX570. The auto show also highlights the breakthrough design of the hybrid models Toyota Prius and the Lexus LS600h when it comes to safety and environmental efficiency.

Toyota and Lexus are not the only companies that are busy for the Beijing Auto Show. Nissan, too, is busy for the unveiling of the new Nissan Teana and the EX35 under the Infiniti marque. The Nissan Teana was first introduced in 2003 and previously features a 2.3L and a 3.5L engine that goes with its automatic transmission system. The Teana that is unveiled at Beijing is the second generation. This second generation Teana is said to feature a Nissan “D” platform, which was also featured on the Altima and the Maxima. Nissan sure is proud to present the newest generation of the Teana because of its class and comfort.

Now, let’s have a look at the Infiniti EX35 that is the newest from Nissan’s extensive line of crossover sport utility vehicle (SUV). This compact SUV is categorized after the FX, which is another crossover SUV but shares the similar FM platform with the 350Z, FX, G35, and M.

Before, the EX35 was unveiled in Beijing; its production model was already introduced on the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. So, some automotive enthusiasts have already put the EX35 on their list of the most anticipated SUVs of the year. The 3.5L V6 engine of the EX35 could release an output of 297 horsepower and sports a ladder frame structure that makes its engine a powerful one. And did you know that the EX35 outperformed its rivals? In fact, it was Car & Driver who have proven this noteworthy fact of the Infiniti EX35.

Performance is not the only thing that the Infiniti EX35 boasts. It also boasts a number of ground-breaking features such as the Around View Monitor (AVM) that makes use of tiny side and rear cameras. This gives the driver a better top-down view and helps lessen the blind spots when parking. Another first from the EX35 is the Scratch Shield coating. This “self-healing” paint is capable of healing subtle scratches from fingernails and the like. This breakthrough feature helps in restoring the original state of the Ex35’s finish.

So, from the Toyota Yaris to the Infiniti EX35, you will sure find an exciting number of cars at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show. And by the way, you should check out the PIVO2 and the M35. I am sure you will love them. This biannual auto show will definitely suit your taste with its extensive display of different cars from a diverse range car companies. I know I’ve only mentioned Toyota, Lexus, Nissan, and Infiniti, but you will definitely find other eminent names in the industry at the Beijing Auto Show.

After this article, I will be back with Formula One and the exciting Spanish GP that will happen this Sunday. Who are your bets for the upcoming GP? Me? I’m definitely going for Ferrari. It’s either Kimi Raikkonen or Felipe Massa that’s going to get the pole position. The practice results are in and the two Ferraris are doing great at Circuit de Catalunya. Looks like Raikkonen and Massa are having a blast in Barcelona. I just hope this goes on until the race day is over.