United States Grand Prix: A Guess

Austin, Texas.

Click on the link there and take a look at one of my many guesses as to what a Grand Prix circuit outside Austin, Texas could look like. The group that is bringing Formula 1 back to the United States recently revealed the site of the Grand Prix. Try your hand at designing a circuit there.

Grand Prix-viewing the Magyar Nagydíj 2010

It's been over a year since Felipe Massa was very nearly killed at the Hungaroring. Click on the word there to watch of video of one of the scariest accidents you'll ever see. With hindsight being 20-20 and Massa being alright and actually winning the German Grand Prix, (Okay, so team orders forced him to move aside and give Alonso the victory, but more on that later.) we can actually talk about the most frightening aspect of this video, the on-board telemetry. Just watch after the spring hits Massa's helmet, when he simultaneously applies full brake and full throttle.

So, back to team orders. Ferrari has been poster child of team orders. Many years ago, Ferrari ordered Rubens Barrichello out of the way to allow Michael Schumacher to win. Schumi, out of shame, moved the 2nd-Place Barrichello to the top step of the podium. At Hockenheim this year, Massa was leading the race, but currently trailing in the points well behind Alonso (who was well behind leader Hamilton). Rob Smedley, Massa's race engineer, delivered the worst coded message ever, "Alonso is faster than you. Can you confirm you understood that?"

Massa rather blatantly oved out of the way, and then on the podium and in the post-race conference, the Ferrari drivers looked like a couple going through some rather serious marital problems.

Which brings us to Hungary this year. The race, this Sunday, will feature two teams going through some great mechanical days, but seriously dysfunctional family issues. Red Bull, and Ferrari, have some driver issues to sort through.

Current duel championship leader, McLaren, is still out in front after a disappointing German Grand Prix. No one really knows just what McLaren will decide about the blown diffuser, but the Hungaroring is usually good to the Woking-based team.

So let's predict a podium:

1. Lewis Hamilton - McLaren Mercedes

2. Mark Webber - Red Bull

3. Nico Rosberg - Mercedes

You'll note that the third spot on the podium goes to a driver who has been kind of struggling this season. Rosberg, though, appears poised to break through.

A Way Too Early Football Prediction Post

Alright, know from the outset that this is a completely unnecessary blog post. Training camps for both college and the NFL haven't even started yet. But, that's what makes this fun.

College Football

We'll start with the big six conference rankings.

6b. Big East: The Big East is down yet again. Yes, there are some good teams here, but I really don't see them as much of a threat to the top five.

6a. Mountain West: That's right. Right now I have a non-BCS conference ranked ahead of a BCS conference.

5. ACC: The ACC is scary. I mean, it really isn't a good conference. Beyond Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, UNC, and FSU, there isn't much here.

4. Big Ten: The Big Ten is adding a team next year, bringing their total up to twelve. I told you those guys up north couldn't count.

3. Pac-10: The Pacific coast conference has good teams. Unfortunately, USC, their flagship program, is now under a two-year bowl ban.

2. Big XII: This is the last year for the Big XII. Next year Colorado departs for the Pac 10 (with Utah) and Nebraska is running to the Big Ten.

1. SEC: Until someone knocks them off the top, there is no reason to pick against them.

Conference Winners:

Mountain West: TCU

Big East: UConn

ACC: Virginia Tech

Big Ten: Ohio State

Pac-10: Oregon

Big XII: Texas

SEC: Alabama

BCS Bowl Games:

Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Wisconsin

Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. TCU

Fiesta Bowl: Texas vs. Boise State

Orange Bowl: Virgina Tech vs. UConn

National Championship: Alabama vs. Ohio State

NFL PREDICTIONS:

AFC Championship Game:

Baltimore vs. Indianapolis

NFC Championship Game:

Atlanta vs. Dallas

Super Bowl:

Atlanta vs. Baltimore

Call us crazy, but a Matt Ryan versus Joe Flacco Super Bowl will be a lot of fun to watch.

Another Review of those F1 Predictions

June 17th:

Driver's Champion: Lewis Hamilton

He'll rebound in a big way, especially when we get to the European part of the calendar.

Constructor's Champion: Ferrari

Those red cars are fast.

Most wins on the season: Fernando Alonso

I'm thinking he'll win five races, while Hamilton will eventually win four.

First Driver to be Replaced: Karun Chandhok, HRT

I'm think that Jose Maria Lopez or Sebastian Bourdais may find their way into the race seat opposite Bruno Senna.

Will Bernie go away at season's end?

No. Unfortunately no.

Who will fill the race slot vacated by the defunct USF1?

Most likely Stefan GP. I can't see Epsilon Eusakdi, or Prodrive moving in.

Alright, so that's what we said in March of this year, after only one race. We're now eight races in and things have certainly changed. So let's view the new and updated predictions for the 7/16 mark of the season...

Driver's Champion: Lewis Hamilton

He'll rebound in a big way, especially when we get to the European part of the calendar. Remember us saying that earlier and back in March. Well, Lewis has taken two of the first three European races. Valencia at the end of the month looks good for McLaren as well.

Constructor's Champion: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

While Ferrari was our original pick, it looks as though those red cars aren't as good as we thought. Yes, Alonso is reaching the podium, but with nowhere near the consistency that Button and Hamilton are reaching it.

Most wins on the season: Lewis Hamilton

Lewis is already halfway to what I predicted he'd win, and we aren't even to the midpoint of the season. I'm starting to think Lewis may take home five or six wins.

First Driver to be Replaced: Karun Chandhok, HRT

I'm think that Jose Maria Lopez or Sebastian Bourdais may find their way into the race seat opposite Bruno Senna. That was our original pick and we're sticking with it. Chandhok, even in one of the new backmarker cars, is consistently running upwards of 4 to 7 seconds of the leader's pace. In F1, he might as well be walking as going that slow.

Will Bernie go away at season's end?

No. Unfortunately no. In fact, I hear he's looking at a vacation home in Austin, Texas.

Who will fill the race slot vacated by the defunct USF1?

Trick question, doesn't look like the FIA is going to let anyone else in.

So, what's right, wrong, and new?

Driver's Champion: Lewis Hamilton

That's right, we're sticking with Lewis for the title. He's not only consistent, but he's showing the aggressiveness that made him champion in 2008, only now he's coupled it with the maturity of a few seasons.

Constructor's Champion: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

Also sticking with McLaren for the Constructor's title. Lewis is driving very well, and Jenson just overcame a P14 in qualifying by driving the wheels off at Silverstone and getting to P4 at the end.

Most wins at the end of the season: Lewis Hamilton

Yes, Webber has 3 now and Lewis only has 2. But Lewis drives well at Hockenheim and Spa, two of the next four races.

First Driver to be replaced: Karun Chandhok, HRT

We are partially right on this one. Bruno Senna was replaced by Sakon Yamamoto at Silverstone, but Karun will be replaced for the next few races by Yamamoto. Although, Renault is stirring the rumor mill with stories about Vitaly Petrov.

Will Bernie go away at season's end?

Still no. In fact, that kooky old man is now threatening to pull the Monaco Grand Prix. Yeah, that'll go over well with fans.

There was a question about USF1's spot. We just don't care anymore.

Today is the Future!!!

Well, today is the day that Marty McFly arrives from 1985. He drove the DeLorean up to 88 miles per hour, and with that, he entered the history books.... or did he leave them... no, wait, he wrote them.... I dunno!

No, just kidding. It was actually 2015, and this is just photoshopped. Still fun, though.