Formula One News — October 2006

Ferrari has nothing to gain from playing it safe in Brazil and we hear that the Italian team is heading to Interlagos with its V8 engines tweaked to much higher levels of revs in an effort to power Michael Schumacher to victory.

The new Ilmor X motorcycle made its MotoGP debut at Estoril over the weekend and Australia's Garry McCoy brought the bike home in 15th place, albeit four laps behind the leaders after a lengthy pit stop to cure an electrical problem.

As the F1 teams head out to Brazil, the other championships around the world were in full swing with NASCAR settling its Busch Series in favour of Kevin Harvick at Charlotte. The Chase for the Nextel Cup continues, however, with Harvick's Richard Childress Racing team mate Jeff Burton remaining on top.

The latest reports from the United States say that Jacques Villeneuve and Jack Roush are in the final stages of a deal to put the former Formula 1 World Champion, Indy 500 winner and CART Champion into a selected number of NASCAR Busch Series events in 2007.

The European Commission has confirmed that it is now taking legal action against Italy, Hungary, Spain and the Czech Republic over violations of the European Union ban on tobacco sponsorship.

While everyone has been reporting about the effect of Michael Schumacher's Ferrari engine failure in Japan, there has been very little discussion about the cause. What is odd is that there was a failure when Ferrari's reliability has been astonishing in recent years.

McLaren's press preview for the Braziilian Grand Prix gave confirmation that Pedro de la Rosa will be racing with the team for one more event, bringing to an end speculation that Lewis Hamilton would be taking over the drive.

Mehmet Ali Talat, the man who caused the ongoing F1 Podium Crisis in Turkey, has told the Associated Press that the FIA's fine was "very unfair, really very unfair and not acceptable".

Nelson Piquet Jr has been setting some impressive times in recent weeks while testing with the Renault F1 team. There are many in F1 who believe that Piquet Jr will find his way into a racing car before the end of next year and so Renault is very keen to show off the Brazilian in the best possible light.

MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi had ambitions of being a Formula 1 driver and did a series of tests with Ferrari but it seems that he has concluded that he may be better off in rallying and has now entered a private Subaru in the upcoming New Zealand Rally.

Jack Roush has announced that 20-year-old David Ragan is to take over from Mark Martin in Roush Racing's AAA-sponsored Ford Fusion next year. This means that an opportunity that had been open to former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve is now closed as Roush now has a full five-car team in the Nextel Cup.

The Motor Sport Business Forum in Monaco on December 6-7 December is shaping up into a big event with over 300 delegates from all over the world.

The rules of the sport, shrouded as they are in the confidential Concorde Agreement, are often difficult to pin down because one can find out about one clause in the agreement and yet not know about another. The question of designing cars for others is a complicated one.

Renault F1 boss Flavio Briatore came to Formula 1 having spent several years opening Benetton stores in the United States of America. In his time there Briatore opened something like 800 stores, which were all run by franchise-holders.

Australia's Ryan Briscoe will pilot a Rusport Champ Car in Surfer's Paradise, Australia on October 22 and in Mexico City on November 12. He will be replacing the injured Cristiano da Matta and partnering Justin Wilson.

There is no question that Formula 1 people like to visit the Suzuka Circuit. They have been visiting for 20 years. They know the place. They like the non-intrusive nature of the Japanese fans and the, despite Ron Dennis complaining about having a smelly hotel room, most people are happy to be there.

The Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED) has appealed the decision of the FIA World Motor Sport Council on September 19 and will be heard by the FIA International Court of Appeal in Paris on November 7.

One day perhaps some worthy sociologist will write a dissertation to explain what happened in the Media Centre at Suzuka when Michael Schumacher's Ferrari blew its engine during the Japanese Grand Prix of 2006. There was a roar of approval. A loud roar...

Pierre Dupasquier is to be honoured in December with his appointment to France's Legion d'Honneur for his services to French motorsport.

While F1 was busy in Japan, the NASCAR teams were at Talladega where there was drama and controversy as Hendrick Motorsport driver Brian Vickers (soon to depart to join Red Bull) won his first Nextel Cup victory on the last lap when he tapped his team mate into an accident.

Renault UK has recently changed managing-directors with Philippe Talou-Derible disappearing off to France after five years in the UK. His new job is to become commercial director of Renault Sport Technologies.

BMW had been considering running Timo Glock as a test driver in races this year but the German driver injured his wrist in the final round of the GP2 Series in Monza and has been out of action ever since.

We hear from our spies in Milton Keynes that Red Bull Racing has now acquired a building adjacent to the current factory and is planning to expand its operations.

Japanese GP - Race Notes

Japanese GP - Sunday Photos