Events Around The Rising Sun

As you may or may not know, the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix was last weekend. I have to admit it was a thoroughly entertaining race. There were a number of highlights, my favorite of which was Felipe Massa showing Lewis Hamilton the door and spinning him out on the first lap. While Massa was hit with a drive through, I think it did a lot to show that Massa is'nt going to be a pushover these last two races, plus it had the advantage of keeping Hamilton out of the points and Massa gaining 2. Always a good thing.

Another good/smart thing was that Ferrari went back to the "lollipop" pit-release system. Thank God.
I have no problem with the light-system they had used, but it clearly wasn't ready to make a Grand Prix debut, Massa's pulling off with the fuel hose in Singapore was evidence enough. If you're going to try something new, keep it in the practice sessions unless you know that it WILL NOT cost you in the race.


I have also just been informed that, though I can not say I've been a fan of Alonso, he has announced that he will try and help Ferrari bring down Hamilton. This is good news, not that we could'nt hande it ourselves, it is always nice to have friends down the pit-lane. Here's what he actually said, ""Yes, without doubt. If I can help, I will help Massa," the double world champion told Spanish newspapers after Sunday's victory in Japan." Credit Yahoo for story.

Now there is a single extremeley sour note to this grand prix. For reasons unannounced, Bernie Ecclestone decided to eliminate Canada from the 2009 race schedule. According to the SPEED coverage of the Japanese GP Qualifying, this will be the first time a Formula 1 race hasn't been contested in North America since 1956(?). Montreal has stated that this will total to around $75million in local economic loss from the absence of the grand prix.

Yahoo went so far as to say "Race organisers had no idea the event would be removed from the calendar, and the official website is still advertising tickets for next year."

First the USGP and now Canada. Unfortunately my family can't afford a trip abroad. This is truly a sad day for all of us in North America.