Joint NASCAR-F1 program
Given Formula One’s ability to develop cars and NASCAR’s ability to sell them, DaimlerChrysler is counting on a union of German technology and good, old American know-how to improve both programs.
DaimlerChrysler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche attended Saturday’s night’s Nextel Cup race at Daytona Beach, Fla., where his likeness appeared on the hoods of the Dodges driven by Evernham Motorsports’ Kasey Kahne and Jeremy Mayfield. Then Zetsche flew to Indianapolis to be with McLaren-Mercedes for what turned out to be a short day for the team in Sunday’s U.S. Grand Prix.
At a news conference Sunday morning at the convention center, where he was joined by McLaren team principal Ron Dennis and NASCAR team owner Ray Evernham, among others, Zetsche said a joint NASCAR/F1 program isn’t as farfetched as it might seem.
“The technology is very different, but the principles are the same,” he said. “There is much to share. NASCAR has something to tell as far as the show is concerned. I saw Daytona and it’s quite something.”
Zetsche said DaimlerChrysler is committed long-term to both programs.
“It’s our history and will be our future as well,” he said. “NASCAR is as American as it can get. We are there to stay.”
Dennis and Evernham agreed they are in the initial stages of developing their partnership, but both expect it to be fruitful.
“It takes time because they’re two very different types of motor sports,” Dennis said. “It’s a learning curve for both of us. But we are blown away by their marketing machine.”
Evernham acknowledged he has thought about one day being part of a U.S. team effort in F1 but not until his NASCAR program has produced a championship or two. He is counting on the union with McLaren and Mercedes to help him do that.
“It’s not just the technology. Take what they’re doing with their strategy and their software,” he said. “It’s great to have a big brother like McLaren. This is what we’ve been waiting for.”
Red Bull thanks Montoya
The postrace news release from Red Bull Racing was headlined, “Thanks, Juan,” for the first-lap crash initiated by McLaren’s Juan Pablo Montoya that cleared the way for the Red Bull team and its junior partner to each score points Sunday.
Red Bull’s David Coulthard placed seventh, his second-best finish of the year, and the Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso team scored the first point of its brief history with Vitantonio Liuzzi’s eighth-place effort.
Coulthard said he could see trouble coming as the field barreled into the first turn.
“I didn’t like the look of it. It just didn’t smell right,” he said. “So I backed out of it, kept in the middle of the road and let them all go, and obviously I picked up some places.”
Liuzzi’s U.S.-born teammate, Scott Speed, was among the victims in the crash, but that didn’t quell the Italian’s joy at coming from the back row to score a point.
“It is a great day,” he said. “Now we have to look forward because we are on fire.”
Michelin wins while losing
Michelin didn’t have the day it wanted, but losing to Bridgestone on the racetrack was a big improvement from a year ago when its defeat was the result of withdrawing its teams.
The third-place finish by Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella was the top result for Michelin. The company’s racing director, Nick Shorrock, said in a statement he was disappointed in the tire’s performance but pleased with its durability, and thanked the Indianapolis audience for not holding a grudge.
“There have been a number of positives this weekend,” he said. “The public enjoyed a good show and the atmosphere has been fantastic since we first arrived.”
