Rip Usf1

[Insighter]

Originally Posted by skidmark

I'd say it's more of a tactic to delay the inevitable.

I think that sums up US F1's management style in a nutshell.

[f1fan-sky]

Anderson is offering more excuses--it's the FIA's fault!!!

US F1, which yesterday reportedly put all employees on unpaid leave, continues to claim that is ready to resume operations if Formula 1's governing body approves its request to delay its entry until 2011.

“If the FIA says no (to the deferral), we are done,” team principal Ken Anderson told BBC Sport. “If they say yes, we can put it back in gear and go.”

An FIA spokesman told the British network that a statement on the matter would be made soon. “When we are in a position to make a definitive statement, we will,” the spokesman added. The FIA's ruling could coincide with a decision on whether Stefan GP, the Serbian-based group that hopes to run the former Toyota team's cars, will be permitted to take US F1's place on the 2010 grid.

Anderson blames the delayed signing of the Concorde Agreement between the FIA and F1 teams for putting US F1 impossibly behind in its announced plans to compete this year.

"We put our entry in with the FIA in December 2008 and wanted to start work on the car in March 2009, but the delay in signing the Concorde Agreement until July meant we couldn't start until August,” Anderson said. “We were on course, despite an insanely tight schedule, but then people got cold feet.”

Anderson told AUTOSPORT yesterday, "We have applied to the FIA to hold our entry until 2011. It was supposed to be confidential, so I could not really comment on it. It seems to have leaked out though.

"We are waiting for a reply from the FIA and are working with them. In the meantime, there is nothing for the employees to do, so we have told them to stop working on the current car until we have a decision."

Co-founder Peter Windsor and team patron Chad Hurley, who reportedly had tried to arrange a merger between US F1 and Stefan GP, have offered no comment on the situation.

From Racer.com

[Insighter]

The excuse train continues. Remember when they didn't need to test yet because there were no Cosworth engines available? Or when having a rolling chassis wasn't important because there were no new Bridgestone tires to test on?

Insanely tight schedule? Ken doesn't operate on a schedule. He never had a schedule. Maybe he has the 'insanely' part correct. The biggest and most consistent complaint I got from everyone I knew there was that there was no timeline, no schedule, no deadlines. Just Ken saying that he had everything under control, no need to rush. They weren't even working hard because they couldn't get Ken to green light any major project.

If they had anything close to resembling a car, I might show some compassion or understanding. But they are not 2 weeks, or even 2 months behind schedule. It wasn't even close.

[RacerX]

Well, I would say the chances of the FIA granting this "team" any kind of delay until 2011 is nil.

As you said Insighter, this "team" wasn't even close to having a car ready, it had no schedule and it was in trouble coming out of the gate. USF1 gave the FIA absolutely nothing to go on here, nothing to say, "well, with a couple of breaks they might get a car ready" or anything like that. They are a mess, plain and simple.

Again, this is just another embarrasment to American road racing in the international arena, one we certainly did not need! Anderson should be ashamed of himself for putting together such a miserable effort.

So once again, American F1 fans will not have anything to cheer about in this series, no drivers, no car, no team and no race...wonderful...

[MSulka]

Ding, Dong... officially dead.

And not to brag, but I called the FIA's decision on Stefan GP up above. Not that I knew in advance.

[Insighter]

Less than a month... I'd say that is fairly quick, though definitely painful.

[skidmark]

Originally Posted by Insighter

Less than a month... I'd say that is fairly quick, though definitely painful.

Yep, quick it was. I'm sure the pain was not only felt by those who lost their employment (tough to get a new gig at this time of year) or by Anderson and Windsor alone. Speedtv blew a boatload of credibility being fan boys for these guys. Lots of egg on lots of faces.

Wonder if Windsor will get his gridwalk gig back with Speed and, if he does, how long it will be before Bernie asks him "Where's your car?"

[MSulka]

Originally Posted by skidmark

Yep, quick it was. I'm sure the pain was not only felt by those who lost their employment (tough to get a new gig at this time of year) or by Anderson and Windsor alone. Speedtv blew a boatload of credibility being fan boys for these guys. Lots of egg on lots of faces.

Wonder if Windsor will get his gridwalk gig back with Speed and, if he does, how long it will be before Bernie asks him "Where's your car?"

Speed has already announced the former GP2 press officer Buxton will take Peter's place in the last week. Might have even been Monday.

[Insighter]

Not surprisingly, no final paycheck for those that stuck around.

[skidmark]

That's the trouble with going down with the ship – it usually doesn't pay.

Really crappy for the people involved because even if there's money left in the corporation it's months before you see any cash and your bills are due now.

[chopperdave]

I agree that this is yet another embarassment for the US in general vs. the world stage. the US has went from technical innovator and a pillar in world motor sport to bumbling idiots and turned the market into Grand-Am and NASCAR, which are run by the same family.

Also, if USF1 could promise a substantial 7-figure bond to be on the grid, why the H*LL didn't they take that bond and BUILD THE CAR?!

[Insighter]

Originally Posted by chopperdave

Also, if USF1 could promise a substantial 7-figure bond to be on the grid, why the H*LL didn't they take that bond and BUILD THE CAR?!

Because that was just Ken Anderson blowing smoke up Varsha's rear, IMO. He wants to make this look like it's all the FIA's fault. They signed the Concorde too late, and then would not agree to a simple one-season delay! Those dream crushers.

[chopperdave]

ok sorry for resurrecting this thread. but seeing an article on paddocktalk about the US government bailing out this team??? say it ain't so. if it is then that is the taxpayers money building this car and every american should get free F! season passes

[skidmark]

You mean this?

http://paddocktalk.com/news/html/mod...pic=8&catid=17

Umm, the US government bailed out the banks, GM and sunk money into Chrysler. Why shouldn't USF1 get TARP money? It's job creation, it's advancing the cause of the American automotive research and development and it's green (well the tires are anyways ...)

Besides you just might want the check the pub date on the article ...

[MSulka]

Hmmm. confirm or deny.... Hmmm.