Ayrton Senna: The Aftermath of His Death

It is hard to believe that 14 years have already passed since that tragic race weekend in Imola.

First, there was the horrible shunt of Rubens Barrichello during Friday's afternoon practice session. Barrichello survived but suffered injuries that made him unfit to race. Come Saturday qualifying, rookie Roland Ratzenberger was killed after a damaged front wing broke off during his entry in the fast Villeneuve corner. Ratzenberger's car crashed into the concrete wall at around 189mph and died instantly.

Senna witnessed both events, shocked, saddened and ultimately compelled to action. He initiated a meeting Sunday morning with fellow drivers to push for better safety in Formula 1. As the then most senior driver, Senna took the initiative to lead the effort.

But come the race, Senna too was killed. His Williams inexplicably veered off the track upon exiting Tamburello and impacted the concrete wall at 135mph.

Arguably the biggest superstar the Sport had ever known was now gone. Best known for his profoundly introspective insights, unwavering commitment to push his car to the absolute limit, his superiority in racing under wet conditions and of course his three titles driving the Honda powered McLaren, Senna's death was a shock that ultimately changed Formula 1 for good.

His death led to more drastic means of improving safety within the sport. Gone are the days when risk and danger were part of the glamor of Formula 1.

Until this very day, Ayrton Senna remains to be the last driver to be killed while driving a Formula 1 car. The new culture in the paddock dictates that advancements in safety is just as important as improving the engine or the chassis.

Numerous shunts have taken place after Senna's death, all of which could have been easily fatal. But because of the pursuit of ever-improving safety, many drivers have been spared from death or seriosly debilitating injuries.

However, the pursuit for better safety wasn't all smooth sailing. A fire marshal was killed after an accident during the 2000 Italian GP. The following year, a volunteer marshal was also killed during the 2001 season opener in Australia when Jacques Villeneuve's BAR Honda collided behind Ralf Schumacher's Williams.

But like Senna's death, the tragedies were used as lessons to once again improve safety even more. And since 2001, no deaths have been recorded in the sport.

It's been 14 years since Senna volunteered to lead the cause for better safety. Ironically, it was his death that ultimately led to realizing that vision. In motor racing, it could be said that Formula 1 is also the pinnacle of safety.

High Performance Hybrid

When people think of buying a hybrid, they think of fuel economy and practicality. And where fuel economy is concerned, speed is usually sacrificed.

Hybrid vehicles aren't associated with high performance.

A group of engineers however think otherwise.

Mercedes-AMG, the high performance division of Mercedes-Benz responsible for monstrous vehicles such as the S65 that boasted a V12 engine capable of delivering 604 hp, is planning to produce the first ever high performance hybrid car.

The new V8 in the company's lineup will have a Hybrid version labeled "Blue Power". Being a V8, the car is obviously performance oriented. However, the integration of the electric engine means that the car should still be able to have restricted zero-emission capability.

AMG Research and Development Director Wolf Zimmermann mentioned that he was excited with the challenge of being able to deliver a high end high-performance vehicle while still being able to meet ecological standards.

The project seems to be an attempt by Mercedes-AMG to respond to growing environmental concerns without destroying the division's essence.

It would be interesting to see how this whole project pans out.

Increasing Demand for Smaller Cars

With gas prices increasing, more and more people are becoming convinced that smaller, lighter and slightly more economical cars are ther way to go.

Hence, smaller sedans have suddenly become a hot item. In addition, less powerful SUVs and Crossovers are becoming the more popular cars of choice for those who need to consider a large family.

If everyone had the money, getting hybrids would be a better option to cope against pocket heavy fuel prices.

But with the economic recession, most people also have to consider the initial cost of a car. That is why buying sedans, SUVs with smaller engines or crossovers become the best compromise.

This new trend has caused a demand spike for such cars. It could be said that no one in the auto industry could have predicted a drastic shift in demand for smaller cars. But thanks to the ever increasing oil prices, everyone it seems are considering economy above everything else.

So now, auto makers are bumping up production in significant levels to cope with the record breaking demands for smaller vehicles.

This sudden demand for smaller lighter vehicles however also has a drawback. For one thing, increased production for a commodity entails increase in cost. And since smaller lower end sedans don't really offer much of a profit for car manufacturers compared to premium models that offer all sorts of extras and luxury, buyers could lose some bargaining power.

For smaller vehicles, it would be difficult to negotiate for a significantly lower price compared to the sticker price. For most dealers, the difference from the invoice and the sticker price isn't that much to begin with. This means that a buyer wouldn't have that much room to haggle.

But then again, buying smaller vehicles is more of a long term strategy since smaller vehicles, being more fuel efficient, entails less cost when in use. Settling for the sticker price (or at least a price a little less than the sticker price) could be a small price to pay for a car not that fuel thirsty.

Lotus 79: A True Pioneer in Aerodynamics

Aerodynamics in most high end performance oriented production cars are a given. A car's chassis is basically just as important, if not more important than the engine.

Of course there is really no way to definitively measure aerodynamics until you drive a particular car and feel just how much grip it gets at high speeds. Hence, engine specs and all other technological tidbits (ASM, TCS etc) are still used more often than not to entice a person to buy a car.

But even the best engine is meaningless if the car can't handle the power. And good handling is largely due to efficient aerodynamics that help keep a car stable on the road at high speeds.

The importance of aerodynamics is clearly seen in racing where many cars are more reliant on aerodynamic grip than mechanical grip. For the 2008 Formula 1 season for instance, the Scuderia Toro Rosso driven by four-times Champ Car Champion Sebastien Bordais and respected up and comer Sebastian Vettel utilizes a Ferrari engine. But those two aren't competing anywhere near the top. Instead, it is the Scuderia Ferrari F2008 that's dominating the current season. This is because the F2008 has a much better chassis with much better aerodynamics.

The definitive car that advanced aerodynamic technology would be the Lotus 79 designed by Martin Ogilvie, Tony Rudd, Peter Wright and, of course, Colin Chapman. And it spelled 'domination' for the 1978 Formula 1 season.

The Lotus 79 was coined as the "Wing Car". It's design basically generated a low pressure area underneath the car as it travelled. This meant that as air flowed, the car would be 'sucked' to the ground: hence ground effect.

In a sense, the Lotus 79 chassis was like an inverted wing. An aircraft wing would produce low-pressure above the wing to produce lift while the Lotus 79 did the exact opposite.

Although many open wheel racing cars as early as the 60s were already experimenting with wings fitted at the front and the rear to produce downforce, none of those cars used aerodynamic grip as efficiently as the Lotus 79. It was truly an aerodynamic car against old fashioned cars.

All of a sudden, the revolutionary Flat 12 engine of the Ferrari 312/T3 (designed to enhance handling due to a lower center of gravity) was helpless against the tremendous aerodynamic benefits of the "Wing Car"

Lotus stormed through the season winning the constructors' title with lead driver Mario Andretti winning the drivers' title. Teammate Ronnie Peterson, despite his tragic death after the Italian GP, remained in second place in the overall standings.

Although the ground effect design is now banned in Formula 1 and that current generation Formula 1 cars find different methods to produce downforce, there is no denying that the Lotus 79 was truly the first car in F1 to show the importance of aerodynamic grip.

And beyond Formula 1, aerodynamics is still one of the main staples in motor racing that is required for victory.

Cheaper Alternative: Hyundai Tiburon (Coupe)

With the advent of games like Gran Turismo, Project Gotham, and Forza Motorsport wherein a gamer was allowed to drive realistically rendered versions of real life cars, many, it seems, have been spoiled.

A lot of the younger generation have now been exposed to countless of exotic sports cars only the super rich could buy. But because of such games, more people have been treated by the aesthetic qualities of an F430 or a DB9 and the raw power of cars like the F40 on a regular basis.

Brands like Ferrari, Pagani, Aston Martin and Lotus are now so reachable.

Unfortunately, real life dictates that exotic cars are still for those with seemingly unlimited supplies of cash.

After years of growing up accustomed to the likes of cars worthy of appearing in Bond films, shopping for cars for real becomes quite dissappointing. Now, I have to settle for the normal everyday cars. A lot of them are practical, which is great, but they lack the passion exuded by high end sports cars.

There is a decent compromise however. There are still some cars that look like a high end sports car with a very reachable price tag.

One good example would be the Hyundai Tiburon (Coupe). The price for the 2008 model ranges from $17,025 up to $22,525 depending on the trim.

Mind you, the car looks too good for such a price range. Its price tag rivals that of a regular family compact car and yet, the Tiburon looks special, the way a true sports car should feel. The profile of the car looks especially good.

The basic trim would provide a 2.0L 121HP engine. For a sports car, it is under powered. The lowest trim basically gives you the look and nothing else which kinda defeats the purpose of having a sports car in the first place. Fortunately there is a V6 2.7L version that offers a more decent 161HP. It may not seem like much, but for the car's size, it can hold its own pretty much. And if you're willing to get the highest trim that comes with a 6-speed manual transmission, the cars power would definitely be good enough.

It's no F430 thats for sure. Don't expect 0-60mh in 4.0s. The Tiburon however does deliver a better than average performance going from 0-60mph in 8.6s.

For what you have shell out, the Tiburon could be a bargain. After all, it looks good enough to make you look good.

Mclaren Improved but they still have much to Worry About.

Mercedes-Benz powered McLaren Formula 1 team looked to be more competitive in Spain. Their car was good enough to propel Lewis Hamilton back on the Podium. Unfortunately, he was still behind the Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.

Yes, the team improved, but not by much. McLaren was behind the defending champions throughout the race weekend from practice, to qualifying and the race. For a team gunning for no less than the world title, much work is clearly needed.

All they have proven is that they are still quicker than BMW Sauber. Beating "The Prancing Horse" is still the main objective however.

But that goal will be difficult.

For one thing, Ferrari has been known to hold the edge in tracks with fast sweeping corners. Sepang, Bahrain and Catalunya are tracks that suits ferrari's strengths. The next race in Turkey, which happens to be Massa's favorite track, will suit the Italian squad.

It would be difficult for McLaren to match that advantage in only two weeks time.

In addition, unlike last year, the post-Brawn-Todt-Schumacher Ferrari team is no longer suffering from reliability issues. With the exception of Australia, both Ferraris were able to race flat out at the front of the field showcasing unbelievable engine life (since every engine is required to last two full race weekends).

At about the same time last season, Ferrari was beating McLaren. However, only one Ferrari would make it to the finish line whereas McLaren had both drivers finish the race. That allowed McLaren to be able stack up points in the standings.

Now however, both Ferraris are quicker and both are finishing ahead of McLaren. That is no doubt a huge problem. McLaren has to solve its cars' lack of pace now rather than risk the possibility of Ferrari turning the season into a landslide.

Another area of concern would be Heikki Kovalainen's shunt. A front left tire blow out caused a huge accident that thankfully did not yield any injuries.

Two possibilities loom. The first is that the front left tire was defective and McLaren and Kovalainen were just unlucky. The second, which is more pressing for the team, is that their set-up caused the car to wear the front left tire more quickly. if so, McLaren has yet another factor to monitor during test runs rather than simply focusing on how to make the car faster.

Judging by the Spanish GP, it is highly unlikely for McLaren to turn things around in Turkey. The only time that the team may turn the tide would be in Monaco: where the tight street corners made McLaren unbeatable last year. If the team can maintain its advantage from last year, than the title fight may again get real competitive rather quickly.

But then again, Ferrari did mention that the F2008 has a shorter wheelbase to increase its pace and competitiveness in tighter circuits. Only time will tell if McLaren could indeed catch up to "The Prancing Horse".

Ice Cool, Firmly in Control

Kimi Raikkonen took a lot of heat after the Australian GP where the defending champion failed to score points.

But despite the harsh criticisms, the "Ice Man" kept his cool seemingly deterred by nothing. The results he compiled were three successive podium finishes that included 2 victories and a second place finish.

That is the trademark of the current generation "Flying Finn". When it comes to his driving, he rarely talks and rarely shows emotion.

To him, the past is history. Regardless of the previous result, whether good or bad, he isn't affected. All there is is the present where he would still naturally give his all.

So after the media drubbing at the conclusion of the Australian GP, Raikkonen answered his critics with a dominating win in Malaysia. Although things weren't working too well for him in Bahrain, the reigning champion still managed to squeeze out a second place finish using a set-up that didn't really suit his liking.

By the Spanish GP, Raikkonen was untouchable as he wound up with his 17th victory so far.

So much has been said with very few words.

The media however hasn't really warmed up to the monosyllabic and ever-evasive champion. The people of the press claim that a lack of personality isn't good for the ratings. What people want is drama: something that Raikkonen never really projects.

The media feasts on bitter rivalry, like that of Alonso and Hamilton last year. The media loves scandals like last year's Spy Espionage and Max Mosley's recent philandering.

Where there is controversy, there is always a colorful cliffhanger of a story that stirs up curiosity and intrigue. Drama is the media's best friend. Where press people are concerned, publicity is king. Something Raikkonen never truly cares about.

And it doesn't matter. Beyond the cold image and introverted persona, Raikkonen exudes the personality of the consumate racing driver. A personality that seemingly isn't bothered by anything. He is too cool to ever be worried. Among drivers, Raikkonen seems to be the only one who feels no pressure.

Hence, his character makes him tough to break: an attribute that is detrimental to all those competing against him.

As it stands, Raikkonen is the world championship leader with a nine point advantage over his nearest rival. It is still early in the season, but it is hard to deny that the ice cool Finn is firmly in control.

My Take on Sam Mitani's Take on GT5P

Sam Mitani is the International Editor of one of the most recognizeable car mags out there: "Road & Track". For those who have purchased Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, you would also recognize him as the man who wrote "Gran Turismo and the World of Automotive Enthusiasm" for the GT5P manual.

Because of Mitani's position, he is one of the few people who actually gets the privilege of driving the real life counter-parts of Gran Turismo's cars and of course drive them on the actual race tracks.

Based on his opinion, he is so full of praise as to how GT captures the real life characteristics
of the real cars from the way they look, they sound and most importantly, the way they handle.

Comparison cars that he used ranged from the Honda (Acura) NSX Type S Zero, Nissan GT-R, Ferrari F430 and the BMW 135i.

For Mitani, the GT franchise is still the best when it comes to depicting reality. As accurate as it is, the game can actually be the ultimate car buyers' guide wherein you can examine production cars in virtual reality first.

And it's not just the cars that matches realism. According to Mitani, even the tracks are greatly resembled saying as much that you could learn the tracks by playing GT.

Yep, Sam Mitani is undoubtebly a fan.

But because of the nature of his work, his occupation does give credibility to what he wrote.

I am not going to contest his opinion. As a die hard fan of the game, I love what he wrote about the game.

Rather, I'll simply share what was going through my mind reading Sam Mitani's introduction: Blue NSX driven by Jeremy Clarkson in Laguna Seca.

That was one funny experiment from the comedic witty Brit from Top Gear. During that test, his GT lap time in Laguna Seca with the NSX was more than 10 seconds quicker than his actual lap time.

In racing, 10 seconds difference is more than eternity. That is the difference between a 599 Fiorano and a Toyota Corolla around the same circuit.

Judging from Jeremy Clarkson's run, the accuracy of the game takes quite a hit.

However, Clarkson still believed that the NSX was capable of matching the in-game lap time. The only reason for the 10 second difference was, according to Jeremy, his driving.

In fairness, the Laguna Seca is one of the most terrifying tracks out there. Like Spa Francorchamp's Eau Rouge and Istanbul Park Circuit's turn 8, Laguna Seca's Cork Skrew is one corner racing drivers always remember.

According to Clarkson, he just couldn't muster enough courage to push the car to its limit. He mentioned that racing drivers suffer from the lack/absence of imagination. They never think 'what if a wheel comes off, what if the brakes have gone, what if the steering column breaks etc'. They simply go out and race as hard as they could. In Clarkson's own terminology, racing drivers suffer from the "Mansell Syndrome".

Driving to the absolute limit is something reserved for the select few. The few who are willing to transcend their own fears to achieve something that most people can't. In a sense, racing is an ideal in itself.

Sam Mitani wrote that he became a devout disciple of the 'church of Gran Turismo' as a reference to the game's cultic like following. It was a joke obviously written to emphasize how well the franchise has sold.

But then again, because racing is about the pursuit to trancend one's own limits, it is like a spiritual experience in itself. It symbolizes that drive within people searching for meaning: searching for something more, something bigger than just one's self.

Perhaps, a reference to religion isn't that far fetched.

Benefits of a Boxer Engine and a Mid-Engine Layout

People looking to get performance oriented sports cars are usually bombarded with figures. Of course, the common statistical figures would be Horse Power, Torque, acceleration, top speed, engine type and engine layout.

Most usually consider HP, acceleration rate, and top speed to determmine which car is "good". It is something like a "power centric" basis for judging.

But then again, power is only one part of the performance equation. For a sports car to be really 'good', it needs to handle well. An ill-handling car prohibits the driver from being able to utilize all the power that a car can give.

For a car to handle well, it has to be balanced and stable. When it comes to stability, weight distribution is important.

Hence, the weight distribution from the front and the back of the car has to be as close as possible. Too much weight in the front, the car would have a tendency to understeer. To much weight at the back, then you could suffer the 'pendulum effect' wherein the rear end wants to shoot forward in the middle of a corner.

When it comes to weight distribution, a mid-engine layout usually provides the ideal result. This is because the engine is easily makes up a huge chunk of the over all weight of the car. Having the engine mounted more towards the middle of the car makes it easier to 'centralize' the weight.

The ideal weight distribution of a car would be a 50/50 percent weight distribution. The mid-engined Audi R8 provides a 44/56 percent weight distribution. The result is that it handles really well.

Of course, a low center of gravity also adds to the stability. This is the reason why performance oriented sports cars are designed to be closer to the ground then the average car. A low center of gravity decreases the possibility of a roll during quick cornering.

A boxer/flat engine aids to the pursuit of having a lower center of gravity. This is because a boxer engine has horizontally opposed cylinders: hence it was termed as 'flat'. Again, because the engine makes a huge portion of the car's overall weight, a shorter engine (because of the flat layout) naturally leads to a lower center of gravity.

In addition of a lower center of gravity, a boxer engine also provides a better balance. Since the cylinders are opposed horizontally, the movement of the pistons counterbalance each other during the combustion cycle.

One of the notable sports cars that utilizes a flat engine would be the Porsche 911.

Other sports cars use both a mid-engine layout as well as a flat engine configuration such as the Porsche Boxster and the Porsche Cayman S.

Importance of Having the Correct Tire Pressure

I was in a bit of a rush once and I wasn't able to inspect my car before I left. I just got in, switched the car on and tried to scram.

Unfortunately, the car wouldn't accelarate normally. It felt sluggish and really odd. I found myself pressing much harder on the gas to get it going. Plus, I felt that something was wrong looking out the windshield but I couldn't figure out what. The world around me seemed tilted in a way.

So I traveled really slowly thinking of what could be wrong. After around 7-10 yards of driving, a car caught up behind me. The driver of the car was honking the horn and flashing the head lights and pointing to the rear left of my car. That was when I got it: I got a flat tire. It turned out that my tire sustained a very slow leak the night before. And only 8 hours later did it fully run out of air.

A flat tire is probably an extreme example but it is also a good example to point out that when a tire is under pressure, it does slow down the car. They simply won't generate the traction it needs for the car to run efficiently.

Running on tires that are under pressure means that a driver is likely to step harder on the gas to compensate and get the car running on the pace the driver is accustomed to. In other words, a driver unwittingly consumes more gas than necessary.

Checking your tire pressures diligently results in improving your gas mileage.

However, you also have to be carefull in not over-inflating your tire. Too much air can result in disastrous consequences.

When a tire warms up, the air inside it expands. If there is too much air before the car gets moving, as soon as the tire does heat up, the tire won't be able to contain the expanding air and will simply blow-out.

Hence, it is important to always keep your tire pressures in their optimum levels. The basis for the optimum levels should be stated in a car's owners manual. Every car that you can buy should indicate the ideal tire pressures. This is because there is no standard tire pressure for all cars. Every car differs in its weight, chassis, suspension set-ups etc. and therefore require a distinct tire pressure level to run efficiently. Those who can determine that are those who designed the car.

When checking pressure levels, always use a reliable pressure gauge. Never cheat yourself by judging a tire's pressure more or less by how it looks. For some people, if they happened to have the right pressure the day before, they would simply look at the tires and feel it a bit and estimate if the pressure is okay.

Don't!

For one thing, you can't judge the levels accurately yourself. Not getting the accurate gauge means that you are also consuming more gas than necessary.

Secondly, different tires have different profiles. Some tires don't look flat until it already lost significant levels of air. Hence, you are simply increasing the possibility of getting flat in the middle of the road.

Bizarre Sports Car: Audi R8

Last time I created a topic like this, I discussed about the Lamborghini Countach and its outrageous design that centered too much on its looks to the point that it sacrificed the car. The Countach was all about the image and nothing more: not even the car's performance.

This feature will be about the Audi R8: bizarre in an entirely different way.

Looking at the Audi R8, there is a sense of 'futurism' in its exterior design. However, it still doesn't scream "look at me" the way the Countach did. The R8 is more subtle. You know that it's a supercar, but it doesn't border on the outrageous.

There are however other sports cars/supercars that have an even more subtle look than the R8 like the Porsche 911 Carrera 2S for instance. The 911 however compensated with the way it delivered.

The 911's engine screamed the way a supercar should. Its handling is undeniably exciting thanks to its powerful flat 6 rear engine, rear wheel drive layout. You always had to be focused because at any moment, the rear end could just escape from you. But in no way is it an ill-handling car. Because if you did manage to concentrate well enough to tame the beast, the 911 could certainly make a driver look really good. And that was the point of the 911. It was gratifying to drive to the limit because it made you feel good about yourself.

The R8 however, doesn't seem to have that same type of panache. For one thing, the engine is so quiet. It's V8 is perhaps too good that 100 mph is way too easy that it doesn't break a sweat. A supercar must draw attention to itself. A quiet engine doesn't really do that.

It is mid-engine and all wheel drive, so the car could certainly be very tidy around the corners. You can throw the car around, drift it and what not and it will respond with ease. In a sense, it is very forgiving.

Because you could get away with just about anything, the car would definitely make you look better than you really are. But because it is so easy, it also doesn't satisfy as much as the 911 would.

Don't get me wrong. The car is far from bad. In fact, it is absolutely amazing. Good handling should never be a point against a car. The R8 is also very fast; you just hardly notice it because of how quiet the engine is.

In addition, the cabin is incredibly spacious and comfortable. For a car that's supposed to be concerned with performance, it sure didn't forget some of the basics of comfort.

The R8 basically drives like a supercar without negating the benefits of the normal cars available to the public. In short, it is a supercar that is still pretty practical.

Yes it is a great machine. Unfortunately, it just doesn't show off the way a supercar should despite being as good as it is. And that is what's bizarre.

Marco Andretti in Formula 1?

Formula 1 hasn't been able to compete with the likes of Nascar and IRL for American viewers. Analysts have said that it was because of the lack of American participation in the sport.

Actually, it is more of the lack of significant American participation in the sport. In recent years, the presence of Scott Speed did little to improve ratings because he really had no chance of winning in a Toro Rosso. That plus the fact that Speed was most of the time smoked by his teammate.

Now that Speed is no longer in the line up and now that there is no USGP for this year, Formula 1 would find it harder to penetrate an American audience.

As it stands, the last American world champion was Mario Andretti back in 1978 when he drove the infamous Lotus 79 "wing car". Andretti, was one of only two Americans (the other being Phil Hill in 1961) who have conquered the Formula 1 scene.

However, Formula 1 may just be able to still make its way to the US. There have been reports from SPEED TV that Honda driver Rubens Barrichello have agreed to a driver swap with Andretti Green Racing. Barrichello would drive for Andretti Green while Marco Andretti would drive for Honda for the 2009 season.

If the reports were true, could Formula 1 break through American audience?

It's hard to say. Although Marco Andretti is no doubt an exceptional talent, talent alone does not ensure success.

Back in 1993, Marco's father, Michael Andretti, made his way to Formula 1 to drive for McLaren. During that time, McLaren was in a bit of a struggle to regain its dominant form. In addition, Michael Andretti's teammate was no less than three times world champion Ayrton Senna.

Without sufficient knowledge of the European tracks while driving a car that wasn't the best on the grid, Andretti struggled. To make matters worse, comparisons with the more experienced Senna only heightened the pressure resting on Andretti's shoulders.

Before the season ended, Michael Andretti quit F1.

Marco could possibly face the same problems. Honda after all is trying to get back to a more competitive form after a dismal 2007 season. Without a competitive car, winning races would be impossible. If Marco doesn't win, then there would be no point for many American viewers to wake up before the sun rises to catch Formula 1.

But then again, Honda does have Ross Brawn as its technical director. Ross Brawn has been credited to be one of the major reasons why Ferrari has become an elite team again. Before his stint with the Prancing Horse, he was also involved in propelling Benetton to the top of Formula 1. This guy knows what it takes to produce a winning car. If he can do miracles for Honda the way he did in Benneton and Ferrari, Marco's Formula 1 debut might be one that American would want to watch.

Improving the Traffic Light

There's a saying: "tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are."

In motoring the question could be altered a bit: "tell me what cars you prefer and I will tell you if you are the type to beat the traffic light."

Of course, I can't be too sure. But what I do know is that some people really have a tendency to beat the red light. To determine if you are one of them, ask yourself this question:

When the yellow light flashes and you are relatively near the intersection, will you slow down or speed up?

The answer will obviously vary depending on the person since everyone has different driving habits. Others are more relaxed and reserved while others, myself included, have a continuing sense of urgency.

Chances are, I am the type who would try to beat a red light if I feel that I could make it. I don't think about beating the light. If I was already at the edge of the intersection, by instinct, I would speed up once the yellow light flashes.

I guess I value time a lot. If I could save some time, I would: and beating the red light would certainly save a few minutes if you do beat it.

If you don't, you lose more time explaining your actions to the cop that pulled you over. But despite that risk, I still find myself trying to beat the light if I felt that I could make it.

I admit that there is some danger involved with such an impulsive action. But it is precisely the fact that the action is based on impulse that I would, time and tie again, catch myself trying to beat the light. As mentioned, it's the instinct of someone who always feels in a hurry.

But then again, It's not just me. Many others share the same sense of urgency. I don't know but maybe that ADHD thing could be true.

People don't think about it. It just happens when the situation presents itself: the situation where you feel confident that you could make it through.

I am not trying to justify the action. What I am simply saying is that it will always happen anytime anywhere.

However, I do feel that this tendency of trying to beat the light could be managed better than the red light camera ticketing system.

I think that the best way to manage beating the light is to have traffic lights that counted down. Instead of a solid green light, the traffic signal could display a green number counting down to zero. So if the green light was around 20 seconds, the light would start from twenty and count down all the way to one. And then the yellow light would count down from 5 seconds down to one etc.

In that case, drivers would know exactly what time they have left.

Some may say that it will encourage speeding up when the yellow lights flash. But then again, the driver trying to beat the light would be more certain that he could make it before the red light because that driver would be able to judge the time left more accurately.

In addition, the 'counting down' traffic light would also convince the other drivers to simply just slow down and stop if they see that there really is no chance of making it. Numbers, as they say, are very hard to refute.

I really think that counting down traffic lights could be good.

Going Small: Is it Time to Rethink Our Preference?

The Toyota Prius averages about 46 MPG. Considering that the average gas mileage in the US is 17 MPG, the fuel economy of the Prius is hard not to like. And indeed, the Prius is considered the most fuel efficient car in the country.

As a car, it is economical and at the same time, environmental friendly.

However, in Europe, the Prius isn't the least CO2 Emitting car. It is tied in second place along side the Diesel Mini Cooper. The least CO2 emitting car in Europe is the Volkswagen Polo 1.4 DTI and that car averages around 57-60 MPG.

Unlike the Prius that utilizes a modern hybrid engine to produce an environmental and economical performance, the Polo 1.4 TDI is very much a normal car. It takes in regular diesel. However, it is still more economical than the Prius.

Part of the reason for the Polo's fuel economy is the fact that the car is small and light. It only needs a small engine for it to be propelled. as the name suggests, the Polo 1.4 TDI engine is 1.4 liters with three cylinders capable of producing 75 hp and 144 lb/ft of torque at 2,200 RPM.

The power may seem dismal. But considering the car's size and weight, the car can reach a top speed of 106 mph. Acceleration is decent enough since it can go 0-62 mph in 13.6 seconds.

Because the car is small and the engine is small, it also consumes less gas and emits less CO2. Going small can actually be a good thing. It's economical and environmental friendly.

I guess, that philosophy is something that more people in the US should apply. This is because the general preference of most Americans is geared towards the big. The reason why the average gas mileage in this country is an embarrassing 17 MPG, is because more than half of the cars going around public roads are light trucks where engines range from a 3.7 liter V6 to a whopping 5.7 liter V8.

A lot of the cars for sale in the country also utilize engines that are 2.0 liters and up. Some sedans use up to 3.5 liter engines.

Of course, larger engines suit the demands of the freeway. The bigger the car, the bigger the engine it can carry, the easier it could cruise on the freeway.

But then again, smaller cars do not need big engines to be able to meet the speed required for the freeway. A good power to weight ratio should compensate for the engine's lack of power.

And indeed, there are fast small cars out there. With today's technology, small engines do not necessarily mean slow.

The bigger concern regarding small cars would be cabin space and luggage space. Many families won't fit inside the likes of a Polo or a Mini Cooper. Luggage space is also a problem if the family decides to go on a vacation.

However, how often do you really drive the whole family at the same time? The purpose of a small car is to be used daily: going to work and back. Chances are, a person is driving alone going to work. The size is also very practical for urban city driving. For everyday use to work, driving a small car is very viable.

In a sense, it would be nice if people had a small car as the workhorse, the pickup truck for the once in while events like camping or whatever. In that type of scenario, a person gets to emit less greenhouse gases.

Unfortunately, many economical small cars, cheaper than most hybrids, are not for sale in America. Again, it is because small cars don't really click in the country.

With the introduction of the Smart Car, maybe more Americans would warm up to the notion of going small.

Nowadays, going big isn't anymore practical. Perhaps, it is time to rethink our preference. Perhaps, we ought to see the beauty of going small.

Ethanol: Great Fuel with One Glaring Problem

Ethanol, the wheat based fuel additive is gaining popularity in the U.S. Most Americans know the fuel as E85: a mixture of 85% Etahnol and 15% gasoline.

This fuel has many benefits.

Firstly, it is cheaper than regular gasoline. Lower prices are always beneficial to the consumer.

Secondly, because it is crop based, it could easily be domestically produced. Therefore, supporting ethanol as the fuel of choice may actually benefit the country's economy.

Of course, ethanol also spawns a cleaner burn: it is much better for the environment compared to regular gasoline.

E85 basically possesses all the benefits motorists and environmentalists want. It is no wonder that more and more Flexible Fuel Vehicles, cars capable of burning E85, are available for sale.

At the moment, there are around 6.8 Million cars and trucks that are compatible with E85.

Unfortunately, a lot of these cars are loaded with regular gasoline rather than E85. The real problem of ethanol as an alternative fuel source, is the fact that Ethanol pumps are too few. In fact, few is an understatement. Rare, scarce, and insufficient seem to be more accurate descriptions.

In Los Angeles, there is a grand total of one E85 station open for the public. It is one of three stations servicing the public for the whole state of California.

Why? with all the benefits of E85, it is a mystery that this product has not become the fuel of choice.

Danica Patrick: A First in a Very Exclusive List

One of Mercedes-Benz's most famous ad campaigns is the one about lists. They stated that people love making lists in order to bring some order in an otherwise unpredictable world. And in every list, as the ad campaign goes, 'there is always a first'. And the first in the list of exclusive cars people want to buy, Mercedes-Benz always comes first.

Of course, the accuracy of such a bold statement is questionable. It is after all a commercial that intends to promote a specific brand.

However, the ad is still right about that fact that there is always a first on every list. And yes, in the history of motor racing, one person will be on top of a very exclusive list. That person is none other than Danica Patrick after being the first ever woman to win in Indy Car Racing.

Not too long ago, when a woman was able to earn a racing seat to drive for a team, it was already considered an achievement. There was always a case of "yeah, she's good, for a woman"

And indeed, many women pioneers in Racing, from Janet Guthrie in the IRL and Nascar to Lella Lombardi in Formula 1, have suffered from an innate bias. A bias that suggested a maximum limit for a woman driver: a limit that had lower standards than that expected of men. For as long as she qualified to compete amongst the best of men, that was already something to be proud of.

But with her victory in Twin Ring Motegi, Danica Patrick seemed to have broken that invisible barrier. No longer was a fourth place finish a "wow" moment. If a point was made during the Honda 300, it was the fact that Danica Patrick made her mark as a driver: a winning driver rather than a commendable 'female driver'.

Bizarre Sports Car: Lamborghini Countach

One of the most recognizeable sports cars would be the famed Lamborghini Countach designed by Marcello Gandini. The car was in production from 1974-1990 during which the car gained a massive fan appeal.

The term Countach was derived from the romantic Piedmontese language as an idiomatic expression of astonishment: usually after seeing a stunningly beautiful woman. The car lived up to its name with teenage boys and young men salivating at the sight of the Countach as they would at the sight of their favorite actress or centerfold. And indeed, the Countach was like any famous hot woman since it had its own poster selling ridiculously well.

Perhaps it was the outrageous looks that brought the car so much attention and of course, its bizarre appeal. With flat edges, sharp angles and trapezoidal features, the car was a bold statement, distinctively unique and apart from everything else. And that boldness gave the car its aesthetic value despite its extremely unnatural design.

Unfortunately, the Countach only looked good if it remained an illusion. In a sense, the car could be likened to the experience of being disappointed after meeting your favorite star: the moment when you realize that the star is nothing more than just a mere mortal.

Upon seeing the Countach first hand, it becomes easy to realize how utterly average the car truly is. The space inside the car would be uncomfortable for anyone over the age of 10. A stiff neck, and a sore back should be expected if you decide to take the car out on a cross-country joy ride as you are probably trying to boast to everyone that you have a 'Lambo'. Unfortunately, you would probably also have strained arms and a strained left leg by the end of the trip since the steering is unimaginably heavy and the clutch is notoriously hard.

Then there is the issue of the lack of rear visibility: or the absence of it. The only way to park a car in reverse is to open the door and sit on the sill so that you could look back.

Something as foolishly complicated as that could be easily forgivable if the car's design drastically improved its performance. But it doesn't since the car's exterior design is hardly aerodynamic.

In short, the Countach is really useless as a car. Buying it would probably result to the worst case of disillusionment. At first you'd be happy that you were finally able to get the car of your dreams. And then, you'd feel depressed that you were actually stupid enough to splurge so much money on such a car.

As a product, buying a Countach isn't advisable since you can get great looking cars that are more practical for a lot less.

But then again, it is still undeniably a classic. And it is a classic all because of its looks that spawn a strong sentiment of individuality.

And since the whole gist of the car is based on its looks, there is no point in buying it. It is really meant to be seen and admired, nothing more. Having it will only spoil the romantic aura that is the Countach.

As such, the Countach is probably the only classic sports car that is at its best when it is not bought. And because of its strange dilemma, it truly is bizarre.

Green Initiative

Last year, the Honda Formula 1 team unveiled its 2007 challenger and hyped it up as the 'earth car'. Painted with the sattelite image of the world, the car was supposed to be an attempt to increase environmental awareness to the many fans of Formula 1.

Honda's campaign however had mixed reactions. Others saw the move as inspiring since even corporate giants seem to be realizing the importance of sustainable development. Others, on the other hand, saw the campaign as hypocritical: stating that the campaign was nothing more than a marketing strategy to boost Honda's image. For the critics, the Formula 1 "earth car" was still going to burn 50 tons of CO2 during the course of the season: a case of just talking the talk without walking the walk.

But regardless of which side is more accurate, it cannot be denied that there is some form of a green initiative brewing.

Why?

Because the environmental approach is very marketable. With more and more people sharing the sentiments of environmentalists, any campaign that attempts to promote a message of 'preserving the world's natural resources' would get considerable attention: something that every marketer wants.

Motor racing is no exception. The very nature of the sport requires its participants to emit so much pollution. That very image is what could lead to its downfall. The best way to counter that image is by having a 'green initiative' campaign.

Just another Marketing scheme to get people to look the other way?

As a fan of Motor racing, I'd like to think that the sport does have a chance to live up to the call towards sustainable development. And personally, I think it's possible. Here's why: more and more car manufactures are coming out with more economical 'eco-friendly cars' for the public to buy. The name of the game is about improving MPG, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, compatibility with bio-fuels etc.

Although it's true that not everyone buys into the threat of 'Global Warming', improving MPG as well as having access to alternative fuels are easier on the pocket in the long run. In a monetary point-of-view, it still becomes more practical for a consumer. Going "green" therefore still has incentives for any car buyer.

In a world where times are difficult, people would want to be more practical and economical. "Green initiative" marketing strategies of auto-makers try to cater that want. If not, a car manufacturer could easily go out of business.

Some of these very car manufacturers also participate in racing events. And in racing events, winning becomes a great tool of advertising. An environmental friendly racing machine winning championships would definitely boost sales for their 'eco-friendly' production cars.

But then again, it's one thing to campaign, it's another thing to act. The Honda 2007 Formula 1 'earth car' was not viewed by its critics as some ground breaking machine that minimized its pollution to an environmentally friendly level.

However, whatever the limitations of the 'earth car' as an eco friendly machine doesn't mean that racing cars will never be environmental friendly.

Considering te media buzz that the "earth car" made, the FIA may just be having plans of rewriting the rule books yet again to force manufacturers to produce more eco-friendly racers.

Some may ask about the feasibility of that happening.

But don't forget that engineers used to think that diesel engines weren't a good option for racing cars. But the Audi R10 had a diesel engine powering it to victory during 2006 24 hours of Le Mans.

And diesel engines are actually more environmental friendly than regular gasoline engines.

Perhaps, it is truly possible for Motor Sport to walk the path of sustainability. And that possibility boils down to the car manufacturers.

Driving Question: Manual or Automatic?

I always wonder why most people, if given the choice between a manual or an automatic version of a certain car, would choose the automatic.

I guess people naturally like convenience. And a car with an automatic transmission is certainly easier to drive, hence more convenient.

Unfortunately, I still think that 'convenience' is a very shallow reason to buy an automatic over a manual transmission car.

It's like the saying: "if you want something done, you gotta do it yourself". Sometimes, it is much more convenient to tell your 10 year old kid to get you a glass of water. But kids, being kids, can sometimes be clumsy. And behold, your kid just dropped your glass because he/she tripped or slipped or whatever excuse they dish out.

What happens next? You get the broom and the dust pan, sweep the broken glass on the floor, throw away the shattered pieces into the trash can and then get yourself the glass of water.

It would have been better if you got the glass of water yourself right at the very beginning.

And that's precisely it. An automatic is basically a car that does the driving for you. For as long as it's in drive, the car will move and shift through its gears on its own as soon as you step on the gas. Yes, it is very convenient because it is very easy.

However, it is also clumsy.

That is because the car will shift gears only when it wants to. You are at the mercy of the decisions of your engine. And that is a shame, really.

In a manual transmission car, a driver has more control over the vehicle. And that is a good thing because you have more room to adjust your driving.

For instance, you could upshift slightly earlier than normal to help minimize your engine's revs. By doing so, you allow the car to run on higher gears sooner thereby improving your mileage slightly.

Although manual transmission cars already have the benefit of better fuel economy than their automatic counterparts because of more forward gears (5-speed MT compared to 4-speed AT as is usually the case), manual transmission allows the driver to improve on the fuel economy even more.

It also works the other way around. Manual transmission cars allow the driver maximize the full range of power of the car. But then again, unless you're racing, I doubt if you'll need ever find a need to maximize your engine's capability. So I will simply stick to the fuel economy advantage.

With rising gas prices, trying to minimize fuel consumption on a daily basis becomes very practical and wise. You could do that better with a manual transmission car.

Consider this: Manual transmission cars usually have a lower initial cost which is good. In addition, you have more leverage in improving your gas mileage. So throughout the duration of the car's life, you could potentially save more because you are spending less for gas. All that for a cheaper version of a car. How is that not a good deal???

All you need really is just to have more effort in pressing and depressing the clutch pedal as you drive. Inconvenient? Considering the fact that you could potentially save money on gas, hell no!

Bond Car Diary 4: Citroen 2CV (deux chevaux)

Actually, it would be more appropriate if the title was "anti-Bond Car". Because if truth be told, 5 times Bond film Director John Glen really intended to use the most ordinary of cars that could easily be purchased by the most common of commoners. The car had to have absolutely no hint of extravagance brought about by class or sophistication. In other words, he wanted a car that was the exact opposite of Bond.

As it stood, "For Your Eyes Only" was the movie that attempted to bring James Bond back on the ground. Bond film makers feared that after "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "MoonRaker", succeeding films of the franchise might end up being overblown and way too unrealistic. Rather than follow the trend of upping the technology for the next film, they simply decided to do away with the gadgets to emphasize Bond's uncanny wit.

So there it was, after a strange twist of events, the Lotus Esprit was blown to smithereens leaving Bond with no ride for his escape. Instead, he was forced to use the car of Melina Havelock: a very down-to-earth Citroen 2 CV painted in a very visible bright yellow.

The 2CV was devoid of any defensive weapons that Q-Branch modded cars enjoyed. Moreover, it severely lacked horsepower; very much unlike the Ford Mustang Mach 1. Inside the 2CV, Bond was pretty much an easy target to hit.

But despite the ridiculous odds, Bond still managed to escape from certain danger by utilizing every facet of his driving skills.

Yes, the 2CV is too bland, too ordinary and extremely unexciting. But it is because of its flaws that highlighted why Bond is still the world's best 'secret agent'.

And after 27 years since it first appeared on the big screen, the car chase sequence of "For Your Eyes Only" featuring the Citroen 2CV has been recently voted as the best car chase sequence of the entire Bond film franchise.

Not bad for an "anti-Bond" car!

The Toyota Way

Given a question - "what car would you like to have: a Ferrari 599 Fiorano or a Toyota Altis?"

I'd automatically choose the 599. Heck I'd choose any Ferrari over a Toyota any day. Ferrari cars drive much faster, are equipped with Formula 1 technology, and most of the time look cooler compared to most other cars. In addition, a Ferrari heightens one's status because of all that image of exclusivity.

An acquaintance of mine however altered the question a little bit: "who would you want to be: Enzo Ferrari or Kiichiro Toyoda?"

I still chose Enzo because he founded what is still the most exclusive car brand out there. Having a Ferrari is a privilege reserved for the select few. Not to mention that Enzo met motor racing's most memorable figures like Tazio Nuvolari, Juan Manuel Fangio,Phil Hill, John Surtees, and Gilles Villeneuve to name a few. That honor would have been a blast for a Formula 1 fanatic like me.

My acquaintance however gave a much simpler answer. He said "I choose Kiichiro Toyoda, because his Toyota empire is WAY richer than Ferrari"

He told me that I could have all the exclusivity and glamor I wanted if I was Enzo. But he told me that he would have way more money as Kiichiro Toyoda.

Of course, no one can contest Toyota as one of the World's largest car manufacterers. It currently ranks number two, overtaking Ford in the process. But what is even more impressive is that analysts believe Toyota will eventually surpass GM as the largest car manufacturer in the world; sooner or later. It seems people always have a reason for buying a Toyota

Ferrari, on the other hand, isn't anywhere near that status. And that is not surprising

Just look around the free way and count how many cars have that Toyota emblem. You'll notice quite a lot. Then try counting how many Ferrari cars are there. You get the picture.

Of course, the image of exclusivity comes only when something is not common. Hence, seeing a Ferrari is not common. When you do see one, it becomes a special occassion. And that is the whole point of owning a Ferrari: the chance to feel special.

But then again, fewer cars on the road also means less inflow of cash. It is true that the value of just one Ferrari sale is worth a lot more than one Toyota sale. But Toyota sales are just way more than Ferrari sales day in and day out.

Toyota is not about exclusivity. It's about practicality. Toyota cars answer everyday needs more than any other car brand out there. They may not be exceptionally quick, or have all the high tech stuff equipped in a Ferrari, but Toyota cars are ultra reliable for everyday driving.

Seriously, you wouldn't drive your Ferrari over bad roads would you? Despite being eqipped with the best technology to improve car-handling, grip and what not, you still would go out of your way to choose a route that has the best roads out there. The car is just too precious. The slightest bumb is magnified because you naturally want your Ferrari to remain immaculate.

In the grinding everyday life, a Ferrari may just be not driveable. It's there parked in your garage for your friends to drool over. Can you drive it? You could if you wanted to. But you won't: only on really special occassions. You don't want subjecting a Ferrari to the risk of getting bumped, dented and dirtied up. You need it to look good all the time.
It's there to make you feel special.

Toyota bears none of that 'exclusive brand imaging'. Their cars are bought to be driven straight away. Their cars are basically usefull. Toyotas are reasonably priced and, more importantly, very dependable.

Ferrari answers the want, Toyota services the need. And in a world where practicality is a virtue, the Toyota is the one that is purchased more often than not (compared to all other vehicles).

An average person may look out the window and continue to dream of owning a Ferrari or any other exclusive car for that matter. But chances are, it is a Toyota that is parked in that person's garage used to go to the office and used to take the kids to school and back home.

In the real world, Toyota beats just about everyone else.

I still want a Ferrari though!

BMW Sauber in the Mix

BMW has had its fair share of success within Formula 1. Their motor racing division, BMW Motorsport, has supplied engines for Formula 1 from 1982-1987 and 2000-2005.

Within that time period, the BMW powered Brabham propelled F1 Hall of Famer Nelson Piquet to his second title back in 1983.

The BMW powered Williams team was also regarded as one of the elite teams that came close to winning the constructors' crown during the 2003 season. In that same year, former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya also came close to winning the drivers' title.

But the group had bigger things in mind. By 2005, they ended their engine supply agreement with Williams and proceeded to negotiate a deal that would enable BMW to takeover Sauber-Petronas Formula 1 team.

The deal materialized and by 2006, BMW was not just an engine supplier in Formula 1. They were their own team.

Of course, Formula 1 spawns the fiercest competition among GP constructors. Having an abundant supply of funds doesn't guarantee success. Just ask Toyota F1. That team has no problems with funds. But since its debut in 2002, Toyota F1 hasn't established itself as a legitimate front-runner in Formula 1 with up-and-down seasonal stats.

But in their season debut, BMW Sauber was already able to finish on the podium twice: thanks to stellar performances from their drivers: Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica. The team finished a decent sixth in the Constructors standings.

By 2007, BMW Sauber improved even more as it was poised to finish third in the constructors' standings. Such feat was already impressive considering that the team was just in its second season. But after the McLaren espionage scandal, BMW Sauber inherited an even better second place.

Now in their third year, there are no signs that the team's progress is slowing down. After the first three races of the season, BMW Sauber is currently the only team to have finished in the podium in all of the races so far. Nick Heidfeld placed second in Melbourne, with Kubica placing second in Sepang and third in Bahrain. The team also recorded their first pole position in Bahrain.

In addition, reigning champion Kimi Raikkonen even debunked the popular notion that the race to the constructors' title was a two horse race. As far as he was concerned, BMW was also a threat.

And with BMW sauber clearly outpacing the McLarens in the past two races, it's not hard to see why the world champion came to such a conclusion.

As it stands, BMW currently leads the constructors' standings by one point ahead of Ferrari and two points ahead of Mclaren.

Although the gaps are small and the positions of the three could easily change from race to race, the mere three year old BMW Sauber F1 team has still managed its way to keep itself in the mix among F1's elite teams.

If they continue to progress the way they have been improving, it might not take very long before they start winning their first title.

Who knows, maybe by the time you decide to purchase the BMW 3 series' E93, perhaps their would be a badge somewhere on the dashboard or on the chassis with the label "World Champions".

Robert Kubica, Impressive in Bahrain

Following his best ever finish of second place in the Malaysian GP, Robert Kubica once again made headlines when he secured BMW-Sauber's first pole position during Q3 for the Bahrain GP: edging out Felipe Massa by a hair raising 0.027s. Although Kubica dropped to third position in just one lap (excessive wheel spin problems at the start and lack of grip thanks to oil on the track), F1's first ever Polish driver still managed to impress by keeping second placed Kimi Raikkonen under pressure throughout most of the first stint.

Of course, the Ferraris were simply quicker than everyone else and therefore ran away with a 1-2 finish. There was no way the BMW-Sauber could challenge The Prancing Horse. But that fact should take nothing away from Kubica's performance.

Kubica after all edged out his more experienced teammate Nick Heidfeld for the second straight GP. During the Bahrain GP, Kubica gambled on a light fuel strategy for the first stint of the race while Heidfeld took a more conservative approach with a heavier fuel load. By the end of the race, Kubica's gamble gave him a three second cushion over his teammate.

Compared to the best finishing McLaren, Kubica made the Woking based squad look like a second rate team after he built a gap of 21.8 seconds from Heikki Kovalainen.

But such a result shoudn't come as a surprise. He did have a third place podium finish in just his third race during the 2006 Italian GP. By the end of the 2006 season, Kubica managed to tally six points for BMW racing in only six GP's. The true value of Kubica's debut could clearly be seen when you factor in the fact that former F1 champ Jacques Villeneuve managed to tally seven points in 12 races driving the same car. Kubica's talent was therefore never really in question.

Sixth place in the overall standings of the 2007 season may not sound like much. But his long absence due to a terrifying shunt in Canada was the only reason why Kubica didn't collect more points.

Now that he has a more consistently competitive car underneath him, Kubica is able to prove that he is indeed among the best of Formula 1's young guns alongside the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Heikki Kovalainen.

And if BMW-Sauber continue their progress and eventually provide a legitimate race winning car, expect Kubica to one day challenge for the title.

What's Up with Lewis Hamilton's Fist Raising in Bahrain?

First, Lewis Hamilton bogged down his start. Starting from third on the grid, the Briton relinquished seven places even before he even reached the first turn. One lap later, he then crashed into the rear wing of Fernando Alonso's Renault. Hamilton's front wing was shredded in the process, forcing the Briton to make an early pit-stop. By the time he came out of the pits, he was way behind his rivals.

It was clear right from the beginning that Lewis Hamilton was going to have a bad day.

One of the benefits of Formula 1 Championship Edition for the PlayStation 3 is that you could simply restart a race gone whack (if you're concerned about your 100% race record). Reality however is much more difficult. A Formula 1 driver is required to drive as hard as he could regardless if he is out of contention (for the sake of that data collecting bit in the job description of a racing driver).

It's not a good feeling driving a proven race winning car near last place. You could imagine the frustration compounding inside Hamilton's head as he went through the motions.

I get it: Lewis Hamilton was not a happy man since lap 1 of the Bahrain GP.

What I don't get however is why he was raising his fist on certain drivers during the race.

Mind you, there are two types of fist raising. One signifies contentment (usually happens after winning the race or after one hell of an overtaking move). The other signifies anger towards another driver (occurs when backmarkers fail to respond to blue flags ASAP).

Hamilton's fist raising looked like the latter.

The on-board cam caught Hamilton raising his fist when he overtook Takuma Sato's Super Aguri Honda and Force India's Giancarlo Fisichella. Both drivers as it were gave Lewis Hamilton a really hard time to overtake.

In addition, both cars were also significantly slower than the McLaren which only added an already forgettable race for Lewis.

BUT WHY RAISE YOUR FIST?

Both Fisichella and Sato were entitled to defend their positions as much as they could. They had track position against Hamilton. Fisichella and Sato were simply doing their jobs as well as they could. They didn't employ dirty tactics or anything. They only tried to defend the racing line.

If indeed his fist raising was to air out his frustrations on Sato and Fisichella, then Hamilton's conduct was definitely inappropriate. It was as if he expected drivers of lesser teams to move over for him: a McLaren driver.

Bad day or not, Hamilton's fist raising hand signals were quite arrogant on his part.

McLaren's Reality Check

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 team was on top of the world after the first race in Melbourne. But since then, the Woking based team hasn't really lived up to their world championship standards. Other than Heikki Kovalainen's third place podium finish in the Malaysian GP, McLaren's results weren't at all impressive.

Since Hamilton's season opening victory in Australia, the Briton managed only fifth in Malaysia and a woeful 13th place finish in Bahrain.

Kovalainen's fifth place in the Bahrain GP wasn't all that great either. The Finn was after all roughly a staggering 30 seconds down from race winner Felipe Massa.

Main rivals Ferrari, despite their lackluster start to the season, are clearly the team to beat this year. But what should concern Mclaren even more was the fact that it was even outpaced by BMW-Sauber the last two races. Robert Kubica scored a spectacular second place finish in Malaysia and followed it up with a third place finish in Bahrain. Nick Heidfeld, barring his low-key sixth place finish in Malaysia, was fourth in Bahrain, 18.3 seconds ahead of fifth placed Kovalainen.

What has gone wrong the past two races?

It's hard to say really. The McLaren-Mercedes is a proven fast car. After all, Heikki Kovalainen did record the fastest lap of the race in the Bahrain GP.

But despite the car's inherent speed, both Mclaren cars couldn't compete for pole position. The team settled for a second row start (third and fourth) in Sepang Malaysia. Bahrain qualifying results were slightly worse when the team qualified third and fifth.

Come raceday, the team wasn't able to do anything significant to improve their positions. Kovalainen's fastest lap in the closing stages of the Bahrain GP was more like a case of too little too late. The average pace of the car was much slower than that 'fastest lap'.

McLaren is a team that is suffering from compounding effects of a series of unfortunate events. For the past two races, the team couldn't seem to find the right balance for their race trim. As a result, they end up settling for the second row (or worse) during qualifying. In adition, a less than ideal race trim usually means a compromised race pace that leads to losing even more ground during the race. Kovalainen, in a relatively trouble free race, still finished almost 30 seconds behind Massa's Ferrari.

But what was worse was the fact that McLaren was also the victim of race incidents. Lewis Hamilton bogged down his start and dropped from third to tenth even before he even reached turn one. Hamilton commited a second error shortly after his poor start by crashing his car in to the rear wing of Alonso's Renault. All Hamilton could do was finish the race in a humbling 13th position.

McLaren's woes, sadly for them, appear to be worse than they should be. They already have the main ingredient for a championship bid: a fast car. They just couldn't use it to produce results.

What they desperately need to work on is figuring out the ideal race trim for the coming races. Judging from the team's reputation, McLaren is certainly capable of doing that.

They also need to hope for better luck for their drivers in the next few races!

Felipe Massa Refutes Critics with Race Win

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa was under heavy scrutiny after he failed to score points in the first two races of the season. His scoreless results were rooted to driver errors.
The most notable mistake was when he spun out of contention in the Malaysian GP after clipping a kerb a little too hard. Massa was running second behind his teammate (and reigning champion Kimi Raikkonen) at that time.

Both Ferraris were way ahead of their rivals and were therefore under no threat or pressure whatsoever. That was why it was hard to fathom how Massa could make a mistake and squander eight valuable points.

Many critics began questioning the Brazilian's talent and focus claiming that Massa was only good with driver aids. Now that electronic traction control was banned, critics suggested that Ferrari's number two driver would find it difficult to collect valuable constructors' points.

Hence, the speculation that Ferrari was already looking for possible replacements for 2009 started spreading. The main candidate was no less than former two-time champion Fernando Alonso. It was deemed that Alonso would once again quit Renault by the end of the year due to the French team's lack of competitive pace. If so, Ferrari would gladly grab Alonso ditching Massa in the process.

Such scenario would give Ferrari an unprecedented line up of two world champion caliber drivers.

When asked about the rumors, Massa merely stressed that his new contract secured him of a race seat in the Italian team until 2010. For the Brazilian, the rumors were nothing more than rumors for the sake of publicity.

In addition, Ferrari President Luca Di Montezemolo reiterated that he had no intentions of dishonoring Massa's contract despite the Brazilian's recent slump.

Both statements however did absolutely nothing to stop the rumors. Critics always argue that a Formula 1 driver's only security is his ability to produce results. And according to critics, Massa, with the new ban on electronic traction control, was incapable of producing championship caliber results.

Or so they thought. After a dominating victory in the Bahrain GP, Felipe Massa surely proved that he was not dependent on driver aids. In addition, Massa demonstrated stunning pace in all practice sessions, and all qualifying sessions in the days leading up to the Grand Prix. Only the short-fueled BMW-Sauber of Robert Kubica prevented Massa from securing pole position. But that didn't matter because Massa stormed to take the lead as soon as the red lights went off.

From that point onwards, the Brazilian dictated the race pace, pushing hard when he had to and backing off to preserve his engine. Massa's performance was blisteringly quick and well calculated as he led the team's first 1-2 finish of the season. It was, by all means, a performance that suited the Championhip winning Ferrari.

Why did he produce such a result just now?

According to Massa, everyone has their 'bad days'. In his case, he said he had two. But those two days were nothing more than 'bad days'. Never once did the Brazilian doubt his talent.

After a strong and almost faultless performance at the Bahrain GP, it is wise to take Massa's word for it.

GT5P vs. Real Life

When the original Gran Turismo first appeared for the PS1, many critics hailed it for its impressive physics engine. The hype, as it were, was centered on its realism.

For 10 years now, the Gran Turismo franchise is still selling extremely well. However, through time, the limitations of the game were also being exploited more and more.

The most common criticism was the games' lack of crash physics. The car simply bounced off the barriers when it crashed into them. The same thing happened when a player crashed into other cars. With the proper angle and good timing, a gamer can actually set record lap times by simply bumping other cars: hardly realistic for "the real driving simulator".

Other criticisms were centered more on the acuracy of the driving physics as well. For instance, some gamers argue that the Gran Turismo games (being developed by Japanese programers) give special preference for Japanese car manufacturers. Players felt as though the Japanese cars over performed in the game while the non-Japanese brands felt a tad bit underrated. Other complaints centered on the issue that the in-game handling was too slugish. Others, on the other hand, claimed that the steering was too sensitive.

Of course, unless you have the means to drive the real-life counterparts of vehicles to the limit in actual tracks (like Jeremy Clarkson's experiment in Top Gear) and compare your lap times, the issue regarding the car-handling physics of Gran Turismo will remain debatable.

But it's ok, because I'm not one who has the energy to spend time trying to confirm or refute the realism of the most popular racing game franchise. That debate is never ending.

Rather, I'd like to focus more on the other aspect of Gran Turismo's realism: its visuals.

Indeed, more and more topics keep popping out in the net with photographs comparing real-time graphics (both cars and environments) to the real thing.

Without question, GT5P is one racing game that can fool a casual on-looker.

Although it has to be said that there are some graphical limitations to the game. The most notable one would of course be the trees that are still made up of two crossed polygons. The other issue would be the anti-aliasing within the game.

But then again, such issues are only noticeable when a player frequently pauses the game to search for all of the visuals' short-comings. Gran Turismo's camera work is designed in such a way that all the elements would blend in to produce a natural look thereby creating the illusion that every object is three-dimensional. And for the most part, the background does look good.

Besides, the background's short-comings are easily forgiveable by just the sight of the cars in the game. Boasting 200,000 plus polygons per vehicle including realistic renditions of the interiors.

Details of the interior include the most minor of details like the distinct stitches woven in Ferrari leathers. The cars in GT5P truly captures the aesthetics of their real-life counterparts.

In fact, to some extent, GT5P even adds to the aesthetics of real-life cars. After all, all the cars in GT5P don't have any sort blemish. In simple terms, they are always showroom ready: good enough to be used by retailers to sell their cars.

And I haven't mentioned yet about Kimi Raikkonen's championship winning Ferrari F2007 in the game. That car is just immaculate. GT5P makes you forget some of the reliability woes that plagued it in the first half of the 2007 formula 1 season.

For most mortals firmly grounded on the reality of scarcity, GT5P is the tool for escapism: a world where you can own the most exotic and exclusive cars and bask in their extravagance. It is a world where car buying seems so easy.

As such, GT5P, currently the most realistic looking racing game, may very well be the closest most people will ever get to driving exotic cars. That sounds more like fantasy than reality.

But that's not the game's fault; it's the fault of reality!

Bond Car Diary 1: Aston Martin DB5

Movie: Goldfinger
Year: 1964

Arguably the most recognizeable car in the Bond film franchise. The DB5 ranked number 7 in Discovery Channel's top ten greatest sports cars of all time; edging out the Lamborghini Countach, Nisssan Skyline, and Chevrolet Corvette Stingray in the process. It is also the only Bond Car to make the list.

Not bad for a 44 year old vehicle. But if truth be told, the DB5 was hardly a perfect car. For an exclusive vehicle that heightened one's elite status, the car had some sloppy features. The wipers for instance did not automatically stop at the bottom of the wind shield. Rather, they stopped at precisely the moment when the wipers were switched off. The driver therefore had to time the switch just to have the wipers stop at the default position; which frankly, was quite tricky to do. In addition, the power windows didn't work all the time. And the brakes left something to be desired.

But its minor flaws didn't matter one bit. They were simply overshadowed by Q's mods. Equipped with Bullet proof windows, forward firing machine guns, smoke screen, oil slick and an ejector seat, the car became an icon of the 60's. It was the epitome of cool reserved for the dashing, suave and sophisticated alpha male.

It could be said that Bond Mania during the 60's proppelled the status of the DB5 more than it deserved. But then again, other car models have been chosen to be Bond cars as well. However, none of the other Bond cars achieved the same type of iconic heights that the DB5 reached. And up to this very day, the DB5 is still revered among car enthusiasts.

Value of Auto Insurance

When a certain woman lost control of her car, she raised her legs to protect them incase of a front-end impact. Naturally, the car was totalled since no one was stepping on the brakes to slow the car down.

Rather than acting to prevent the crash, the woman simply braced for impact. If ever there was a bright side to the accident, the woman suffered no injuries.

The accident could have been avoided, had she acted appropriately. But then again, most people do act strangely when they panic.

Unlike pilots who are not only trained to fly the aircraft but are also trained to tackle different air crash scenarios, the average driver is only taught how to drive the car accordingly on public roads.

If something unexpected happens, the average driver might very well be panic-stricken, devoid of any ability to react sensibly.

The disturbing reality is that driving on public roads is relatively dangerous. It's just that driving is so common that we have been somewhat desensitized to the inherent risks involved in the activity.

But the numbers don't lie. In the United States Alone, more than 6 Million car crashes are reported every year. The cost of damages amount to more than 200 Billion dollars. Almost 3 Millon are injured from the accidents and more than 40,000 are killed. On the average, 115 people die everyday because of a car crash. That is the equivalent of 1 death for every 13 minutes.

When it comes to driving on public roads, it is not just a matter of avoiding accidents by following rigidly all the safety guidelines. Sometimes, accidents find us.

Having a quality auto-insurance is a good way to minimize the negative effects of car accidents.

If you do not have one yet, it is good to search for one immediately. After all, it wouldn't hurt you to be insured.

It's the Man, Not the Machine

I remember seeing a picture of Gilles Villeneuve negotiating a corner with his Ferrari. His maneuver seemed faultless as his car was perfectly angled for a fast exit. The one thing odd that struck me was the fact that his front tires were pointing the opposite direction: an indication that Villeneuve was in a controlled slide.

All I could think of in my mind was 'WOW'. Drifting a Formula 1 car was the stuff of legend.

But with the ever-increasing advances in technology, Formula 1 drivers never had the same opportunity to highlight such skills: especially during the traction control era.

Traction Control Systems (TCS) allowed the drivers to be more relaxed in a way. Rather than masterfully controlling the throttle, they would step on the accelerator as though it was a button. It was either full throttle or no input at all.

Drivers had nothing to lose. The TCS would hinder unnecessary wheelspin anyway; preventing any loss of time. Only ridiculously bad errors caused scenarios that the system (and other driving aids for that matter) could not compensate for.

As such, many racing fans have voiced out that nowadays, the machine had taken over the man.

For the 2008 Formula 1 season however, the FIA has banned the existence of driving aids in an attempt to re-emphasize driver skill. The pinnacle of Motor Sport should be reserved only for racing's elite, the cream-of-the-crop and the best-of-the-best. Surely the world's greatest drivers do not need any driving aid whatsoever.

And so it happened, the pinnacle of Motor racing, to establish itself as the undisputed pinnacle of the sport, have gone backwards in a way.

Usually, advancements in the racing scene would make their way into production cars to enhance speed, comfort and safety. More and more cars are being equipped with TCS, ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System) and ESC (electronic stability control) systems.

In the case of Formula 1, it is doing away with such advancements. Not when it is interfering too much with the 'man'.

Of course, the fans are satisfied. The races have become more exciting and unpredictable.

The Malaysian GP would have been a sure Ferrari 1-2 victory a year ago. But with the abscence of driver aids, a slight error from Felipe Massa caused an unexpected retirement as he spun out of contention.

Yes, by going backwards, Formula 1 has returned to its own unforgiving self: intolerant to even the slightest mistakes. It has returned to being a sport that demands only perfection from its participants. It has become once again a sport that promotes the extreme idealism of unsurpassed excellence the way Gilles Villeneuve drifted his Ferrari.