Rossi vs. Stoner Epic Reinforces Laguna Seca Mystique

Among racing fanatics, Laguna Seca is probably one of the most popular tracks to date. This sentiment is felt even stronger by racing drivers.

The fame of the track can be rooted on one of the most demanding corners in racing: the "corkscrew".

Even the most courageous drivers can still have shivers tackling this turn. You approach it flat out going uphill. You don't see the turn immediately and anyone with less than iron guts could easily brake early (just ask Jeremy Clarkson when he took the NSX for a spin). But for those brave enough to hold their nerves and brake where they should, they are greeted with a steep plunge down the left-right chicane before going full-throttle.

Many racers agree that the corkscrew is the ultimate "rush". And now they have to repeat the pattern 30 more times.

That was what Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner did during the 2008 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. And they weren't just going through the corkscrew. They were taking it in the absolute limit setting consistently blistering lap times in the high 01:21 s mark. Exchanging leads and making daring passess (including Rossi's overtaking maneuver in the corkscrew it self that caused his prototype Yamaha to wobble more than he would have liked), the race was truly epic: one that fans would no doubt remember.

Stoner was the clear favorite to win the race since his Ducati seemed untouchable during practice and qualifying. But out of the blue, Rossi, riding the Yamaha, was challenging the status quo. The Italian took the lead as early as lap one to everyone's surprise.

Stoner, the reigning MotoGP world champion naturally fought back. But before he had a chance to pull away, Rossi, 7 times champion (5 for the premier class, 1 for 250cc, and 1 for 125cc), would find a way passed Stoner again.

Displaying great defensive driving, Rossi would disrupt Stoner's rhythm time and time again. Stoner would record slightly faster lap times, but he just couldn't find a way through. The two were literally driving nose-to-tail with only a-tenth of a second seperating the two riders. It was a true nail-biter of a show.

If ever there was one disappointment, it was a rare mistake from Stoner that caused him to run wide to the gravel trap and fall with nine laps to go. Stoner however was able to keep his bike running. He picked his 325 pound Ducati up by himself and started going. Talk about the amount adrenaline pumping in his body for him to bring his bike upright after a fall.

The pace of Rossi and Stoner opened an insurmountable gap between them and third placed rider Vermeulen. As a result, Stoner was still able to drive back still in second place. Unfortunately for him, Rossi was already 16 seconds ahead of him. With eight laps remaining, the victory of Rossi was sealed and a climactic last lap duel wasn't to be.

But even then, the race between the two champions throughout most of the race was still too good to be true. And it was a race that happened in the ever famous Laguna Seca.

GM Set to Deliver More Bad News

GM CEO Ric Wagoner is set to announce more details on the company's second phase of its on-going restructuring plan. The plan basically inolves cost-cutting measures in an attempt to bring back minvestors' confidence due to lackluster sales.

'Cost-cutting' measures include the ever-so-familiar job-cuts that have become increasingly popular these days thanks to the dramatic oil price hikes. Because the developments of the company's next-generation full sized SUVs and pickup trucks have been frozen, white collar workers as well as the engineers specifically assigned for these projects are said to be the ones going to be affected the most.

It is the company's goal to adjust its product lineup to be more competitive when it comes to fuel efficiency: a trademark for a lot of the Asian car manufacturers.

In addition, the company is also said to specify its cash conservation strategy that will likely include te elimination of dividend payments. According to analysts, the GM is preparing to raise its capital to carry it over until 2010 when the company is going to benefit from huge savings due to the contract it signed with UAW last year: one of the few bright spots in an otherwise trying moment in the automotive industry.

Stock Prices Drop for GM, Ford

With gas prices punishingly steep and with more and more people drawn towards more economical cars, GM and Ford Motor Co. continue to take major hits as their stock prices tumble.

GM shares closed at $9.98: the lowest value in more than 50 years. On the other hand, Ford Motor Co. shares closed at $4.39.

It is a dark time for the auto industry in general and the recent economic recession of the country has been a major factor. Right now, people's minds are focused more on necessities as well as finding all means possible to economize.

Light trucks and SUVs do not fit the economical category. The problem facing GM and Ford is that large vehicles have always been a staple in their production line-up. In the case of Ford, the F-150 Pickup truck has been its best selling vehicle for so many decades now. The sudden drop in demand for these types of vehicles is detrimental indeed.

According to a Merril Lynch analyst, bankruptcy isn't an impossibility even for the largest auto maker especially if the U.S. auto market continues its slumping trend.

Formula 1 and the Field of Medicine

It is hard to think about Motor Sport and associate with the field of medicine. After all, motor sport is a risky business to begin with where the risk of injuries are always present: opposite to the main goals of medicine. In addition, the massive amount of fumes emmitted by racing cars are considered unhealthy by most environmentalists.

But for two members of the Great Ormond Street Hospital staff, Formula 1 could very well be the link to improve hospital procedures and improve safety.

According to a study conducted byProfessor Marc de Leval, the hospital 'handover' procedure, wherein a seriously ill patient is handed over from intensive care to surgery, is a point wherein patients are in the most vulnerable position. In the study, it is usually during the handover that determines whether an operation will turn out to be successful or not.

The obvious concern for Marc de Leval is how to improve hospital handover procedures.

That is where Dr. Goldman and Professor Elliot, practicing doctors in Great Ormond Street Hospital, come in. Both of them are Formula 1 fans who observed the incredible efficiency displayed by the pit crew during a pit stop. It was that type of efficiency that could drastically improve hospital handover procedure. A radical idea was created: why not have Formula 1 teams lend their expertise and streamline the hospital's handover procedure?

Currently, the hospital has worked with McLaren and Ferrari. And by the looks of things, results seem promising.

Formula 1 may be a risky business. But in the end, the sport has become significant to the medical field in the strangest of ways.