F1 musings

Formula 1 appears to be gaining in popularity in North America right now. The Canadian Grand Prix recorded its biggest ever race day crowd of 121,000 on Sunday, this despite a poor showing from local boy Jacques Villeneuve. The local media seemed more interested in the fact that the Quebecois driver was coming in for plenty of criticism from team boss Peter Sauber and even Bernie Ecclestone, rather than events on the race track.

Down south from Montreal, in the USA, rumors surfaced that Las Vegas now wants to host a grand prix, not to replace the one at Indianapolis, but to revive the idea of having two grands prix in the States. If the deal came off, it would not be the first time that the gambling city staged a Formula race. Back in 1981 and '82, a grand prix was held in the car park of the Caesar's Palace Casino.

The appearance of California's Scott Speed in the third Red Bull Racing car on Friday in Canada and Indy has also generated more interest in the sport on this side of the Atlantic, as has the appointment of former Indy racer Gil de Ferran to the role of sporting director at BAR. Another homegrown talent was the star of the show at Indianapolis, at least on the Thursday. Danica Patrick, the best woman racer to come along in a long while, who finished fourth in the Indianapolis 500 a few weeks ago and took the "Rookie of the Year" award, was in attendance on Thursday. Miss Patrick cannot stay for the race weekend as she is attending the premiere of Disney's "Herbie, Fully Loaded," film featuring a much slower form of transport in the form of the famous VW Beetle car. Indy 500 winner, Dan Wheldon, will also return to the scene of his triumph to watch the F1 race and inevitably the rumor mill is working overtime, suggesting he is trying to secure an F1 drive for next year.

The Jordan team has a new Sporting Director in the shape of Adrian Burgess, who was already filling the role of team manager. His appointment comes after the departure of Trevor Carlin, who is returning to look after his own Carlin Motorsport teams in other formulae. Jordan MD Colin Kolles claimed Carlin was leaving because he could no longer face the 90 minute drive to and from work every day!

The Montreal weekend ended in style with the now traditional Cirque du Soleil party, held to celebrate Cirque owner Guy Laliberte's birthday. Taking place a short drive out side the city centre, this event has become one of the social highlights of the F1 calendar and half the paddock seemed to be in attendance, Michael Schumacher, wearing a cowboy hat, while rather surprisingly, Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa were the stars of the dance floor. There were a few sore heads on Monday morning, as many people rushed straight from the party to the airport to hop onto flights to Indianapolis.