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[Martin]

News report - Auto blogg

Well that didn't take long. After only two years on the grid, Super Aguri is up for sale. Unlike most of the other "new" teams that took over and rebranded themselves from previous teams, Super Aguri actually put up the bond to join the 2006 Formula One championship as an additional entry. Since then, however, the team has had difficulty putting together the enormous budget required of a modern F1 team, falling into debt to the tune of $47 million, despite getting support from Honda and running old cars.

Now, following the emergence of Force India and the confirmation of an Indian Grand Prix in two years, another Indian business consortium is looking at buying its way into the sport. The Spice Group telecommunications company, which already sponsors Indian former F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan's Team India A1GP car, is reported to be negotiating to acquire Super Aguri. Tata, which is inching closer to its acquisition of Land Rover and Jaguar (which itself once had its own F1 team), is reported to be possibly supporting the bid. The price: $1, plus the coverage of the team's debts. The deal hasn't been finalized, but would involve bringing Karthikeyan back to the grid, and leaving Aguri Suzuki in charge. Spice confirms that it is talking with Aguri and a second team. In related news, Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz has reiterated that Scuderia Toro Rosso is not for sale.

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Is there something wrong with a compnany requiring a driver in their team just because he is the right nationality? Karthikeyan did not exactly cover himself in glory at his last F1 effort did he? Perhaps he's improved since he's been in A1 - I don't know. Race discrimination issues aside, it is, I suppose understandable that an Indian team would want an Indian driver, and, from a marketing point of view, it would be good PR for Spice & Tata to have an Indian driver in an Indian team, howver, only if the team does well (within its limitations). Can Kartikeyan get the best out of what will be a weak car, certainly at first anyway?
I wonder what the second team is that Spice are talking to? If not STR then who? Toyota? Renault? Mind you, the Indians are getting very strong in sport, they have virtually taken over the running of cricket so maybe they are talking to Ferrari!! Now theres are thought!

[McLaren Fan]

These smaller teams are beginning to drive me insane. I think they're an embarrassment. Midland F1, Spyker, Super Aguri, and who next? Basically, they are the play things for rich businessmen with nothing better to do and a means of spreading their names about (well, perhaps not Super Aguri, dubbed 'the wee team with the big heart'). Whereas teams like Ferrari, McLaren or Williams get sponsorship in order to race, teams like Force India race to advertise.

Kartikeyan did nothing to show he had the talent to compete in Formula One, that's why he's stuck in A1 Grand Prix. If I were Anthony Davidson, for example, I'd be pretty annoyed. He's clearly got the talent, but an idiot like Kartikeyan will get the nod instead.

[7UpJordan]

These smaller teams are beginning to drive me insane. I think they're an embarrassment. Midland F1, Spyker, Super Aguri, and who next? Basically, they are the play things for rich businessmen with nothing better to do and a means of spreading their names about (well, perhaps not Super Aguri, dubbed 'the wee team with the big heart'). Whereas teams like Ferrari, McLaren or Williams get sponsorship in order to race, teams like Force India race to advertise.

Kartikeyan did nothing to show he had the talent to compete in Formula One, that's why he's stuck in A1 Grand Prix. If I were Anthony Davidson, for example, I'd be pretty annoyed. He's clearly got the talent, but an idiot like Kartikeyan will get the nod instead.

It's a shame for every favourite ginner, he's a good driver but doesn't seem to have any luck and ends up with back of the grid teams, reminds me what happened with Roberto Moreno.

I'd rather take on Markus Winkelhock than Karthikeyan, Winkelhock managed to fend off drivers like Klien for the Spyker seat. He may be a pay-driver, but at least he's got something to add on his CV in the form of leading a race in wet weather.

[Martin]

These smaller teams are beginning to drive me insane. I think they're an embarrassment. Midland F1, Spyker, Super Aguri, and who next? Basically, they are the play things for rich businessmen with nothing better to do and a means of spreading their names about (well, perhaps not Super Aguri, dubbed 'the wee team with the big heart'). Whereas teams like Ferrari, McLaren or Williams get sponsorship in order to race, teams like Force India race to advertise.

Kartikeyan did nothing to show he had the talent to compete in Formula One, that's why he's stuck in A1 Grand Prix. If I were Anthony Davidson, for example, I'd be pretty annoyed. He's clearly got the talent, but an idiot like Kartikeyan will get the nod instead.

Yes I agree M.F., but we do need some smaller teams I think. I just wish that there was at least one with some real potential. Selecting Kartikeyen seems to demonstrate a misunderstanding of the situation. Surely, a new team with a weak car needs to perform as best it can in its early days. Whereas, on other threads I have always said that the driver is just one part of a team and cannot win on his own, I think that, in this case, it is extremely important that they have the best driver possible - its easier to do that than make the whole car good immediately.
Perhaps it demonstrates, as you suggest, more interest in ego and self promotion than it does in scoring GP points.
Any ideas who the second team that Spice claim to be talking to?

Will the new team be called 'The Spice Boys'? Oh Ok - I'll go now then shall I?

[7UpJordan]

Will the new team be called 'The Spice Boys'? Oh Ok - I'll go now then shall I?

Yo I'll tell you what I want what I really really want...

I'll get me coat.

[Jabberwocky]

... I wanna wanna wanna drive 130R

Taxi Please

[texasmr2]

These smaller teams are beginning to drive me insane. I think they're an embarrassment.

Why do you say that as smaller team's have alway's been an intregal part of F1?

Midland F1, Spyker, Super Aguri, and who next? Basically, they are the play things for rich businessmen with nothing better to do and a means of spreading their names about (well, perhaps not Super Aguri, dubbed 'the wee team with the big heart'). Whereas teams like Ferrari, McLaren or Williams get sponsorship in order to race, teams like Force India race to advertise.

No matter how you look at it the sport has and will alway's been a 'playground' for rich business men, some have and some do not have manufacturer backing. We, as fan's, want a full grid not a 1/3rd or 2/3rd's full grid of only team's with manufacturer backing right? I was under the assumption it's all about wanting to race no matter what it took to get a grid spot? F1 just like any other sport now is all about the advertising dollar no matter if they have history or not.

Kartikeyan did nothing to show he had the talent to compete in Formula One, that's why he's stuck in A1 Grand Prix. If I were Anthony Davidson, for example, I'd be pretty annoyed. He's clearly got the talent, but an idiot like Kartikeyan will get the nod instead.

Perhap's the nationality recognition of Kartikeyan, which I can understand, is a building block for a team team we will not see just come and go in 2-3 season? You must understand or atleast try to understand the team's reasoning?

To me personaly I dont care I just want to see racing and a full grid of starter's, personal inuendoe's aside, I think that's what we all just want to see.

My reply is not a play on McLaren or their fan's it just another view to 'kick around' .

[McLaren Fan]

Yes I agree M.F., but we do need some smaller teams I think.?

I agree, too. The sport could not exist without them. My criticism is against smaller teams whose owners just want to get their name out in the open and do something in their spare time. Take teams like Minardi or Jordan. Yeah, they were small teams, but they loved the sport, were respectable and respected, and added another dimension to Formula One. Eddie Jordan and Paul Stoddart were great personalities. That's the difference at which I'm trying to get.

[texasmr2]

So McLaren Fan since you seem to KNOW what Team India's owner's personal agenda is send him some 'hate email' not us! Quit making comment's, trying to cloud other's judgement's of the team, your comment's are only your personal view and far from fact !

[McLaren Fan]

So McLaren Fan since you seem to KNOW what Team India's owner's personal agenda is send him some 'hate email' not us! Quit making comment's, trying to cloud other's judgement's of the team, your comment's are only your personal view and far from fact !

Can you not see all the personal pronouns I used?: 'I think'; 'In my view'; 'drive me insane' etc. I'm not forcing thing on anybody Gregg. The fact is, as I showed the other day, this is a forum, so the clue is in the name: we discuss things. Somebody offers their view, I come back with mine, and they come back with a counter argument. It's that simple.

[Martin]

Yes I agree M.F., but we do need some smaller teams I think.?

I agree, too. The sport could not exist without them. My criticism is against smaller teams whose owners just want to get their name out in the open and do something in their spare time. Take teams like Minardi or Jordan. Yeah, they were small teams, but they loved the sport, were respectable and respected, and added another dimension to Formula One. Eddie Jordan and Paul Stoddart were great personalities. That's the difference at which I'm trying to get.

That is right M.F. and Eddie and Paul were great characters in the sport , and they loved motor racing and F1 in particullar. Maybe the Force India people and the potentially new S.A. owners are just people with the money (and, maybe, the wrong base motives) but cant the same be said for Vodaphone, Renault, BMW, Toyota, Mercedes Benz, Fiat, Bridgestone and so on?. These big names are in it for the business not for the sport. in such a big money sport the line between passion for the sport and the commercial benefits and the egos of some become very fuzzy. Passion for the sport will, in most cases, be found just below senior management level. (I would put Ron Dennis at that level because the big money comes from Mercedes Benz, and Ron will have to justify himself to them)

[texasmr2]

I've got a feeling that your wording is wrong, simple mistake , and incase I need a new prescription of eyeglass's please show me your quote of "'In my view" is in these comment's,

I agree, too. The sport could not exist without them. My criticism is against smaller teams whose owners just want to get their name out in the open and do something in their spare time. Take teams like Minardi or Jordan. Yeah, they were small teams, but they loved the sport, were respectable and respected, and added another dimension to Formula One. Eddie Jordan and Paul Stoddart were great personalities. That's the difference at which I'm trying to get.

and

These smaller teams are beginning to drive me insane. I think they're an embarrassment. Midland F1, Spyker, Super Aguri, and who next? Basically, they are the play things for rich businessmen with nothing better to do and a means of spreading their names about (well, perhaps not Super Aguri, dubbed 'the wee team with the big heart'). Whereas teams like Ferrari, McLaren or Williams get sponsorship in order to race, teams like Force India race to advertise.

Kartikeyan did nothing to show he had the talent to compete in Formula One, that's why he's stuck in A1 Grand Prix. If I were Anthony Davidson, for example, I'd be pretty annoyed. He's clearly got the talent, but an idiot like Kartikeyan will get the nod instead.

You have to understand that not EVERYONE 'read's between the line's' of what one say's, we are not mind reader's! State your opinion with nothing left but your HONEST OUTLOOK, that's not a difficult request right? I dont read 'between the line's' one either choose's their word's correctly or they take the time to make sure they do before hitting the 'submit' button. One thing about me is I dont beat around the bush or use the FIA's political agenda's as excuse's for a team or for the overall good of the F1 serie's continued life.

[McLaren Fan]

I've got a feeling that your wording is wrong, simple mistake , and incase I need a new prescription of eyeglass's please show me your quote of "'In my view" is in these comment's

You are correct to say there is no 'In my view', but the rest still holds: a superabundance of first person pronouns, most of the idioms were said, and I think it's also worth saying that your wording was talking about my behaviour on this forum as a whole, not just his thread.

There's not a lot I can do if you feel my posts are in some way codified and that you have to read between the lines. If you cannot under simple English grammar, words and idioms that's your problem. To me anyway, a phrase along the lines of 'I think' or 'In my view' etc. makes it clear that it's the person's own opinion and not that of the whole forum, or company, or whatever, and does not force anything upon anybody.

[texasmr2]

You are correct to say there is no 'In my view'.

That's right there is not but you still wanna argue your POINTLESS reply ?? WTFUWT

I'll leave this thread with "Dont think I'm a dumbass and I do not know the true meaning of your agenda"! Also I dont need your pompous attitude

If you cannot under simple English grammar, words and idioms that's your problem.

which yes can be percieved as you being an arrogant hollier than thou person and me just being a dumb hick?

I see thing's for what they are, read word's for their true meaning and nothing less. Also dont bring my opinion of your nonsense into the context, hey that's a big word for me , of it having to do with the overall outlook of this forum ok ?

I dont agree with your insight nor do you mine, nuff said.

[McLaren Fan]

I don't mean to be pompous, I'm merely trying to convey the fact I'm not forcing things on anybody, and that my words absolutely do not suggest that I am doing so. I never have done, do, or will do. Everybody's entitled to look at the facts and come up with their opinion. I'm only giving my views on a discussion forum. Others can do the same.

You say you see you read words for their true meaning, well, if you read my words with their true meaning we would not be having this discussion. I say again, 'I think' is exactly that: what I think; nothing more, nothing less. It's got nothing to do with personal insight.