Grand Prix

As of this weekend, the best form of auto racing has returned.
That's right, RACING season is upon us.

Oh, I know, you NASCAR devotees out there will tell me you've been at it for a month, and I'll just roll my eyes at you. That's not racing, sorry. Anything that spends 90% of it's season on Ovals droning around in circles and slapping into each other, isn't real racing.
Hell, NASCAR even lies to itself. For pete's sake, it's called the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. Hasn't been a damn thing stock about those cars since Carter was in office. (Haven't really been any technology improvements to the CARS since then, either.) I have people that watch what I refer to as Rednecks Going in Circles telling me they watch it because of the technology.
Um......yup, sure. Once I get done laughing, I ask them to point out ANY technology NASCAR introduced to us.
A lot of people point out the SAFER barrier. Ok, kids, I went to the University of Nebraska. I KNOW who developed that one. The SAFER system was developed by engineers at UNL starting in 1998, and that work was sponsored by....The Indy Racing League. Go ahead, look it up, I'll wait.
Some of them talk about the HANS device. THAT was started in the 1980s by a relative of road racers, and REALLY came into production and widespread use in F1 after the 1994 death of Ayrton Senna. That was around LONG before NASCAR claims it developed it after Dale's death in 2001. But, enough about why I dislike NASCAR (It's their fans), lets get on to the REAL topic of this blog.

Grand Prix. Two words the stir the soul of any real racing fan or driver. (Also a pretty good James Garner Movie). Yes, I know more than just racing uses the term, but for me, those two words mean only one thing. Open-Wheeled Goodness.

This weekend, The 2012 F1 Season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix of Melbourne, which is always an exciting event to watch on the telly. Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport racing, and has the most technologically advanced cars on the planet. My favorite all time driver EVER, Michael Schumacher, will be starting in P4. This is his best chance for a win in years, and I will be loudly rooting for him, but my sentimental favorite for this race has to be good ol' Mark Webber. If I can swing it, I plan to be at the United States Grand Prix of Austin come November. Any donations to the "Make Bri Happy Fund" are greatly appreciated.

On the subject of F1, no man has run more F1 races than Rubens Barrichello, who will be spending his first season out of F1 in the Izod IndyCar series. And, like every year since they started racing here, I will be going to see the IndyCar series race in the St. Petersburg Grand Prix next weekend.

My seats this year are back to where they were during 2010, AKA the Deluge, right off Turn 1 and Pit Out. Messer's back with me, as it should be, Monica, Lindy, and I are already planning to run into each other, and Sarah Fischer Hartmann Racing is back in the field. Oh.....and I'll have more access than EVER BEFORE, so keep your eyes peeled for updates on either Twitter, Facebook, G+, and daily wrapups here. I posted this schedule on FB and G+, but, here is my GPSP weekend itinerary THUS FAR.:

Thursday
12:30-1:55pm PACE CAR RIDE, yes, I will be IN THE PACE CAR. Too bad I can't drive it for the race....

6:45-7:30pm Walk The Track

Friday
7:30-9:00pm Fuzzy’s Champion Member Welcome Party

Saturday
8:00-8:45am - Pirelli World Challenge Qualifying
9:00-9:40am - Firestone Indy Lights Qualifying
9:55-10:55am - IZOD IndyCar Series Practice
11:10-12:00pm - Ferrari Race #1
11:45-12:45pm - IndyCar Group 1 Autograph Session
12:10-12:50pm - USF2000 Race #1
1:00-1:30pm - Firestone Indy Lights Autograph Session
1:00-2:00pm - Pirelli World Challenge Autograph Session
1:00-1:40pm - Star Mazda Race #1
1:55-3:15 - IZOD IndyCar Series Qualifying
3:30-4:40pm - Firestone Indy Lights Race
4:00-5:00pm - IndyCar Group 2 Autograph Session
4:30 BHA Team Barracuda Tweetup at the Fan Village
4:55-5:45pm - Ferrari Qualifying #2
5:15-6:00pm Saturday Meet The Rookies, Champion member meet-n-greet with the Rookies!
6:00-7:00pm - Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg, Pirelli World Challenge Race #1

Sunday
8:00-8:20am - Ferrari Sponsor Hot Laps
8:35-9:05am - IZOD IndyCar Series Warm-up
9:15-9:45am Sunday Private Garage Tour (With Pippa possibly)
9:15-9:55am - USF2000 Race #2
10:05-10:45am - Star Mazda Race #2
11:00-12:00pm - Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg, Pirelli World Challenge Race #2
12:00-12:30pm - IZOD IndyCar Series Pre-Race
12:30-3:00pm - Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, IZOD IndyCar Series Race
3:30-4:20pm - Ferrari Race #2

So expect me to be a giddy little boy all next weekend.
Ok, the important part of this blog....My picks for the St Pete Grand Prix. My heart really wants to go with Josef Newgarden racing for Sarah Fischer, but my mind knows, since he's a pure rookie, it's more likely he'll end the race a lap down. Marco Andretti is snakebit at this track. If Simona can pull out another race like last year, she's got a real shot at this thing, And she's who I WANT to win, but my brain is telling me it will be Mr Will Power. But screw that, it's my blog, so I'm calling Sim and the #78 for the win in St Pete. I will go a step further and call Tony Kanaan second with Rubens helping him get there, Dario in 3rd. Now let's see if I can convince The Race Girl to post HER picks.....as it's been too long since she picked a race...Monica?