A quote that made me giggle today>>

[hecti]

"We'll show the other F1 teams that they could reduce their budgets … and have just as much fun. You don't need to spend hundreds of millions to have fun." Richard Branson
http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/10655.html

Since when is formula one a "fun" sport. Its not fun when the car you built is gonna be 4 seconds a lap slower than all the others....and all that's going to create is an increase in the possibility for a crash!

Formula One = pinnacle of motor sport

[Confused_Andy]

You still dont know they're 4 seconds off the pace, in one test session they were only 1 second off.

We wont know for sure until saturday/sunday.

The fact is, Virgin have achieved a massive ammount on such a tight budget, I'd be proud of being 4 seconds off the pace knowing you haven't spent hundreds of millions building that car, theres always room for improvement and they might have a little in the post that the other teams dont.

If they're backmarkers so what, the leaders should know how to overtake them and there should be no reason for any crashes.

[Danlizzyman]

You still dont know they're 4 seconds off the pace, in one test session they were only 1 second off.

We wont know for sure until saturday/sunday.

The fact is, Virgin have achieved a massive ammount on such a tight budget, I'd be proud of being 4 seconds off the pace knowing you haven't spent hundreds of millions building that car, theres always room for improvement and they might have a little in the post that the other teams dont.

If they're backmarkers so what, the leaders should know how to overtake them and there should be no reason for any crashes.

[Giblet]

The pinnacle of motor sport moniker is becoming a little past the times, IMO. The problem is that the development and technological boundaries are too easily reached too quickly, and now need more than just an engine size to restrict it like the old days.

What makes it the pinnacle, to me, is the best people in the sport of auto racing competing. The best drivers and the designer on the best teams. Very few people who are successful in racing, or any sport for that matter are so because of pure financial drive or simply wanting to win. I would imagine every wide-eyed kid getting their first kart would be nothing but smiles.

Fun is a huge factor, and if there was no fun, there would be no sport. No sport exists for pure financial or personal gain, and racing is no exception. The science of invention for the most part has been nearly maxed out. I like that someone like Branson wants to bring fun back into it, to the forefront, and wants to win as well.

If you lose, you might as well enjoy the path to the loss.

[ISLAMATRON]

I could have a lot more fun with those hundreds of millions in my pockets than 4 seconds of lap time could ever do for me.

If you spend twice as much as me you should at least twice as fast.

It is a cornball ass statement by Branson though.

[alelanza]

The pinnacle of motor sport moniker is becoming a little past the times, IMO.

I kind of see where you are coming from, but if it's not F1, then what is?
And I mean globally, because i can understand someone in the states saying nascar is.