Tony Stewart and Lewis Hamilton to switch cars

[ringo]

was this today?

[Sean H]

Yes, it was this morning and aired tonight. It was LH's MP4-23 (chassis 2) championship car. Course was damp after morning rains and they ran both cars on wets even on the drying track. Lewis seemed to really enjoying himself as did Tony.

[PlatinumZealot]

Videos are great, the best part for me was how Hamilton was getting used to the car, gearstick and all, over changing conditions. Very interesting indeed. makes you wonder is f1 should return to gearsticks in 2013 since we will have lower more manageable rpms and low end power.

[PlatinumZealot]

Part1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yzs-2bDai8

Part2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP_PYAsCE0c

Part3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqO4GnkoMK4

Part4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsrYLNRn-MY

[sknguy]

I like when they radioed Hamiltom to take to the pit lane, he then apologised for not hearing them on the radio (wink, wink) and proceeded to take another lap in the sprint car. Lewis was pretty bright eyed about taking to Stewarts car though. Stewart said it was a dream come true. I thought Stewart would have found it tricky under acceleration with a damp track but he actually took to the McLaren pretty darn well. After their sessions Lewis suggested to Tony that they both put on some slicks and head back out, lol. I liked the show .

[CHT]

Part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dz70wOHim4


Part 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc6rmTSVQ1I

[Traction]

Another example of how LH is focussing on media stunts rather than the track....fun none the less....

[sAx]

Another example of how LH is focussing on media stunts rather than the track....fun none the less....

As its just appeared on Breakfast TV, think you'll find that it has a lot more to do with marketing opportunity for the corporate paymaster Mobil (Vodafone in the case of JB with Craig Lowndes in Melbourne).

sAx

[Giblet]

Another example of how LH is focussing on media stunts rather than the track....fun none the less....

All drivers have media duties, Lewis is no different. What should he have been doing instead and why are you singling him out of everybody?

[Traction]

Another example of how LH is focussing on media stunts rather than the track....fun none the less....

All drivers have media duties, Lewis is no different. What should he have been doing instead and why are you singling him out of everybody?

The thread is about him....But lets face it....he's a marketing/sponsors dream....imo he focuses abit too much on the extras rather than what he should be focussing on.....but as I wrote...fun none the less....why so protective over Hamilton?

[strad]

They ALL do P.R.,,,,well except J.V., and you see where that got him.

[Giblet]

Another example of how LH is focussing on media stunts rather than the track....fun none the less....

All drivers have media duties, Lewis is no different. What should he have been doing instead and why are you singling him out of everybody?

The thread is about him....But lets face it....he's a marketing/sponsors dream....imo he focuses abit too much on the extras rather than what he should be focussing on.....but as I wrote...fun none the less....why so protective over Hamilton?

Ok, he drove an F1 car at this event. If he didn't go, he would not have been driving at all, or maybe in the sim, or maybe he had the weekend off hanging with pop stars.

You are making the conclusion that he was doing this instead of working, when in reality this is work for his sponsor, Mobil. You are trying to say he is playing around and not doing his job, but this even was part of his job. So was driving through paint. So was Schumacher pretending to drive a Mercedes on the roof of a tunnel. Their sponsorship duties are part of their job, it just happens that F1 drivers get to drive cars for a living.

I simply don't understand your point or why you think he should have been skipping work and doing something else?

[Ciro Pabón]

Do you really want us to answer that? The answer is yes, Mr. Hamilton should be doing penance in a monastery while he follows the anger management course. You know: chest pounding, flagellation, ashes and sackcloth, gnawing of teeth. Duh.

Definitely, this is becoming "Tiger Woods II".

I only wait for someone to say he lost his girlfriend.

Actually, did he lost his girlfriend? That would explain a lot of things.

His fans he hasn't lost, that I can see.

I propose the following: no new Hamilton threads until the guy finish one race and crash with nobody. What about that?

[beelsebob]

Another example of how LH is focussing on media stunts rather than the track....fun none the less....

Do you honestly think that LH gets a major say in which media events he does/doesn't do?

F1 drivers sign a contract with their team. That contract requires them to do everything from PR, media events, testing, simulator driving, part development work, photoshoots etc all the way through to racing a damn car. This will almost certainly be put on by McLaren as media coverage for them.

[Ciro Pabón]

Does the contract include the obligation to crash less than 37 times per race?

Or is that clause waived because of the "media coverage" it brought?

Frankly, Hamilton promoting NASCAR and F1 in USA at this point in time is like Tiger Woods promoting a marriage counselor office.

I fail to imagine how this will change the thinking of NASCAR fans about F1 Drivers being condescending and spoiled snobby brats, but, hey, you know how sincere and useful are PR people.