Check out http://www.formula1.com or http://www.f1-live.com for some good pics. I think the car looks pretty good. As for the team, well--we'll see about that next year! Other teams are upset because of Toyota's astronomical budget, it will definitely be an interesting season

 

Thank god they didn't pick up one of Japan's "Top" drivers for that venture. When I saw the Panasonic logos my first thought was Ukyo Katayama (son of President of Panasonic) and his CART legacy . . .

 

Yeah they picked a somewhat odd choice of drivers, but I am anxious to see how they do

 

Well Salo isn't too bad and McNish hasn't been around long enough to be too bad . . .

See Salo has the big price tag and they can pay McNish with Ramen noodles and Pabst Blue Ribbon so that is how they came up with that combo.


[Modified by Cobra, 12:49 PM 12/17/2001]

 

I think Hiro Matsushita is the Driver you are thinking of, though Ukyo is only a little better.

 

Aaaahahaa nice McNish has a bunch of Le Mans experience, no? Wonder how much of that will help him in F1

 

My mistake - it is Hiro . . . but they all suck on the same level . . .

 

Budget or no, they aren't going for the top slot in their first year on the circuit. They may say they are, and if they DO place well their first year out, it will be a monumental effort.

 

Nah they actually are just looking to finish races. I will be surprised if they get many points

 

I thought Ukyo Katayama was not bad considering he almost brought the Toyota GT One to second overall at Le Mans (with the fastest lap of the race). I think a tire let go just before the end.



[Modified by Gansan, 1:27 PM 12/17/2001]

 

Hiro Matsushita is the driver Cobra is thinking of, "King Hiro" as he was referred to back in his CART days. When he first entered CART, he was actually reasonably competitive. After a crash at Phoenix during the '94 season when Jacques Villeneuve was a rookie, JV piled into the wrecked cars of Hiro and Paul Tracy at nearly 200mph. Hiro was resigned to backmarker status thereafter, never able to regain his former speed.

 

"I got Hiroed" (or words to that effect) -- I think attributed to Bryan Herta after Matsushita took him out of a race

In trying to find out exactly who said the above, I found the definition for "King Hiro" on the CBS Sportsline glossary:

King Hiro -- Nickname given to Hiro Matsushita by Emerson Fittipaldi, at least, part of the name. Legend has it that Emmo complained to his crew on the radio, who only heard him saying "---king Hiro."

Bwahahahaaha!