I hope the proposed auto industry series...

[slicktoast]

learns from all the stupid things that are going on and give us a series we can enjoy. It just seems like it's too many years away. Maybe starting with a clean slate is the best thing.

[Lee Janotta]

Nope. A series owned and run by the manufacturers will be _nothing_ but a huge spending contest. Racing won't even be an afterthought.

[Maxmil]

I'm not so sure about that L J. The manufacturers certainly compete tooth and nail in other series where there are "factory" teams or "factory sponsored" teams. Sportscars for example. Audi pretty much rules the roost, but they have had some stiff competition from time to time. Dumb as it may be, NASCAR is certainly competitive and the manufacturers provide alot of support, at least Ford and GM do. I think a "manufacturers" series for F1 might do a lot for the sport.

[Lee Janotta]

NASCAR requires constant rules tweaks to keep the competition even. Aero packages are constantly being changed by the officials.

Sports cars rarely see competition between manufacturers anymore, and when two do take each other on, such as Cadillac and Audi, the result in one winner and one loser who soon throws a tantrum and takes their toys and goes home.

Manufacturers are never happy with victory... They want absolute domination, which is what's driving Ferrari. Do we want a whole field with that same anti-racing, anti-fan, anti-competition mentality?

[Total-F1]

It'll be a huge pile of dumbed down quatsch. If you think about it from the manufacturers' point of view, they're there to advertise their product - racing comes 2nd or 3rd. It's not like sponsoring a racing team, these guys want high speed billboards.

They'll be trying as much as possible to appeal to the man on the street by being glamourous and showy...