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The Formula1 in India

Will Formula One jump-start sport in India?

India, the great land of contradictions, presents no greater contrast than this: the second most populous country in the world after China, with more than 1.2 billion people, is keen on sport but remains one of the most wretchedly under-performing sporting nations on earth. In the corridors of world power, India is bracketed with China, its growing economic might talked of with reverence and some fear. In the sporting world, the country barely registers.

Apart from cricket – and even here India abjectly surrendered its number one position in Test cricket to England this summer. Most Indians were not born when, back in the first half of the 20th century, India reigned supreme in world hockey. It was not until 2008 that India won its first-ever individual Olympic gold medal – and that was in shooting. It has never won any track and field or swimming Olympic medals.

It is against this background that Formula One makes its debut in India. On the face of it, this is another illustration of Bernie Ecclestone, the rights holder, taking the sport to virgin fields to exploit its political and economic appeal.

Despite there having been a Force India F1 team since 2007, when a consortium led by two Indian businessmen bought the British-based Spyker team, the sport has little meaning for the great majority of Indians, who can barely scratch a living. India also lags behind in developing karting, the nursery of the sport. But Formula One does have a following among the increasingly well-off Indian middle classes, estimated at some 400 million.

What’s more, India’s greatest sporting hero cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar, is a petrolhead.

One of the generation of Indians who came to maturity after multichannel TV arrived in the 1980s, Tendulkar was taken by the sport and became a great fan of Michael Schumacher. Tendulkar, who in the eyes of millions of Indians can do no wrong, was even willing to risk his image as a price for enjoying his sport.

In August 2003, when the Ferrari 360 Modena that Schumacher had presented to him arrived in India, Tendulkar persuaded the government to waive the 120 per cent tax usually levied on imported cars. It led to the great man being publicly criticised for the first time in his career. However, the state of Indian roads and traffic have meant he can only drive his Ferrari in the small hours of the morning.

For those who have done well out of modern India like Tendulkar, the highest-paid cricketer in the world, the arrival of Formula One combines glamour, money and power. In that sense it has some similarities with the Indian Premier League, the 20 overs competition that has married money to Bollywood and proved that a domestic cricket tournament can be both attractive and successful.

But the IPL’s success has come on the back of India’s long-established dominance of world cricket. India are the moneybags of the game, providing 80 per cent of world cricket’s income. They are the current holders of the 50 overs World Cup and still a major power in Test cricket. The game reaches out to people in small towns and villages across the land.

Formula One may appeal to prosperous Indians, but has nothing to match, let alone threaten, cricket. And it will be many a year before we have an Indian Formula One champion who can be bracketed with Tendulkar.

Will Formula One jump-start sport in India? | Radio Times
 
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FIA rates Buddh’s medical facility best among new circuits


The FIA rates medical facilities at the Buddh International Circuit as the best amongst the new circuits on the Formula One calendar.

FIA doctor Gary Hartstein, who is part of the medical support team for the Indian Grand Prix, feels the BIC offers the best of facilities that matches even the race venues in the west. He is most impressed with the local medical staff led by Deena Shah.

“I would say the Indian medical staff looks as if they are a season old,” Hartstein told IANS.
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“The quality of the doctors are very high and there are more equipments than required. The facilities certainly match the ones we have in the west. I told Mr. (Bernie) Ecclestone that these guys really know their job. The FIA has a certain set of guidelines and this medical center has more than that,” said Hartstein, who visited the circuit in August to measure the progress of work in the medical center.
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The American says he was surprised with the amount of work done by the medical staff in August, a time when the other areas of the circuit including the track were incomplete.

“As far as the medical side goes, it doesn’t feel that you are having the grand prix for the first time here. We are pretty used to going in new circuits but this time I did not feel that way.”

The drivers can be treated in the state—of the—art medical facility within minutes of an accident. The center has an operation theatre, X—ray room and specially made burn and doping area. Ten medical booths are placed around the circuit, and if needed, drivers will be airlifted to the hospital from the helipad at the venue.
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The new circuits on the F1 calendar are in Bahrain, South Korea, Abu Dhabi and Singapore, apart from India.
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The Hindu : Sport / Motorsport : FIA rates Buddh
 
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Force India Adrian Sutil is a tremendous driver,given the car he has..i hope he gets a better car than this..he has great talent and finishes in the top 8-9 with this car..given a better car he can surely take Force India closer to Ferrari and Mclaren.
 
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It seem to me another Sebastian Vettel win, until and unless he is passed by on the very first corner of the first lap.
 
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Formula 1 in India: I take my hat off to the guy who designed Buddh International track, says Lewis Hamilton

By: Lewis Hamilton

My Indian Grand Prix venture didn't go at all according to plan! I didn't see the yellow flag was out at a danger spot in first practice on Friday - usually, that means you have to drive more slowly. Unfortunately, I didn't , which was clearly down to me - a big 'sorry' to my team and fans! I was really annoyed with myself after that, but it happened and I have to suffer the punishment imposed by race stewards as a consequence - a three-place grid penalty in the race.

This is obviously not a very good grid position for the first Indian Grand Prix, and I will now have to really step on it and give it my best shot to make up the places and be in a position to attack the front-runners . The penalty makes the Grand Prix harder for me and my Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team, but the race is very long at 60 laps and there are two DRS zones, so overtaking at the Buddh International Circuit is a distinct possibility - which is exactly what I aim to prove in the race.

Nevertheless, you must bear in mind: If the pace of the guy in front is quicker, it's not going to be all that easy to get within one second of him - you're then in his DRS zone and can activate the adjustable rear wing - but come what may, I'm sure there'll be plenty of chances to overtake in midfield, thanks to DRS.

I have to take my hat off to the guy who designed this track. It's just fantastic, really great. There was plenty of grip on Friday and the first sector especially is pretty cool. Braking on the run down into turn three is a bit unusual, it's virtually blind, and you don't see the turn until you're upon it. Turn Five is not as tricky as some think, but neither is it easy, you have to turn in properly and hit the breaking point just right - it's not easy, but it's not the trickiest part of the circuit. The middle sector is very fast, which is great.

We're running high down force settings at this track normally , that means it's going to be very difficult in the race to stay close to the driver in front and overtake him - but DRS will certainly help. All in all, the Indian authorities have done an excellent job. The circuit is very fast, the grip level is great, the run-off areas are brilliant and the kerbs are probably the best of any Formula One circuit - it's a wonderful , flowing track. There's no reason to complain, the Buddh International Circuit is simply perfect.

At the last race in Korea, I went on to post another positive result with second place, finally finishing on the podium - but we're talking about just one race; I want to repeat that result at the last three Grand Prix, starting here in India.

Formula 1 in India: I take my hat off to the guy who designed Buddh International track, says Lewis Hamilton - The Economic Times
 
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Is F1 a Rich Man Sports?



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F1 India 2011-JPSI Track Official Video By Formula 1 Race Driver

 
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No Formula One invite for Ajay Maken: Sources

New Delhi: Sports Minister Ajay Maken has not been invited to the ongoing Indian Formula One.

According to sources, Maken was not invited because the sports ministry had earlier denied excise and customs exemptions on the logic that F1 was an elite sport. It is learnt that an expemption to the tune of Rs. 100 crore had been asked for and was denied.

Maken on Saturday, while the final practice session was taking place at the Buddh International Circuit, tweeted: When F1 is flagged off; as Sports Min I am laying foundation stone for 5cr synthetic track at P.T.Usha's academy in Koyilandi near Calicut.

No Formula One invite for Ajay Maken: Sources | News | NDTVSports.com

Well I am impressed by this guy Ajay Maken for taking an unpopular decision but ultimately a decision that was in the best interest of the country. Good job!
 
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The Lap that got Vettel the pole

 
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The Lap that got Vettel the pole


wow that is fastttttt, you really need nerves of steel for such a sport.

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The Pit Babes

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something about fast cars + girls just makes you happy lol
 
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