Grand Prix Hall of Fame Inductee #3

This has been a very long time coming, and I apologize for that, but it is now time to reveal the next member of the Grand Prix Hall of Fame.

Alberto Ascari was born in Milan, Italy in 1913. He was the son of another racer, Antonio, who had a decent amount of success before he was killed in 1925 while leading the French Grand Prix. In spite of this, the younger Ascari had considerable interest in racing and decided to follow in his father's footsteps. In Alberto's early career, he began racing motorcycles without a lot of success. He didn't start racing automobiles regularly until he entered the Mille Miglia in a Ferrari sports car.

Ascari's grand prix career began right after the end of World War 2, driving for Maserati and being partnered with Luigi Villoresi who would become his friend and mentor. His first successes in grand prix racing came in 1948, winning the Sanremo Grand Prix and finishing 2nd in the British Grand Prix. He would win another race for Maserati the following season before joining Scuderia Ferrari in 1950, the first year of the modern World Championship. Ascari finished 2nd in the Monaco Grand Prix and also had a shared 2nd place in the Italian Grand Prix with Dorino Serafini in his first year with the Scuderia. He managed to finish 5th in the final point standings for 1950. Ascari had better results in 1951, netting a 2nd in Belgium, a shared 2nd in France with José Froilán González, and got his first wins in Germany and Italy. Ascari finished 2nd in the points in 1951.

1952 would be the year in which Ascari would cement his legacy. Enzo Ferrari decided to field a car for Ascari in the Indianapolis 500. While it counted towards the world championship at the time, it was considered too expensive to travel to for the European drivers. Ascari would be the only European to compete in the 500 during this period. His race ended after 40 laps; however, this would be the only race he entered in 1952 that he didn't win. Ascari took a clean sweep of wins in Belgium, France, Great Britain, Germany, The Netherlands and finally in Italy, to dominate the 1952 World Championship.

1953 was not as good of a year for Ascari, but this is not saying much; he would win in Argentina, The Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain and Switzerland. This, to go along with a 4th in France, was good enough to win a second straight driver's title. In 1954, Ascari switched drives, racing with Maserati and Lancia, but not repeating his success with Ferrari. He retired from all 4 races he entered that season. He did win that year's Mille Miglia, however.

He remained with Lancia to begin 1955, and retired from both of his attempts that year. His second race in 1955, in Monaco, he miraculously escaped a horrible fate when he crashed into the harbor after straight-lining a chicane. Four days later, he went to Monza in Italy, initially to watch his friend Eugenio Castellotti test a Ferrari sports car; he and Ascari had been given special permission by Lancia to race in the Supercortemaggiore 1000 km race.

Ascari, before going out for lunch with his wife Mietta, decided to get in the car himself. He got in the car in street clothes and borrowing Castellotti's helmet. Ascari emerged from a fast corner on lap 3 when he skidded; the car then turned on its nose and somersaulted twice. A helpless Ascari was thrown onto the track, suffering multiple fatal injuries. He left behind his wife Mietta and two children at the age of 36. Mietta Ascari told Enzo Ferrari personally that if it weren't for their kids, she would have committed suicide because she couldn't bear to be without Alberto.

I must apologize...

For the lack of anything here lately.

No podcast because my computer has decided to suck and won't let me record anything. Until I can find a workaround, the podcast is regretfully off.

No text content because I just don't really have much time right now.

I will make this up, somehow.

Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying Results

1. Mark Webber (Red Bull-Renault)
2. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull-Renault)
3. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes)
4. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
5. Jenson Button (McLaren-Mercedes)
6. Vitaly Petrov (Renault)
7. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
8. Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
9. Pastor Maldonado (Williams-Cosworth)
10. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes)

Drivers Eliminated in Q2
11. Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
12. Sergio Perez (Sauber-Ferrari)
13. Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
14. Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber-Ferrari)
15. Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus-Renault)
16. Paul di Resta (Force India-Mercedes)
17. Adrian Sutil (Force India-Mercedes)

Drivers Eliminated in Q1
18. Jarno Trulli (Lotus-Renault)
19. Rubens Barrichello (Williams-Cosworth)
20. Timo Glock (Virgin-Cosworth)
21. Vitantonio Liuzzi (HRT-Cosworth)
22. Narain Karthikeyan (HRT-Cosworth)
23. Jerome D'Ambrosio (Virgin-Cosworth)
24. Nick Heidfeld (Renault)

On Hold Til Further Notice

I really hate to do this, but I have to. Personal, real-life drama is causing me to delay not only the podcast, but any further posting on here until I can get some things taken care of. Thanks for reading.

Another delay

I'm real sorry for keeping on delaying recording, but I still can't open my mouth well enough to do it. Will have another go during the weekend.

Turkish Grand Prix Final Results

1. Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull-Renault
2. Mark Webber - Red Bull-Renault
3. Fernando Alonso - Ferrari
4. Lewis Hamilton - McLaren-Mercedes
5. Nico Rosberg - Mercedes
6. Jenson Button - McLaren-Mercedes
7. Nick Heidfeld - Lotus Renault GP
8. Vitaly Petrov - Lotus Renault GP
9. Sebastian Buemi - Toro Rosso-Ferrari
10. Kamui Kobayashi - Sauber-Ferrari
11. Felipe Massa - Ferrari
12. Michael Schumacher - Mercedes
13. Adrian Sutil - Force India-Mercedes
14. Sergio Perez - Sauber-Ferrari
15. Rubens Barrichello - Williams-Cosworth
16. Jaime Alguersuari - Toro Rosso-Ferrari
17. Pastor Maldonado - Williams-Cosworth
18. Jarno Trulli - Lotus-Renault
19. Heikki Kovalainen - Lotus-Renault
20. Jerome D'ambrosio - Virgin-Cosworth
21. Narain Karthikeyan - HRT-Cosworth
22. Vitantonio Liuzzi - HRT-Cosworth
23. Paul di Resta - Force India-Mercedes (44 laps completed)
24. Timo Glock - Virgin-Cosworth (Did not start)

Updated Driver Points>
1. Vettel - 93
2. Hamilton - 59
3. Webber - 55
4. Button - 46
5. Alonso - 41
6. Massa - 24
7. Heidfeld - 21
8. Petrov - 21
9. Rosberg - 20
10. Kobayashi - 8
11. Schumacher - 6
12. Buemi - 6
13. Sutil - 2
14. di Resta - 2

Updated Constructor Points>
1. Red Bull - 148
2. McLaren - 105
3. Ferrari - 65
4. Lotus Renault GP - 42
5. Mercedes - 26
6. Sauber - 8
7. Force India - 4

Turkish Grand Prix Qualifying

Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel once again dominated qualifying, scoring his 4th pole of the season, and 5th straight overall. Teammate Mark Webber had his best run of the season to date; he will start 2nd.

Starting 3rd will be Mercedes GP's Nico Rosberg, who continues to outshine his much more experienced teammate Michael Schumacher. Schumacher will line up in 8th. 4th is the fastest of the two McLaren cars, driven by Lewis Hamilton. Teammate Jenson Button is 6th. Mixed results hit the two Ferraris; Fernando Alonso was 5th while Felipe Massa did not attempt a run in session 3, and therefore will start 10th. The remaining top 10 were the two Renaults of Vitaly Petrov (7th) and Nick Heidfeld in 9th.

Now, the time sheets for each session:

Q1
1. F. Massa - Ferrari - 1:27.013
2. S. Vettel - RBR Renault - 1:27.039
3. M. Webber - RBR Renault - 1:27.090
4. L. Hamilton - McLaren Mercedes - 1:27.091
5. F. Alonso - Ferrari - 1:27.349
6. J. Button - McLaren Mercedes - 1:27.374
7. A. Sutil - Force India Mercedes - 1:27.392
8. P. Maldonado - Williams Cosworth - 1:27.396
9. V. Petrov - Lotus Renault GP - 1:27.475
10. N. Rosberg - Mercedes GP - 1:27.514
11. S. Buemi - Toro Rosso Ferrari - 1:27.620
12. P. di Resta - Force India Mercedes - 1:27.625
13. M. Schumacher - Mercedes GP - 1:27.697
14. S. Perez - Sauber Ferrari - 1:27.778
15. N. Heidfeld - Lotus Renault GP - 1:27.901
16. J. Alguersuari - Toro Rosso Ferrari - 1:28.055
17. R. Barrichello - Williams Cosworth - 128.246
---Eliminated---
18. H. Kovalainen - Team Lotus Renault - 1:28.780
19. J. Trulli - Team Lotus Renault - 1:29.673
20. J. d'Ambrosio - Virgin Cosworth - 1:30.445
21. V. Liuzzi - HRT Cosworth - 1:30.692
22. T. Glock - Virgin Cosworth - 1:30.813
23. N. Karthikeyan - HRT Cosworth - 1:31:564
24. K. Kobayashi - Sauber Ferrari - No time set

Drivers eliminated in Q2
11. R. Barrichello
12. A. Sutil
13. P. di Resta
14. P. Maldonado
15. S. Perez
16. S. Buemi
17. J. Alguersuari