Click the photo for a high-res gallery of Graham Rahal's donuts
Some of the loudest action at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas today was actually out in the parking lot. For fans of Formula One, the BMW Pit Lane park in the Gold Lot outside the Convention Center is as close as many will get to an F1 car in the US now that the Grand Prix at Indianapolis is history. BMW has one of their 2007 cars with driver Graham Rahal at the wheel. The course that's set up is a straightaway with a circle at each where Graham gets to demonstrate that traditional driving skill known as the donut. Aside from the ear piercing shriek of an F1 engine, perhaps the most impressive feat here was the way Rahal was able to keep the car off the guard-rails in this confined space. Very cool! Follow the jump for a video of the demonstration.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
smithdhe @ Jan 7th 2008 8:03PM
Since they are already in Vegas, why doesn't Bernie just create the Vegas GP that we've all been waiting for.
tuna @ Jan 7th 2008 8:06PM
Have to be there I guess. Looks like a very lame demo. :(
Yubastard @ Jan 7th 2008 10:05PM
come on, man... a F1 car doing donuts? not to mention being there and smelling the burned rubber... getting your ear pierced by the scream of a F1 engine... you're right, one has to be there...
zach @ Jan 7th 2008 10:33PM
you mean the sound of an F1 engine at high revs for no real reason wasn't good enough for you?
tuna, if you don't know how much time, effort, and expense is involved simply to start an F1 car, you should look it up. Personally, i think it's very cool of BMW to go to this much trouble to destroy a set of handmade tyres for the amusement of only a few people.
i'm guessing you think its also lame when renaut plays "god save the queen" with their engine.
zach @ Jan 7th 2008 10:34PM
"renault" - sorry
Dondonel @ Jan 8th 2008 7:45AM
I'm with tuna here, F1 cars are lame for donuts. But I appreciate the effort to prove it.
tuna @ Jan 8th 2008 12:46PM
What can I say... simple minds amuse easily. I follow F1 religiouslly and I know what these cars can do and I'm hugely disappointed.
Let's look at this in context. There have been drift exihibitions during SEMA in the past and a much larger portion of the parking lot was dedicated to the event. And this was drifting. I repeat, drifting!
BMW Sauber is in Vegas to represent the pinnacle of motorsports and racing technology and the demo space is a little tiny straight with little circles at the ends. Weak.
You you're blown away by the howl of the F1.07. You haven't seen anything. The space is so small the car can't even get out of first gear. Weak.
Bernie, if you're reading (I doubt you are), the American market has huge potential for F1. If you want to get the desired response, you need to step up your marketing efforts and drum up the interest. Show us what open wheeled racing is really about.
Imagine how grand it'd be to have a ALMS/F1 mega-weekend in Vegas...
Tc @ Jan 7th 2008 8:29PM
cptd: market research #7843 DOT cotract. inquire
Jared @ Jan 7th 2008 9:57PM
If only they raced here :(
Nothing like the scream of an F1 engine.
Not to mention sweet mini-wings all over.
Henry @ Jan 7th 2008 9:59PM
Rahal is a ChampCar driver, what was he doing behind the wheel of an F1 car? I guess it's the closest an American is to getting an F1 test anytime soon.
Richard @ Jan 7th 2008 10:11PM
Exactly my question, but good on him for the opportunity. I bet dad owns a BMW dealership in Columbus.
BTW, in F1:
tires = tyres
push = understeer
loose = oversteer
so, do donuts = doughnuts?
The Penguin @ Jan 7th 2008 10:30PM
Marco Andretti has tested at least twice for Honda F1.
zach @ Jan 7th 2008 10:36PM
rahal is a great young driver... he drove pretty well for newman haas last season. i don't think it would shock anyone if he makes it to F1 eventually.
Brendan @ Jan 7th 2008 10:27PM
Kind of funny when you think it takes them hours to get the car setup and running for a minute of donuts. Cool nonetheless, we need more F1 in the US!
Anthony @ Jan 7th 2008 11:30PM
Yeah......I'm all for that. More F1 in the States please.
dlink @ Jan 8th 2008 2:17AM
Boby Rahal doesn't own a BMW dealer ship in Columbus......but he owns one in McMurray PA (Pittsburgh area)!
BTW in F1 donuts = $dough$
CentralParkWest99 @ Jan 8th 2008 9:01AM
please......gt-r can beat a f1
tuna @ Jan 8th 2008 12:48PM
Smoke crack much?
GT-R is a impressive machine, but let's not get too carried away with the Kool-aid.
CentralParkWest99 @ Jan 8th 2008 4:17PM
Chill homie, it's a joke.
Coparing the GTR to an F1 is like bringing a plastic knife to a gun fight.
Patrick Austin @ Jan 8th 2008 3:32PM
That is exactly like going to the zoo and seeing a cheetah pacing back and forth and back and forth wearing a bare patch in the ground. So f-in sad.