VIDEO: CES 2008: Graham Rahal does donuts in the parking lot
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 8:03PM (1/07/2008)
Since they are already in Vegas, why doesn't Bernie just create the Vegas GP that we've all been waiting for.
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tuna 8:06PM (1/07/2008)
Have to be there I guess. Looks like a very lame demo. :(
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Yubastard 10:05PM (1/07/2008)
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 10:33PM (1/07/2008)
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 10:34PM (1/07/2008)
"renault" - sorry
Dondonel 7:45AM (1/08/2008)
I'm with tuna here, F1 cars are lame for donuts. But I appreciate the effort to prove it.
tuna 12:46PM (1/08/2008)
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 8:29PM (1/07/2008)
cptd: market research #7843 DOT cotract. inquire
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Jared 9:57PM (1/07/2008)
If only they raced here :(
Nothing like the scream of an F1 engine.
Not to mention sweet mini-wings all over.
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Henry 9:59PM (1/07/2008)
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.
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Richard 10:11PM (1/07/2008)
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 10:30PM (1/07/2008)
Marco Andretti has tested at least twice for Honda F1.
zach 10:36PM (1/07/2008)
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 10:27PM (1/07/2008)
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!
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Anthony 11:30PM (1/07/2008)
Yeah......I'm all for that. More F1 in the States please.
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dlink 2:17AM (1/08/2008)
Boby Rahal doesn't own a BMW dealer ship in Columbus......but he owns one in McMurray PA (Pittsburgh area)!
BTW in F1 donuts = $dough$
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CentralParkWest99 9:01AM (1/08/2008)
please......gt-r can beat a f1
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tuna 12:48PM (1/08/2008)
Smoke crack much?
GT-R is a impressive machine, but let's not get too carried away with the Kool-aid.
CentralParkWest99 4:17PM (1/08/2008)
Chill homie, it's a joke.
Coparing the GTR to an F1 is like bringing a plastic knife to a gun fight.
Patrick Austin 3:32PM (1/08/2008)
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.
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