Ovidiu Panzariu
6,718 ARTICLES
Favorite quote: “Winning is everything. The only ones who remember you when you come second are your wife and your dog”, Damon Hill, 1996 F1 champion
FIA To Postpone Controversial Point System Until 2010
21 Mar 2009, 07:43 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / The International Automobile Federation (FIA) are ready to axe the much-controversial title awarding system – also nicknamed medal system – at least until 2010. Following several critics from current and past F1 drivers about the new sy...
Mark Martin Takes Pole of Food City 500
21 Mar 2009, 06:53 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Mark Martin did it again! The NASCAR veteran topped the qualifying session at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, recording the best time of 15.256 seconds (125.773 mph). The Hendrick Motorsports driver will be joined on the front row of the Food Cit...
F1 Drivers Vs FIA on New Rules
20 Mar 2009, 15:45 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Although the FIA ratified their brand new title-awarding system for 2009 in an attempt to provide better on-track battles for race leadership, the F1 drivers came as one in criticizing the new rules. In their opinion, awarding the title to the driv...
John Hopkins Turns to World Superbikes
20 Mar 2009, 15:05 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Former Kawasaki rider John Hopkins has secured a ride in the World Superbike Championship this season. After the Japanese manufacturer decided to stay in the MotoGP class on a single-bike strategy – choosing Marco Melandri as official rider f...
McLaren: Australia Win Is Out of Our League
20 Mar 2009, 14:50 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / McLaren's new boss Martin Whitmarsh and reigning champion Lewis Hamilton expressed their concerns regarding the season opener in Australia, admitting that they don't expect the MP4-24 to be a front-runner at Albert Park. Although the Woki...
Hamilton Disappointed with New FIA Rules
20 Mar 2009, 14:39 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Lewis Hamilton joined the pack of drivers that expressed their disappointment over the new rules introduced by the FIA for 2009. While the F1 teams are complaining – through the voice of the Formula One Teams Association – about the vol...
Ecclestone Considers US Return in F1 Calendar
20 Mar 2009, 13:05 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Bernie Ecclestone admitted he is considering several venues for a potential 20-race calendar in Formula 1. While insisting he needs the teams' go-ahead to extend the F1 schedule in the near future, the 78-year old Englishman revealed the Unite...
MotoGP to Switch to 2-Day Events, Cancel Fridays
20 Mar 2009, 11:06 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / MotoGP promoter Dorna looks set to change the configuration of a racing weekend in the series starting 2010. After canceling all Friday practice sessions ahead of the 2009 season, Carmelo Ezpeleta – head of Dorna – revealed that he will...
Prodrive Reveal New Subaru Impreza WRC for Marcus Gronholm
20 Mar 2009, 10:27 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Prodrive have unveiled the revised Subaru Impreza WRC2008 to be driven by former WRC champion Marcus Gronholm in Rally Portugal this year. The partnership between the Finnish driver and David Richards' team was announced earlier this year, but...
Ferrari Resume Attack On FIA
20 Mar 2009, 10:02 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Ferrari's Luca di Montezemolo resumed critics on the World Motor Sport Council's latest decisions to implement a new set of regulations – both sporting and budget-orientated – only weeks before the start of the new season. His...
Repsol to Back Jaime Alguersuari in Formula 1
20 Mar 2009, 09:36 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Spanish oil company Repsol is looking at the possibility of joining Formula 1 in the seasons to come. According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the company mostly know to worldwide motor racing fans due to its commitments inside the MotoGP might partne...
Max Mosley to Miss 2009 Bahrain GP, Again
20 Mar 2009, 08:45 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / FIA president Max Mosley will again miss the Bahrain Grand Prix, the 4th round of the 2009 Formula 1 schedule. This will be the second consecutive season when the 78-year old Englishman will not witness the F1 action at the Sakhir circuit live, but...
Bulgaria in Talks to Secure F1 Race
20 Mar 2009, 08:23 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / After securing a MotoGP race starting 2012, Bulgaria is on the verge of becoming the host of a Formula 1 Grand Prix in the near future as well. According to local media reports, Bulgarian Motorcycle Federation chief Bogdan Nikolov revealed he is wa...
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano Visits Ferrari at Maranello
20 Mar 2009, 07:35 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Italian president Giorgio Napolitano decided to pay a short visit to the Ferrari headquarters in Maranello yesterday afternoon. Italy's Head of State was welcomed by Scuderia's most important members – President Luca di Montezemolo,...
Jerez Test Concludes with Nakajima on Top - Overall Results
20 Mar 2009, 07:18 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / McLaren Mercedes had another disappointing day at Jerez on Thursday, as the Woking-based team again bottomed the timing charts on their last day of testing before the Australian Grand Prix. One week away from the season opener, the British outfit s...
Singapore GP Baptise Turns Following Contest
19 Mar 2009, 17:12 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / The three turns subject to the Singapore Grand Prix contest “It’s Your Turn” have finally received their designation ahead of the 2009 race. Formula One fans from around the world had the opportunity to submit their desired design...
Ecclestone Tips Massa for F1 Title
19 Mar 2009, 15:34 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Bernie Ecclestone revealed that he has a clear favorite for the F1 title this year. Looking back on what happened in 2008, the 78-year old Englishman sees no reason why Felipe Massa won't go all the way to become the new champion this year. Th...
Webber Slams Budget Caps, Thinks New Rules Are Pointless
19 Mar 2009, 15:11 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Mark Webber said he is not very confident the voluntary budget caps – ratified by the World Motor Sport Council earlier this week – will likely it into the 2010 F1 regulations under its present form. The new rules state that, in 201...
Ambrose: Watts Deserves NASCAR Suspension
19 Mar 2009, 14:42 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / NASCAR's decision to suspend Jimmy Watts for chasing a tire during the Kobalt Tools 500 in Atlanta was the right one. And Marcos Ambrose, driver of the No 47 Toyota that started the whole thing, was the first man to agree on that. Although he ...
Michael Schumacher Slams Senseless Rules from FIA
19 Mar 2009, 13:14 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / It seems that not only current drivers are aiming at the FIA for introducing a perfectly chaotic title winning system, but also former F1 champs. Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher commented on the new sporting regulations ratified by the...