Fisichella To Replace Massa At Ferrari for remainder of F1 2009

[dobyblue]

Schumacher to fill in while Massa is recovering from his injuries from last week-end's GP.

http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/story/?id=286113

ROME -- Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is making a comeback for Ferrari to replace injured driver Felipe Massa.

Ferrari said Wednesday in a statement that the German had agreed to get back in the cockpit until Massa is fit to return. The next race is the European Grand Prix on Aug. 21-23 in Valencia, Spain.

"Though it is true that the Formula One chapter has long been closed for me, it is also true that for team loyalty reasons I cannot ignore that unfortunate situation," the 40-year-old Schumacher said. "But as the competitor I am, I also very much look forward to facing this challenge."

The 28-year-old Massa was hit in the helmet by a loose part from another car and crashed into a protective tire barrier at 190 kilometres per hour during qualifying Saturday at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Ferrari said Schumacher will undergo a special training program in the coming days to determine whether he will be able to drive in Valencia. There are six races left in the season after the European GP.

Massa took his first steps since the crash Wednesday and was later scheduled to leave the intensive care unit of the AEK hospital in Budapest.

"Thanks God, all news concerning Felipe are positive. I wish him all the best again," Schumacher wrote on his website.

Schumacher, who had 91 wins in 250 F1 races starts, still acts as a consultant for Ferrari. Since retiring in October 2006, Schumacher has raced occasionally in a motorcycling series but was injured in a crash in February.

Um, of course he's going to pass all the tests and he'll be up to speed with the new car within 2 laps!

[Bizi Jones]

Hurray!!! Return of the King

with all the crap going on in F1, this news comes at a most opportune time. Spa in a week after Valencia.

[dobyblue]

It's going to be so awesome to watch, finally Schumi in 16:9
I bet he gets a podium in Valencia, 1st place at Spa, haha!

[Bizi Jones]

too bad Valencia is such a pos track...and its 4 weeks away...bah

nevertheless its been a while since I was genuinely excited about F1

Bernie...we want HD!!

[dobyblue]

Yeah Valencia isn't ideal for Schumi to return either, but it will present even more of a challenge given that he's never raced there.

Spa and then Monza, man it's going to be exciting.

Yeah, Bernie is a bit of a tit when it comes to HD. I mean, you can watch FISHING WITH ROLANDO in high definition in North America but not the world's premiere motor racing events? Bah!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Yeah Valencia isn't ideal for Schumi to return either, but it will present even more of a challenge given that he's never raced there.

Spa and then Monza, man it's going to be exciting.

Yeah, Bernie is a bit of a tit when it comes to HD. I mean, you can watch FISHING WITH ROLANDO in high definition in North America but not the world's premiere motor racing events? Bah!

Same with Setanta in NA for soccer and rugby! Bugs me to all hell. I pay an $15 + tax a month and I get SD! Humbug!

John

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by John72953

Same with Setanta in NA for soccer and rugby! Bugs me to all hell. I pay an $15 + tax a month and I get SD! Humbug!

John

The the soccer is brutal! I can't believe that all the big league matches are in 4:3 SD, pathetic.

[crxvtec]

I really do not see schumi doing THAT great right away. Ferrari has not been all that good this year. It is also a different set up than what he was used too. There will be ALOT of people world wide tuning in for this however. Even though I am anti ferrari and Schumi, it is going to be pretty cool and I am excited to see the race.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by crxvtec

I really do not see schumi doing THAT great right away. Ferrari has not been all that good this year. It is also a different set up than what he was used too. There will be ALOT of people world wide tuning in for this however. Even though I am anti ferrari and Schumi, it is going to be pretty cool and I am excited to see the race.

Also you can't test right now, so he has to wait until Practise 1 at Valencia to get his first taste of the car.

That said, one week later is Spa, one of the toughest tracks there is and the site of Schumi's first win - I fully expect a podium.

Two races ago Massa got 3rd and last week-end Raikkonen placed 2nd, so the performance of the Ferrari is finally there.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Yeah, Bernie is a bit of a tit when it comes to HD. I mean, you can watch FISHING WITH ROLANDO in high definition in North America but not the world's premiere motor racing events? Bah!

Seems Bernie consistently does things to sabotage what he supposedly dearly wants: North American interest.

Wasn't that Canadian Grand Prix something else this year?

Gary

[quexos]

I H8 Schumacher. Because he is rich and gets all the chicks and all that stuff.

[Toxa]

next races will be interesting

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Yeah, Bernie is a bit of a tit when it comes to HD. I mean, you can watch FISHING WITH ROLANDO in high definition in North America but not the world's premiere motor racing events? Bah!

Here in Montreal it's in HD on RDS, Le Reseau Des Sports and it's pretty sharp watching it in HD with the sound, those engine rock

[NARMAK]

Lewis Hamilton & Michael Shumacher when both the Maclaren & Ferrari cars are perfect would be AMAZING to watch

[Bizi Jones]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Here in Montreal it's in HD on RDS, Le Reseau Des Sports and it's pretty sharp watching it in HD with the sound, those engine rock

unfortunately its not hd...tsn, even if u get tsn hd, its upscaled...bernie is too cheap to upgrade his cams to hd, FOM claims its too expensive to transport hd cams...which is horseshit...I think only Suzuka and Silverstone got hd broadcasts...(both tracks had their own track broadcasters...BBC + whatever Japan is)....that's it...

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Here in Montreal it's in HD on RDS, Le Reseau Des Sports and it's pretty sharp watching it in HD with the sound, those engine rock

It's PAL 16:9 upscaled and converted to NTSC.

Have you seen the Philips F1 demo video? The difference is amazing.

Here's broadcast HD F1



Here's a 720p shot from Philips (the real demo is in 1080p, I have a video copy of it)

[dobyblue]

Fisichella is replacing Badoer for the remainder of the season.

http://tsn.ca/auto_racing/story/?id=289802

[scott87]

Thats really no surprise. There was alot of talk about this at the weekend at Spa. Nice to see Fisichella finally race a ferrari, i think he has been waiting a while for it.