Nicole Scherzinger’s boyfriend almost made it back-to-back wins, but came second in the European Grand Prix in Valencia. Watch this Youtube video to see how the pit crew cost him about 6 seconds, enough to lose the race. I’m not exactly sure how an F1 GP pit crew works, but as far as I understand the team keeps the tires on the racks in the garage in heat blankets for as long as possible, so they are still toasty warm by the time the get onto the car. These guys who carry the tires out must be called out by another crew member at the right time to allow them to unwrap the tires, carry them out to the pit and be in position ready for the car to arrive. It seems that someone made the call late, and they were walking out just as Hamilton arrived and actually had to move out of the way as they arrived at the same time as the car. It was then a mad scramble to get the blankets off with the mechanics, who had long since removed the old tyres, looking around wondering why the new ones weren’t in place.

At the end of the day, he still gets to go home to Nicole to console him. Not bad for second place.

The race was won by Rubens Barrichello who came in two seconds ahead of Hamilton making him this years fifth unique winner. Webber came in ninth. It’s a win for Jenson Button who stays at the top of the championship standings as he picked up 2 points for 7th and Webber, who was in second place in the standings, picked up none.

Yay, racers. It’s GP time again this week. I know this image isn’t the Valencia circuit, but it sumarises my thoughts on American motor racing pretty well. NASCAR is a stupid sport. You can’t test a car or a driver by driving around in almost perfect circles. The cars may be somewhat fast, but the pit crews are slow and the spectators are ugly. Compare this to F1 where the cars look and handle great, the pit crews are lightning fast and the spectators and grid girls are attractive, intelligent and discerning.

Too bad Schumacher is not able to compete. It would have been good watching him race again.

This is an onboard picture of the spring which worked loose from Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn during the middle 15 minute qualifying period of the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix. The spring was mostly stationary in the middle of the road as Massa, driving at over 200 km/h, slammed into it. The spring struck his helmet just over his left eye and delivered enough force to give Massa a fractured skull. I beleive Massa was knocked unconscious, and ran his car over the kitty litter and into the tyre wall at considerable speed. He can be thankful that it didn’t strike him square in the visor or he may nat have survived. He was flown by helicopter to hospital and had surgery straight away. According to formula1.com, he might be well enough to walk out of hospital next week. It’s just such a bizarre, freak accident you’d be unlikely to ever see again. F1 cars don’t usually fall apart on the track. But then again, Alonso’s wheel fell off after a pit stop so Renault are serving a one race ban from the European Grand Prix.

Meanwhile, Nicole Scherzinger’s boyfriend went on to win the race which, funnily enough, was his first win of the season despite taking out the championship last year.  This all leaves Mark Webber in unfamiliar territory at second on the Drivers Championship leader board, 20 points behind Jenson Button and a real chance at winning. All it’s going to take is a few DNFs for Button and a few more podiums for Webber and it could happen.