Looking forward to Edmonton

Still no official official confirmation, but everyone's best guess is that the Edmonton Grand Prix will retain its date in the new consolidated Champ Car / IRL calendar. Edmonton has carried the torch from the defunct Vancouver Indy by offering a runway course rather than public street circuit and now represents the lone Canadian race.

We here at B-F are also waiting to see Paul Tracy's plans for the season. He's on the outs for now, but by the time July rolls around there could be a few driver sackings opening up an opportunity to race at home. Consider how his traditional physical disadvantage - his weight - is going to be evened out in the new regime:

Added to the cars is a paddle shifting mechanism that allows a driver to keep both hands on the steering wheel. The IRL also has instituted a minimum weight rule that prevents lighter drivers from gaining a competitive advantage, particularly on road courses and street circuits.

Drivers will be put in three groups by weight. Drivers in the lightest group will have weight added to their cars. Series officials will not announce when weigh-ins will be held -- or how much drivers weigh -- to prevent crash dieting.

No other Canucks on the tour this year, although the Edmonton race weekend also features the NASCAR Canadian Tire series, where the absolutely sick ex-Champ Car driver Andrew Ranger will attempt to defend his rookie title. If I had to put money on a Canadian to finally break through in NASCAR, the sky's the limit for Ranger.

Lights almost out for Formula 1 2008

As always, TSN has the most concise summation of this year's rule changes and team prospects. Australian GP qualifying goes Friday at 8:00 PM Pacific and the race is Saturday at 9:00 PM Pacific.

Easy(er) pick up front: I think Hamilton takes the title, ironing out the limited, but critical mistakes that cost him last year. The only risk I see is in he and Kovalainen possibly losing their way during seasonal rough patches without a veteran driver or past champ on board. Ridding their paddock of Alonso will, however, allow the team uncompromised focus on avenging last year's on-and-off track debacle. Note that I say easier not because I've written off the defending champions or anything, just that it looks to be a 50/50 McLaren/Ferrari battle shaping up again (or maybe 45/45 with Red Bull/Renault/BMW/Williams fighting over the last crumby 10 per cent).

Speaking of the surly Spaniard, I really think he can squeeze at least one win out of the Renault package. He's without the launch and traction control he had in the R25 and R26 models, but other than that it's a championship team reunited again under Briatore/Symonds/Bell. He's got the nerve required to hold a racing car on the edge lap after lap and his temperament helps to force his way up the classification order at least as many times as it results in an off.

I would also like to once again call for Mark Webber to get his first victory this season. Trust me this time! He was dynamite in the wet at the European and Japanese GP's and the bugs in Adrian Newey's baby are going to finally work themselves out. I don't think anyone questions his pace, it's just his miserable racing luck that's holding him back.

Should be another great season going down to the bitter end. Really looking forward to the night race in Singapore which will be an electrical and lighting engineer's dream (or worst nightmare) and could lead to more flexibility in the scheduling of races. If it comes through well enough on TV, Euro night races would be starting in the afternoon in North and South America (not that Bernie gives a shite about attracting the eyeballs of NASCAR fans).

For those on the Book of Face, be sure to check out the nifty Formula 1 Picks application.

Let's Get Rowdy

Dunno if you recall some wiseacre recommended Kyle Busch as the sleeper pick of the season.

Toyota's certainly busted out of the gate this year, but how many people would've honestly taken him over the likes of Hamlin in their pool? We'll see how he can sustain the pressure over the course of the season, but I do think he'll at least outdo Dale Junior by about three wins and five chase positions. Win number two should be coming up this weekend in Bristol.