Other F1 news

I don't know if anyone else gives a rat's ass, but Juan Pablo Montoya dropped a bomb this week. Seems he's leaving F1 for NASCAR. (ok- laugh. Get it out of your system now) There was a huge talking point on one of the driving sites and I said the following:

I'm happy for JPM. It's interesting to see someone opt out of what seems to be a labrynthine system of politics- that exist all in the name of doing a job. I think that the ground beneath the feet of F1 is shifting alarmingly, and they are not particularly adept at adjusting. Part of the problem that I see is that they are trying to do too many things with F1, and basically half-assing all of it. I agree with the question that you posed- is this a sport series for the driver, or is it for the car? Until the powers that be focus their efforts, and make the decision- and quit messing around with each other- it will be problematic. Part of the problem is any attempt to make the sport fit all people everywhere. F1 will never be NASCAR, and this is good- the character of the sport is vastly different and should be embraced. But what will it be? What separates it from other kinds of motorsport? Do these distinctions matter enough to make them cornerstones? Basically, it is time to develop a solid mission statement. And stick to it. It's also a good idea to look for some kind of relevance. What made the sport matter in the first place? Are these elements still intact, and if so, are they still important? With the defection of one of the most interesting drivers on the grid (to be followed by more perhaps?), and the ever-changing array of teams, it's going to be interesting to see how the fans respond. I think that you can look at American Baseball and see similar growing pains. With consumer dollars (and euros, etc.) at stake, they really need to sort some of these issues out.