Canadian GP: Red Bull Friday report

We're back in North America for the first time in two years, which is a good thing. It does however mean that a lot of fans travel up from south of the Canadian border, a land where, for many people, racing begins with `N' and ends with a ...

We're back in North America for the first time in two years, which is a good thing. It does however mean that a lot of fans travel up from south of the Canadian border, a land where, for many people, racing begins with `N' and ends with a `yeeeehaaRRRR'. So what would it be like...

IF F1 WAS RULED BY... NASCAR

1. One car would have to end the race by sliding across the finish line on its roof, on fire and going backwards. It's all about the show! (Youtube: Daytona 2007 + Awesome finish).
2. As the film `Days of Thunder' explains: the only rule is that "Rubbing is Racing" (although that wouldn't apply in a night club in Talladega, where that sort of thing is a criminal offence).
3. There'd be 36 races each season and the off-season would last oh, about a week-and-a-half.
4. Tracks would only feature left-hand turns. Why in tarnation do you need all those trees and winding roads?
5. There would be full course yellow flags every 25 minutes and always four laps from the finish line.
6. Each team would have 57 separate sponsors, and they'd change each week.
7. No more national anthems on the podium. For music, teams would be able to choose from both kinds Country and Western.
8. All drivers would be required to race pick-up trucks at some point during a race weekend.
9. One of your drivers would, at all times, have to respond to being called Bubba.
10. Trophy presentations would be augmented by the gifting of rifles and handguns to the pole and race winner. Seriously! (www.videowired.com/video/2693111074/)
11. Budgets in F1 would be limited to $2 million per team and all the corn dogs you can eat.
12. You'd do 26 races and then scrap all those results and just make the last 10 count. Chilli dog anyone?

Car 5 SEBASTIAN VETTEL
1st Practice P5, 2nd Practice P1

"It's looking okay for us, we're quite competitive. The secret here is the tyres; everyone was sliding around a bit at the end -- it was a bit more like rally cross than Formula One! The track started very green this morning, but that's normal and it will improve as the weekend goes on. The secret with these circuits is not to panic, as they tend to come towards you. We only made some small adjustments between the two sessions."

Car 6 MARK WEBBER
1st Practice P14, 2nd Practice P4

"It was a pretty good day -- we were pleasantly surprised with the pace. We're going to have a tight fight with everyone tomorrow, but the car ran really well today. There was some graining with the option tyre, but they'll get better as the track rubbers in, so I'm not worried about it. We're happy with how today went, it was good."