Arrows bought!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I thought it wouldn't happen, I had such a good article lined up for the Wrap about how the team completely blew it. Oh well. Who do you think the 'American Investor' is?

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

And who will partner Enrique Bernoldi? Will Massa go to Arrows with Frentzen taking over already from the Brazilian at Spa?

[nichosnz 0]

Jos... oops no sorry. Massa would be a good pick, with swaps being in fashion for the past coulpe of years, with mid season changes.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

2001 had a whole bunch of midseason driver changes, starting with Burti/de la Rosa/Mazzacane. Im thinking that Massa will do the switcheroo, even Peter Sauber admitted it was possible...

[nichosnz 0]

Chances are it would be a loan as apparently Peter Sauber wants to keep Massa on as a test driver next year. To settle him down a little maybe. I think there is a lot to be said for being a regular F1 test driver before becomming a race driver. Isn't that right Damon H and Mika H.

[daz 0]

Absolutely - I think a years testing duties for Massa will make him a serious force to be reckoned with in upcoming seasons. He has got the natural speed in him but he needs a lot more miles in a F1 car to calm him down and gain the experience to maximise the performance of the car.

[nichosnz 0]

Rumour how abounds that the as yet un-named other Arrows driver for the Belgium race will be...............Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

What!! If you are going to quit, then QUIT.

Craig Pollack is denying that he is involved in the purchase, and something about a steel magnate being involved.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Reports state that Jos Verstappen is currently at the track in Spa, maybe he will indeed race for Arrows at the last four Grand Prix...

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

The apparent purchaser of Arrows is American millionaire Carl W. Smith. That is all

[nichosnz 0]

Well it looks like I could be wrong I thought Jos wouldn't do that after what they did to him. But I suppose New Investor may end up meaning New Management which could in turn mean a New Chance for Jos.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

True, true. But it is said that Arrows will continue with Walkinshaw and a deal has been arranged with Niki Lauda for Cosworth engines.

[nichosnz 0]

Yes but things of this nature can swing very quickly. So we will have to wait and see.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

They can and do. Rahal left Jaguar just as quickly as he joined it.

[nichosnz 0]

If Jos does race for Arrows it will be his third stint at the team.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Well, Arrows didnt get on track Friday. If they are on track tomorrow, they say it will be with two drivers. Right now though, Heinz-Harald Frentzen is in Monaco at home enjoying the sun and saying "I quit a month ago. Im staying here!"

[nichosnz 0]

I suppose we will have to wait and see.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Arrows wont race, so I guess its not a problem anymore

[nichosnz 0]

The article I read stated that the no-show was advised by lawers on both sides of the purchase. It was because they just hadn't yet gotten through the mountains of paperwork. If that reasoning is true Arrows should appear in Monza, will they keeps us hanging until the last moment then to let us know who will partner Bernoldi.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Bernie is getting p**sed off with Arrows, and is not sure that he will let them race in Monza if they dont have a good enough reason for not racing at Spa.

[nichosnz 0]

Yes I read that. Then they would have to pay the new teams entry bond in order to return to the F1 circus. If that was to happen then the new boss could use any name he wanted, maybe ride the Arrows wave or shead any stigma attached to the name.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

It would be different to have an F1 grid without an Arrows, but then Im used to it after the past few races

[daz 0]

Yeah - I am also sorta getting used to the idea of 20 car grids now. Personally I think that Arrows are probably just going to get a slap on the wrist from BE this time round (He can't afford to lose another team).. However if they don't make an appearance at Monza, then I think they will be turfed out.

[nichosnz 0]

At the beginning of the year we were all saying we had been looking foward to 24 cars. Bearing that in mind we have to want a slap-on-the-wrist kind of action.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Im actually looking forward to 27 car grids, with 9 teams running three cars each.

[nichosnz 0]

Pity for Minardi though as grids are only 26 cars, so there would be (with 27 cars) 1 DNQ every race even before 107% was calculated.