Forza Minardi!

I've been a fan of Formula One racing since I was about 5 years old. I went to my first Grand Prix in 1972 or 1973, and I have been hooked ever since then. Though it may seem hard to believe for many on this side of the Atlantic, F1 is the number one watched sport in the world. Yes, the world. In this country, people speak of NASCAR, but it simply doesn't hold a candle to the level of F1 - in so many areas. Imagine an open-wheeled car weighing a minimum of 585 kg (about 1300 pounds) with an eight cylinder 2.4 liter engine that produces about 800 - 900 horsepower. If you are thinking fighter jet technology, you wouldn't be far off. Designers move from aerospace engineering to F1 because of the technology. With budgets up to about 500 million dollars per team, it is all rather mind-boggling.

So now, the news. Today was a landmark day in Formula One racing. Scuderia Toro Rosso - formerly known as Minardi - scored it's maiden victory at Monza. Their driver, Sebastian Vettel, scored his maiden win in the process. The 21 year-old Vettel became the youngest to win a Formula One race, which is a phenomenal accomplishment unto it's own.

But there is so much more to this story than meets the eye.

Minardi entered Formula One 20 years ago. It was a labor of love funded by Giancarlo Minardi. Since that day, they have always been "the other Italian team" next to Ferrari. But the Italians love them. They have always had a meagre budget, doing as much as they could with 150 or so employees and a 30 or 40 million dollar budget compared to the 500 million dollars that Ferrari spends in a season. For years, their best finish was a 5th place. They have languished at the back of the grid for years. Sure, many great future F1 drivers have started with them - Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber being two examples. But Minardi was always just a stepping stone for most. They were well known in F1 circles for - their expresso at the team hospitality area. A few years ago, they were bought by Red Bull as their "B" team. The budget remained low, but the spirit and passion for the sport remained high.

Today was an amazing day for this small team. The little guy won, and it was a great sight to behold. Welcome to the winner's circle in the legendary history of Formula One.

Forza Minardi and Scuderia Toro Rosso!!