India is truly a nation of vast opposites that both captivate you and also stun you with the touch of irony that is so obvious. On one hand it is a nation of millions struggling to escape from the fangs of poverty by virtually selling their organs n exchange of a few notes. On the other, it is a nation of growing economy, shining future with entrepreneurs who are willing to lead from the front and achieve success on global stage. Nothing epitomizes this amazing gulf than the launching of the Force India team’s new car for 2008 F1 season in Mumbai- A city of glitz glamour and the world’s largest slum.
But then this might be true for both China and Brazil as well, who have already entered the F1 stage. Brazil is surely not to be clubbed in the same category as they have produced probably the greatest driver in F1 history in the form of late great Ayrton Senna. Despite all the other stuff surrounding the launch, the VJM01 was unveiled in the usual F1 style of bringing out a new car.
The car obviously is named after owner Vijay Mallya and looks like your usual modern F1 car. Obviously, come the start of this race season, it will 3 or 4 seconds slower than the Ferraris and the McLarens and the team would be lucky to even make a point or two. The Indian business tycoon bought the Spyker team, but one doubts how good it is anyway.
The team barely picked up a point last season and despite the new name and a driver of caliber of Giancarlo Fisichella, the chances are that it will be last this season as well. Fisichella and Adrian Sutil, the Force India drivers, surely cannot expect much from the new car made from the old Spyker. One does hope they pick up a point or two this season. At least now I have a small reason to follow the sport after Michael left it a season back. That is the only positive so far for me.
