FanHouse Lap Around: Formula One

Need a quick tour of the racing world? Strap in today and come back later this week as FH takes a lap around Formula One, NASCAR and the NHRA. IndyCar fans, you'll have to wait until 2009 truly gets moving.

In two races so far in 2009, one team has won, a dominant team has struggled, the defending champion faces a possible season-long suspension and the results of the first two races might be completely tossed out in the near future.

No, it's not the constant source of American race fan complaints -- NASCAR -- but instead, those issues are today's everyday life of the 2009 Formula One season.

Sure, there's a lot of NASCAR fans these days that are worried sick about the future of their sport with a relatively unpopular new chassis, a lack of track diversity, declining TV ratings and a rules package that oftentimes seems like an exercise in the limits of frustration. But with the start F1 has seen in 2009, it's almost like F1 czar Bernie Eccelstone & Co. are trying to one up the frustration level on an international scale.

For starters, the biggest preseason news was an apparent change to the F1 points system that would give the championship to the driver with the most wins. F1 teams called Eccelstone's plan illegal per the sanctioning body's rules and the plan was rescinded -- but left open for 2010 -- just days before the season's first race in Australia.

Two more controversies reared their head at Australia before the race even began. For starters, drivers were miffed that the race started later than usual in local Australian time to help bring the race into a better live viewing time for the European countries that make up a hefty share of the sport's television audience. As a result, the drivers were racing near sunset with some blinding light while crossing around blind turns in the immensely fast and well-handling race cars.

The second had to do with a technical aspect as several teams have began running a new rear air diffuser on their cars that recent F1 patriarchs like Ferrari, BMW and Renault have failed to build into their car design. They've lodged a protest saying that the piece circumvents the rules and F1's world governing body is expected to rule on it this week.

If they agree with Ferrari, Brawn GP's two wins with driver Jenson Button in 2009 could be wiped from the slate, as well as the rest of the finishes from the Williams and Toyota teams.

However, McLaren Mercedes (the team that 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton drives for) also faces a possible ban from the rest of the 2009 schedule after Hamilton and other team representatives lied to race directors following a possible pass under the yellow flag during a late-race caution in Australia. Hamilton later apologized to race officials, but his actions cost him positions in that race and further discipline awaits him.

Combine all of that with the fact that Ferrari -- the team Michael Schumacher won 7 driving titles with -- has yet to finish high enough to earn a point in 2009 and you're looking at a strange start to the always dramatic and politically charged culture that is Formula One racing.

Personally, I couldn't imagine knowing that Matt Kenseth's wins from the opening part of the season could be rescinded or see Jimmie Johnson suspended from the season for making false statements to race officials. Much less, I'm not sure I understand how F1 can't figure out if a certain aerodynamic piece is legal before official competiton begins.

Regardless, the trials and tribulations that have come and will soon come the sport have left it more interesting than a daytime soap opera and to be honest, the racing hasn't been all that bad in 2009. Going with softer slick tires and other modifications will do that.

Need a racing drama to wrap your arms around? Head on over to the left and rights of the 2009 F1 season.