Posted by one of the honda-tech members: http://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=2428721&page=1

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its now the F1 off-season and what better to do in the F1 off-season than show pictures I took a month ago while on vacation from Afghanistan?!i went to Japan for the GP, only thing is i didn't buy a race ticket... i scored a paddock pass and spent the full weekend (wednesday-sunday) in the Honda Racing F1 garage, stayed at the hotel with the team and rode to and from the track everyday with Jenson's team of mechs.
i lived the dream and these are some of the photos captured by my new SLR. I'll post pics soon from my point-and-shoot.
full gallery larger imageshttp://picasaweb.google.com/py...nD40#


Fuji-san:


Ross Brawn in the background watching over practice








the composites prep and repair area of the garage. Engine covers standing up on the right. left side of photo you can see the the end of the radio rack then a spare front nose/wing. F1 Photographer Lorenzo Bellanca in back, left of center, putting away some of his equipment


thurs night pit lane atmosphere

Rubens' car

Rubens's form fitting seat

well-wishes from Japanese school kids in Gotemba


engine cover going on to Jenson's car

scales Honda uses to corner weight the car. Then the car is rolled down to scrutineering to see how it weighs in there

rolling the car back from the scrutineer's scales


ferrari boys working late

Spare engines tucked in for the night (thurs night)

metal porn.
your header will never be this bad-ass.
never, ever.
owning a Hy-tech might feel like you're close. I have a Hy-tech and seeing these in person still made me weak in the knees.








team kit i was given so I'd fit in while helping in the garage. It doesn't matter how poorly they've done this year (or how funny it looks ), it was an honor to be able to wear that get up and i wore it proud

this is me... in a totally candid moment. I was fortunate and didn't have to wear the horrid FILA's that were part of the team kit and just wore my Adidas. The guys were jealous.



friday morning before practice




CTR in the hotel parking lot. I want one. bad.











a CTR driving by in Gotemba, close to the hotel


Accord hanging out by Gotemba train station. dude was really cool.


heading into a noodle shop for some REAL ramen. so, SO good!

Sunday morning riding into the track with Jenson's mechanics

F1 photographer Lorenzo Bellanca setting up a camera to take shots of the Honda pit stops

fuelers prepping the rig

prepping the tires and other misc for the grid dressing of the car

grid girls make great subjects, and these ones are jDm y0!








waiting for the race to start. note all the people in the background on the grid

behold the pit stop lollipop!

front-left wheel gun, back up wheel gun, and front wheel fairing ready for action


Ross Brawn in his fire suit.
His disapproving glare can crush you.
Thankfully he didn't mind me in the garage.

doh! the cars have started on the formation lap- its a rush to vacate the grid

its race time. everybody is at the ready.

taken thru a 2-way mirror. Nick Fry and race team cheif mechanic Matt watching the race. Matt and the fuelers have red balaclavas and inverted color (green VS white) fire suits to stand out from the crowd

i loved the red Alpine Stars booties. they offset the uniform just like the red highlights on the race car

another taken thru the 2-way mirror. team members watching the race

engineer watching the data stream, er, river coming in from Jenson's car


heading on down to the podium ceremony

Me again! this pic was taken by my good friend on the team during the podium ceremony while I took the photographs that follow...




champagne!!!





the Ferrari mascot. dont be fooled, its NOT the horsey. nope. THIS guy is their mascot. I hate this guy. He makes my Honda-loving skin crawl

the Flav and his boo in a congragulatory smooch. Shes a babe. see next image...


bravo! Flavio!! hugs all around


my friend Tim walking past the cars in Parc Ferme

pit stop roster. did you make the cut?

5 hours after the race the garage et al has been fully packed and cars prepped for shipping to China

almost nobody ever gets to see this: the post race, post clean up team meeting and pep talk. Its a cool thing and reminds you that, in fact, this is a team