Posted on 11/07/2010 5:33:11 AM PST by pobeda1945
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin tested his capacities as a Formula 1 pilot, driving a racing car for several hours at a speed of 240 km/ h (149 miles per hour) on a special track in the Leningrad Region in Russia's northwest.
Three racing cars - two vehicles for racing in the Formula's youth completions and one intended for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, were put on show in St. Petersburg on November 6 and 7. As part of the presentation of the racing cars, Putin personally drove a racing car on a special track in the Leningrad Region. Before getting into the car's cockpit, the premier received detailed instructions on how to drive the racing car.
The premier put on a helmet with Russia's national emblem and the word Russia inscribed on it, and also a Formula 1 outfit with his initials. The yellow color of the racing car was reminiscent of the Lada Kalina sport car that Putin had used to drive along the Chita-Khabarovsk Highway in the Russian Far East earlier this year.
A month ago, Putin attended a ceremony of signing an agreement with Formula One in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi, under which Russia will stage a Grand Prix in the country between 2014 and 2020.
Damn, I’m jealous. Doing this has been one of those “bucket list” items of mine ever since I was a kid.
Is he overcompensating for something?
Real question is if Russian fleet was on the alert
vs 
Just so ya know, it is REALLY easy to drive a true race car at 150 mph.
Been there.
Done that.
Thus the screen name “Blueflag”
What’s hard is driving a race car at 99 - 101% of the limits of adhesion, driving a nearly perfect line through a series of turns in traffic; braking/accelerating at the right moment, planning ahead in the chess game of setting up passes. Intelligence, smoothness, concentration, planning and a focus on exit speed make good racers.
While one can be jealous of the opportunity to drive an F1 car at 150 mph, one should not be impressed. 150 mph is cruising. You barely feel it.
Exactly. Just head west out of Munich. No matter how fast you drive, SOMEONE will pass you.
220 kph is just a nice cruise.
Yes overcompensating to distance himself from sissy throwing skinny kenyans.
Ol' Vlad...still trying to prove his manhood...to himself?
Again with this. Putin is prepping to “run” for president again. Evidently, he also figured out it’s smart to run as the anti Obama.
“Russia’s Putin drives Formula 1 car at 150 miles per hour”
Couldn’t get it out of 2nd gear?
:0)
He must have to stand VERY close to the urinal.
That's what I was wondering...I've had my GTO up to 155...
I had a ‘66 E type at 150. It used two quarts of oil getting there...
Impossible not to feel that way when you compare their leader with our Wee Wee
Amen. Being prime minister does have perks.
I wouldn’t want to be a prime minister, but I would sure like to drive a Formula 1 at 150
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.