| enduroshark | 03-08-2006 03:53 PM |
My picks (Ony):
1) Kimi
2) Rubens
3) Fernando
4) Juan Pablo
5) Michael
6) Jenson
7) Giancarlo
8) David
1) Kimi
2) Rubens
3) Fernando
4) Juan Pablo
5) Michael
6) Jenson
7) Giancarlo
8) David
| XenoWolf | 03-08-2006 04:23 PM |
I work third shift, so the early morning airing isn't a problem for me. :D
| ArtGecko | 03-08-2006 10:02 PM |
Regarding the [url]www.motorsport.com[/url] pick 6 picking: Some of y'all are going to have to put a first name down on your picks here for the first couple of weeks, as I forget who's who. I remember the regulars from the last few years, but once the standings get posted it will be handy to tie a name with a handle.
Thanks,
Steve
Thanks,
Steve
| Ferg | 03-09-2006 10:16 AM |
Thursday Press Conference...
[QUOTE]Thursday's press conference - Bahrain
Thursday, March 9th 2006, 14:57 GMT
Participating: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), Fernando Alonso (Renault), Scott Speed (Toro Rosso), Nico Rosberg (Williams), Kimi Raikonnen (McLaren)
[b]Q. Nico, you ended your GP2 winning series here with two dominant victories, what's it like to be starting your Grand Prix racing career here?[/b]
Nico Rosberg: Well, this is a perfect place to start for me. I have had some great success here on this track in the past and I really enjoy the track and the place so it couldn't be a better first race for me, definitely.
[b]Q. How do you see this first season? What are your targets?[/b]
NR: I don't know. It's really difficult to say because even through the winter testing you don't really know where you are with the car so it's difficult really to set a target. I just hope I do a good job and I improve all the time and that I've done a good job at the end of the year.
[b]Q. This time last year you were about to start your GP2 career, are you more relaxed starting Grand Prix racing?[/b]
NR: Well, it's similar. It's always a step up and it gets more difficult so you are always similarly nervous because you want to go out and do a good job, and it's always important to do a good job at the time, so it's probably similar.
[b]Q. What about you, Scott? How do you start this season?[/b]
Scott Speed: Certainly there's a lot of nerves when you're starting your first Grand Prix but I think that having done the Friday testing in North America certainly helped me to get used to the media aspect and the biggest changes in Formula One so certainly there's a bit of nerves but I think nothing abnormal.
[b]Q. What's the most difficult things? Is it the media?[/b]
SS: Yeah, certainly the media is one thing but also the amount of people that work together within a team and to try to get everyone to work together, is definitely the biggest difference in Formula One.
[b]Q. So is it with excitement that you start the new season?[/b]
SS: Yeah, definitely, excited. I've been dreaming about it since I was 11 years old and I drove my first go kart. So I kind of get a sense of completion that I've kind of completed a big part of my goal in life.
[b]Q. And your hopes here?[/b]
SS: Yeah, like Nico said, it's very difficult to tell with the pieces in testing but hopefully I think we are generally aiming to gain as many points as possible.
[b]Q. Kimi, what about your feelings for this year?[/b]
Kimi Raikkonen: I don't think we are exactly where we want to be but we are in a much better position than we were one month ago. I think we have been quite quick sometimes, but Renault and Honda might be quicker than us but it really depends if we get everything sorted out, in which case we might be able to fight for wins. But we will just do the best that we can and see where we end up.
[b]Q. Do you look back, do you look forward at the start of the year? How do you feel about what happened last year, for example? And what could be happening next year?[/b]
KR: We just try to do our best that we can this year. Last year is passed and next year, I don't know what will happen. It will be an interesting year for sure and with all the changes to the rules, the first few races are always more difficult than after that. But let's just wait and see.
[b]Q. What are the worrying aspects? What is worrying you in particular as you come into the start of the season? You say it's better than it was a month ago.[/b]
KR: I don't really worry about anything, but of course if we had more time it would maybe be better for us, but we are starting to race and that's a nice thing. We had some problems with the engine, but like I said, we've improved the situation a lot and we seem to have got rid of all the problems but you never know in the races what will happen. But I think we should be okay but who knows?
[b]Q. Michael, what about your feelings coming into this season? You look as though you're up for it, ready for it.[/b]
Michael Schumacher: Yep.
[b]Q. How much of an advantage do you think it has been testing here?[/b]
MS: It's difficult to quantify, but it's certainly no disadvantage being here. We have V8 engines, new aerodynamics, different new tyres so to chose your compounds and the tyre you want, probably you are a little bit advanced in this direction, but then on the other hand the other guys who have not been here in general have enough experience not to take too long to get on top of that, I guess.
[b]Q. Whatever advantage you may have here is only an advantage for here or particularly for next weekend as well?[/b]
MS: As it wasn't as hot as maybe we would have liked it, it's probably not a great advantage compared to Malaysia but the chance to test here freely was quite important in a way for us, because if you go to some of the big tests in Europe, especially in the beginning, when cars are not yet very reliable, you get a lot of red flag situations and so on so you cannot really do your programme as efficiently as we could be.
[b]Q. Now, for the last five seasons you've started the following season as World Champion. What changes does it make when you're not World Champion?[/b]
MS: Not really much, honestly. I have to walk a little bit further to my garage. That's the only thing.
[b]Q. What about Bridgestone? How do you feel they've met the challenge this year?[/b]
MS: We have worked very hard and we certainly have improved the game, but then it's always the question: have we improved enough? It's something we will find out this weekend. As always we have had a long winter, a lot of talk, a lot of question marks and finally we answer them, in a way, at the first race. It's always better to drive than talk, honestly.
[b]Q. Fernando, World Champion, has it changed your life?[/b]
Fernando Alonso: No, not at all. I think nothing has changed but obviously this weekend I will have number one on my car so it's a dream come true and I will try my best again, all through this season and try to repeat the success we had last year.
[b]Q. Do you think you approach this season slightly differently to ones you have in the past?[/b]
FA: Yes, in a way yes, because I always arrived at the first race, in the past, thinking to be fighting for the races or to be on the podium so winning races or something like that. Now I have much more confidence in myself and much more looking forward to the championship, at the end, to be World Champion again. It doesn't matter how many races you win, maybe. It's only a matter of being champion at the end and this is a different approach.
[b]Q. The confidence of winning the championship, you've seen what that has done Michael in the past. Do you now feel that you can benefit from that as well?[/b]
FA: It depends on how quick the car is. It doesn't matter how motivated you are because as soon as you start the race and the green lights go on, all the drivers do their maximum, their best and sometimes you can do it and sometimes not. I think the best thing is that we arrive ready again, the new car is competitive and strong enough to be quick on race pace. I think we are ready for the first race, we'll see what happens on Sunday.
[b]Q. People talk about your move to McLaren, that it might become an issue. Maybe not at the start of the season but it might become an issue later on in the year. To what extent do you see this as a transitional year?[/b]
FA: I see 2006 as a year to defend the title and to win again. It's my last year with Renault and I need to win for them and for me and I will do my maximum. For me, it's in a different way. I see I'm much more relaxed now, for the future, and I can really concentrate to win this year, not talking about which team I will be with next year in the coming races.
[b]Q. Michael, can I come back to you as the most experienced driver in the field, what difference does it make starting the championship here in Bahrain rather in Australia?[/b]
MS: It's not really a big difference other than that we have less time change to cope with and that's about it.
[b]Q. A bit warmer?[/b]
MS: Australia can be hot. It can be hot here but it can also be cold because two weeks ago it was reasonably cold at certain moments, so I don't really see a big difference.
[b]Q. And the media pressure? The Australian media in comparison to the Bahraini media?[/b]
MS: No, because you guys are sort of all the same anyway wherever we go.
Questions From The Floor
[b]Q. In terms of driving, do you enjoy driving the V8 engines and have you had to change your driving style at all to adapt to the V8s?[/b]
FA: Not for me. Basically it is the same. Obviously there are some corners that are now easy flat when last year it was little more challenge, I don't know. In my opinion, I like to have the most powerful car in my hands always, so its always better to have the V10 for the feelings but what we rally like is the competition and we are all with the same V8. What we really like is to fight with the others.
[b]Q. Michael, you said the car was better balanced with the amount of power from the V8 and the amount of rubber you have.[/b]
MS: It's more in harmony.
[b]Q. So do you enjoy it more?[/b]
MS: Yeah. It's much sharper to drive.
KR: Yeah, I think it goes a bit slower in a straight line and the corner speed is about the same as in previous years. I haven't changed my driving at all. You just try to go as quickly as you can. Of course, the torque is not as much as in a V10 so there are more details I different areas but it hasn't really changed much.
[b]Q. About laptimes in Bahrain: in testing we've seen Honda and McLaren quite close to last year in Valencia. How much difference will there be in Bahrain and when can you pass the laptime of last year with the V10.[/b]
MS: It's not only a question for here, it's a general question for all tracks, generally you lose 2-3 seconds going from a V10 to a V8, but our engineers are so efficient so it has made not a lot of a big difference. We were off the pace last year but it all depends. Plus it's unfair to compare to last year. You had to have one tyre for the whole race and our qualifying strategy was completely different to what it will be this weekend. So it's really unfair to make a comparison.
[b]Q. Fernando, will laptimes come down to last year's level?[/b]
FA: I think conditions will be about one second slower this year but its true that the qualifying format will be really different. We will run empty fuel at start of qualifying, so those times will be better this year compared to last year.
KR: Nothing to add.
[b]Q. We have some rookies this year. Is there any advice the three guys at the front can give them?[/b]
FA: I'm 24, so I don't have extremely good experience. When I started in Formula One I just enjoyed it and concentrated on doing my job. Its true there is lots of media attention. The cars are unfortunately so different from one to the other that you cannot find results very quickly.
KR: Hopefully let us past if we're behind.
MS: I don't think they need advice. Generally the young generation have so much time in go-karts. For sure a Formula One car has a lot more horsepower than other cars but apart from that there is not much difference.
[b]Q. Scott, you say you're a bit nervous, but how much of an advantage is it to have raced here in a GP2 car and tested an F1 car ahead of making your F1 debut?[/b]
SS: Having tested here in an F1 car certainly makes life a lot easier than if you haven't tested before. I think Montreal, Malaysia and Australia will be a lot more difficult in terms of learning the track procedures, compared to Bahrain with already a bit of track experience. It's a big help.
[b]Q. Honda have gone very well this winter but are not represented here. What is your opinion on them?[/b]
NR: I'll start. They've been really strong in testing in the winter I think, and especially now with Anthony Davidson doing time in Valencia, so I think they'll be towards the very front.
SS: Certainly when we were testing here with them last month they were for sure showing some good pace, expect them to do very well. KR: Yeah they've been quick, as Renault have been also, so we'll just have to wait and see for a few days to see what is the real pace of all the teams.
FA: Same comment. They have been very quick but we'll have to wait to see in races.
[b]Q. I look at the front row and see Fernando, Michael and Kimi. Am I right in thinking you are the three favourites for the title?[/b]
KR: I wish, but it's the same answer really. We don't really know exactly. It depends on the cars on what will happen. For sure, everybody from us wants to win championship and everybody does their best.
FA: Same.
MS: I think there's more than three because honestly as we spoke about Honda who have two drivers. Also, we all have teammates so it's gonna be a nice season for all of us.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Thursday's press conference - Bahrain
Thursday, March 9th 2006, 14:57 GMT
Participating: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), Fernando Alonso (Renault), Scott Speed (Toro Rosso), Nico Rosberg (Williams), Kimi Raikonnen (McLaren)
[b]Q. Nico, you ended your GP2 winning series here with two dominant victories, what's it like to be starting your Grand Prix racing career here?[/b]
Nico Rosberg: Well, this is a perfect place to start for me. I have had some great success here on this track in the past and I really enjoy the track and the place so it couldn't be a better first race for me, definitely.
[b]Q. How do you see this first season? What are your targets?[/b]
NR: I don't know. It's really difficult to say because even through the winter testing you don't really know where you are with the car so it's difficult really to set a target. I just hope I do a good job and I improve all the time and that I've done a good job at the end of the year.
[b]Q. This time last year you were about to start your GP2 career, are you more relaxed starting Grand Prix racing?[/b]
NR: Well, it's similar. It's always a step up and it gets more difficult so you are always similarly nervous because you want to go out and do a good job, and it's always important to do a good job at the time, so it's probably similar.
[b]Q. What about you, Scott? How do you start this season?[/b]
Scott Speed: Certainly there's a lot of nerves when you're starting your first Grand Prix but I think that having done the Friday testing in North America certainly helped me to get used to the media aspect and the biggest changes in Formula One so certainly there's a bit of nerves but I think nothing abnormal.
[b]Q. What's the most difficult things? Is it the media?[/b]
SS: Yeah, certainly the media is one thing but also the amount of people that work together within a team and to try to get everyone to work together, is definitely the biggest difference in Formula One.
[b]Q. So is it with excitement that you start the new season?[/b]
SS: Yeah, definitely, excited. I've been dreaming about it since I was 11 years old and I drove my first go kart. So I kind of get a sense of completion that I've kind of completed a big part of my goal in life.
[b]Q. And your hopes here?[/b]
SS: Yeah, like Nico said, it's very difficult to tell with the pieces in testing but hopefully I think we are generally aiming to gain as many points as possible.
[b]Q. Kimi, what about your feelings for this year?[/b]
Kimi Raikkonen: I don't think we are exactly where we want to be but we are in a much better position than we were one month ago. I think we have been quite quick sometimes, but Renault and Honda might be quicker than us but it really depends if we get everything sorted out, in which case we might be able to fight for wins. But we will just do the best that we can and see where we end up.
[b]Q. Do you look back, do you look forward at the start of the year? How do you feel about what happened last year, for example? And what could be happening next year?[/b]
KR: We just try to do our best that we can this year. Last year is passed and next year, I don't know what will happen. It will be an interesting year for sure and with all the changes to the rules, the first few races are always more difficult than after that. But let's just wait and see.
[b]Q. What are the worrying aspects? What is worrying you in particular as you come into the start of the season? You say it's better than it was a month ago.[/b]
KR: I don't really worry about anything, but of course if we had more time it would maybe be better for us, but we are starting to race and that's a nice thing. We had some problems with the engine, but like I said, we've improved the situation a lot and we seem to have got rid of all the problems but you never know in the races what will happen. But I think we should be okay but who knows?
[b]Q. Michael, what about your feelings coming into this season? You look as though you're up for it, ready for it.[/b]
Michael Schumacher: Yep.
[b]Q. How much of an advantage do you think it has been testing here?[/b]
MS: It's difficult to quantify, but it's certainly no disadvantage being here. We have V8 engines, new aerodynamics, different new tyres so to chose your compounds and the tyre you want, probably you are a little bit advanced in this direction, but then on the other hand the other guys who have not been here in general have enough experience not to take too long to get on top of that, I guess.
[b]Q. Whatever advantage you may have here is only an advantage for here or particularly for next weekend as well?[/b]
MS: As it wasn't as hot as maybe we would have liked it, it's probably not a great advantage compared to Malaysia but the chance to test here freely was quite important in a way for us, because if you go to some of the big tests in Europe, especially in the beginning, when cars are not yet very reliable, you get a lot of red flag situations and so on so you cannot really do your programme as efficiently as we could be.
[b]Q. Now, for the last five seasons you've started the following season as World Champion. What changes does it make when you're not World Champion?[/b]
MS: Not really much, honestly. I have to walk a little bit further to my garage. That's the only thing.
[b]Q. What about Bridgestone? How do you feel they've met the challenge this year?[/b]
MS: We have worked very hard and we certainly have improved the game, but then it's always the question: have we improved enough? It's something we will find out this weekend. As always we have had a long winter, a lot of talk, a lot of question marks and finally we answer them, in a way, at the first race. It's always better to drive than talk, honestly.
[b]Q. Fernando, World Champion, has it changed your life?[/b]
Fernando Alonso: No, not at all. I think nothing has changed but obviously this weekend I will have number one on my car so it's a dream come true and I will try my best again, all through this season and try to repeat the success we had last year.
[b]Q. Do you think you approach this season slightly differently to ones you have in the past?[/b]
FA: Yes, in a way yes, because I always arrived at the first race, in the past, thinking to be fighting for the races or to be on the podium so winning races or something like that. Now I have much more confidence in myself and much more looking forward to the championship, at the end, to be World Champion again. It doesn't matter how many races you win, maybe. It's only a matter of being champion at the end and this is a different approach.
[b]Q. The confidence of winning the championship, you've seen what that has done Michael in the past. Do you now feel that you can benefit from that as well?[/b]
FA: It depends on how quick the car is. It doesn't matter how motivated you are because as soon as you start the race and the green lights go on, all the drivers do their maximum, their best and sometimes you can do it and sometimes not. I think the best thing is that we arrive ready again, the new car is competitive and strong enough to be quick on race pace. I think we are ready for the first race, we'll see what happens on Sunday.
[b]Q. People talk about your move to McLaren, that it might become an issue. Maybe not at the start of the season but it might become an issue later on in the year. To what extent do you see this as a transitional year?[/b]
FA: I see 2006 as a year to defend the title and to win again. It's my last year with Renault and I need to win for them and for me and I will do my maximum. For me, it's in a different way. I see I'm much more relaxed now, for the future, and I can really concentrate to win this year, not talking about which team I will be with next year in the coming races.
[b]Q. Michael, can I come back to you as the most experienced driver in the field, what difference does it make starting the championship here in Bahrain rather in Australia?[/b]
MS: It's not really a big difference other than that we have less time change to cope with and that's about it.
[b]Q. A bit warmer?[/b]
MS: Australia can be hot. It can be hot here but it can also be cold because two weeks ago it was reasonably cold at certain moments, so I don't really see a big difference.
[b]Q. And the media pressure? The Australian media in comparison to the Bahraini media?[/b]
MS: No, because you guys are sort of all the same anyway wherever we go.
Questions From The Floor
[b]Q. In terms of driving, do you enjoy driving the V8 engines and have you had to change your driving style at all to adapt to the V8s?[/b]
FA: Not for me. Basically it is the same. Obviously there are some corners that are now easy flat when last year it was little more challenge, I don't know. In my opinion, I like to have the most powerful car in my hands always, so its always better to have the V10 for the feelings but what we rally like is the competition and we are all with the same V8. What we really like is to fight with the others.
[b]Q. Michael, you said the car was better balanced with the amount of power from the V8 and the amount of rubber you have.[/b]
MS: It's more in harmony.
[b]Q. So do you enjoy it more?[/b]
MS: Yeah. It's much sharper to drive.
KR: Yeah, I think it goes a bit slower in a straight line and the corner speed is about the same as in previous years. I haven't changed my driving at all. You just try to go as quickly as you can. Of course, the torque is not as much as in a V10 so there are more details I different areas but it hasn't really changed much.
[b]Q. About laptimes in Bahrain: in testing we've seen Honda and McLaren quite close to last year in Valencia. How much difference will there be in Bahrain and when can you pass the laptime of last year with the V10.[/b]
MS: It's not only a question for here, it's a general question for all tracks, generally you lose 2-3 seconds going from a V10 to a V8, but our engineers are so efficient so it has made not a lot of a big difference. We were off the pace last year but it all depends. Plus it's unfair to compare to last year. You had to have one tyre for the whole race and our qualifying strategy was completely different to what it will be this weekend. So it's really unfair to make a comparison.
[b]Q. Fernando, will laptimes come down to last year's level?[/b]
FA: I think conditions will be about one second slower this year but its true that the qualifying format will be really different. We will run empty fuel at start of qualifying, so those times will be better this year compared to last year.
KR: Nothing to add.
[b]Q. We have some rookies this year. Is there any advice the three guys at the front can give them?[/b]
FA: I'm 24, so I don't have extremely good experience. When I started in Formula One I just enjoyed it and concentrated on doing my job. Its true there is lots of media attention. The cars are unfortunately so different from one to the other that you cannot find results very quickly.
KR: Hopefully let us past if we're behind.
MS: I don't think they need advice. Generally the young generation have so much time in go-karts. For sure a Formula One car has a lot more horsepower than other cars but apart from that there is not much difference.
[b]Q. Scott, you say you're a bit nervous, but how much of an advantage is it to have raced here in a GP2 car and tested an F1 car ahead of making your F1 debut?[/b]
SS: Having tested here in an F1 car certainly makes life a lot easier than if you haven't tested before. I think Montreal, Malaysia and Australia will be a lot more difficult in terms of learning the track procedures, compared to Bahrain with already a bit of track experience. It's a big help.
[b]Q. Honda have gone very well this winter but are not represented here. What is your opinion on them?[/b]
NR: I'll start. They've been really strong in testing in the winter I think, and especially now with Anthony Davidson doing time in Valencia, so I think they'll be towards the very front.
SS: Certainly when we were testing here with them last month they were for sure showing some good pace, expect them to do very well. KR: Yeah they've been quick, as Renault have been also, so we'll just have to wait and see for a few days to see what is the real pace of all the teams.
FA: Same comment. They have been very quick but we'll have to wait to see in races.
[b]Q. I look at the front row and see Fernando, Michael and Kimi. Am I right in thinking you are the three favourites for the title?[/b]
KR: I wish, but it's the same answer really. We don't really know exactly. It depends on the cars on what will happen. For sure, everybody from us wants to win championship and everybody does their best.
FA: Same.
MS: I think there's more than three because honestly as we spoke about Honda who have two drivers. Also, we all have teammates so it's gonna be a nice season for all of us.[/QUOTE]
| Ferg | 03-09-2006 10:17 AM |
continued....
[QUOTE][b]Q. Michael, sorry to ask you but unfortunately it's the first chance many of us have had to ask this question, but, what happened on the formation lap at Shanghai and what was your opinion on the decision of the stewards afterwards?[/b]
MS: Honestly I don't see any sense in going back into it. It's decided to what it was and we can't change it anyway. We don't have a Minardi team anymore. It's different now. Sometimes certain things do happen and its co-incidence sometimes come together.
[b]Q. Michael, your team came here to test and had some problems with the clutch system. The team decide to test in Mugello. How is the real mechanical situation?[/b]
MS: First of all, we did everything to schedule, we did more running than we planned to do. The only difference was that instead of staying in Italy we were going to Valencia and we had only three days available in Valencia, but staying in Italy meant we had six or seven days available for driving. It's true the weather wasn't great, but for what we had to do we figured out our issues. Its true as well we would have loved to do more kilometres, but we are now more prepared because the car was quick right from the beginning and even quicker now and I think we can be quite confident to be reliable as well.
[b]Q. About the new qualifying system. It seems the last part is quite complicated to explain to the people in the grandstand. Are you worried it will change again during the season and what do you think about this mechanism? - worried about changing again?[/b]
MS: The only reason we could probably be forced to change is if you explain it the wrong way if people don't understand so it's your job to explain it so we don't have to.
FA: It will be quite complex, but any qualifying will be difficult for us and for the people behind the TV and hopefully this one will stay for a long time.
KR: It will be interesting and it will take a few races to learn what is the best way. The gap between the sessions is only five minutes I think so three will be a lot of people rushing around. I think it will be okay.
[b]Q. Michael, last year you had an expert driver in Rubens, now you have an inexperienced teammate. Is this a problem to find the solution to problems to find the set-up.[/b]
MS: No. First because Felipe is quite experienced in the meantime. Second, it depends on team and on how you develop, with the team, a new car. The only question we have is in terms of driving style. Maybe we have different driving styles that require to different set-ups so it will be quite interesting to see if I can take profit more than I[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b]Q. Michael, sorry to ask you but unfortunately it's the first chance many of us have had to ask this question, but, what happened on the formation lap at Shanghai and what was your opinion on the decision of the stewards afterwards?[/b]
MS: Honestly I don't see any sense in going back into it. It's decided to what it was and we can't change it anyway. We don't have a Minardi team anymore. It's different now. Sometimes certain things do happen and its co-incidence sometimes come together.
[b]Q. Michael, your team came here to test and had some problems with the clutch system. The team decide to test in Mugello. How is the real mechanical situation?[/b]
MS: First of all, we did everything to schedule, we did more running than we planned to do. The only difference was that instead of staying in Italy we were going to Valencia and we had only three days available in Valencia, but staying in Italy meant we had six or seven days available for driving. It's true the weather wasn't great, but for what we had to do we figured out our issues. Its true as well we would have loved to do more kilometres, but we are now more prepared because the car was quick right from the beginning and even quicker now and I think we can be quite confident to be reliable as well.
[b]Q. About the new qualifying system. It seems the last part is quite complicated to explain to the people in the grandstand. Are you worried it will change again during the season and what do you think about this mechanism? - worried about changing again?[/b]
MS: The only reason we could probably be forced to change is if you explain it the wrong way if people don't understand so it's your job to explain it so we don't have to.
FA: It will be quite complex, but any qualifying will be difficult for us and for the people behind the TV and hopefully this one will stay for a long time.
KR: It will be interesting and it will take a few races to learn what is the best way. The gap between the sessions is only five minutes I think so three will be a lot of people rushing around. I think it will be okay.
[b]Q. Michael, last year you had an expert driver in Rubens, now you have an inexperienced teammate. Is this a problem to find the solution to problems to find the set-up.[/b]
MS: No. First because Felipe is quite experienced in the meantime. Second, it depends on team and on how you develop, with the team, a new car. The only question we have is in terms of driving style. Maybe we have different driving styles that require to different set-ups so it will be quite interesting to see if I can take profit more than I[/QUOTE]
| Ferg | 03-09-2006 12:28 PM |
Interview with Franz Tost, head of Scuderia Toro Rosso.
[QUOTE][b]Interview: Tost quells Toro Rosso fears[/b]
By Jonathan Noble Thursday, March 9th 2006, 16:52 GMT
[i]As the only team running a restricted V10 engine, and with a chassis too familiar to the Red Bull 2005 car, Scuderia Toro Rosso make their debut in Bahrain amid controversy and threats of protests.
But the 'junior' Red Bull team boss, Franz Tost, believes their rivals have no reason to complain or worry about the former Minardi outfit, and he talks to autosport.com about the team's competitiveness, the engine equivalency formula, the chassis ownership, and more.[/i]
[b]Q: What are your feelings on the new season? Are you excited or nervous?[/b]
Franz Tost: "Nothing has changed in this way apart from having more work and more responsibility. That is it. At the end we will see."
[b]Q: Has it surprised you that all winter, your rival teams have only been talking about your V10 engine and its performance?[/b]
Tost: "First of all, I don't believe that all of them have talked about us, because if this is the case then their winter time must have been too boring. At the same time - and I now talk from Toro Rosso's side - we have so much work to do, that I cannot think about what other teams are doing and which engine decision they will make.
"Therefore, I think there were two or three people who always talked about our engine, the V10. They talked to the press and they made a little bit of publicity, in a negative way, against us.
"But for me it is quite clear. The FIA regulations say that we, as a private team, can run a V10 engine. We have to run it with the 77mm air restrictor and with the 16,700rpm limit, and that is it so far. I cannot understand why some of them are so against this decision."
[b]Q: Do you think it is not an equivalency formula at all? It is more a restriction on your performance?[/b]
Tost: "I don't know where they think our performance will be so good. During the tests, we were 1.0 to 1.5 seconds (per lap) behind the others, and we are 5-8km/h behind the others in terms of top speed, and therefore I don't know where they have got the information that we are faster and our package has such a good performance that we can do good results.
"I hope that they are right, but realistically in qualifying we are not able to be within the first ten because there are six works teams, with 12 cars, and apart from this we have Williams with two cars.
"There are other competitors with a really good package; therefore, I don't know how they can say Toro Rosso has such a good performance. I hope they are right because I would be very happy about this, to be honest."
[b]Q: But it must be hard for you, the more you improve the car and go faster, the more your performance will be pulled back...[/b]
Tost: "Look, if we are legal and running within the FIA regulation, I cannot see a reason why they will hold us back. Why? It depends.
"If we were in the first position and running 10 seconds in front of Renault, then okay. But first, this will not be the case. And second, I could understand it then. They would say that this is not within the thoughts of the people who made the regulations. This I understand and would be 100 percent accepting from our side.
"But let's wait and see. Tomorrow we have the first free practice, Saturday qualifying, and Sunday the race, and then we will know more about everything.
"From the engine performance side, I am absolutely convinced that many, many of the V8 engines are in front, because during the winter time the manufacturers did a tremendous job - they made a big step forward and therefore I don't expect us to have such a great advantage over the other teams regarding engine power."
[b]Q: But on that point, if it is an equivalency formula, it should not be something that changes regularly, because if you do improve your car, it would be anti-competitive to then restrict you?[/b]
Tost: "But who says that if we are within the first eight - which, once more, I do not believe we will be - that we will be restricted? Who says this?"
[b]Q: Well, that is the question. The FIA has always said it will change instantly....[/b]
Tost: "Yes, Max Mosley always said that if he sees that the V10 engine has an advantage over the V8, and if they made the wrong type of regulation, then he would change it, and he would change it immediately, from hour to hour. We know this. It is quite fair. And the rest, we will see.
"But to be honest I cannot see an advantage up to now. All the calculations that Cosworth have done so far are correct. And the measurements and dyno tests that some other manufacturers did were with different restrictors - for example, it is important how you fit in the restrictor into the airbox.
"If it is 10mm with a 90-degree angle or if you have a little bit of radius in there, then immediately you have the Venturi Effect and then immediately you have 20-30 percent more horsepower.
"And that is clear. It means that first the people who talk against the V10, they must know how they have measured it. I don't know. I only know this from some manufacturers, that they tried a right angle, and it is wrong. If you have a radius in there, it is wrong and you have another output from the engine. That is all I can say and let's wait and see."
[b]Q: How will the FIA establish whether a V10 is an advantage?[/b]
Tost: "They will see it. They will see it in the speeds and where we are placed. They will see how good our performance is. For people at the FIA, it is very easy to police where we are because they have all the data and they can see where we are.
"They can see if we have an advantage from the engine side or from the chassis side, or the driver's side, wherever. It is very easy to police and control everything. They have all the data. If they want, they know everything."
[b]Q: If you were only quicker than Midland and Super Aguri it wouldn't be a problem, but if you were quicker than Williams, Toyota or Red Bull it would...[/b]
Tost: "No, I don't see this. Because it depends. Normally Red Bull is in front of us, from car performance and qualifying. And if, for example, they did not finish a race - or any competitors for that matter - because of reliability problems, then you cannot punish us on the grounds that we are in front of them due to the V10. That would be ridiculous.
"It depends on the circumstance. If we are running in front of a manufacturer who does not have any problems, either with tyres or reliability or anything else, then we have to think about it. But this will not happen. I cannot believe it.
"We are a young team, we nearly have inexperienced drivers, last year Tonio [Liuzzi] did four races, and Scott Speed is completely new, Neel Jani is new in F1, wherefrom they should immediately get the performance level to be in front of the others... I think this is for some people an excuse to talk about something because they have themselves not done a good enough job."
[b]Q: There have been some other comments about the legality of your car. What can you say about that?[/b]
Tost: "I don't know exactly what they are claiming. The fact is that Scuderia Toro Rosso is the owner of the (intellectual) property rights of the RB1 as well as of the STR1. That means from the regulation side we could have run the RB1, because we are the owner of the property rights, but we did not do this.
"We improved this car from the aero side a little bit, and some other improvements where we expect a better performance, and that is it. I don't know what is wrong from this side. It is something that is within the regulations, so I don't understand what they are claiming."
[b]Q: Do you think some other teams will protest you?[/b]
Tost: "I don't know. I always hear that Midland will protest, but I don't know what they will protest - the chassis or the engine. You know, as far as I can say, we did everything to be within the regulations, and the FIA has the regulation that we respect. And I don't know what they (Midland) are against, and then I don't know what the scrutineers or the stewards will decide."
[b]Q: Ultimately, isn't it better that your rivals are worried about you than if they were not?[/b]
Tost: "Yeah, it is good. On one side it is okay, because let me say it is better if they talk about you than if they don't, and we have to earn that.
"But I would prefer if they talked that we are a really good team and they liked us. Positive criticism is always better than negative criticism, and we should not start an F1 season from the beginning talking about protests and those kind of things. That is a negative taste for me. I would not like to do this.
"I would never start an F1 season talking in the press that I would protest against this team or that team. For me, that is not good."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b]Interview: Tost quells Toro Rosso fears[/b]
By Jonathan Noble Thursday, March 9th 2006, 16:52 GMT
[i]As the only team running a restricted V10 engine, and with a chassis too familiar to the Red Bull 2005 car, Scuderia Toro Rosso make their debut in Bahrain amid controversy and threats of protests.
But the 'junior' Red Bull team boss, Franz Tost, believes their rivals have no reason to complain or worry about the former Minardi outfit, and he talks to autosport.com about the team's competitiveness, the engine equivalency formula, the chassis ownership, and more.[/i]
[b]Q: What are your feelings on the new season? Are you excited or nervous?[/b]
Franz Tost: "Nothing has changed in this way apart from having more work and more responsibility. That is it. At the end we will see."
[b]Q: Has it surprised you that all winter, your rival teams have only been talking about your V10 engine and its performance?[/b]
Tost: "First of all, I don't believe that all of them have talked about us, because if this is the case then their winter time must have been too boring. At the same time - and I now talk from Toro Rosso's side - we have so much work to do, that I cannot think about what other teams are doing and which engine decision they will make.
"Therefore, I think there were two or three people who always talked about our engine, the V10. They talked to the press and they made a little bit of publicity, in a negative way, against us.
"But for me it is quite clear. The FIA regulations say that we, as a private team, can run a V10 engine. We have to run it with the 77mm air restrictor and with the 16,700rpm limit, and that is it so far. I cannot understand why some of them are so against this decision."
[b]Q: Do you think it is not an equivalency formula at all? It is more a restriction on your performance?[/b]
Tost: "I don't know where they think our performance will be so good. During the tests, we were 1.0 to 1.5 seconds (per lap) behind the others, and we are 5-8km/h behind the others in terms of top speed, and therefore I don't know where they have got the information that we are faster and our package has such a good performance that we can do good results.
"I hope that they are right, but realistically in qualifying we are not able to be within the first ten because there are six works teams, with 12 cars, and apart from this we have Williams with two cars.
"There are other competitors with a really good package; therefore, I don't know how they can say Toro Rosso has such a good performance. I hope they are right because I would be very happy about this, to be honest."
[b]Q: But it must be hard for you, the more you improve the car and go faster, the more your performance will be pulled back...[/b]
Tost: "Look, if we are legal and running within the FIA regulation, I cannot see a reason why they will hold us back. Why? It depends.
"If we were in the first position and running 10 seconds in front of Renault, then okay. But first, this will not be the case. And second, I could understand it then. They would say that this is not within the thoughts of the people who made the regulations. This I understand and would be 100 percent accepting from our side.
"But let's wait and see. Tomorrow we have the first free practice, Saturday qualifying, and Sunday the race, and then we will know more about everything.
"From the engine performance side, I am absolutely convinced that many, many of the V8 engines are in front, because during the winter time the manufacturers did a tremendous job - they made a big step forward and therefore I don't expect us to have such a great advantage over the other teams regarding engine power."
[b]Q: But on that point, if it is an equivalency formula, it should not be something that changes regularly, because if you do improve your car, it would be anti-competitive to then restrict you?[/b]
Tost: "But who says that if we are within the first eight - which, once more, I do not believe we will be - that we will be restricted? Who says this?"
[b]Q: Well, that is the question. The FIA has always said it will change instantly....[/b]
Tost: "Yes, Max Mosley always said that if he sees that the V10 engine has an advantage over the V8, and if they made the wrong type of regulation, then he would change it, and he would change it immediately, from hour to hour. We know this. It is quite fair. And the rest, we will see.
"But to be honest I cannot see an advantage up to now. All the calculations that Cosworth have done so far are correct. And the measurements and dyno tests that some other manufacturers did were with different restrictors - for example, it is important how you fit in the restrictor into the airbox.
"If it is 10mm with a 90-degree angle or if you have a little bit of radius in there, then immediately you have the Venturi Effect and then immediately you have 20-30 percent more horsepower.
"And that is clear. It means that first the people who talk against the V10, they must know how they have measured it. I don't know. I only know this from some manufacturers, that they tried a right angle, and it is wrong. If you have a radius in there, it is wrong and you have another output from the engine. That is all I can say and let's wait and see."
[b]Q: How will the FIA establish whether a V10 is an advantage?[/b]
Tost: "They will see it. They will see it in the speeds and where we are placed. They will see how good our performance is. For people at the FIA, it is very easy to police where we are because they have all the data and they can see where we are.
"They can see if we have an advantage from the engine side or from the chassis side, or the driver's side, wherever. It is very easy to police and control everything. They have all the data. If they want, they know everything."
[b]Q: If you were only quicker than Midland and Super Aguri it wouldn't be a problem, but if you were quicker than Williams, Toyota or Red Bull it would...[/b]
Tost: "No, I don't see this. Because it depends. Normally Red Bull is in front of us, from car performance and qualifying. And if, for example, they did not finish a race - or any competitors for that matter - because of reliability problems, then you cannot punish us on the grounds that we are in front of them due to the V10. That would be ridiculous.
"It depends on the circumstance. If we are running in front of a manufacturer who does not have any problems, either with tyres or reliability or anything else, then we have to think about it. But this will not happen. I cannot believe it.
"We are a young team, we nearly have inexperienced drivers, last year Tonio [Liuzzi] did four races, and Scott Speed is completely new, Neel Jani is new in F1, wherefrom they should immediately get the performance level to be in front of the others... I think this is for some people an excuse to talk about something because they have themselves not done a good enough job."
[b]Q: There have been some other comments about the legality of your car. What can you say about that?[/b]
Tost: "I don't know exactly what they are claiming. The fact is that Scuderia Toro Rosso is the owner of the (intellectual) property rights of the RB1 as well as of the STR1. That means from the regulation side we could have run the RB1, because we are the owner of the property rights, but we did not do this.
"We improved this car from the aero side a little bit, and some other improvements where we expect a better performance, and that is it. I don't know what is wrong from this side. It is something that is within the regulations, so I don't understand what they are claiming."
[b]Q: Do you think some other teams will protest you?[/b]
Tost: "I don't know. I always hear that Midland will protest, but I don't know what they will protest - the chassis or the engine. You know, as far as I can say, we did everything to be within the regulations, and the FIA has the regulation that we respect. And I don't know what they (Midland) are against, and then I don't know what the scrutineers or the stewards will decide."
[b]Q: Ultimately, isn't it better that your rivals are worried about you than if they were not?[/b]
Tost: "Yeah, it is good. On one side it is okay, because let me say it is better if they talk about you than if they don't, and we have to earn that.
"But I would prefer if they talked that we are a really good team and they liked us. Positive criticism is always better than negative criticism, and we should not start an F1 season from the beginning talking about protests and those kind of things. That is a negative taste for me. I would not like to do this.
"I would never start an F1 season talking in the press that I would protest against this team or that team. For me, that is not good."[/QUOTE]
| TCENGEL | 03-09-2006 12:40 PM |
Is the race being braodcast on Speedvision or a VHF station? I don't have the fancy cable where I live but I remember some races on CBS last year. Anybody know?
| Ferg | 03-09-2006 12:44 PM |
The race will be shown on Speed TV.
[QUOTE][B]ALL TIMES PACIFIC![/B]
Friday, March 10th, Friday Practice #2 [B]3:00am[/B]
Saturday, March 11th, Qualifying [b]3:00am[/b]
Sunday, March 12th, RACE!!!! [b]3:00am[/b]
[i]*race rebroadcast at 9:30am on the 12th as well*[/i]
[/QUOTE]
You can also go to Formula1.com for live streaming of the timing. Better than nothing.
[QUOTE][B]ALL TIMES PACIFIC![/B]
Friday, March 10th, Friday Practice #2 [B]3:00am[/B]
Saturday, March 11th, Qualifying [b]3:00am[/b]
Sunday, March 12th, RACE!!!! [b]3:00am[/b]
[i]*race rebroadcast at 9:30am on the 12th as well*[/i]
[/QUOTE]
You can also go to Formula1.com for live streaming of the timing. Better than nothing.
| artkevin | 03-09-2006 01:13 PM |
I think CBS will be covering a hand full of races again this year. Not sure which ones though.
| Ferg | 03-09-2006 01:19 PM |
Or you could always go with...
[QUOTE]Al Jazeera to broadcast F1 in Middle East
Thursday, March 9th 2006, 18:16 GMT
The Al Jazeera Sports TV Network has inked a deal with the Bahrain International Circuit to broadcast Formula One in the Middle East and North Africa.
Over 120 million new viewers will now be able to watch Formula One live and for free as a result of a deal between the Bahrain International Circuit, rights-holder for Formula One in the Middle East, and the Al Jazeera Sport channel.
"Everybody knows Al Jazeera Sport and its commitment to broadcasting in the Middle East and North Africa," said Martin Whitaker, General Manager of the Bahrain International Circuit.
"It is a huge honour for us here at Bahrain International Circuit not only to be the 'Home of Motorsport in the Middle East' through the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix but also to see the rest of the Middle East and North Africa region now able to access the full 18-race season.
"The fact that Bahrain has been honoured with the first race to be broadcast free-to-view is a source of enormous pride in the Kingdom."
Each of the 18 races in the 2006 season will be covered by the Qatar-based broadcaster, with a supporting programme of news and features surrounding the race weekend.
"You have to put Formula One right up there with the World Cup and the Olympic Games in terms of its global importance as a sporting event," said Al Jazeera Sport Official spokesman Hedi Smirani.
"Unlike those events, Formula One is currently in the Middle East, with the honour of hosting the first round of the season falling to Bahrain. With this strategic move Al Jazeera Sport would bring absolutely the right sporting spectacle free into every home.
"This also illustrates that Al Jazeera Sport is definitely after the hearts and minds of its viewers and this new addition would pave the way for broadening our loyal audience's sports culture." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Al Jazeera to broadcast F1 in Middle East
Thursday, March 9th 2006, 18:16 GMT
The Al Jazeera Sports TV Network has inked a deal with the Bahrain International Circuit to broadcast Formula One in the Middle East and North Africa.
Over 120 million new viewers will now be able to watch Formula One live and for free as a result of a deal between the Bahrain International Circuit, rights-holder for Formula One in the Middle East, and the Al Jazeera Sport channel.
"Everybody knows Al Jazeera Sport and its commitment to broadcasting in the Middle East and North Africa," said Martin Whitaker, General Manager of the Bahrain International Circuit.
"It is a huge honour for us here at Bahrain International Circuit not only to be the 'Home of Motorsport in the Middle East' through the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix but also to see the rest of the Middle East and North Africa region now able to access the full 18-race season.
"The fact that Bahrain has been honoured with the first race to be broadcast free-to-view is a source of enormous pride in the Kingdom."
Each of the 18 races in the 2006 season will be covered by the Qatar-based broadcaster, with a supporting programme of news and features surrounding the race weekend.
"You have to put Formula One right up there with the World Cup and the Olympic Games in terms of its global importance as a sporting event," said Al Jazeera Sport Official spokesman Hedi Smirani.
"Unlike those events, Formula One is currently in the Middle East, with the honour of hosting the first round of the season falling to Bahrain. With this strategic move Al Jazeera Sport would bring absolutely the right sporting spectacle free into every home.
"This also illustrates that Al Jazeera Sport is definitely after the hearts and minds of its viewers and this new addition would pave the way for broadening our loyal audience's sports culture." [/QUOTE]
| f1vlad | 03-09-2006 02:11 PM |
[img]http://foto.rambler.ru/photos/k/a/karinelli/7/00663427/00663427.jpg[/img]
[img]http://foto.rambler.ru/photos/k/a/karinelli/7/00662643/00662643.jpg[/img]
[img]http://foto.rambler.ru/photos/k/a/karinelli/7/00661577/00661577.jpg[/img]
pics stolen from russian news site :)
[img]http://foto.rambler.ru/photos/k/a/karinelli/7/00662643/00662643.jpg[/img]
[img]http://foto.rambler.ru/photos/k/a/karinelli/7/00661577/00661577.jpg[/img]
pics stolen from russian news site :)
| MattDell | 03-09-2006 02:22 PM |
[QUOTE=f1vlad][img]http://foto.rambler.ru/photos/k/a/karinelli/7/00663427/00663427.jpg[/img]
[/QUOTE]
Somebody should've told Kimi not to wear his whole suit. I bet it's pretty damn hot! :p
[QUOTE=f1vlad]
[img]http://foto.rambler.ru/photos/k/a/karinelli/7/00661577/00661577.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
And that's just hilarious!
[/QUOTE]
Somebody should've told Kimi not to wear his whole suit. I bet it's pretty damn hot! :p
[QUOTE=f1vlad]
[img]http://foto.rambler.ru/photos/k/a/karinelli/7/00661577/00661577.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
And that's just hilarious!
| BriDrive | 03-09-2006 02:44 PM |
In the press conference photo...here are the thought balloons:
Nico: "...no way Speed, where'd you get those flip-flops?..."
Speed:"...holy crap, I'm actually SHAKING, I mean SHAKING Michael Schumacher's hand...the rest of you drivers search pukes have really lost out!..."
Fernando: "...jeez...I hope I can fight back this urge to vomit...I should have never eaten that second camel gyro..."
Schumacher:"...that's right Scotto...I AM Michael Schumacher....dang son, your hand is sweaty..."
Kimi: "...I swear to God, whoever it was that told me to wear the suit is fired...dang, Schumi really does look fit...I should ask Michael if he thinks Vodka makes me look bloated..."
BriDrive
Nico: "...no way Speed, where'd you get those flip-flops?..."
Speed:"...holy crap, I'm actually SHAKING, I mean SHAKING Michael Schumacher's hand...the rest of you drivers search pukes have really lost out!..."
Fernando: "...jeez...I hope I can fight back this urge to vomit...I should have never eaten that second camel gyro..."
Schumacher:"...that's right Scotto...I AM Michael Schumacher....dang son, your hand is sweaty..."
Kimi: "...I swear to God, whoever it was that told me to wear the suit is fired...dang, Schumi really does look fit...I should ask Michael if he thinks Vodka makes me look bloated..."
BriDrive
| WRSport | 03-09-2006 02:55 PM |
Woot.....last day of waiting!
| f1vlad | 03-09-2006 03:22 PM |
[QUOTE=BriDrive]
Kimi: "...I swear to God, whoever it was that told me to wear the suit is fired...dang, Schumi really does look fit...I should ask Michael if he thinks Vodka makes me look bloated..."[/QUOTE]
:lol: :cool:
p.s. alonso looks hangover :)
Kimi: "...I swear to God, whoever it was that told me to wear the suit is fired...dang, Schumi really does look fit...I should ask Michael if he thinks Vodka makes me look bloated..."[/QUOTE]
:lol: :cool:
p.s. alonso looks hangover :)
| meebs | 03-09-2006 03:45 PM |
[QUOTE=artkevin]I think CBS will be covering a hand full of races again this year. Not sure which ones though.[/QUOTE]
Probably Monaco, Canada, and US, which is a shame because I really like David Hobbs and co.
Probably Monaco, Canada, and US, which is a shame because I really like David Hobbs and co.
| FrostyAK | 03-09-2006 03:45 PM |
I have been a big Button/Honda supporter for years, through all the ups (2004) and downs (2005). It is good to see things going so well for them thus far. Even more positive is the support of other drivers; everyone seems to have good things to say about Hondas progress this year. And drivers, both past and present, have been praising Button for some time. Maybe this will be the year.
- Chris
- Chris
| parker/slc/gc8fan | 03-09-2006 03:55 PM |
Perfect captions. :lol: :lol:
:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: for the start of Racing at it's finest
:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: for the start of Racing at it's finest
| Harvey_Mushman | 03-09-2006 04:26 PM |
[QUOTE=meebs]Probably Monaco, Canada, and US, which is a shame because I really like David Hobbs and co.[/QUOTE]
<--- Steve Matchett Fan Club Member
[url]http://www.stevematchettfanclub.com/[/url]
I've got a picture of myself and Matchett somewhere at home. I'll post it if I can find it. The Speed viewer appreciation parties at Indy are kinda fun. Anyone else been to one?
<--- Steve Matchett Fan Club Member
[url]http://www.stevematchettfanclub.com/[/url]
I've got a picture of myself and Matchett somewhere at home. I'll post it if I can find it. The Speed viewer appreciation parties at Indy are kinda fun. Anyone else been to one?
| Ferg | 03-09-2006 04:31 PM |
The new Red Bull and Toro Rosso liverys are out...if nobody posts a pic I'll host and post them myself in a couple of hours.
The Toro Rosso is well....sort of different, just like S. Speed promised us.
The Toro Rosso is well....sort of different, just like S. Speed promised us.
| PaulC | 03-09-2006 04:43 PM |
my picks...
�
�
A blend of favorites and realistic picks.
1. J.Button
2. F.Alonso
3. J.Montoya
4. K.Raikkonen
5. R.Barrichello
6. M.Schumacher
7. D.Coulthard
8. N.Heidfeld
1. J.Button
2. F.Alonso
3. J.Montoya
4. K.Raikkonen
5. R.Barrichello
6. M.Schumacher
7. D.Coulthard
8. N.Heidfeld
| BriDrive | 03-09-2006 04:55 PM |
[QUOTE=Ferg]The new Red Bull and Toro Rosso liverys are out...if nobody posts a pic I'll host and post them myself in a couple of hours.
The Toro Rosso is well....sort of different, just like S. Speed promised us.[/QUOTE]
I particularly like the bull horns in white, protruding forward from the drivers compartment....it looks a bit more like a red whooly mammoth or a mastodon perhaps...???...
BriDrive
The Toro Rosso is well....sort of different, just like S. Speed promised us.[/QUOTE]
I particularly like the bull horns in white, protruding forward from the drivers compartment....it looks a bit more like a red whooly mammoth or a mastodon perhaps...???...
BriDrive
| Ferg | 03-09-2006 06:18 PM |
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/57039022/original.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/57039021/original.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/57039021/original.jpg[/IMG]
| KAX | 03-09-2006 06:23 PM |
i like the "Gives You Wings" on the wing of the car. Definitely different.
i cant wait for tomorrow, i want to go to sleep now so it gets here faster :D
this stuff is better then christmas!
i cant wait for tomorrow, i want to go to sleep now so it gets here faster :D
this stuff is better then christmas!
| StuBeck | 03-09-2006 06:40 PM |
CBS is covering Imola, Barcelona, Monte Carlo and Silverstone. Different then before but still a good setting I think, I just hope Derek Daly doesn't do annoucing. The rest I can deal with, but Daly's completely right field "OMG they need to ban Webber for the rest of the season for that" statements piss me off. Trying to remember not to check F1Racing.net in the morning is difficult too.
I like the new car. I like the blue wehels a lot too.
I like the new car. I like the blue wehels a lot too.
| TimStevens | 03-09-2006 07:30 PM |
[QUOTE=Ferg][IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/57039022/original.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/57039021/original.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]
Awesome on both accounts. Thanks for the new wallpapers!
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/57039021/original.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]
Awesome on both accounts. Thanks for the new wallpapers!
| sspicollo8 | 03-09-2006 07:36 PM |
[QUOTE=Harvey_Mushman]<--- Steve Matchett Fan Club Member
[url]http://www.stevematchettfanclub.com/[/url]
I've got a picture of myself and Matchett somewhere at home. I'll post it if I can find it. The Speed viewer appreciation parties at Indy are kinda fun. Anyone else been to one?[/QUOTE]
<--- Fire Bob Varsha Club Member
varshas-a-douche.com
I've never really liked listening to him, especially after getting home from the usgp last year and then listening to all of his comments and opinions.
As for the speed channel schedule, it's now showing that all 3 are airing at 6AM. If I stay up til 3 and it's not on, there's no way I'm wakin up again at 6.
[url]http://www.stevematchettfanclub.com/[/url]
I've got a picture of myself and Matchett somewhere at home. I'll post it if I can find it. The Speed viewer appreciation parties at Indy are kinda fun. Anyone else been to one?[/QUOTE]
<--- Fire Bob Varsha Club Member
varshas-a-douche.com
I've never really liked listening to him, especially after getting home from the usgp last year and then listening to all of his comments and opinions.
As for the speed channel schedule, it's now showing that all 3 are airing at 6AM. If I stay up til 3 and it's not on, there's no way I'm wakin up again at 6.
| BROKENWRX | 03-09-2006 07:58 PM |
[QUOTE=BriDrive]In the press conference photo...here are the thought balloons:
Nico: "...no way Speed, where'd you get those flip-flops?..."
Speed:"...holy crap, I'm actually SHAKING, I mean SHAKING Michael Schumacher's hand...the rest of you drivers search pukes have really lost out!..."
Fernando: "...jeez...I hope I can fight back this urge to vomit...I should have never eaten that second camel gyro..."
Schumacher:"...that's right Scotto...I AM Michael Schumacher....dang son, your hand is sweaty..."
Kimi: "...I swear to God, whoever it was that told me to wear the suit is fired...dang, Schumi really does look fit...I should ask Michael if he thinks Vodka makes me look bloated..."
BriDrive[/QUOTE]
Man I still cant stop laughing.
Nico: "...no way Speed, where'd you get those flip-flops?..."
Speed:"...holy crap, I'm actually SHAKING, I mean SHAKING Michael Schumacher's hand...the rest of you drivers search pukes have really lost out!..."
Fernando: "...jeez...I hope I can fight back this urge to vomit...I should have never eaten that second camel gyro..."
Schumacher:"...that's right Scotto...I AM Michael Schumacher....dang son, your hand is sweaty..."
Kimi: "...I swear to God, whoever it was that told me to wear the suit is fired...dang, Schumi really does look fit...I should ask Michael if he thinks Vodka makes me look bloated..."
BriDrive[/QUOTE]
Man I still cant stop laughing.
| driggity | 03-09-2006 08:19 PM |
[QUOTE=BriDrive]it looks a bit more like a red whooly mammoth or a mastodon perhaps...???...
BriDrive[/QUOTE]
I don't know. I've only seen the picture in this thread but it just looks like a more artistic version of the normal RedBull logo to me.
BriDrive[/QUOTE]
I don't know. I've only seen the picture in this thread but it just looks like a more artistic version of the normal RedBull logo to me.
| Harvey_Mushman | 03-09-2006 10:17 PM |
[QUOTE=sspicollo8]<--- Fire Bob Varsha Club Member
varshas-a-douche.com
I've never really liked listening to him, especially after getting home from the usgp last year and then listening to all of his comments and opinions.
[/QUOTE]
Indeed.
At the aforementioned Speed party Matchett and Hobbes were popular sorts. I remember Bob leaning on a couch all by himself.
varshas-a-douche.com
I've never really liked listening to him, especially after getting home from the usgp last year and then listening to all of his comments and opinions.
[/QUOTE]
Indeed.
At the aforementioned Speed party Matchett and Hobbes were popular sorts. I remember Bob leaning on a couch all by himself.
| tdm74 | 03-09-2006 10:27 PM |
my picks, i just have a funny feeling about the race
1) F.Alonso
2) R.Barrichello
3) J.Montoya
4) J.Trulli
5) M.Schumacher
6) D.Coulthard
7) G.Fisichella
8) J.Button
1) F.Alonso
2) R.Barrichello
3) J.Montoya
4) J.Trulli
5) M.Schumacher
6) D.Coulthard
7) G.Fisichella
8) J.Button
| StuBeck | 03-09-2006 10:30 PM |
I actually like Varsha, what's the problem you guys have with him?
| Patrick Olsen | 03-09-2006 11:21 PM |
I definitely dig the Toro Rosso car. I didn't catch the blue wheels at first until StuBeck pointed them out - a nice touch. I'm always surprised more teams don't do the colored wheels, I just think it looks cool. Same goes with NASCAR (*gasp* :eek: ), they seem to all go with black nowadays but every once in a while a team will roll out the color-matched wheels.
Definitely looking forward to getting home from work tomorrow and watching the practice session on Tivo. Woohoo!!! :D
Oh, and StuBeck, I'm with you, Varsha seems just fine to me. I think the whole Speed team really work together well and complement each other's coverage.
Pat
Definitely looking forward to getting home from work tomorrow and watching the practice session on Tivo. Woohoo!!! :D
Oh, and StuBeck, I'm with you, Varsha seems just fine to me. I think the whole Speed team really work together well and complement each other's coverage.
Pat
| Wr4wrX | 03-10-2006 04:47 AM |
Anybody else staying up to watch practice live? :)
| bemani | 03-10-2006 06:09 AM |
Poor Kimi :(
| Wr4wrX | 03-10-2006 07:10 AM |
[QUOTE=bemani]Poor Kimi :([/QUOTE]
Good grief, Mercedes.... :rolleyes: They can't even make an engine last 10 laps?
Good grief, Mercedes.... :rolleyes: They can't even make an engine last 10 laps?
| TheRipler | 03-10-2006 07:13 AM |
The V8s sound better than I thought they would, but I'm still partial to the old V10's banshee like wail.
| StuBeck | 03-10-2006 07:15 AM |
It wasn't the engine I don't think, no smoke, no oil and it was able to be pushed. I think it might just b e fuel
I hate to say it but it looks like Ferrari might be doing okay. But then at Imola last year they did well because they had run the entire testing schedule there.
I hate to say it but it looks like Ferrari might be doing okay. But then at Imola last year they did well because they had run the entire testing schedule there.
| KAX | 03-10-2006 07:19 AM |
there was smoke coming out behind the steering wheel. Still waiting for F1racing.nets coverage to see if they found out from mclaren mercedes what the problem was.
| finnRex | 03-10-2006 07:55 AM |
[QUOTE=Wr4wrX]Good grief, Mercedes.... :rolleyes: They can't even make an engine last 10 laps?[/QUOTE]
That's about par for the course. Or it was at least last year, and the year before, and the year before...
Mika
That's about par for the course. Or it was at least last year, and the year before, and the year before...
Mika
| f1vlad | 03-10-2006 08:01 AM |
[QUOTE=TheRipler]The V8s sound better than I thought they would, but I'm still partial to the old V10's banshee like wail.[/QUOTE]
Yeah I kinda like how they sound on TV, but it's not the same as it sounds in real life. I can't wait for USGP to listen to it first hand :)
Yeah I kinda like how they sound on TV, but it's not the same as it sounds in real life. I can't wait for USGP to listen to it first hand :)
| Ferg | 03-10-2006 08:27 AM |
Reports and times from Practice #1 & #2
[QUOTE]Kubica on top in practice 1 - Bahrain
By Jamie O'Leary Friday, March 10th 2006, 09:12 GMT
BMW Sauber's Polish test driver Robert Kubica enjoyed a dream start to his Formula One testing career by topping the times in the first practice session of the season in Bahrain.
Kubica, 21, lapped the lapped the Sakhir circuit in 1:32.170 to beat his nearest challenger by less than 0.1 seconds. Williams test driver Alex Wurz set the second fastest time.
McLaren's Finnish star Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, of Germany both took to the track late in the dying minutes and finished third and fourth fastest overall, albeit over a second away from the time of Kubica.
Wurz was the first man onto the track and set the initial pace, but his run was not without drama. Wurz left his braking too late at turn 10 during one of his first flying laps and slid off the track and on to the concrete run-off area. He was able to re-join following a quick turnaround.
Scuderia Toro Rosso's Italian driver Vitantonio Liuzzi did likewise with 15 minutes of the session remaining, as did Raikkonen while on a flyer.
Super Aguri's Japanese rookie Yuji Ide, 31, encountered a mechanical problem early on that left him coasting back to the pits after a piece of bodywork had flown off his left sidepod.
World champion Fernando Alonso and his Italian Renault teammate Giancarlo Fisichella both did one slow installation lap mid-way through the session but did not register an official time.
Honda's third driver Anthony Davidson hit trouble during the session, suffering a gearbox problem after just one installation lap. The Briton, who didn't set a time, was forced to stay in the pits while the team fixed the problem ahead of the second session.
Four drivers did not leave the pits at all during the session. They were Honda racers Jenson Button and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, and BMW-Sauber pilots Jacques Villeneuve Nick Heidfeld.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Kubica BMW-Sauber (M) 1:32.170 20
2. Wurz Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:32.184 + 0.014 18
3. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:33.388 + 1.218 6
4. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:33.469 + 1.299 5
5. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:34.800 + 2.630 6
6. Jani Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:34.831 + 2.661 15
7. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:34.887 + 2.717 6
8. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:34.925 + 2.755 6
9. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:35.017 + 2.847 4
10. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:35.083 + 2.913 8
11. Doornbos Red Bull-Ferrar (M) 1:35.203 + 3.033 15
12. Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:35.371 + 3.201 7
13. Monteiro MF1-Toyota (B) 1:36.542 + 4.372 9
14. Albers MF1-Toyota (B) 1:36.930 + 4.760 9
15. Winkelhock MF1-Toyota (B) 1:37.918 + 5.748 16
16. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:38.190 + 6.020 15
17. Ide Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:40.782 + 8.612 15
18. Davidson Honda (M) No Time 2
19. Alonso Renault (M) No Time 2
20. Fisichella Renault (M) No Time 2
21. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) No Time 2
22. Trulli Toyota (B) No Time 1
23. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) No Time 1
24. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) No Time 1
25. Barrichello Honda (M) No Time
26. Button Honda (M) No Time
27. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (M) No Time
28. Villeneuve BMW-Sauber (M) No Time
All timing unofficial[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Davidson quickest in practice 2 - Bahrain
By Jamie O'Leary Friday, March 10th 2006, 12:11 GMT
Anthony Davidson showed that Honda intend to put up a fierce challenge for victory by setting the fastest time in the second free practice session for this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.
Briton Davidson, 27, set a time of 1:31.353, which was the fastest of the day and was due largely to a cooler track temperature than in the morning session and a light fuel load in the test driver's car.
Ferrari's Michael Schumacher was the top race driver in second and was just 0.4 seconds slower than Davidson.
Williams' Austrian test driver Alex Wurz ended up third ahead of Schumacher's Brazilian teammate Felipe Massa, and world champion Fernando Alonso in a Renault. Toro Rosso's Italian driver Vitantonio Liuzzi completed the top six.
McLaren's flying Finn Kimi Raikkonen, who led the timesheets for eight minutes early on in the session, endured a nightmare start to the season when his McLaren stuttered to a halt with an electrical failure.
He was not the only expected front-runner to hit trouble as Italian Jarno Trulli also stopped out on the circuit a minute later when his gearbox broke.
BMW Sauber test driver Robert Kubica, who starred this morning by topping the times in first practice, was again right on the pace in the first half of the session.
But Poland's Kubica endured a hairy incident with half the session gone as his suffered a right-front puncture while entering the 115 kilometres per hour turn six.
He did well to control the car and was able to drive over the asphalt run-off area and back to the pitlane. He did continue.
There were plenty of incidents at turn 10 during the session - although none of them serious as the tricky double-apex turn caught out no less than six drivers during the hour.
Among the culprits were Michael Schumacher, Colombian McLaren driver Juan Pablo Montoya and Liuzzi.
Super Aguri's Yuji Ide finished the session at the side of the track following an apparent mechanical failure.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Davidson Honda (M) 1:31.353 28
2. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:31.751 + 0.398 15
3. Wurz Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:31.764 + 0.411 27
4. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:32.175 + 0.822 13
5. Alonso Renault (M) 1:32.538 + 1.185 13
6. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:32.703 + 1.350 24
7. Doornbos Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:32.926 + 1.573 24
8. Fisichella Renault (M) 1:33.215 + 1.862 14
9. Button Honda (M) 1:33.226 + 1.873 12
10. Kubica BMW-Sauber (M) 1:33.244 + 1.891 26
11. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:33.557 + 2.204 8
12. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:33.577 + 2.224 11
13. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:33.726 + 2.373 15
14. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (M) 1:33.848 + 2.495 9
15. Jani Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:33.900 + 2.547 24
16. Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:34.284 + 2.931 22
17. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:34.333 + 2.980 5
18. Barrichello Honda (M) 1:34.384 + 3.031 9
19. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:34.432 + 3.079 7
20. Monteiro MF1-Toyota (B) 1:34.459 + 3.106 14
21. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:34.953 + 3.600 5
22. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:35.170 + 3.817 18
23. Winkelhock MF1-Toyota (B) 1:35.686 + 4.333 24
24. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) 1:35.898 + 4.545 11
25. Villeneuve BMW-Sauber (M) 1:36.264 + 4.911 8
26. Albers MF1-Toyota (B) 1:36.314 + 4.961 16
27. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:37.588 + 6.235 19
28. Ide Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:39.021 + 7.668 21
All timing unofficial
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Kubica on top in practice 1 - Bahrain
By Jamie O'Leary Friday, March 10th 2006, 09:12 GMT
BMW Sauber's Polish test driver Robert Kubica enjoyed a dream start to his Formula One testing career by topping the times in the first practice session of the season in Bahrain.
Kubica, 21, lapped the lapped the Sakhir circuit in 1:32.170 to beat his nearest challenger by less than 0.1 seconds. Williams test driver Alex Wurz set the second fastest time.
McLaren's Finnish star Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, of Germany both took to the track late in the dying minutes and finished third and fourth fastest overall, albeit over a second away from the time of Kubica.
Wurz was the first man onto the track and set the initial pace, but his run was not without drama. Wurz left his braking too late at turn 10 during one of his first flying laps and slid off the track and on to the concrete run-off area. He was able to re-join following a quick turnaround.
Scuderia Toro Rosso's Italian driver Vitantonio Liuzzi did likewise with 15 minutes of the session remaining, as did Raikkonen while on a flyer.
Super Aguri's Japanese rookie Yuji Ide, 31, encountered a mechanical problem early on that left him coasting back to the pits after a piece of bodywork had flown off his left sidepod.
World champion Fernando Alonso and his Italian Renault teammate Giancarlo Fisichella both did one slow installation lap mid-way through the session but did not register an official time.
Honda's third driver Anthony Davidson hit trouble during the session, suffering a gearbox problem after just one installation lap. The Briton, who didn't set a time, was forced to stay in the pits while the team fixed the problem ahead of the second session.
Four drivers did not leave the pits at all during the session. They were Honda racers Jenson Button and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, and BMW-Sauber pilots Jacques Villeneuve Nick Heidfeld.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Kubica BMW-Sauber (M) 1:32.170 20
2. Wurz Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:32.184 + 0.014 18
3. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:33.388 + 1.218 6
4. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:33.469 + 1.299 5
5. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:34.800 + 2.630 6
6. Jani Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:34.831 + 2.661 15
7. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:34.887 + 2.717 6
8. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:34.925 + 2.755 6
9. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:35.017 + 2.847 4
10. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:35.083 + 2.913 8
11. Doornbos Red Bull-Ferrar (M) 1:35.203 + 3.033 15
12. Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:35.371 + 3.201 7
13. Monteiro MF1-Toyota (B) 1:36.542 + 4.372 9
14. Albers MF1-Toyota (B) 1:36.930 + 4.760 9
15. Winkelhock MF1-Toyota (B) 1:37.918 + 5.748 16
16. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:38.190 + 6.020 15
17. Ide Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:40.782 + 8.612 15
18. Davidson Honda (M) No Time 2
19. Alonso Renault (M) No Time 2
20. Fisichella Renault (M) No Time 2
21. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) No Time 2
22. Trulli Toyota (B) No Time 1
23. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) No Time 1
24. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) No Time 1
25. Barrichello Honda (M) No Time
26. Button Honda (M) No Time
27. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (M) No Time
28. Villeneuve BMW-Sauber (M) No Time
All timing unofficial[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Davidson quickest in practice 2 - Bahrain
By Jamie O'Leary Friday, March 10th 2006, 12:11 GMT
Anthony Davidson showed that Honda intend to put up a fierce challenge for victory by setting the fastest time in the second free practice session for this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.
Briton Davidson, 27, set a time of 1:31.353, which was the fastest of the day and was due largely to a cooler track temperature than in the morning session and a light fuel load in the test driver's car.
Ferrari's Michael Schumacher was the top race driver in second and was just 0.4 seconds slower than Davidson.
Williams' Austrian test driver Alex Wurz ended up third ahead of Schumacher's Brazilian teammate Felipe Massa, and world champion Fernando Alonso in a Renault. Toro Rosso's Italian driver Vitantonio Liuzzi completed the top six.
McLaren's flying Finn Kimi Raikkonen, who led the timesheets for eight minutes early on in the session, endured a nightmare start to the season when his McLaren stuttered to a halt with an electrical failure.
He was not the only expected front-runner to hit trouble as Italian Jarno Trulli also stopped out on the circuit a minute later when his gearbox broke.
BMW Sauber test driver Robert Kubica, who starred this morning by topping the times in first practice, was again right on the pace in the first half of the session.
But Poland's Kubica endured a hairy incident with half the session gone as his suffered a right-front puncture while entering the 115 kilometres per hour turn six.
He did well to control the car and was able to drive over the asphalt run-off area and back to the pitlane. He did continue.
There were plenty of incidents at turn 10 during the session - although none of them serious as the tricky double-apex turn caught out no less than six drivers during the hour.
Among the culprits were Michael Schumacher, Colombian McLaren driver Juan Pablo Montoya and Liuzzi.
Super Aguri's Yuji Ide finished the session at the side of the track following an apparent mechanical failure.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Davidson Honda (M) 1:31.353 28
2. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:31.751 + 0.398 15
3. Wurz Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:31.764 + 0.411 27
4. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:32.175 + 0.822 13
5. Alonso Renault (M) 1:32.538 + 1.185 13
6. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:32.703 + 1.350 24
7. Doornbos Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:32.926 + 1.573 24
8. Fisichella Renault (M) 1:33.215 + 1.862 14
9. Button Honda (M) 1:33.226 + 1.873 12
10. Kubica BMW-Sauber (M) 1:33.244 + 1.891 26
11. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:33.557 + 2.204 8
12. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:33.577 + 2.224 11
13. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:33.726 + 2.373 15
14. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (M) 1:33.848 + 2.495 9
15. Jani Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:33.900 + 2.547 24
16. Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:34.284 + 2.931 22
17. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:34.333 + 2.980 5
18. Barrichello Honda (M) 1:34.384 + 3.031 9
19. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:34.432 + 3.079 7
20. Monteiro MF1-Toyota (B) 1:34.459 + 3.106 14
21. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:34.953 + 3.600 5
22. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:35.170 + 3.817 18
23. Winkelhock MF1-Toyota (B) 1:35.686 + 4.333 24
24. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) 1:35.898 + 4.545 11
25. Villeneuve BMW-Sauber (M) 1:36.264 + 4.911 8
26. Albers MF1-Toyota (B) 1:36.314 + 4.961 16
27. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:37.588 + 6.235 19
28. Ide Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:39.021 + 7.668 21
All timing unofficial
[/QUOTE]
| Harvey_Mushman | 03-10-2006 10:29 AM |
[QUOTE=StuBeck]I actually like Varsha, what's the problem you guys have with him?[/QUOTE]
Nothing really, it's all in good fun. I just really enjoy Matchett and Hobbes.
Nothing really, it's all in good fun. I just really enjoy Matchett and Hobbes.
| Bonzo | 03-10-2006 10:40 AM |
I saw some pretty abused front tires this morning.
Great to see the circus back in action. :banana:
fwiw I don't mind Varsha. I believe prior to SpeedTV he was an attorney. I do miss John Bisigno(sp). I know his son recently died as Speedtv commentators reported.
Great to see the circus back in action. :banana:
fwiw I don't mind Varsha. I believe prior to SpeedTV he was an attorney. I do miss John Bisigno(sp). I know his son recently died as Speedtv commentators reported.
| Ferg | 03-10-2006 11:02 AM |
Friday driver Quotes...
[i]still waiting on Red Bull, Toro Rosso, and Macca (double engine changes..no wonder they don't have much to say :eek: :p )[/i]
[QUOTE][b]Fernando Alonso - 5th:[/b] "We had a good first day. The track conditions will be changing a lot throughout the weekend, and I expect them to get a lot better because it was quite low grip today. The car feels like it did in winter testing: it is comfortable to drive and consistent, so I am quite happy with our situation. It was nice to get back to the emotion of the races today, to check the lap-times and to be back in competition. "Also, it was a special moment to go out on the track this morning with the number 1 on the car. In terms of performance, we always see the third cars high on the timesheets on Friday, because they can use more revs and tyres than us. Even so, we are P5, so I think we can have a competitive weekend."
[b]Giancarlo Fisichella - 8th:[/b] "This was a very normal Friday for us, with nothing unusual and no incidents. The car got better through the day as we ran more and made some changes to the set-up, and we are still feeling optimistic for the rest of the weekend. "It is special to think back to ten years ago today, and starting my first race. Then, I was happy to be there, and now I am aiming for the title - I have come a long way. But I don't think I have changed. Well, I am older of course, but stronger too!"[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b]Michael Schumacher - 2nd:[/b] "It's been a fairly positive day for us. We've completed the programme that we had planned for ourselves and we worked well, so I'm obviously satisfied with the way things went. I think that, compared to the other teams, we are looking competitive but in order to see whether we really are quick enough to aim for the top, we need to wait till everybody is running on low fuel and with new tyres. "I still reckon that there are four teams capable of winning even if today perhaps some of them didn't want to reveal all their potential: what is clear however is that Renault seem to be very quick straight out of the box which gives them an edge."
[b]Felipe Massa - 4th:[/b] "Towards the end of the second practice session I managed to find a good set-up for the car. In the first session and during the first part of the second one we were not really able to extract all the potential out of the car. "I think that I could have set an even better time but on the whole I'm satisfied with what we've achieved so far because I feel that we now have a good foundation on which we can build in preparation for tomorrow's qualifying and the race on Sunday."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b] Ralf Schumacher - 24th:[/b] "This year we no longer have Ricardo Zonta driving on Fridays but my free practice programme is not hugely different. We didn't do much running in the first session while the track was at its dirtiest but we got through our programme without technical problems in session two, collecting some useful data. "Our lap times were not to the level of some but we are still learning how to make the most of our package in warm conditions. We have a lot of changes on our car from last year and all our testing so far has taken place at lower temperatures. We will analyse the data tonight to make our tyre choice for the next two days."
[b]Jarno Trulli - 22nd:[/b] "It was a pity that I was not able to complete my afternoon's work today. The Sakhir circuit was initially very dusty and dirty so like many teams we did most of our running in the second session. I was in the start of a long run for tyre comparison when I suffered an electronics problem which brought my session to a premature close. "Not the best of days, then, but at least we have some data to work with overnight in preparation for tomorrow. It will be a brand new system of qualifying but the approach will be the same, to put together a quick lap when it matters."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b] Anthony Davidson - 1st:[/b] "It's great to be fastest on the opening day of the season but I wanted more from today, not just for me but for the team. It was disappointing to lose the first session to a gearbox problem but we made the best out of the situation this afternoon and completed most of the tyre programme. "Our focus was on the long runs and we achieved a good result, so coupled with the information we got in testing here a few weeks ago, we have a lot of information to work with this evening. The conditions here are very different though; it's been quite windy today and there's a chance that may continue. "However we achieved a reasonably good balance by the end of the session so generally we've made a good start."
[b]Jenson Button - 9th:[/b] "Not a bad first day. Having said that it's disappointing that we couldn't achieve as much data as we'd hoped for after losing all of the morning session. The track conditions are quite different to those we encountered in testing here three weeks ago so we have some work to do this evening with today's data in order to keep improving for qualifying."
[b]Rubens Barrichello - 18th: [/b]"Today the focus was on Anthony and the data he could achieve in the third car. The running that I completed this afternoon was useful although I didn't really get a clean lap due to traffic and also the balance of the car was very different to the test here. "We have some work to do to get the right balance on my car for tomorrow morning but right now I'm more enthusiastic about what we have been able to achieve with the third car today."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b] Robert Kubica - 10th:[/b] "I think we had a good day, and I managed to do a lot of tyre testing. I picked up a puncture at one stage, which interrupted progress, but we still collected a lot of useful information. My impression is that the circuit is easier to drive with the V8 engine, because the two quickest corners are flat out now."
[b]Nick Heidfeld - 14th:[/b] "It's great to get going properly at last, and I really enjoyed the second practice session. The morning was kind of boring, because I just did one installation lap. On a technical level, the car worked well, and we were able to collect a lot of data from the third car for analysis this afternoon."
[b]Jacques Villeneuve - 25th:[/b] "I only did a few laps today just to get a feeling for the car. For most of the time I was out there, there was a yellow flag. We just started working on the set-up and we have a fair bit left to do tomorrow."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b] Tiago Monteiro - 20th:[/b] "I was pretty happy with my day, actually. We had no major problems and the car felt better and better as the day went on. I got held up in the second session by a few yellow flags, so I'm pretty sure I could have gone about four-tenths faster on the fuel load I had. We also know where we can make improvements, so that's also pretty encouraging. But you never know where you are compared to everyone else - this is only practice, after all. Tomorrow's qualifying should provide more answers."
[b]Christijan Albers - 26th:[/b] "Today was a tough day for me, as I encountered some difficulties with the car's electronics. But then again, we know what the problem is so we should be able to address it before tomorrow's practice. It's difficult, not being able to go as fast as I'm capable of, but that's what practice is for - ironing out problems. Tomorrow is another day, and I'm looking forward to showing what I can do. Believe me, you haven't seen the best of me yet."
[b]Markus Winkelhock - 23rd:[/b] "Both sessions were actually quite OK. In the first session, I had first of all to learn the track, because I've never driven here before. By the end though, I felt comfortable with the car and with the track, although I wasn't pushing too much. In the second session, the car was feeling quite good - we made some noticeable improvements. But at the end, I was somewhat unlucky, as I went out with new sets of tyres twice and didn't get to really make the most of them. The first time I spun, and the second time there was a yellow flag because of someone else. So, a bit unlucky, but in the end, it was quite useful to find some good tyres for the races and for qualifying. Overall, I'm happy with the way things went." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b] Takuma Sato:[/b] "It was a busy day being the first time the team has run in a race-weekend situation. Obviously we were limited because of the amount of work we have to do today, but we have been able to collect very valuable data as this is really the first time that we have run the SA05 with our 2006 aero package. "So this is a good step for our first day and there is a lot of work to do regarding our performance, but we shall work hard over night to ensure another good day tomorrow."
[b]Yuji Ide:[/b]"I am always happy to be in the car but today was a very special day for me. We had a little mechanical problem but I am glad that I was able to test the new tyres during my running time. "I think that we had a good practice session. It was a good testing for me. I am looking forward to driving tomorrow and will do my best to learn more about the track when I am in the car again tomorrow."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE] [b]Alex Wurz - 3rd:[/b] "It's the first Friday of a new season with a new team, so today was quite a busy day for me. We are very happy with the work we achieved because it was what we were aiming to, in terms of tyre choice, mechanical set-up and electronic set-up. I think we have done quite a good job and the lap times reflect this. I was quite happy with my long runs. We will have to wait until tomorrow to see how competitive we are."
[b]Mark Webber - 17th:[/b] "Doing a few laps at the end of the session is not easy in terms of getting yourself into the right position. I had a little bit of traffic in the first lap and then there was a yellow flag, so I got very little clear running. I know it's the same for everyone, but my only clean lap was probably the last one. That said, it's good to have Alex here doing the work for us and the race cars went out just to make sure everything is working ok and we'll get some more mileage tomorrow. We have a lot of work to do in terms of balance and other things, but all-in-all, it was a very good day for Williams and Cosworth, our overall reliability was good and we did everything we planned."
[b]Nico Rosberg - 21st:[/b] "At last, I could finally drive today! I found it is quite different out on the track compared to competing here in GP2, especially in terms of finding your way and identifying your braking points. It's just a matter of settling into it, really and initially I made quite a few mistakes over the few laps I drove. Other than that, I am quite pleased with the work we have done today."[/QUOTE]
[i]still waiting on Red Bull, Toro Rosso, and Macca (double engine changes..no wonder they don't have much to say :eek: :p )[/i]
[QUOTE][b]Fernando Alonso - 5th:[/b] "We had a good first day. The track conditions will be changing a lot throughout the weekend, and I expect them to get a lot better because it was quite low grip today. The car feels like it did in winter testing: it is comfortable to drive and consistent, so I am quite happy with our situation. It was nice to get back to the emotion of the races today, to check the lap-times and to be back in competition. "Also, it was a special moment to go out on the track this morning with the number 1 on the car. In terms of performance, we always see the third cars high on the timesheets on Friday, because they can use more revs and tyres than us. Even so, we are P5, so I think we can have a competitive weekend."
[b]Giancarlo Fisichella - 8th:[/b] "This was a very normal Friday for us, with nothing unusual and no incidents. The car got better through the day as we ran more and made some changes to the set-up, and we are still feeling optimistic for the rest of the weekend. "It is special to think back to ten years ago today, and starting my first race. Then, I was happy to be there, and now I am aiming for the title - I have come a long way. But I don't think I have changed. Well, I am older of course, but stronger too!"[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b]Michael Schumacher - 2nd:[/b] "It's been a fairly positive day for us. We've completed the programme that we had planned for ourselves and we worked well, so I'm obviously satisfied with the way things went. I think that, compared to the other teams, we are looking competitive but in order to see whether we really are quick enough to aim for the top, we need to wait till everybody is running on low fuel and with new tyres. "I still reckon that there are four teams capable of winning even if today perhaps some of them didn't want to reveal all their potential: what is clear however is that Renault seem to be very quick straight out of the box which gives them an edge."
[b]Felipe Massa - 4th:[/b] "Towards the end of the second practice session I managed to find a good set-up for the car. In the first session and during the first part of the second one we were not really able to extract all the potential out of the car. "I think that I could have set an even better time but on the whole I'm satisfied with what we've achieved so far because I feel that we now have a good foundation on which we can build in preparation for tomorrow's qualifying and the race on Sunday."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b] Ralf Schumacher - 24th:[/b] "This year we no longer have Ricardo Zonta driving on Fridays but my free practice programme is not hugely different. We didn't do much running in the first session while the track was at its dirtiest but we got through our programme without technical problems in session two, collecting some useful data. "Our lap times were not to the level of some but we are still learning how to make the most of our package in warm conditions. We have a lot of changes on our car from last year and all our testing so far has taken place at lower temperatures. We will analyse the data tonight to make our tyre choice for the next two days."
[b]Jarno Trulli - 22nd:[/b] "It was a pity that I was not able to complete my afternoon's work today. The Sakhir circuit was initially very dusty and dirty so like many teams we did most of our running in the second session. I was in the start of a long run for tyre comparison when I suffered an electronics problem which brought my session to a premature close. "Not the best of days, then, but at least we have some data to work with overnight in preparation for tomorrow. It will be a brand new system of qualifying but the approach will be the same, to put together a quick lap when it matters."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b] Anthony Davidson - 1st:[/b] "It's great to be fastest on the opening day of the season but I wanted more from today, not just for me but for the team. It was disappointing to lose the first session to a gearbox problem but we made the best out of the situation this afternoon and completed most of the tyre programme. "Our focus was on the long runs and we achieved a good result, so coupled with the information we got in testing here a few weeks ago, we have a lot of information to work with this evening. The conditions here are very different though; it's been quite windy today and there's a chance that may continue. "However we achieved a reasonably good balance by the end of the session so generally we've made a good start."
[b]Jenson Button - 9th:[/b] "Not a bad first day. Having said that it's disappointing that we couldn't achieve as much data as we'd hoped for after losing all of the morning session. The track conditions are quite different to those we encountered in testing here three weeks ago so we have some work to do this evening with today's data in order to keep improving for qualifying."
[b]Rubens Barrichello - 18th: [/b]"Today the focus was on Anthony and the data he could achieve in the third car. The running that I completed this afternoon was useful although I didn't really get a clean lap due to traffic and also the balance of the car was very different to the test here. "We have some work to do to get the right balance on my car for tomorrow morning but right now I'm more enthusiastic about what we have been able to achieve with the third car today."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b] Robert Kubica - 10th:[/b] "I think we had a good day, and I managed to do a lot of tyre testing. I picked up a puncture at one stage, which interrupted progress, but we still collected a lot of useful information. My impression is that the circuit is easier to drive with the V8 engine, because the two quickest corners are flat out now."
[b]Nick Heidfeld - 14th:[/b] "It's great to get going properly at last, and I really enjoyed the second practice session. The morning was kind of boring, because I just did one installation lap. On a technical level, the car worked well, and we were able to collect a lot of data from the third car for analysis this afternoon."
[b]Jacques Villeneuve - 25th:[/b] "I only did a few laps today just to get a feeling for the car. For most of the time I was out there, there was a yellow flag. We just started working on the set-up and we have a fair bit left to do tomorrow."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b] Tiago Monteiro - 20th:[/b] "I was pretty happy with my day, actually. We had no major problems and the car felt better and better as the day went on. I got held up in the second session by a few yellow flags, so I'm pretty sure I could have gone about four-tenths faster on the fuel load I had. We also know where we can make improvements, so that's also pretty encouraging. But you never know where you are compared to everyone else - this is only practice, after all. Tomorrow's qualifying should provide more answers."
[b]Christijan Albers - 26th:[/b] "Today was a tough day for me, as I encountered some difficulties with the car's electronics. But then again, we know what the problem is so we should be able to address it before tomorrow's practice. It's difficult, not being able to go as fast as I'm capable of, but that's what practice is for - ironing out problems. Tomorrow is another day, and I'm looking forward to showing what I can do. Believe me, you haven't seen the best of me yet."
[b]Markus Winkelhock - 23rd:[/b] "Both sessions were actually quite OK. In the first session, I had first of all to learn the track, because I've never driven here before. By the end though, I felt comfortable with the car and with the track, although I wasn't pushing too much. In the second session, the car was feeling quite good - we made some noticeable improvements. But at the end, I was somewhat unlucky, as I went out with new sets of tyres twice and didn't get to really make the most of them. The first time I spun, and the second time there was a yellow flag because of someone else. So, a bit unlucky, but in the end, it was quite useful to find some good tyres for the races and for qualifying. Overall, I'm happy with the way things went." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b] Takuma Sato:[/b] "It was a busy day being the first time the team has run in a race-weekend situation. Obviously we were limited because of the amount of work we have to do today, but we have been able to collect very valuable data as this is really the first time that we have run the SA05 with our 2006 aero package. "So this is a good step for our first day and there is a lot of work to do regarding our performance, but we shall work hard over night to ensure another good day tomorrow."
[b]Yuji Ide:[/b]"I am always happy to be in the car but today was a very special day for me. We had a little mechanical problem but I am glad that I was able to test the new tyres during my running time. "I think that we had a good practice session. It was a good testing for me. I am looking forward to driving tomorrow and will do my best to learn more about the track when I am in the car again tomorrow."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE] [b]Alex Wurz - 3rd:[/b] "It's the first Friday of a new season with a new team, so today was quite a busy day for me. We are very happy with the work we achieved because it was what we were aiming to, in terms of tyre choice, mechanical set-up and electronic set-up. I think we have done quite a good job and the lap times reflect this. I was quite happy with my long runs. We will have to wait until tomorrow to see how competitive we are."
[b]Mark Webber - 17th:[/b] "Doing a few laps at the end of the session is not easy in terms of getting yourself into the right position. I had a little bit of traffic in the first lap and then there was a yellow flag, so I got very little clear running. I know it's the same for everyone, but my only clean lap was probably the last one. That said, it's good to have Alex here doing the work for us and the race cars went out just to make sure everything is working ok and we'll get some more mileage tomorrow. We have a lot of work to do in terms of balance and other things, but all-in-all, it was a very good day for Williams and Cosworth, our overall reliability was good and we did everything we planned."
[b]Nico Rosberg - 21st:[/b] "At last, I could finally drive today! I found it is quite different out on the track compared to competing here in GP2, especially in terms of finding your way and identifying your braking points. It's just a matter of settling into it, really and initially I made quite a few mistakes over the few laps I drove. Other than that, I am quite pleased with the work we have done today."[/QUOTE]
| Ferg | 03-10-2006 11:30 AM |
Red Bull, Toro Rosso chime in.
[QUOTE][b] Robert Doornbos - 7th:[/b] "Well, my first day in the office with Red Bull! I already feel really welcome and part of the team, we had a long winter and I was really looking forward to today. We started off with some technical problems, which was frustrating, as the third car needs to complete a lot of laps on Friday. "So, we lost the first half hour this morning, but I think we made up for it this afternoon. We completed all the work scheduled and I feel I made the right tyre choice for the race guys."
[b]Christian Klien - 11th:[/b] "We had to save the engine so we only completed three short runs today, one in the first session and two in the second with just a few laps in each. The car felt not too bad, but that's often the way when you're running new tyres. It's when you complete longer runs that the problems start to occur. "I drove on used tyres this afternoon, saving the fresh ones for tomorrow. It's well known that we're limited on reliability testing, but the car seems quick over one or two laps. We'll have to see how it is over a race distance on Sunday."
[b]David Coulthard - 19th: [/b]"It's still uncertain as to where we are after those two sessions, as we were lap limited. This is due to both available mileage for the total weekend, and also as we were saving tyres for tomorrow. We're having a few problems with front-locking too."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b] Tonio Liuzzi - 6th:[/b] "I'd say my good time was down to the fact we did four days testing here last month and also I managed to do 33 laps today. It was a straightforward day and the car responded well to the changes we made. It's the first time we run with the new car here. In the morning, it was just a case of getting to grips with the track. Then in the afternoon, we began making progress in terms of set-up and tyre work. I am not sure what our qualifying pace will be tomorrow afternoon, but overtaking is tough here, so we need to aim high. I am confident we can do well even though I am not particularly fond of the technical nature of this track. But we've got off to a good start, so fingers crossed."
[b]Neel Jani - 15th:[/b] "So that's my first ever free practice session at a grand prix weekend. I enjoyed myself and I learned a lot, especially about the tyres as this is the first time I have been really been involved in this sort of work. I hope it will be useful for the two drivers over the rest of the weekend. I feel very comfortable in the car, even though I had only done one and a half days testing before today."
[b]Scott Speed - 16th:[/b] "It sure feels a lot different coming here with the new car after we tested at this track with the old one. This one definitely handles differently. I'm still coming to terms with it at the moment. I think everyone is seeing quite a bit of oversteer at the moment as the track is dirty and difficult. But you have to be careful not to chase the track in terms of your settings as it's going to get better tomorrow." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b] Robert Doornbos - 7th:[/b] "Well, my first day in the office with Red Bull! I already feel really welcome and part of the team, we had a long winter and I was really looking forward to today. We started off with some technical problems, which was frustrating, as the third car needs to complete a lot of laps on Friday. "So, we lost the first half hour this morning, but I think we made up for it this afternoon. We completed all the work scheduled and I feel I made the right tyre choice for the race guys."
[b]Christian Klien - 11th:[/b] "We had to save the engine so we only completed three short runs today, one in the first session and two in the second with just a few laps in each. The car felt not too bad, but that's often the way when you're running new tyres. It's when you complete longer runs that the problems start to occur. "I drove on used tyres this afternoon, saving the fresh ones for tomorrow. It's well known that we're limited on reliability testing, but the car seems quick over one or two laps. We'll have to see how it is over a race distance on Sunday."
[b]David Coulthard - 19th: [/b]"It's still uncertain as to where we are after those two sessions, as we were lap limited. This is due to both available mileage for the total weekend, and also as we were saving tyres for tomorrow. We're having a few problems with front-locking too."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b] Tonio Liuzzi - 6th:[/b] "I'd say my good time was down to the fact we did four days testing here last month and also I managed to do 33 laps today. It was a straightforward day and the car responded well to the changes we made. It's the first time we run with the new car here. In the morning, it was just a case of getting to grips with the track. Then in the afternoon, we began making progress in terms of set-up and tyre work. I am not sure what our qualifying pace will be tomorrow afternoon, but overtaking is tough here, so we need to aim high. I am confident we can do well even though I am not particularly fond of the technical nature of this track. But we've got off to a good start, so fingers crossed."
[b]Neel Jani - 15th:[/b] "So that's my first ever free practice session at a grand prix weekend. I enjoyed myself and I learned a lot, especially about the tyres as this is the first time I have been really been involved in this sort of work. I hope it will be useful for the two drivers over the rest of the weekend. I feel very comfortable in the car, even though I had only done one and a half days testing before today."
[b]Scott Speed - 16th:[/b] "It sure feels a lot different coming here with the new car after we tested at this track with the old one. This one definitely handles differently. I'm still coming to terms with it at the moment. I think everyone is seeing quite a bit of oversteer at the moment as the track is dirty and difficult. But you have to be careful not to chase the track in terms of your settings as it's going to get better tomorrow." [/QUOTE]
| meebs | 03-10-2006 11:35 AM |
[QUOTE=Wr4wrX]Good grief, Mercedes.... :rolleyes: They can't even make an engine last 10 laps?[/QUOTE]
it's going to be another tough year as a Kimi/McLaren fan... :(
Anyone else notice the insane ammount of engine chatter (for lack of a better term) durring some of the 4/5/6 upshifts??? On a flat straight no less, so it can't be the TC kicking in...:confused: And I thought my Subie was bad doing it in first!! :D Good greif that would make me nervous!!
it's going to be another tough year as a Kimi/McLaren fan... :(
Anyone else notice the insane ammount of engine chatter (for lack of a better term) durring some of the 4/5/6 upshifts??? On a flat straight no less, so it can't be the TC kicking in...:confused: And I thought my Subie was bad doing it in first!! :D Good greif that would make me nervous!!
| MPME | 03-10-2006 11:42 AM |
Bahrain Pics
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| Ferg | 03-10-2006 11:42 AM |
Was it the engine hitting the rev limiter?
I noticed it to, but couldn't figure out if it was the limiter, the TC, some weird thing associated with seemless shift, or something else.
The new crop of engines sound pretty good so far :D
I noticed it to, but couldn't figure out if it was the limiter, the TC, some weird thing associated with seemless shift, or something else.
The new crop of engines sound pretty good so far :D
| Bonzo | 03-10-2006 11:44 AM |
[QUOTE=meebs]it's going to be another tough year as a Kimi/McLaren fan... :(
Anyone else notice the insane ammount of engine chatter (for lack of a better term) durring some of the 4/5/6 upshifts??? On a flat straight no less, so it can't be the TC kicking in...:confused: And I thought my Subie was bad doing it in first!! :D Good greif that would make me nervous!![/QUOTE]
I thought I heard some missing too. :confused: It was under accel in big gears so TC should not be kicking at those speeds/downforce.
I did see/hear one car carry a gear and run on the rev limiter for about a second or so.
Anyone else notice the insane ammount of engine chatter (for lack of a better term) durring some of the 4/5/6 upshifts??? On a flat straight no less, so it can't be the TC kicking in...:confused: And I thought my Subie was bad doing it in first!! :D Good greif that would make me nervous!![/QUOTE]
I thought I heard some missing too. :confused: It was under accel in big gears so TC should not be kicking at those speeds/downforce.
I did see/hear one car carry a gear and run on the rev limiter for about a second or so.
| REX8 | 03-10-2006 11:45 AM |
[QUOTE=meebs]it's going to be another tough year as a Kimi/McLaren fan... :(
Anyone else notice the insane ammount of engine chatter (for lack of a better term) durring some of the 4/5/6 upshifts??? On a flat straight no less, so it can't be the TC kicking in...:confused: And I thought my Subie was bad doing it in first!! :D Good greif that would make me nervous!![/QUOTE]
I was wondering that myself.
First I thought rev limiter...but honestly, those guys don't hit the rev limiter like that so often.
I heard it once and shrugged it off as JMP holding a gear for an extra second before braking for a turn. Then I heard it 5 times when they were just on straights. They shouldn't be smaking it so often. Not sure what is was.
Anyone else notice the insane ammount of engine chatter (for lack of a better term) durring some of the 4/5/6 upshifts??? On a flat straight no less, so it can't be the TC kicking in...:confused: And I thought my Subie was bad doing it in first!! :D Good greif that would make me nervous!![/QUOTE]
I was wondering that myself.
First I thought rev limiter...but honestly, those guys don't hit the rev limiter like that so often.
I heard it once and shrugged it off as JMP holding a gear for an extra second before braking for a turn. Then I heard it 5 times when they were just on straights. They shouldn't be smaking it so often. Not sure what is was.
| mattpreet1 | 03-10-2006 11:47 AM |
I thought is was the rev limiter ... anyway, yeah .... things not lookin' good for us McLaren peeps straight outta' the gate :(
| sspicollo8 | 03-10-2006 11:49 AM |
[QUOTE=Harvey_Mushman][QUOTE=StuBeck]I actually like Varsha, what's the problem you guys have with him?[/QUOTE]
Nothing really, it's all in good fun. I just really enjoy Matchett and Hobbes.[/QUOTE]
About the same, but I think this could be a lot of it. :lol:
[QUOTE=Bonzo]I believe prior to SpeedTV he was an attorney. [/QUOTE]
Also, in the pics that show the brakes, what are those big black cylinders behind each rotor? I've never been able to figure that out.
Nothing really, it's all in good fun. I just really enjoy Matchett and Hobbes.[/QUOTE]
About the same, but I think this could be a lot of it. :lol:
[QUOTE=Bonzo]I believe prior to SpeedTV he was an attorney. [/QUOTE]
Also, in the pics that show the brakes, what are those big black cylinders behind each rotor? I've never been able to figure that out.
| Ferg | 03-10-2006 11:50 AM |
They help direct air for cooling the brakes I believe. :)
Friday press conference.
[QUOTE]Friday's press conference - Bahrain
Friday, March 10th 2006, 16:33 GMT
Participating: Gerhard Berger (Toro Rosso), Flavio Briatore (Renault), Ron Dennis (McLaren), Aguri Suzuki (Super Aguri), Jean Todt (Ferrari)
[B]Q: Gerhard, first of all, how does it feel to be back?[/B]
Gerhard BERGER: It's great to be back, honestly. It was great to be at home a bit, to relax for the last year and a half but I was missing motorsport, no question about it, so now I had a good opportunity, and I'm happy to be here again.
[B]Q: Are you going to be a good spectator, given that you have an interest in the team or will you be more hands-on?[/B]
GB: Well, it was a fantastic opportunity, it was great to get 50 percent of the team and of course that makes it a little bit different. Let's see now. I hope we can develop the team in a good way and we can create something for the future.
[B]Q: What will be your role within the team?[/B]
GB: Well, we have Franz Tost as team principal who everybody knows. I've known him very well since the Formula Ford time and then when I was in BMW he joined us there. I worked with him for five years there and now he's our team principal and he's going to stay and I'm just going to be close to him and whenever there's a need and whenever I can give some input I will try to do my best.
[B]Q: Your V10 engine is governed by an equivalency formula; are you worried about that being changed, if you're getting the car into the top six like today?[/B]
GB: It's a good question because first, we've been testing here, as one of the few teams, so we came here with a set-up already. Then, of course we put on a fresh set of tyres, we did a good lap time but a lot of the teams still kept very quiet because they are trying to save miles on the engine, so we could have a full day running.
We ran a lot so there was a certain advantage on our side today. And then, if you talk about the engine, I hear a lot of discussions going on already. First, for me, we took over the engine contract from Minardi and that's what we have and we try to do our best. We've built up a team, we've made it stronger, we have quite a good car and we have this engine which we are very happy with. And as I understood, the goal of the FIA was to regulate this engine in a way that is competitive.
I'm 100 percent sure that we don't have the best engine. There are some V8s that are stronger than ours but I'm also sure that we don't have the worst engine. And I don't think it was the goal to put the V10 as the worst engine. I think it should have a fair chance and I think that's what we have. So I think all this discussion is not right and we're going to see where the engine is over the next days, but if you look at the speeds, I think it's fair as it is at the moment.
[B]Q: Jean, tell us about the atmosphere within the team after last year. Do you see a different atmosphere within the team in comparison to last year?[/B]
Jean TODT: Not really. It's good because we start from scratch again, so we have all our chances to try to do the best result as possible. Everybody is very motivated and of course we are just expecting to see the way things are going to develop because it's far too early to know where we are. So there's always some tension, some expectation to see how the situation is, and that's why the first race will be quite interesting.
[B]Q: Do you think Bridgestone has gained from having other teams, Williams and Toyota?[/B]
JT: It definitely allows Bridgestone to have some other input so they don't have to just listen to us to develop the tyres. They did a very good job over the winter. Again, at the moment, the only thing we can say is that it seems encouraging but no more.
[B]Q: There's talk of an agreement in terms of testing. Is that the case and can you tell us a little bit more about it?[/B]
JT: Yes, I got the document which was signed by the 11 team principals so we can say that an agreement has been made regarding testing for '06.
[B]Q: How many days?[/B]
JT: I think 36 days during the season. I think. I'm not sure.
[B]Q: Aguri-san; welcome, good to see you and well done for getting here. Give us some sort of idea what sort of effort has been required, because let's face it, at the last Grand Prix we didn't even know the name of the team and here you are with two cars out there.[/B]
AS: It's been very difficult for me to come back into Formula One. I started this project last September, only 150 days build-up to Formula One, so it's very very difficult. I found and negotiated some budget and set up a factory with some staff but I'm very happy to come back here. Anyway, my two cars are here and I'm here but I'm very happy but it's been very difficult.
[B]Q: What sort of future developments will we see? People have talked about a new monocoque; when do we expect to see that?[/B]
AS: Now our team is using an Arrows monocoque and it has some modified aerodynamics and things like that. But just now, everybody in the factory is starting the new monocoque and the new car and development.
[B]Q: When will we see the new car?[/B]
AS: It's very difficult to say now, because my team is very small, only 100 people. Now, starting the season, it's very difficult to get the new car developed. But now it's been started.
[B]Q: How much help have you had from Honda?[/B]
AS: Honda have helped a lot: engine support and some electronic control systems and also engineers are helping my team.
[B]Q: Flavio, obviously you had the success of last season. Do you see a different atmosphere within the team to last season? Has it been difficult to get the team motivated this year?[/B]
Flavio BRIATORE: Not really. I don't see any difference. Last year we had 19 races. This is like the 20th race of 2005, the same.
[B]Q: Talking of different races, we are starting the season for the first time here in Bahrain. How do you see this as a location for the start of the season in comparison to Australia?[/B]
FB: We need to start from somewhere, you know? The weather is good, it makes no difference. We are going to Australia in three or four weeks. I don't believe it makes any difference. Every time we start the race and you see what happens later.
[B]Q: What about Fernando? This time last year he was just starting the season; how has he changed since this time last year?[/B]
FB: He's changed because last year we were starting in Australia, you know, and now we're starting in Bahrain, but after that nothing has changed. I have seen him today, he looks like the same. We are all one year older, but after that I don't see any change.
[B]Q: How do you feel about today's result?[/B]
FB: The result is Sunday, not today. Today is only Friday. Let's see what happens on Sunday.
[B]Q: Ron, the times show you as 12th and 13th today; where do you think you should be?[/B]
Ron DENNIS: 12th and 13th, that's what the lap times say. As Flavio said, there is an unusually mixed grid. There are people who are focusing on their correct qualifying strategy from 10th to 22nd which is clearly different from 1st to tenth.
Those people can obviously qualify with low fuel, not having to worry about race fuel set-ups, because they can add fuel afterwards. There are a lot of people who have been testing here. There are people such as us. We ran our tyre comparison this morning, so it was a pretty dirty circuit, but our underlying performance is quite good. I think at the moment we have no concerns.
It was a bit frustrating that we had an electronic box failure on Kimi's car which is the first in years. It's been several years, literally, since we've had that sort of failure so I'm not too concerned about that. I think tomorrow, hopefully everyone will see, it will be a very different picture.
[B]Q: I was going to ask about reliability. Presumably you hoped you'd beaten those problems that you had in testing?[/B]
RD: We've actually had a lot of reliability over the last two weeks so it's a bit frustrating to suffer the embarrassment of a failure today but no one's perfect and it's very frustrating for us but it's not too serious.
[B]Q: What about the drivers, how have they changed over the year?[/B]
RD: Juan Pablo's really been working very hard through the winter trying to raise his game and time will tell if he's been successful in that. Kimi's had three months off which is, I think, something which he enjoyed a great deal.
Different things suit different people and getting away from it is Kimi's way of recharging his batteries. Other drivers like to train hard and hit the ground running, but at the end of the day, it's about qualifying and racing, it's not really about what takes place in winter.
[B]Questions from the floor
Q: (Ralf Bach - R&B) Mr Dennis, will you be talking about changing the engine on Montoya's car?[/B]
RD: No, the engines are absolutely fine. There's no difference between the engines and there is a difference between gearing. When you run at lower revs in order to protect the engine, you end up with less than optimised mapping and that does make the engine a little uncomfortable to drive. When you move into the area of preparing for racing and qualifying, it's a different area where we have to look at the engines, but they're exactly the same.
[B]Q: (Ralf Bach - R&B) Are there any concerns at all for Bahrain?[/B]
RD: No. The engines are fine.
[B]Q: (Patrick Briggs - Bahrain Tribune) We had a lot of third drivers out there and a number of them did pretty well. What do you think was going on?[/B]
RD: I'm sure perhaps if people don't come to all the Grands Prix, and I think you fall into that category, it can be very confusing and for some even more confusing because the teams are doing different things for different reasons.
Certainly third drivers, I suppose, one part of their payment for contributing to the team's performance is to get the chance to run with low fuel and new tyres in today sessions which will help them to jump to the top of the timesheets. Those teams who have been testing here have confidence in their car's set-up, and it reflects very much on first day.
It allows them to get some good running in before they make their tyre evaluation in the second session. The first day of testing is the day that benefits those who have been testing here the most. Whether that benefit flows through to the race remains to be seen but maybe it must be very confusing for people such as you, but you shouldn't read too much into it.
[B]Q: (Giorgio Tardozzi - RAI) We have heard Gerhard talk about his point of view on Toro Rosso. But the real deal is that Toro Rosso cannot have points because it is not a V10 engine and do we discuss this every time or not?[/B]
JT: When it was decided to allow some private teams to have access to V10 with a restrictor we informed the FIA that we could object depending on the outcome of the championship with the car, so I am confident it is going to happen. Of course we cannot avoid having agreements like this one, but I am confident that the FIA can do the right thing.
FB: Of course, the main reason to allow this with engines is that private teams have no finance for engines so that is the reason they still have them (V10s).
RD: I think there's maybe two points to supplement what's been said. First of all, all teams who had committed to running V8s very much appreciated that there was going to be an advantage from running V10s and going down an equivalency route.
We undertook with each other, signed a document that undertook to each other that we would run V8s, in other words, permitting, in writing, to run V8s. The team that was given the concession to run V10s was Minardi, and it was given the concession for financial reasons, not for performance reasons, and there are several parameters of the engine that must be addressed when achieving an equivalency. Horsepower is one, and it is something that absolutely you can achieve, but a V10 engine will always give more torque and you cannot tweak the engine due to all the air restrictors and that sort of thing.
It might or it might not form an equivalency, but it's important to remember that the reason for the engine issue in the first place was for cost reasons, not a formula by which people had a choice. That formula has been contracted out deliberately by people who wanted V8 engines. That is a clean, clear, analytical statement of fact.
FB: It's the same situation we have with the third cars, we applied to get third cars for the economical effect to help small teams. It was not for Ferrari, McLaren, Honda to use. That is why we are all talking about the third car.
GB: I have to say, we took over a team from Minardi. We had a contract with the team and with the engine. ... Should we be penalised for using the engine or should the FIA try to put it into a fair position. I agree with Ron, it is very difficult to charge it correctly, but there are some other areas where it's not just about the engine and we are improving elsewhere.
[B]Q: (Alan Baldwin - Reuters) Flavio, you're one of the manufacturers who hasn't yet signed a deal with Bernie Ecclestone. Can you fill us in on how long it will take?[/B]
FB: I think we are very close to finalising with Bernie. Maybe it can happen in the next weeks. We are very much agreed.
RD: I think everybody has agreed that they are of the view that it's all about money. Money's all that's talked about in Grand Prix racing. Here, it is very important to understand that this is the future of Grand Prix Racing until at least 2012 and maybe beyond.
The document which is a memorandum of understanding that is being worked on, at the moment really deals with many issues. I think the discussions that have taken place in the last month really are those that will determine where we push in manner of the long-term interest of F1.
The buyout by the CVC has been most positively felt because they want stability and also in terms of how we participate in that growth. Now, it's much more of a common interest in terms of how that document is sustained in the long term, so now we are, I will say, more than a day less than a month away, but it will happen in that period of time.[/QUOTE]
Friday press conference.
[QUOTE]Friday's press conference - Bahrain
Friday, March 10th 2006, 16:33 GMT
Participating: Gerhard Berger (Toro Rosso), Flavio Briatore (Renault), Ron Dennis (McLaren), Aguri Suzuki (Super Aguri), Jean Todt (Ferrari)
[B]Q: Gerhard, first of all, how does it feel to be back?[/B]
Gerhard BERGER: It's great to be back, honestly. It was great to be at home a bit, to relax for the last year and a half but I was missing motorsport, no question about it, so now I had a good opportunity, and I'm happy to be here again.
[B]Q: Are you going to be a good spectator, given that you have an interest in the team or will you be more hands-on?[/B]
GB: Well, it was a fantastic opportunity, it was great to get 50 percent of the team and of course that makes it a little bit different. Let's see now. I hope we can develop the team in a good way and we can create something for the future.
[B]Q: What will be your role within the team?[/B]
GB: Well, we have Franz Tost as team principal who everybody knows. I've known him very well since the Formula Ford time and then when I was in BMW he joined us there. I worked with him for five years there and now he's our team principal and he's going to stay and I'm just going to be close to him and whenever there's a need and whenever I can give some input I will try to do my best.
[B]Q: Your V10 engine is governed by an equivalency formula; are you worried about that being changed, if you're getting the car into the top six like today?[/B]
GB: It's a good question because first, we've been testing here, as one of the few teams, so we came here with a set-up already. Then, of course we put on a fresh set of tyres, we did a good lap time but a lot of the teams still kept very quiet because they are trying to save miles on the engine, so we could have a full day running.
We ran a lot so there was a certain advantage on our side today. And then, if you talk about the engine, I hear a lot of discussions going on already. First, for me, we took over the engine contract from Minardi and that's what we have and we try to do our best. We've built up a team, we've made it stronger, we have quite a good car and we have this engine which we are very happy with. And as I understood, the goal of the FIA was to regulate this engine in a way that is competitive.
I'm 100 percent sure that we don't have the best engine. There are some V8s that are stronger than ours but I'm also sure that we don't have the worst engine. And I don't think it was the goal to put the V10 as the worst engine. I think it should have a fair chance and I think that's what we have. So I think all this discussion is not right and we're going to see where the engine is over the next days, but if you look at the speeds, I think it's fair as it is at the moment.
[B]Q: Jean, tell us about the atmosphere within the team after last year. Do you see a different atmosphere within the team in comparison to last year?[/B]
Jean TODT: Not really. It's good because we start from scratch again, so we have all our chances to try to do the best result as possible. Everybody is very motivated and of course we are just expecting to see the way things are going to develop because it's far too early to know where we are. So there's always some tension, some expectation to see how the situation is, and that's why the first race will be quite interesting.
[B]Q: Do you think Bridgestone has gained from having other teams, Williams and Toyota?[/B]
JT: It definitely allows Bridgestone to have some other input so they don't have to just listen to us to develop the tyres. They did a very good job over the winter. Again, at the moment, the only thing we can say is that it seems encouraging but no more.
[B]Q: There's talk of an agreement in terms of testing. Is that the case and can you tell us a little bit more about it?[/B]
JT: Yes, I got the document which was signed by the 11 team principals so we can say that an agreement has been made regarding testing for '06.
[B]Q: How many days?[/B]
JT: I think 36 days during the season. I think. I'm not sure.
[B]Q: Aguri-san; welcome, good to see you and well done for getting here. Give us some sort of idea what sort of effort has been required, because let's face it, at the last Grand Prix we didn't even know the name of the team and here you are with two cars out there.[/B]
AS: It's been very difficult for me to come back into Formula One. I started this project last September, only 150 days build-up to Formula One, so it's very very difficult. I found and negotiated some budget and set up a factory with some staff but I'm very happy to come back here. Anyway, my two cars are here and I'm here but I'm very happy but it's been very difficult.
[B]Q: What sort of future developments will we see? People have talked about a new monocoque; when do we expect to see that?[/B]
AS: Now our team is using an Arrows monocoque and it has some modified aerodynamics and things like that. But just now, everybody in the factory is starting the new monocoque and the new car and development.
[B]Q: When will we see the new car?[/B]
AS: It's very difficult to say now, because my team is very small, only 100 people. Now, starting the season, it's very difficult to get the new car developed. But now it's been started.
[B]Q: How much help have you had from Honda?[/B]
AS: Honda have helped a lot: engine support and some electronic control systems and also engineers are helping my team.
[B]Q: Flavio, obviously you had the success of last season. Do you see a different atmosphere within the team to last season? Has it been difficult to get the team motivated this year?[/B]
Flavio BRIATORE: Not really. I don't see any difference. Last year we had 19 races. This is like the 20th race of 2005, the same.
[B]Q: Talking of different races, we are starting the season for the first time here in Bahrain. How do you see this as a location for the start of the season in comparison to Australia?[/B]
FB: We need to start from somewhere, you know? The weather is good, it makes no difference. We are going to Australia in three or four weeks. I don't believe it makes any difference. Every time we start the race and you see what happens later.
[B]Q: What about Fernando? This time last year he was just starting the season; how has he changed since this time last year?[/B]
FB: He's changed because last year we were starting in Australia, you know, and now we're starting in Bahrain, but after that nothing has changed. I have seen him today, he looks like the same. We are all one year older, but after that I don't see any change.
[B]Q: How do you feel about today's result?[/B]
FB: The result is Sunday, not today. Today is only Friday. Let's see what happens on Sunday.
[B]Q: Ron, the times show you as 12th and 13th today; where do you think you should be?[/B]
Ron DENNIS: 12th and 13th, that's what the lap times say. As Flavio said, there is an unusually mixed grid. There are people who are focusing on their correct qualifying strategy from 10th to 22nd which is clearly different from 1st to tenth.
Those people can obviously qualify with low fuel, not having to worry about race fuel set-ups, because they can add fuel afterwards. There are a lot of people who have been testing here. There are people such as us. We ran our tyre comparison this morning, so it was a pretty dirty circuit, but our underlying performance is quite good. I think at the moment we have no concerns.
It was a bit frustrating that we had an electronic box failure on Kimi's car which is the first in years. It's been several years, literally, since we've had that sort of failure so I'm not too concerned about that. I think tomorrow, hopefully everyone will see, it will be a very different picture.
[B]Q: I was going to ask about reliability. Presumably you hoped you'd beaten those problems that you had in testing?[/B]
RD: We've actually had a lot of reliability over the last two weeks so it's a bit frustrating to suffer the embarrassment of a failure today but no one's perfect and it's very frustrating for us but it's not too serious.
[B]Q: What about the drivers, how have they changed over the year?[/B]
RD: Juan Pablo's really been working very hard through the winter trying to raise his game and time will tell if he's been successful in that. Kimi's had three months off which is, I think, something which he enjoyed a great deal.
Different things suit different people and getting away from it is Kimi's way of recharging his batteries. Other drivers like to train hard and hit the ground running, but at the end of the day, it's about qualifying and racing, it's not really about what takes place in winter.
[B]Questions from the floor
Q: (Ralf Bach - R&B) Mr Dennis, will you be talking about changing the engine on Montoya's car?[/B]
RD: No, the engines are absolutely fine. There's no difference between the engines and there is a difference between gearing. When you run at lower revs in order to protect the engine, you end up with less than optimised mapping and that does make the engine a little uncomfortable to drive. When you move into the area of preparing for racing and qualifying, it's a different area where we have to look at the engines, but they're exactly the same.
[B]Q: (Ralf Bach - R&B) Are there any concerns at all for Bahrain?[/B]
RD: No. The engines are fine.
[B]Q: (Patrick Briggs - Bahrain Tribune) We had a lot of third drivers out there and a number of them did pretty well. What do you think was going on?[/B]
RD: I'm sure perhaps if people don't come to all the Grands Prix, and I think you fall into that category, it can be very confusing and for some even more confusing because the teams are doing different things for different reasons.
Certainly third drivers, I suppose, one part of their payment for contributing to the team's performance is to get the chance to run with low fuel and new tyres in today sessions which will help them to jump to the top of the timesheets. Those teams who have been testing here have confidence in their car's set-up, and it reflects very much on first day.
It allows them to get some good running in before they make their tyre evaluation in the second session. The first day of testing is the day that benefits those who have been testing here the most. Whether that benefit flows through to the race remains to be seen but maybe it must be very confusing for people such as you, but you shouldn't read too much into it.
[B]Q: (Giorgio Tardozzi - RAI) We have heard Gerhard talk about his point of view on Toro Rosso. But the real deal is that Toro Rosso cannot have points because it is not a V10 engine and do we discuss this every time or not?[/B]
JT: When it was decided to allow some private teams to have access to V10 with a restrictor we informed the FIA that we could object depending on the outcome of the championship with the car, so I am confident it is going to happen. Of course we cannot avoid having agreements like this one, but I am confident that the FIA can do the right thing.
FB: Of course, the main reason to allow this with engines is that private teams have no finance for engines so that is the reason they still have them (V10s).
RD: I think there's maybe two points to supplement what's been said. First of all, all teams who had committed to running V8s very much appreciated that there was going to be an advantage from running V10s and going down an equivalency route.
We undertook with each other, signed a document that undertook to each other that we would run V8s, in other words, permitting, in writing, to run V8s. The team that was given the concession to run V10s was Minardi, and it was given the concession for financial reasons, not for performance reasons, and there are several parameters of the engine that must be addressed when achieving an equivalency. Horsepower is one, and it is something that absolutely you can achieve, but a V10 engine will always give more torque and you cannot tweak the engine due to all the air restrictors and that sort of thing.
It might or it might not form an equivalency, but it's important to remember that the reason for the engine issue in the first place was for cost reasons, not a formula by which people had a choice. That formula has been contracted out deliberately by people who wanted V8 engines. That is a clean, clear, analytical statement of fact.
FB: It's the same situation we have with the third cars, we applied to get third cars for the economical effect to help small teams. It was not for Ferrari, McLaren, Honda to use. That is why we are all talking about the third car.
GB: I have to say, we took over a team from Minardi. We had a contract with the team and with the engine. ... Should we be penalised for using the engine or should the FIA try to put it into a fair position. I agree with Ron, it is very difficult to charge it correctly, but there are some other areas where it's not just about the engine and we are improving elsewhere.
[B]Q: (Alan Baldwin - Reuters) Flavio, you're one of the manufacturers who hasn't yet signed a deal with Bernie Ecclestone. Can you fill us in on how long it will take?[/B]
FB: I think we are very close to finalising with Bernie. Maybe it can happen in the next weeks. We are very much agreed.
RD: I think everybody has agreed that they are of the view that it's all about money. Money's all that's talked about in Grand Prix racing. Here, it is very important to understand that this is the future of Grand Prix Racing until at least 2012 and maybe beyond.
The document which is a memorandum of understanding that is being worked on, at the moment really deals with many issues. I think the discussions that have taken place in the last month really are those that will determine where we push in manner of the long-term interest of F1.
The buyout by the CVC has been most positively felt because they want stability and also in terms of how we participate in that growth. Now, it's much more of a common interest in terms of how that document is sustained in the long term, so now we are, I will say, more than a day less than a month away, but it will happen in that period of time.[/QUOTE]
| bemani | 03-10-2006 12:01 PM |
Don't forget that they have to do more miles for these 2 race weekends because of the new qualifying rules! JPM and Kimi are really going to suffer.
| Ferg | 03-10-2006 12:02 PM |
But Ron said the enignes were fine! :p
| Ferg | 03-10-2006 12:04 PM |
Macca drivers sound off.
[QUOTE][b]Kimi Raikkonen - 12th:[/b] "We didn't do too much in the first session, and then this afternoon we were carrying out Michelin tyre comparisons. Unfortunately I stopped on track due to a suspected electrical problem towards the end of the last session, which meant that we did not manage to complete our programme, so we will have to wait and see where we are tomorrow."
[b]Juan Pablo Montoya - 13th:[/b] "The normal Friday tyre evaluation work. I am still not satisfied with the outcome of the first practice day, so we will have to continue our work in tomorrow's free practice session to improve our package in order to be in with a chance of a good qualifying result. The race should be a different story." [/QUOTE]
And what did Montoya have to say about his Mercedes engine....?
[QUOTE]"Bad.... The engine on my side just does not pull. We don't know what is going on but running on the same revs I am about seven kilometers per hour down on Kimi with the same aero package. Unless we want to finish about 10th or 12th then we should think about changing it (the engine) to be honest. But it is not my call. I think we will be okay in the race but on one lap we are struggling."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][b]Kimi Raikkonen - 12th:[/b] "We didn't do too much in the first session, and then this afternoon we were carrying out Michelin tyre comparisons. Unfortunately I stopped on track due to a suspected electrical problem towards the end of the last session, which meant that we did not manage to complete our programme, so we will have to wait and see where we are tomorrow."
[b]Juan Pablo Montoya - 13th:[/b] "The normal Friday tyre evaluation work. I am still not satisfied with the outcome of the first practice day, so we will have to continue our work in tomorrow's free practice session to improve our package in order to be in with a chance of a good qualifying result. The race should be a different story." [/QUOTE]
And what did Montoya have to say about his Mercedes engine....?
[QUOTE]"Bad.... The engine on my side just does not pull. We don't know what is going on but running on the same revs I am about seven kilometers per hour down on Kimi with the same aero package. Unless we want to finish about 10th or 12th then we should think about changing it (the engine) to be honest. But it is not my call. I think we will be okay in the race but on one lap we are struggling."[/QUOTE]
| meebs | 03-10-2006 12:04 PM |
[QUOTE=REX8]I was wondering that myself.
First I thought rev limiter...but honestly, those guys don't hit the rev limiter like that so often.
I heard it once and shrugged it off as JMP holding a gear for an extra second before braking for a turn. Then I heard it 5 times when they were just on straights. They shouldn't be smaking it so often. Not sure what is was.[/QUOTE]
I guess it could be the rev-limiter, but you would think they would have sorted out the ratios by now, and usually that's what they do first, and also under a lot of computer simulation. Sounded like the clutch was letting go for some reason. I know they went on and on about the vibration above 14K, and if that is the result we are going to see a lot of grenading in the first few races!
First I thought rev limiter...but honestly, those guys don't hit the rev limiter like that so often.
I heard it once and shrugged it off as JMP holding a gear for an extra second before braking for a turn. Then I heard it 5 times when they were just on straights. They shouldn't be smaking it so often. Not sure what is was.[/QUOTE]
I guess it could be the rev-limiter, but you would think they would have sorted out the ratios by now, and usually that's what they do first, and also under a lot of computer simulation. Sounded like the clutch was letting go for some reason. I know they went on and on about the vibration above 14K, and if that is the result we are going to see a lot of grenading in the first few races!
| Ferg | 03-10-2006 12:10 PM |
[QUOTE=MPME]Enjoy.
[url]http:[email�protected]/sets/72057594050646486/[/url][/QUOTE]
Thanks for the pics Marshall, your new site looks great :D
[url]http:[email�protected]/sets/72057594050646486/[/url][/QUOTE]
Thanks for the pics Marshall, your new site looks great :D
| Bonzo | 03-10-2006 12:16 PM |
[QUOTE=Ferg]But Ron said the enignes were fine! :p[/QUOTE]
:lol:
He repeated that a few times. Maybe he's trying to convince himself.
:lol:
He repeated that a few times. Maybe he's trying to convince himself.
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