| OnTheGas | 07-11-2005 01:42 AM |
Silverstone Was Supposed 2B Renault's Worst Circuit
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Renault, and the rest of the F1 paddock, had figured Silverstone as being the circuit on the 2nd half of the calendar where Renault was at their greatest disadvantage. Renault knew that their chassis was not as competitive at Silverstone as at other circuits based on their testing and history. Yet, Alonso was able to hang w/Montoya all race long... Renault even went for a pit pass which might have worked except that Alonso got hung up in traffic...
This was pretty surprising... Surprisingly bad news for McLaren. Renault is stronger vs. the McLaren than was previously thought. So Alonso probably has the WDC in the bag, unless he acquires some of that poor vehicle reliability and luck that plagues his (inexperienced :lol: ;) ) team-mate.
At the same time, only one car retired, so the finishing order provides some interesting insight on the current competitiveness of the teams.
[list][*]McLaren is fastest, but Renault can run with them...[*]BAR is faster than Ferrari, but not in the same league as McLaren & Renault.[*]Both Ferraris were followed closely by both Toyotas... Toyota's story remains the same as always... A very stout motor is bolted into a crappy chassis! Sad days indeed for Ferrari![*]Sauber beat both Williams! Sad days for Sam Michaels and Williams! If you're Jenson Button do want to drive for Williams or BAR next season?[*]Red Bull had the slowest pace of the top 8 teams... Like Williams, they're lost in the wilderness.[/list]Interesting stuff! Don't expect anymore improvements on the Ferrari, as I would guess they are not gonna continue developement of this year's car, but instead focus on next year's car...
Nice to see Montoya show some of the courage, which in combination w/his quick hands, has been a hallmark of his success.
This was pretty surprising... Surprisingly bad news for McLaren. Renault is stronger vs. the McLaren than was previously thought. So Alonso probably has the WDC in the bag, unless he acquires some of that poor vehicle reliability and luck that plagues his (inexperienced :lol: ;) ) team-mate.
At the same time, only one car retired, so the finishing order provides some interesting insight on the current competitiveness of the teams.
[list][*]McLaren is fastest, but Renault can run with them...[*]BAR is faster than Ferrari, but not in the same league as McLaren & Renault.[*]Both Ferraris were followed closely by both Toyotas... Toyota's story remains the same as always... A very stout motor is bolted into a crappy chassis! Sad days indeed for Ferrari![*]Sauber beat both Williams! Sad days for Sam Michaels and Williams! If you're Jenson Button do want to drive for Williams or BAR next season?[*]Red Bull had the slowest pace of the top 8 teams... Like Williams, they're lost in the wilderness.[/list]Interesting stuff! Don't expect anymore improvements on the Ferrari, as I would guess they are not gonna continue developement of this year's car, but instead focus on next year's car...
Nice to see Montoya show some of the courage, which in combination w/his quick hands, has been a hallmark of his success.
| OnTheGas | 07-11-2005 02:00 AM |
It's All About The Points!
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Jon kicks everyone's a$$ again! It's cause he's a Ralfy fan, and it really paid off this time! :D (Jon picked Ralf to finish 8th, which is where Ralf finished). nice job!
[CODE]Rank Score J.Montoya F.Alonso K.Raikkonen G.Fisichella J.Button M.Schumacher R.Barrichello R.Schumacher
40. 56 313 Jon Hasseler K.Raikkonen F.Alonso J.Montoya M.Schumacher J.Button R.Barrichello N.Heidfeld R.Schumacher
263. 50 297 Michael Fiyak J.Montoya K.Raikkonen M.Schumacher F.Alonso J.Trulli G.Fisichella R.Barrichello J.Button
351. 49 350 Gary Lancaster K.Raikkonen F.Alonso M.Schumacher J.Button J.Montoya G.Fisichella R.Barrichello J.Trulli
522. 47 323 Jim Rider F.Alonso M.Schumacher K.Raikkonen G.Fisichella R.Schumacher R.Barrichello J.Montoya J.Trulli
714. 45 228 Rupert Berrington K.Raikkonen J.Montoya J.Trulli G.Fisichella F.Alonso M.Schumacher J.Button D.Coulthard
788. 44 143 Matt Dell K.Raikkonen J.Montoya J.Button F.Alonso M.Schumacher T.Sato J.Trulli R.Schumacher
44 340 Alex Hofstetter K.Raikkonen F.Alonso J.Montoya J.Button M.Schumacher G.Fisichella J.Trulli T.Sato
1264. 40 305 Ken March K.Raikkonen M.Schumacher F.Alonso J.Montoya R.Barrichello G.Fisichella J.Trulli J.Button
40 350 Steve Morris K.Raikkonen M.Schumacher F.Alonso J.Button J.Montoya N.Heidfeld R.Barrichello J.Villeneuve
1397. 39 310 Matt Phelps F.Alonso K.Raikkonen M.Schumacher G.Fisichella R.Barrichello J.Trulli J.Montoya D.Coulthard
1511. 38 364 Andrew Sekellick K.Raikkonen M.Schumacher F.Alonso G.Fisichella J.Montoya J.Trulli J.Button D.Coulthard
1644. 37 297 William Truett K.Raikkonen M.Schumacher J.Button F.Alonso R.Barrichello J.Trulli R.Schumacher J.Montoya
1745. 36 314 Brad Hildebrand K.Raikkonen F.Alonso J.Montoya M.Schumacher J.Trulli J.Button N.Heidfeld D.Coulthard
1916. 34 288 David Ferguson K.Raikkonen J.Montoya J.Button F.Alonso J.Trulli M.Webber M.Schumacher J.Villeneuve
1989. 33 355 Chris Hartman K.Raikkonen F.Alonso M.Schumacher J.Button J.Montoya J.Trulli D.Coulthard N.Heidfeld[/CODE]
[CENTER][SIZE=4][COLOR=Red][URL=http://motorsport.com/compete/p6/index.asp?S=F1]F1P6[/URL] Standings[/COLOR][/SIZE]
for group [B]impreza.net[/B]
after the [B]GP of Great Britain[/B][/CENTER]
[CODE]
55. 364 Andrew Sekellick
134. 355 Chris Hartman
196. 350 Gary Lancaster
350 Steve Morris
377. 340 Alex Hofstetter
833. 323 Jim Rider
1080. 314 Brad Hildebrand
1099. 313 Jon Hasseler
1174. 310 Matt Phelps
1288. 305 Ken March
1440. 297 Michael Fiyak
297 William Truett
1623. 288 David Ferguson
2158. 228 Rupert Berrington
2619. 143 Matt Dell
2829. 107 Davis Powers
3025. 69 Wesley Slone
3098. 59 Suresh Rajan
3196. 51 Scott Ripley
3434. 28 Erich Schmitke[/code]In our season long dog-fight, the top five guys tightened it up... now there are only 24 points seperating you guys.
In the 2nd tier, we tightened up there also... only 35 points seperating 8 folks...
And I still suck! :lol:
Ken
[CODE]Rank Score J.Montoya F.Alonso K.Raikkonen G.Fisichella J.Button M.Schumacher R.Barrichello R.Schumacher
40. 56 313 Jon Hasseler K.Raikkonen F.Alonso J.Montoya M.Schumacher J.Button R.Barrichello N.Heidfeld R.Schumacher
263. 50 297 Michael Fiyak J.Montoya K.Raikkonen M.Schumacher F.Alonso J.Trulli G.Fisichella R.Barrichello J.Button
351. 49 350 Gary Lancaster K.Raikkonen F.Alonso M.Schumacher J.Button J.Montoya G.Fisichella R.Barrichello J.Trulli
522. 47 323 Jim Rider F.Alonso M.Schumacher K.Raikkonen G.Fisichella R.Schumacher R.Barrichello J.Montoya J.Trulli
714. 45 228 Rupert Berrington K.Raikkonen J.Montoya J.Trulli G.Fisichella F.Alonso M.Schumacher J.Button D.Coulthard
788. 44 143 Matt Dell K.Raikkonen J.Montoya J.Button F.Alonso M.Schumacher T.Sato J.Trulli R.Schumacher
44 340 Alex Hofstetter K.Raikkonen F.Alonso J.Montoya J.Button M.Schumacher G.Fisichella J.Trulli T.Sato
1264. 40 305 Ken March K.Raikkonen M.Schumacher F.Alonso J.Montoya R.Barrichello G.Fisichella J.Trulli J.Button
40 350 Steve Morris K.Raikkonen M.Schumacher F.Alonso J.Button J.Montoya N.Heidfeld R.Barrichello J.Villeneuve
1397. 39 310 Matt Phelps F.Alonso K.Raikkonen M.Schumacher G.Fisichella R.Barrichello J.Trulli J.Montoya D.Coulthard
1511. 38 364 Andrew Sekellick K.Raikkonen M.Schumacher F.Alonso G.Fisichella J.Montoya J.Trulli J.Button D.Coulthard
1644. 37 297 William Truett K.Raikkonen M.Schumacher J.Button F.Alonso R.Barrichello J.Trulli R.Schumacher J.Montoya
1745. 36 314 Brad Hildebrand K.Raikkonen F.Alonso J.Montoya M.Schumacher J.Trulli J.Button N.Heidfeld D.Coulthard
1916. 34 288 David Ferguson K.Raikkonen J.Montoya J.Button F.Alonso J.Trulli M.Webber M.Schumacher J.Villeneuve
1989. 33 355 Chris Hartman K.Raikkonen F.Alonso M.Schumacher J.Button J.Montoya J.Trulli D.Coulthard N.Heidfeld[/CODE]
[CENTER][SIZE=4][COLOR=Red][URL=http://motorsport.com/compete/p6/index.asp?S=F1]F1P6[/URL] Standings[/COLOR][/SIZE]
for group [B]impreza.net[/B]
after the [B]GP of Great Britain[/B][/CENTER]
[CODE]
55. 364 Andrew Sekellick
134. 355 Chris Hartman
196. 350 Gary Lancaster
350 Steve Morris
377. 340 Alex Hofstetter
833. 323 Jim Rider
1080. 314 Brad Hildebrand
1099. 313 Jon Hasseler
1174. 310 Matt Phelps
1288. 305 Ken March
1440. 297 Michael Fiyak
297 William Truett
1623. 288 David Ferguson
2158. 228 Rupert Berrington
2619. 143 Matt Dell
2829. 107 Davis Powers
3025. 69 Wesley Slone
3098. 59 Suresh Rajan
3196. 51 Scott Ripley
3434. 28 Erich Schmitke[/code]In our season long dog-fight, the top five guys tightened it up... now there are only 24 points seperating you guys.
In the 2nd tier, we tightened up there also... only 35 points seperating 8 folks...
And I still suck! :lol:
Ken
| MattDell | 07-11-2005 03:06 AM |
I also picked Ralf for 8th, but Sato for 6 and Trull for 7. :(
I wish I'd have gotten in on this when this season started. Otherwise I wouldn't be so far behind!
-Matt
I wish I'd have gotten in on this when this season started. Otherwise I wouldn't be so far behind!
-Matt
| artkevin | 07-11-2005 09:28 AM |
[QUOTE=Ferg]Oh crap I'm sorry Kevin, I was so jacked up after watching Wilson's pass on Servia I didn't even think! It was a thrilling race, which is something Champ Car seems to be again struggling with this year. At least they've done away with all the pit stop gimmicks.
I won't bring up the great Moto GP race at Laguna then... ;)[/QUOTE]
Its all good Ferg. I have caught up with all the races from Sunday other then the GP2 and Toyota Atlantic. The Moto USAGP was as good as possible. :disco:
I won't bring up the great Moto GP race at Laguna then... ;)[/QUOTE]
Its all good Ferg. I have caught up with all the races from Sunday other then the GP2 and Toyota Atlantic. The Moto USAGP was as good as possible. :disco:
| rupertberr | 07-11-2005 10:36 AM |
[QUOTE=MattDell]
I wish I'd have gotten in on this when this season started. Otherwise I wouldn't be so far behind!
[/QUOTE]
Yea, I started at the fifth race. I've averaged 38 points a race. Add that to my current score and I'd have 380 points! Oh well, a modification to an old saying goes "to finish first you must first start!" :D
At least I have passed 1290 people in the overall standings.
:p
I think Kimi must replace "old" Fissi as the unluckiest driver this year. How many races has he lost because of a blown engine in qualifying (2), tire enduced suspension failures (1), broken drive shaft (1)? OK, so that's 4 and that doesn't even count Indy. He can't buy a break but is still second in the championship. He needs a reversal of fortune to take it, he already has the speed.
Alonso on the other hand is taking everything he is given and grabbing everthing he is not. He is deserving in his position in the championship, it just should be much closer.
On the other hand look at his much more experienced team mate, as we have all argued. He sure is looking like a rookie and this last mistake really cost the team and Alonso as well as a podium for himself. I am big fan of Giancarlo but the clock is ticking on his career.
Finally, glad to see Montoya pulling his head out finally! The pass for the lead was brilliant, and not in the pits!
:disco:
I wish I'd have gotten in on this when this season started. Otherwise I wouldn't be so far behind!
[/QUOTE]
Yea, I started at the fifth race. I've averaged 38 points a race. Add that to my current score and I'd have 380 points! Oh well, a modification to an old saying goes "to finish first you must first start!" :D
At least I have passed 1290 people in the overall standings.
:p
I think Kimi must replace "old" Fissi as the unluckiest driver this year. How many races has he lost because of a blown engine in qualifying (2), tire enduced suspension failures (1), broken drive shaft (1)? OK, so that's 4 and that doesn't even count Indy. He can't buy a break but is still second in the championship. He needs a reversal of fortune to take it, he already has the speed.
Alonso on the other hand is taking everything he is given and grabbing everthing he is not. He is deserving in his position in the championship, it just should be much closer.
On the other hand look at his much more experienced team mate, as we have all argued. He sure is looking like a rookie and this last mistake really cost the team and Alonso as well as a podium for himself. I am big fan of Giancarlo but the clock is ticking on his career.
Finally, glad to see Montoya pulling his head out finally! The pass for the lead was brilliant, and not in the pits!
:disco:
| Dussander | 07-11-2005 11:02 AM |
After picking Montoya first for every race he was to run, I finally got a good score. ;)
I love how Connie goes to every race.
I suppose now Montoya can keep using the "I have a lot less to lose" trick on Fernando. :devil:
Kimi's pass on Fernando was awesome.
I love how Connie goes to every race.
I suppose now Montoya can keep using the "I have a lot less to lose" trick on Fernando. :devil:
Kimi's pass on Fernando was awesome.
| artkevin | 07-11-2005 11:10 AM |
So when do you guys think Fisi will get the axe?
I really like the guy but he seems to be copying Jarno's season from last year. 1 great win and then a spiral and then getting passed with a mistake the the closing stages of a race. If he loses his voice and starts complaining about Alonso's car being better then his I will think that Jarno and Fisi are actually clones of each other.
edit: I don't think you can be a clone of yourself. :confused:
I really like the guy but he seems to be copying Jarno's season from last year. 1 great win and then a spiral and then getting passed with a mistake the the closing stages of a race. If he loses his voice and starts complaining about Alonso's car being better then his I will think that Jarno and Fisi are actually clones of each other.
edit: I don't think you can be a clone of yourself. :confused:
| TimStevens | 07-11-2005 11:19 AM |
Just watch out for the stupid sweat-band doo-rag thing that Trulli was wearing last year.
| SolbergWRCfan | 07-11-2005 05:44 PM |
Hokey smokes, with the 3 GPs I missed I could easily be quite high in points. Stupid ADD makes me forget these things though. I can't wait for the next race, hopefully Williams improves their package, it is sad to see them flounder like this.
Jon
Jon
| TheRipler | 07-11-2005 05:48 PM |
[QUOTE=BillT]While watching qualifying this morning I overheard the announcers saying that BAR was going to take their car to the Bonneville Salt Flats after the season is done to see how fast it will go - they are guessing at 250mph.[/QUOTE]
[URL]http://www.f1i.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=612&Itemid=1[/URL]
[URL]http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=102735[/URL]
Since they will be looking to set FIA records, I imagine they'll be heading to the World Finals. It's in October, and generally the only time FIA "officials" are on hand out on the salt.
[URL]http://www.f1i.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=612&Itemid=1[/URL]
[URL]http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=102735[/URL]
Since they will be looking to set FIA records, I imagine they'll be heading to the World Finals. It's in October, and generally the only time FIA "officials" are on hand out on the salt.
| OnTheGas | 07-11-2005 05:52 PM |
Giancarlo - Has he done anything wrong?
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[QUOTE=artkevin]So when do you guys think Fisi will get the axe?
I really like the guy but he seems to be copying Jarno's season from last year.[/QUOTE]I'm not sure that Giancarlo is doing anything wrong... Many people are wondering why it is that Fernando Alonso, who is personally managed by Flavio Briatore, does not have any of the mechanical and team failures which plague his team-mate... for the 2nd season in a row! Is this just coincidence?
Looking at Fisi's season so far, it has been a series of excellent drives offset by a remarkable series of mistakes and failures by the team and his car:[list][*][b]OZ[/b] - Only win this season![*][b]Malaysia[/b] - [b]Mysterious mechanical problem[/b] after 1st pitstop causes loss of downforce so that he is 2 seconds off of race pace (he and Alonso were turning 96 sec laps, but after 1st pitstop Giancarlo turns 98 sec laps). Because he is so slow and vulnerable, he ends up in an on-track dogfight for position w/Mark Webber... they collide during Webber's attempted pass, game over![*][b]Bahrain[/b] - [b]Engine[/b] smokes on the second lap... parks it in the garage on the 4th lap[*][b]San Marino[/b] - Mysterious rear brake lock up during the empty tanks qualifying places him down in 15th, though he was running same lines, and braking points as in previous session. Grids 12th after clean 2nd q w/apparently heavy fuel load. Mysteriously the back end steps out in turn 2 while he was biding his time stuck behind Heidfeld on the 5th lap... Giancarlo doesn't know why the back end would step out like that...[*][b]Spain[/b] - Though Giancarlo sets [b]fastest lap[/b] of the race, and passes Alonso for 2nd position, [URL=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=184329&FS=F1]per Pat Symonds, "...a problem with the bodywork around the floor of the car slowed him dramatically during his second stint.[/URL] Renault pulls him into the pits early for his 2nd stop, changes the nose, fixes the floor. Giancarlo goes back out in 11th position and dogfights his way up to a 5th position finish.[*][b]Monaco[/b] - Early stages was running in 3rd behind Alonso. Then the safety car came out, and Renault brought both cars in together, dropping Fisi to 8th. But both Renault's suffered from blistered rear tires. Fisi drops down to 12th at the finish, and was lucky to just keep the car on the road.[url=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=186103&FS=F1]Pat Symonds said, "Fisi certainly suffered from having to wait during his stop, and his tyre wear was even more severe than his team-mate's."[/url][*][b]Europe (Nurburgring)[/b] - Giancarlo finishes 6th after starting from last place because his car mysteriously stalls on the grid when he engaged 1st gear. [url=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=186789&FS=F1]Pat Symonds said, "Our apologies once again must go to Giancarlo -- we don't know what caused his engine to stop on the grid...". Fisi said, "the team did a great job with the pit-stops and strategy to help me go ahead -- I passed five cars at the final stop I think. Considering my starting position, I think I did the absolute maximum today."[/url][*][b]Canada[/b] - Grids 4th, but leads the race from lap 1 until his hydraulics fail on the 32nd lap.[*][b]France[/b] - First, the fuel rig fails during first pit-stop. Then the support for the undertray of the car broke in the middle of the race, which cost a lot of grip and downforce. Finally, the damned engine cuts out at his last pit-stop, which both Pat Symonds and Flavio admit would be Renault's fault. Despite three car failures, he wrestles the car back up to 6th position... should have been on the podium if not for Renault's failures.[*][b]Britain[/b] - Engine dies again in the pits for unknown reason... while Fisi was running with Fernando. Drops him off the podium behind Kimi.[/list]One may wonder why so much bad luck strikes the Renault that Giancarlo straps himself into... Bad luck that mostly occurs on Sunday afternoons.
I really like the guy but he seems to be copying Jarno's season from last year.[/QUOTE]I'm not sure that Giancarlo is doing anything wrong... Many people are wondering why it is that Fernando Alonso, who is personally managed by Flavio Briatore, does not have any of the mechanical and team failures which plague his team-mate... for the 2nd season in a row! Is this just coincidence?
Looking at Fisi's season so far, it has been a series of excellent drives offset by a remarkable series of mistakes and failures by the team and his car:[list][*][b]OZ[/b] - Only win this season![*][b]Malaysia[/b] - [b]Mysterious mechanical problem[/b] after 1st pitstop causes loss of downforce so that he is 2 seconds off of race pace (he and Alonso were turning 96 sec laps, but after 1st pitstop Giancarlo turns 98 sec laps). Because he is so slow and vulnerable, he ends up in an on-track dogfight for position w/Mark Webber... they collide during Webber's attempted pass, game over![*][b]Bahrain[/b] - [b]Engine[/b] smokes on the second lap... parks it in the garage on the 4th lap[*][b]San Marino[/b] - Mysterious rear brake lock up during the empty tanks qualifying places him down in 15th, though he was running same lines, and braking points as in previous session. Grids 12th after clean 2nd q w/apparently heavy fuel load. Mysteriously the back end steps out in turn 2 while he was biding his time stuck behind Heidfeld on the 5th lap... Giancarlo doesn't know why the back end would step out like that...[*][b]Spain[/b] - Though Giancarlo sets [b]fastest lap[/b] of the race, and passes Alonso for 2nd position, [URL=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=184329&FS=F1]per Pat Symonds, "...a problem with the bodywork around the floor of the car slowed him dramatically during his second stint.[/URL] Renault pulls him into the pits early for his 2nd stop, changes the nose, fixes the floor. Giancarlo goes back out in 11th position and dogfights his way up to a 5th position finish.[*][b]Monaco[/b] - Early stages was running in 3rd behind Alonso. Then the safety car came out, and Renault brought both cars in together, dropping Fisi to 8th. But both Renault's suffered from blistered rear tires. Fisi drops down to 12th at the finish, and was lucky to just keep the car on the road.[url=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=186103&FS=F1]Pat Symonds said, "Fisi certainly suffered from having to wait during his stop, and his tyre wear was even more severe than his team-mate's."[/url][*][b]Europe (Nurburgring)[/b] - Giancarlo finishes 6th after starting from last place because his car mysteriously stalls on the grid when he engaged 1st gear. [url=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=186789&FS=F1]Pat Symonds said, "Our apologies once again must go to Giancarlo -- we don't know what caused his engine to stop on the grid...". Fisi said, "the team did a great job with the pit-stops and strategy to help me go ahead -- I passed five cars at the final stop I think. Considering my starting position, I think I did the absolute maximum today."[/url][*][b]Canada[/b] - Grids 4th, but leads the race from lap 1 until his hydraulics fail on the 32nd lap.[*][b]France[/b] - First, the fuel rig fails during first pit-stop. Then the support for the undertray of the car broke in the middle of the race, which cost a lot of grip and downforce. Finally, the damned engine cuts out at his last pit-stop, which both Pat Symonds and Flavio admit would be Renault's fault. Despite three car failures, he wrestles the car back up to 6th position... should have been on the podium if not for Renault's failures.[*][b]Britain[/b] - Engine dies again in the pits for unknown reason... while Fisi was running with Fernando. Drops him off the podium behind Kimi.[/list]One may wonder why so much bad luck strikes the Renault that Giancarlo straps himself into... Bad luck that mostly occurs on Sunday afternoons.
| Dussander | 07-11-2005 05:53 PM |
I didn't realize this happened this weekend. I remember the talk about it last year.
[quote]Sensitive onlookers covered their eyes as a naked journalist jogged around Silverstone on Brit GP Sunday. The rest just laughed at the sight of Daily Express hack Bob McKenzie, in nothing but McLaren-coloured body paint and a sporran to hide the worst bits, keeping his word to Ron Dennis. Last year, McKenzie - ruing the team's lack of pace - vowed to do the deed if McLaren won a grand prix. Kimi Raikkonen then trumped Spa. Dennis, the smiling McLaren boss, waved a green flag for Bob, who - covered now in sweat-smeared paint - half-jokingly collapsed at the chequered flag 37 minutes later.[/quote]
[quote]Sensitive onlookers covered their eyes as a naked journalist jogged around Silverstone on Brit GP Sunday. The rest just laughed at the sight of Daily Express hack Bob McKenzie, in nothing but McLaren-coloured body paint and a sporran to hide the worst bits, keeping his word to Ron Dennis. Last year, McKenzie - ruing the team's lack of pace - vowed to do the deed if McLaren won a grand prix. Kimi Raikkonen then trumped Spa. Dennis, the smiling McLaren boss, waved a green flag for Bob, who - covered now in sweat-smeared paint - half-jokingly collapsed at the chequered flag 37 minutes later.[/quote]
| OnTheGas | 07-11-2005 06:02 PM |
Ferrari Plan New Aero Package for Germany
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[QUOTE=OnTheGas]...Don't expect anymore improvements on the Ferrari, as I would guess they are not gonna continue developement of this year's car, but instead focus on next year's car...[/QUOTE]Wrong again! :lol: I had barely finished typing this fearless prediction when Ferrari anounces that they will have fresh bits for the next race:[quote]Ferrari are planning to introduce a new aerodynamic package on their F2005 for Michael Schumacher's home Grand Prix at Hockenheim in two week's time in a bid to try and turn around their fortunes.[/quote][quote]Michael Schumacher said, "The Championship title is not the next step right now. Right now, it's all about improving our race performance. In the last few races... we've been developing in the wrong direction.[/quote]Ferrari is becoming less and less competitive, and now that has become a focus. Michael also said that their race pace became slower over the course of the race. Earlier in the season, they had been able to increase their race pace toward the middle and end of the race.
| Ferg | 07-11-2005 09:09 PM |
[QUOTE=artkevin]So when do you guys think Fisi will get the axe?[/QUOTE]
I seem to remember Flav saying something over the winter along the lines of "If Fisi doesn't perform this year nobody's going to remember him."
I suspect he might be dropped before the season's end if things don't turn around. I'd hate to see that happen but Briatore has proved in the past he's not afraid to chop heads.
I seem to remember Flav saying something over the winter along the lines of "If Fisi doesn't perform this year nobody's going to remember him."
I suspect he might be dropped before the season's end if things don't turn around. I'd hate to see that happen but Briatore has proved in the past he's not afraid to chop heads.
| OnTheGas | 07-12-2005 09:46 PM |
Fisi!
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[QUOTE=Ferg]I seem to remember Flav saying something over the winter along the lines of "If Fisi doesn't perform this year nobody's going to remember him."[/QUOTE]Not gonna happen... [URL=http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showpost.php?p=10366856&postcount=71]Giancarlo has been doing very well this season...[/URL] though his team and his equipment have failed him rather consistantly...
| artkevin | 07-12-2005 10:31 PM |
OnTheGas. I agree, I think Gincarlo is a great driver and he's been getting the shaft more often then not. It seems hes going down the same road as Trulli with the getting laid off thing in the near future. I hope he keeps his job and starts to put in some results to make it a good fight for the constructors championship till the end.
| Ferg | 07-12-2005 11:05 PM |
Thinking about it some more I have to agree with you as well. I would hope Flav learned his lesson the hard way last season when he dumped Trulli for JV...not the best move eh? Of course the logical thing to do (like keeping faith in an obviously great driver) never seems to be the way Formula One works.
Here's a great write up from Autosport editor Matt Bishop (a very vocal supporter of Fisi for many years) on Giancarlo's current state...
[QUOTE]Giancarlo Fisichella started the 2005 season with a commanding win under difficult personal circumstances, but has since faded away while his teammate dominates the Championship battle. Matt Bishop finds similarities in Fisico's situation with another famous Grand Prix winner. And if the Italian pays attention, there's a lesson to be learned from that comparison
Giancarlo Fisichella reminds me of... Carlos Reutemann. Gifted beyond the imagination of most of his peers in the art - yes, art - of superintending the nervy high-speed interface between hot rubber and hot asphalt, he nonetheless seems to amount to a tad less than the sum of his parts.
If Reutemann was "enigmatic" and "all moody introspection", as the reporters of the time famously used to phrase it, Giancarlo is... what? Less intellectual by far than the man christened "Lole" by his Argentine adorers, Fisico (a less convoluted nickname for a less convoluted character) is also difficult to know.
Until he heard on race morning in Melbourne that his baby son, Christopher, had been rushed to hospital with an as yet undiagnosed but clearly acute illness, 2005 had been going perfectly for Giancarlo. As a result, over the past three days, he had been all smiles in the Albert Park paddock - chatting to mechanics and photographers and marketing men about his beloved AS Roma, remembering which teams each interlocutor supported, the better to enjoy the vicious yet somehow good-natured banter that all keen football fans relish; joshing with his manager Enrico Zanarini, perhaps allowing his eyes to settle on the taut, tanned flesh of a pretty girl as she wandered through the paddock. You get the picture.
And even after he had heard that Christopher was ill, and had decided that he would return to Rome immediately after the Australian race rather than chill with Enrico in Langkawi (or somewhere similar) in the two-week gap before the Malaysian event, he was still okay. He was on pole, after all. He would win the race, then attend to things in life that really matter later.
Which he duly did. The victory came as easily as any victory has ever come to any driver in the history of Grand Prix racing. And Christopher was okay, out of danger, very soon. Giancarlo spent a few days in Rome with his wife Luna, went to the gym, chilled as best he could despite the jet lag, browsed a few websites and enjoyed reading how perfect had been his performance Down Under, and started thinking about the Championship. Well, why not?
But, since then, nothing has gone right. As Sepang rolled into Sakhir, and Imola rolled into Barcelona, and Monaco into Nurburgring, and so on... Giancarlo has stopped telling Williams's well-liked marketing director Jim Wright, with a cheery smile, as the two men passed each other in Grand Prix paddocks, that Watford "are ****". And although he spends as much time in conference with Zanarini as ever, they rarely seem to be joshing these days. Pretty girls? Oh yes; some things never change, but there is a rueful dullness in his eye even as he checks out a passing babe.
He even looks different, for Chrissakes.
Personally, I doubt whether Giancarlo knows what is wrong. He is, of course, as fast as ever - which means that he is more or less as fast as it is possible for a racing driver to be. But, while he has failed even to post a podium finish, let alone another win, since Australia, the beaming face of his irrepressible teammate Fernando Alonso, who was third in Melbourne, has now featured on six subsequent podiums, five times from the central plinth. And, as a result of the discrepancy in their positions in the points' standings, inevitably Fernando has become de facto Renault's, and Flavio Briatore's, favoured son.
Perhaps Fisichella should ask Reutemann for advice. In 1977 Carlos joined Ferrari, alongside Niki Lauda, who had been the Scuderia's favoured son for a long time. Lole won just one Grand Prix - at Interlagos, also early in the season - and then watched his teammate notch up podium finish after podium finish on his way to an easy Championship win. In 1980 Carlos joined Williams, alongside Alan Jones, who had been Frank's and Patrick's favoured son for a long time. He won just one Grand Prix - at Monaco, also early in the season - and then watched his teammate notch up podium finish after podium finish on his way to an easy Championship win. Indeed, by season's end, the win tally was: Jones 5; Reutemann 1. Just as it is now, between Alonso and Fisichella.
You may or may not be charmed by the symmetry of my Reutemann-Fisichella comparison, but I will proceed on the basis that you are. What, then, could Giancarlo learn from Carlos? A lot, I reckon. Because the seasons immediately after Reutemann's two anni horribiles were the best of his career. In 1978, with Lauda out of the way at Brabham, Reutemann drove superbly, winning four Grands Prix. He would have won the Championship, too, had not Mario Andretti's ground-effect Lotus 79 been so often so uncatchably rapid. And in 1981, alongside a Jones whose already robust confidence had been boosted further by the kudos of being Champion, Reutemann nonetheless dug very deep and shaded the increasingly liverish Australian in almost every race, finally losing the Championship to Nelson Piquet by just a single point at the very last round.
How did Carlos do it? Well, he focused. He remembered that he was a truly brilliant racing driver, his talent God-given. He worked. He tested. He kept fit. And, if he had always played his own game in 1981, rather than sometimes allowing himself to fret about whether Jones's Cosworth DFV was a couple of bhp gruntier than his own, then he would probably have been well clear of Piquet, rather than just a single point ahead, when the Formula One circus rolled into Vegas for the final act.
Reutemann's is a cautionary tale which Zanarini would do well to relate to his uneasy charge. For Fisico is only a win away from a totally new outlook on his F1 life. That win could come just as easily at Silverstone as anywhere else - or, as with Reutemann in 1977 and 1980, it could never come at all.
But, whatever happens this year, Fisi should already be planning to make next year his year. He is good enough, but is he strong enough? When we overhear him telling a Renault mechanic that Marseilles are "merde", we will know he is.[/QUOTE]
Here's a great write up from Autosport editor Matt Bishop (a very vocal supporter of Fisi for many years) on Giancarlo's current state...
[QUOTE]Giancarlo Fisichella started the 2005 season with a commanding win under difficult personal circumstances, but has since faded away while his teammate dominates the Championship battle. Matt Bishop finds similarities in Fisico's situation with another famous Grand Prix winner. And if the Italian pays attention, there's a lesson to be learned from that comparison
Giancarlo Fisichella reminds me of... Carlos Reutemann. Gifted beyond the imagination of most of his peers in the art - yes, art - of superintending the nervy high-speed interface between hot rubber and hot asphalt, he nonetheless seems to amount to a tad less than the sum of his parts.
If Reutemann was "enigmatic" and "all moody introspection", as the reporters of the time famously used to phrase it, Giancarlo is... what? Less intellectual by far than the man christened "Lole" by his Argentine adorers, Fisico (a less convoluted nickname for a less convoluted character) is also difficult to know.
Until he heard on race morning in Melbourne that his baby son, Christopher, had been rushed to hospital with an as yet undiagnosed but clearly acute illness, 2005 had been going perfectly for Giancarlo. As a result, over the past three days, he had been all smiles in the Albert Park paddock - chatting to mechanics and photographers and marketing men about his beloved AS Roma, remembering which teams each interlocutor supported, the better to enjoy the vicious yet somehow good-natured banter that all keen football fans relish; joshing with his manager Enrico Zanarini, perhaps allowing his eyes to settle on the taut, tanned flesh of a pretty girl as she wandered through the paddock. You get the picture.
And even after he had heard that Christopher was ill, and had decided that he would return to Rome immediately after the Australian race rather than chill with Enrico in Langkawi (or somewhere similar) in the two-week gap before the Malaysian event, he was still okay. He was on pole, after all. He would win the race, then attend to things in life that really matter later.
Which he duly did. The victory came as easily as any victory has ever come to any driver in the history of Grand Prix racing. And Christopher was okay, out of danger, very soon. Giancarlo spent a few days in Rome with his wife Luna, went to the gym, chilled as best he could despite the jet lag, browsed a few websites and enjoyed reading how perfect had been his performance Down Under, and started thinking about the Championship. Well, why not?
But, since then, nothing has gone right. As Sepang rolled into Sakhir, and Imola rolled into Barcelona, and Monaco into Nurburgring, and so on... Giancarlo has stopped telling Williams's well-liked marketing director Jim Wright, with a cheery smile, as the two men passed each other in Grand Prix paddocks, that Watford "are ****". And although he spends as much time in conference with Zanarini as ever, they rarely seem to be joshing these days. Pretty girls? Oh yes; some things never change, but there is a rueful dullness in his eye even as he checks out a passing babe.
He even looks different, for Chrissakes.
Personally, I doubt whether Giancarlo knows what is wrong. He is, of course, as fast as ever - which means that he is more or less as fast as it is possible for a racing driver to be. But, while he has failed even to post a podium finish, let alone another win, since Australia, the beaming face of his irrepressible teammate Fernando Alonso, who was third in Melbourne, has now featured on six subsequent podiums, five times from the central plinth. And, as a result of the discrepancy in their positions in the points' standings, inevitably Fernando has become de facto Renault's, and Flavio Briatore's, favoured son.
Perhaps Fisichella should ask Reutemann for advice. In 1977 Carlos joined Ferrari, alongside Niki Lauda, who had been the Scuderia's favoured son for a long time. Lole won just one Grand Prix - at Interlagos, also early in the season - and then watched his teammate notch up podium finish after podium finish on his way to an easy Championship win. In 1980 Carlos joined Williams, alongside Alan Jones, who had been Frank's and Patrick's favoured son for a long time. He won just one Grand Prix - at Monaco, also early in the season - and then watched his teammate notch up podium finish after podium finish on his way to an easy Championship win. Indeed, by season's end, the win tally was: Jones 5; Reutemann 1. Just as it is now, between Alonso and Fisichella.
You may or may not be charmed by the symmetry of my Reutemann-Fisichella comparison, but I will proceed on the basis that you are. What, then, could Giancarlo learn from Carlos? A lot, I reckon. Because the seasons immediately after Reutemann's two anni horribiles were the best of his career. In 1978, with Lauda out of the way at Brabham, Reutemann drove superbly, winning four Grands Prix. He would have won the Championship, too, had not Mario Andretti's ground-effect Lotus 79 been so often so uncatchably rapid. And in 1981, alongside a Jones whose already robust confidence had been boosted further by the kudos of being Champion, Reutemann nonetheless dug very deep and shaded the increasingly liverish Australian in almost every race, finally losing the Championship to Nelson Piquet by just a single point at the very last round.
How did Carlos do it? Well, he focused. He remembered that he was a truly brilliant racing driver, his talent God-given. He worked. He tested. He kept fit. And, if he had always played his own game in 1981, rather than sometimes allowing himself to fret about whether Jones's Cosworth DFV was a couple of bhp gruntier than his own, then he would probably have been well clear of Piquet, rather than just a single point ahead, when the Formula One circus rolled into Vegas for the final act.
Reutemann's is a cautionary tale which Zanarini would do well to relate to his uneasy charge. For Fisico is only a win away from a totally new outlook on his F1 life. That win could come just as easily at Silverstone as anywhere else - or, as with Reutemann in 1977 and 1980, it could never come at all.
But, whatever happens this year, Fisi should already be planning to make next year his year. He is good enough, but is he strong enough? When we overhear him telling a Renault mechanic that Marseilles are "merde", we will know he is.[/QUOTE]
| rupertberr | 07-12-2005 11:23 PM |
[QUOTE=Ferg]
Here's a great write up from Autosport editor Matt Bishop (a very vocal supporter of Fisi for many years) on Giancarlo's current state...[/QUOTE]
Good one. Thanks.
:)
Here's a great write up from Autosport editor Matt Bishop (a very vocal supporter of Fisi for many years) on Giancarlo's current state...[/QUOTE]
Good one. Thanks.
:)
| AndyRoo | 07-13-2005 10:01 AM |
[QUOTE=OnTheGas]I'm not sure that Giancarlo is doing anything wrong... Many people are wondering why it is that Fernando Alonso, who is personally managed by Flavio Briatore, does not have any of the mechanical and team failures which plague his team-mate... for the 2nd season in a row! Is this just coincidence?
Looking at Fisi's season so far, it has been a series of excellent drives offset by a remarkable series of mistakes and failures by the team and his car:[list][*][b]OZ[/b] - Only win this season![*][b]Malaysia[/b] - [b]Mysterious mechanical problem[/b] after 1st pitstop causes loss of downforce so that he is 2 seconds off of race pace (he and Alonso were turning 96 sec laps, but after 1st pitstop Giancarlo turns 98 sec laps). Because he is so slow and vulnerable, he ends up in an on-track dogfight for position w/Mark Webber... they collide during Webber's attempted pass, game over![*][b]Bahrain[/b] - [b]Engine[/b] smokes on the second lap... parks it in the garage on the 4th lap[*][b]San Marino[/b] - Mysterious rear brake lock up during the empty tanks qualifying places him down in 15th, though he was running same lines, and braking points as in previous session. Grids 12th after clean 2nd q w/apparently heavy fuel load. Mysteriously the back end steps out in turn 2 while he was biding his time stuck behind Heidfeld on the 5th lap... Giancarlo doesn't know why the back end would step out like that...[*][b]Spain[/b] - Though Giancarlo sets [b]fastest lap[/b] of the race, and passes Alonso for 2nd position, [URL=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=184329&FS=F1]per Pat Symonds, "...a problem with the bodywork around the floor of the car slowed him dramatically during his second stint.[/URL] Renault pulls him into the pits early for his 2nd stop, changes the nose, fixes the floor. Giancarlo goes back out in 11th position and dogfights his way up to a 5th position finish.[*][b]Monaco[/b] - Early stages was running in 3rd behind Alonso. Then the safety car came out, and Renault brought both cars in together, dropping Fisi to 8th. But both Renault's suffered from blistered rear tires. Fisi drops down to 12th at the finish, and was lucky to just keep the car on the road.[url=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=186103&FS=F1]Pat Symonds said, "Fisi certainly suffered from having to wait during his stop, and his tyre wear was even more severe than his team-mate's."[/url][*][b]Europe (Nurburgring)[/b] - Giancarlo finishes 6th after starting from last place because his car mysteriously stalls on the grid when he engaged 1st gear. [url=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=186789&FS=F1]Pat Symonds said, "Our apologies once again must go to Giancarlo -- we don't know what caused his engine to stop on the grid...". Fisi said, "the team did a great job with the pit-stops and strategy to help me go ahead -- I passed five cars at the final stop I think. Considering my starting position, I think I did the absolute maximum today."[/url][*][b]Canada[/b] - Grids 4th, but leads the race from lap 1 until his hydraulics fail on the 32nd lap.[*][b]France[/b] - First, the fuel rig fails during first pit-stop. Then the support for the undertray of the car broke in the middle of the race, which cost a lot of grip and downforce. Finally, the damned engine cuts out at his last pit-stop, which both Pat Symonds and Flavio admit would be Renault's fault. Despite three car failures, he wrestles the car back up to 6th position... should have been on the podium if not for Renault's failures.[*][b]Britain[/b] - Engine dies again in the pits for unknown reason... while Fisi was running with Fernando. Drops him off the podium behind Kimi.[/list]One may wonder why so much bad luck strikes the Renault that Giancarlo straps himself into... Bad luck that mostly occurs on Sunday afternoons.[/QUOTE]
uh oh conspiracy theories! :eek:
I certainly hope it is simply bad luck. No one deserves to get screwed that badly. It's a sad story...I've been rooting for him all season but his luck is just ridiculously bad. Dropping him would be harsh.
- andrew
and that article was pretty good Ferg.
Looking at Fisi's season so far, it has been a series of excellent drives offset by a remarkable series of mistakes and failures by the team and his car:[list][*][b]OZ[/b] - Only win this season![*][b]Malaysia[/b] - [b]Mysterious mechanical problem[/b] after 1st pitstop causes loss of downforce so that he is 2 seconds off of race pace (he and Alonso were turning 96 sec laps, but after 1st pitstop Giancarlo turns 98 sec laps). Because he is so slow and vulnerable, he ends up in an on-track dogfight for position w/Mark Webber... they collide during Webber's attempted pass, game over![*][b]Bahrain[/b] - [b]Engine[/b] smokes on the second lap... parks it in the garage on the 4th lap[*][b]San Marino[/b] - Mysterious rear brake lock up during the empty tanks qualifying places him down in 15th, though he was running same lines, and braking points as in previous session. Grids 12th after clean 2nd q w/apparently heavy fuel load. Mysteriously the back end steps out in turn 2 while he was biding his time stuck behind Heidfeld on the 5th lap... Giancarlo doesn't know why the back end would step out like that...[*][b]Spain[/b] - Though Giancarlo sets [b]fastest lap[/b] of the race, and passes Alonso for 2nd position, [URL=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=184329&FS=F1]per Pat Symonds, "...a problem with the bodywork around the floor of the car slowed him dramatically during his second stint.[/URL] Renault pulls him into the pits early for his 2nd stop, changes the nose, fixes the floor. Giancarlo goes back out in 11th position and dogfights his way up to a 5th position finish.[*][b]Monaco[/b] - Early stages was running in 3rd behind Alonso. Then the safety car came out, and Renault brought both cars in together, dropping Fisi to 8th. But both Renault's suffered from blistered rear tires. Fisi drops down to 12th at the finish, and was lucky to just keep the car on the road.[url=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=186103&FS=F1]Pat Symonds said, "Fisi certainly suffered from having to wait during his stop, and his tyre wear was even more severe than his team-mate's."[/url][*][b]Europe (Nurburgring)[/b] - Giancarlo finishes 6th after starting from last place because his car mysteriously stalls on the grid when he engaged 1st gear. [url=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=186789&FS=F1]Pat Symonds said, "Our apologies once again must go to Giancarlo -- we don't know what caused his engine to stop on the grid...". Fisi said, "the team did a great job with the pit-stops and strategy to help me go ahead -- I passed five cars at the final stop I think. Considering my starting position, I think I did the absolute maximum today."[/url][*][b]Canada[/b] - Grids 4th, but leads the race from lap 1 until his hydraulics fail on the 32nd lap.[*][b]France[/b] - First, the fuel rig fails during first pit-stop. Then the support for the undertray of the car broke in the middle of the race, which cost a lot of grip and downforce. Finally, the damned engine cuts out at his last pit-stop, which both Pat Symonds and Flavio admit would be Renault's fault. Despite three car failures, he wrestles the car back up to 6th position... should have been on the podium if not for Renault's failures.[*][b]Britain[/b] - Engine dies again in the pits for unknown reason... while Fisi was running with Fernando. Drops him off the podium behind Kimi.[/list]One may wonder why so much bad luck strikes the Renault that Giancarlo straps himself into... Bad luck that mostly occurs on Sunday afternoons.[/QUOTE]
uh oh conspiracy theories! :eek:
I certainly hope it is simply bad luck. No one deserves to get screwed that badly. It's a sad story...I've been rooting for him all season but his luck is just ridiculously bad. Dropping him would be harsh.
- andrew
and that article was pretty good Ferg.
| Dussander | 07-13-2005 11:19 AM |
I always wondered if one driver could get crappy mechanics.
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