Formula 1

Do any of you watch the races?

I am a huge F1 fan...I like most professional motorsports, but F1 and NASCAR are my favorite. However, I've grown tired of NASCAR over the past two years, and have gotten into F1 quite a bit.

I dislike what F1 has done with the one engine-one set of tires (or, as they say, 'tyres'), but it hasn't been as bad as I thought. What I dislike most is how F1 basically turned everything against Ferrari this year, since it seems that either Renault or McLaren Mercedes-Benz will pull off a victory in the Drivers, and probably Renault (or maybe Toyota, if Trulli can keep getting consistent runs) will get the Constructors trophy.

Although it's nice to see somebody else besides Ferrari at the podium, Michael Schumacher is without a doubt the world's greatest driver, hands down. I suspect Ferrari will head into the top 3 this weekend at Nürburgring.

I'm a a huge fan of Ferrari, a tifosi, so you can say I'm not very happy for det new qualifying format. With this they can't postpone one of the them, they just have to go a head because of too little time. I can understand FIA wanting Formula One to be exciting again, but all these regulations and rules does that Formula One isn't that formidable anymore.

But unlike certain fans (that are not Tifosis) I stay faithful to my team and I'm certain that Scuderia will improve the car and Schumacher will "show off" when they do.

Well, I remember Don Hobbs saying something on one of the Speed Channel broadcasts that all of the teams except Scuderia Ferrari were in talks to break away from F1 after the 2006 season...

Yes, but this is Formula One. Threats and speculations to get what you want is not unusual. I have heard of these plans, but after this season without Ferrari dominance I would think "the gress wasn't greener on the other side".. after all.

F1 is focking lucky Raikkonen didn't get killed yesterday. When are those stupid bastards going to learn that this "cost cutting" crap with tires and whatnot (which I can't imagine is saving much money, since teams are devoting the money elsewhere) is causing lethal safety issues! If that car would've flipped, he would've been dead.

And he deserved to win that race, too. Screw F1. Just like when NASCAR changed the rules last year, I disliked it.

You're absolutely right. The new tire-rules are just bullshit. That's FIA allright!

Raikkonen was a few inch from taking Button with him. So, now we've got Alonso losing controll in Monaco (dangerous with problems on a narrow track like that) and we have Raikkonen losing controll ONE lap before the end. And now Alonso, is even more certain to win the championship.

No, I want last years rules with ONE qualifying lap and none of these tire-rules. Christ, they're even changing the engines in a couple of years.

I am a big F1 fan but I dont follow the races as I used to. Michael Schumacher is the greatest driver ON ALL TIME. However, the other Teams/Drivers do a better job this year. Alonso is going to get the title this year. Schumacher has no chance to be under the first 2. He is also behind his brother.
Well this year is gone for Ferrari, we'll see what they can do next year..

I love it following it, but never sit through a whole race now, like I used to. This year's is the most exciting for a while.

Mick

Jesus, today I was updating my blank tape labels for my personal film library, and watched the Canadian Grand Prix in full, my first since Hakkinen's days of form.

Interesting race. I was gutted for Renault. But Raikkonen spiced things up nicely. Montoya continues to be his worst enemy; his own aggression is his downfall.

Mick

I used to avidly follow motorsports (especially F1 and FIA-sponsored road races)starting in the days of Moss, Hawthorne, Ascari, Von Trips, etc.). My interest peaked in the mid-Sixties, when Dan Gurney (Porsche) was my hero, and F1 was enlivened by the Rodriguez brothers, Maraisse, Phil Hill, Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, John Surtees,Jimmy Clark, Jackie Stewart, etc. I still read the car mags, but I lost interest in racing.

Whoops. A bit of a farce today. I joined mid-race to find two Ferarris in the lead and only four other cars. Something to do with the tyres; I didn't hang about to note what.

Mick

Its ganna be a close finsh this year instead of Schmacher,winning by a mile

I wonder how many yankees carry on watching F1 now. It's an absolute shame but the drivers and teams cannot be to blame for it. Contractly if Michelin say don't race on their tyres they can't. This is F1's fault that no reasonable decision could be reached to still race in the US. I saw some people from Mexico and all over the US fly over for it. Not only are they shit out of luck paying for a sham of a race but think of the air fares and hotels bookings wasted.

It's not as if no other options were present. Why not add the chicane that was talked about to slow down the track, or allow for a tyre change. 100,000 people paid to see a race. Race! If some rules had to be broken so be it. Make it an exhibition race for no points but for god sake, race!

No it's not FIA fault. There are FIA rules and every team knows them. Bridgestone had problems with tyres in the past too but they didn't act the way Michelin did. FIA didn't make an exception then, why should they now.
I agree with everyone that it is a shame what happened yesterday, especially for the fans who attended the race in the US but you can't blame the FIA for that. Michelin and the teams know Indianapolis, they should have got into qualifying with other tyres in the first place...The same thing with the chicane. If they add a chicane in Indianapolis, some team would request the same thing for Monaco or whatever. You can't make exceptions for that.
Michelin embarassed themselves to the fullest. :rolleyes:

I agree with Turi here. It's shameful, but I hold FIA responsible for this. Ferrari had given their support to building a chicane, said that it is up to FIA, but with the old conservative guys in FIA just thinking inside their little box, it's hard to come to a good sollution.

I think Michelin's decision should be respected and applauded, so should Ferrari's decision be too.'

I just have to apologize to Americans giving F1 a chance this weekend, I can understand why the interest is tiny at the moment.

Truly one of the weirdest races ever.

Out of curiosity, since I missed the beginning and end, did the cars finish in the order they begun? Or was there any overtaking?

Mick

Schumacher did pit longer than Barrichello, so he came out after Barrichello. Monteiro in Jordan took the third place. And the Indian Jordan driver Karthikeyan finished fourth and Albers and Friesacher followed.

The race was only interesting because it was weird and highly unusual (with six drivers at the grid).

this one has got to be most ridiculous F-1 race ever. only one thing was not unusual about it: Schumacher beat Rubinho. you know here in Brazil, there is a joke where you call Rubinho buRinho, since burinho in portuguese means "stupid". the guy is a natural born 2nd placer!

I agree with Turi as well. Focking FIA...this is just another black eye for the blockheads in charge. Again, I can see why nearly all the teams are in support of leaving the FIA and forming their own league. As someone said, the Bridgestone teams supported the chicane, but, rather than try and put on a good, competitive race, they screwed every single one of those fans who paid plenty of money to see the best racing in the world, and I don't blame any of them for leaving or demanding their money back. I would've done the same. FIA should be embarassed at this. The tire (tyre) system this year has nearly killed a few drivers (Raikkonen comes to mind on the last lap at Imola I think?) because of some idiot who thought making them run on 1 set of tires will be more "competitive," completely ignoring the fact that it sets a lethal situation up as tires loose their composition.

Grr!

Yes, but I think David Hobbs mentioned during the race that Barichello only has 1 year left (?) on his contract with Ferrari and might be leaving the team. I mean, clearly he is a good driver, but Ferrari wants the primary car to finish before the secondary if they are both vying for the lead, so it's not surprising he is often second on the podium.

Hmm, I see on ESPN today that Michelin is agreeing to refund those who want their money back from the US Gran Prix! Wow! What a classy move.