Open Wheel Racing 2021, anyone there to watch?

[MichVandal]

Fair point. I don’t follow nascar as much is haas successful there?

They were regular winners starting in 2009 with Tony Stewart.

It's possible that Mike has a real plan to do well, but well....

[Kepler]

They were regular winners starting in 2009 with Tony Stewart.

It's possible that Mike has a real plan to do well, but well....

"I gotta call Gene."

[Kepler]

There was a moment at Mexico where more than 5 cars had no time, late in Q1. What happens if say 8 cars finish Q1 with no time? Are they all knocked out, or do they all tie for 13th and advance to a fat Q2?

[Spartanforlife4]

There was a moment at Mexico where more than 5 cars had no time, late in Q1. What happens if say 8 cars finish Q1 with no time? Are they all knocked out, or do they all tie for 13th and advance to a fat Q2?

They’re all knocked out. To advance you need to set a time within 7% of the fastest qualifying time (107% rule).

[Kepler]

They’re all knocked out. To advance you need to set a time within 7% of the fastest qualifying time (107% rule).

Thank you.

[MichVandal]

They’re all knocked out. To advance you need to set a time within 7% of the fastest qualifying time (107% rule).

They would still be able to compete in the race, most likely. The old 107% rule prevented slow cars from even competing.

[Spartanforlife4]

They would still be able to compete in the race, most likely. The old 107% rule prevented slow cars from even competing.

It looks like they’re much more lax since they brought it back in 2011. Only denied someone a race 4/32 times. Funny enough it’s happened five times this year and three are Sargeant.

[MichVandal]

That was an interesting start to the race. It's been a while since a car crashed on the formation lap- but thankfully he got it off so that the race could start. But Albon and Mags made sure they red flagged it anyway. What a mess.

[Whalers]

Alonso was EPIC! Drove such a smart and calculating race that would have made Ayrton proud. Showed his true genius, hopefully the rest of the youngsters in the field were taking notes.

[Kepler]

That was an interesting start to the race. It's been a while since a car crashed on the formation lap- but thankfully he got it off so that the race could start. But Albon and Mags made sure they red flagged it anyway. What a mess.

Oh Charles...



Cool battle there in laps 70-71 between Alonso and Checo.

I have an ignorant question: is the power steering failing there right at the beginning something that just happens when it's time, or should the garage have known something was wrong -- or did they even install or calibrate something wrong -- or did Charles do something extreme to the car that caused the glitch?

Pilot error, crew error, or Act of God?

[Whalers]

Sometimes, Shiite just breaks. Can be as simple as Adventures in Metallurgy.

The "Garage" knew when they saw Charles in the wall on the TV feed. The technicians knew a few nano seconds before that but were still in the process of raising their hands to their foreheads to say "Mingya". :-)

[MichVandal]

I have an ignorant question: is the power steering failing there right at the beginning something that just happens when it's time, or should the garage have known something was wrong -- or did they even install or calibrate something wrong -- or did Charles do something extreme to the car that caused the glitch?

Pilot error, crew error, or Act of God?

Rarely happens, and the Act of God part was the timing that resulted in him crashing instead of getting back to the pits to retire. Why it happens, only the team will know and I doubt it will ever be published.

I can't see Charles doing anything really wrong other than bad timing.

As for the team knowing and telling him- there's a fine line to watch there- the team isn't allowed to radio the driver during the formation lap anymore- so I'm thinking they hoped it would not get worse to the point they knew the car had to retire on the formation lap. If was going to be a terminal problem- they would radio, as the penalty is an in race one (which, of course is irrelevant when you retire).

[Kepler]

the team isn't allowed to radio the driver during the formation lap anymore

What is the reason for that?

[MichVandal]

What is the reason for that?

They used to coach the drivers to set up the car for an optimum start. Not sure why that is so bad- it's not as if it's really that different now. The funny part is when rain suddenly starts on the formation lap, the team can't tell the driver to come in- the driver has to make that decision on their own and tell the team he's coming in to get rain tires on (or vice versa).

[Spartanforlife4]

Haas is petitioning the results of the US GP for track violations. Red Bull, AM, and Williams will meet Wednesday. Perez is rumored to have the most violations at 18. If they’re all applied that would drop Perez to 10th and bring the P2 battle within 21 points.