Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

[Timothy A]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

I don't think the drivers were complaining. I think they were just making an observation. ALL the drivers lobbied for the wing changes to reduce downforce to prevent pack racing and force them to actually drive the cars. Sure, it was harder, but they all knew the circumstances. They were just relaying that feeling in the interviews.

Using the word "scary" has negative connotations, perhaps they could have chosen their words better. What I took it as was they are not used to running on the ragged edge with all the downforce they are used to and did not like it.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

Using the word "scary" has negative connotations, perhaps they could have chosen their words better. What I took it as was they are not used to running on the ragged edge with all the downforce they are used to and did not like it.

Not from a driver's perspective.

If anyone asked me what it was like to race at Bridgehampton (may she RIP), I would say, "It scares the crap out of me!" But then I would say, "But it's great fun!!" You dreaded that track, but you wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Race drivers using the word "scary" can be a very good thing. Remember, race car drivers have a screw loose to begin with. And we like it that way!

 

[alfablue]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

Half way through the weekend- Ryan Hunter Rey wins at Iowa, and Vettel sits on the pole for Valencia. I'd be watching the GP right now, but it's delayed until noon on Fox.

 

[HumRsky]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

Recently dug out Gran Turismo 3 for PS2 for the first time in a long time. Subsequently looked at the Wikipedia page and found out that it's possible to win the 1994 Williams F1 car in which Ayrton Senna was killed. Something about that is creepy.

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

Hamilton showed just how immature he was today in the F1 race today at Valencia. He obviously had no tires left (similar to Alonso in the previous race), but was not about to have competitors pass him. It's one thing to compete but when you have an uncompetitive car it's very selfish and threatens the safety of everyone in the race. He could have come away with points, but by not allowing Maldonado to pass him he took himself out of the race. I was very disappointed in his behavior.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

Hamilton showed just how immature he was today in the F1 race today at Valencia. He obviously had no tires left (similar to Alonso in the previous race), but was not about to have competitors pass him. It's one thing to compete but when you have an uncompetitive car it's very selfish and threatens the safety of everyone in the race. He could have come away with points, but by not allowing Maldonado to pass him he took himself out of the race. I was very disappointed in his behavior.

And that's the only comment? I missed the race, but Alonso went from 11th grid to win the race. Kimi finished strong, too.

One mistake in a corner where you really do need to battle for each point, and that's what people focus on? Wow. From what I understand, you missed a great race. I know I did- and I'm a big Hamilton fan.

Edit- and having seen a video of it- http://www.autoracingdaily.com/news...teward-hands-out-penalty-to-pastor-maldonado/

I don't agree at all with you. Hamilton took the defensive line into the corner, and then Pastor ran wide- which gave Lewis the line for the next corner. Then Pastor drives from OFF TRACK into Hamilton. So what part of that should have Lewis given up on? He took the correct defensive line going into the first part of the corner, won- and had not reason to do anything beyond that.

And since Maldonado is getting a penalty for the crash, apparently the stewards agree.

(I will hope that Lewis doesn't turn this situation into a season long internal fight with himself. Look at is as a bad goal, brush it off, go to the next race)

 

[MattS]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

It was a **** good race! While he got a bit lucky with the retirements of Vettel and Grojean, Alonso showed excellent pace and what a great drive! I was shocked anyone could win from that far back on that crappy course. And it seems like old days with Kimi and Schumi on the podium too! Button looks lost out there right now and Weber doesn't look much better. I am continually amazed at how far the Ferrari's have come this season. I think a lot of it is hard work at the factory but dang Alonso can drive!

It seems like there was a lot of needless aggressive driving that cost a lot of drivers good finishes. Kobayashi was a driving like he was in a demo car out there (hitting both Senna and Massa) and Vergne wasn't much better with his crash into Heikki. As for the Hamilton/Maldonado incident. I have to disagree with the Stewards on this one. I don't think that Maldonado deserved any penalty. It looked to me like Hamilton pushed him wide and when he tried to come back on track he stupidly pushed himself back into Hamilton's sidepod. For me there was enough errors on both sides that they kind of got what the deserved. It could have, and probably should have, been avoided and both would have earned much needed points.



I watched most of the Indy race. I am not a fan of ovals, but I do like that short track in Iowa! Wallace did a excellent job designing it! It was good racing and for the most part good, hard, clean racing too! Nice to see the Andretti's running well now that Danica is gone. Coincidence? I think not. Rubens with a great drive on certainly a very unfamiliar track for him. And does Pagenaud continue to impress or what! That man is going to be a force in the very near future.

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

And that's the only comment? I missed the race, but Alonso went from 11th grid to win the race. Kimi finished strong, too.

One mistake in a corner where you really do need to battle for each point, and that's what people focus on? Wow. From what I understand, you missed a great race. I know I did- and I'm a big Hamilton fan.

Edit- and having seen a video of it- http://www.autoracingdaily.com/news...teward-hands-out-penalty-to-pastor-maldonado/

I don't agree at all with you. Hamilton took the defensive line into the corner, and then Pastor ran wide- which gave Lewis the line for the next corner. Then Pastor drives from OFF TRACK into Hamilton. So what part of that should have Lewis given up on? He took the correct defensive line going into the first part of the corner, won- and had not reason to do anything beyond that.

And since Maldonado is getting a penalty for the crash, apparently the stewards agree.

(I will hope that Lewis doesn't turn this situation into a season long internal fight with himself. Look at is as a bad goal, brush it off, go to the next race)

I watched the entire race. Hamilton was losing seconds on every lap. His tires were worn out and he was so angry and frustrated he took it out on the competition. He forced Maldonado wide before the shunt in a deliberate move, because he knew he did not have the tire performance to prevent it any other way. Deliberately forcing cars off the track in open wheel racing can lead to a catastrophic incident. This isn't NASCAR where cars trade paint continuously. Maldonado wasn't innocent either, but Hamilton initiated the whole scenario. That's my perspective and David Hobbs agrees with me. He pretty much said the same thing in the post race analysis.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

I watched the entire race. Hamilton was losing seconds on every lap. His tires were worn out and he was so angry and frustrated he took it out on the competition. He forced Maldonado wide before the shunt in a deliberate move, because he knew he did not have the tire performance to prevent it any other way. Deliberately forcing cars off the track in open wheel racing can lead to a catastrophic incident. This isn't NASCAR where cars trade paint continuously. Maldonado wasn't innocent either, but Hamilton initiated the whole scenario. That's my perspective and David Hobbs agrees with me. He pretty much said the same thing in the post race analysis.

so, then, you didn't care for the rest of the race.

other than that, our opinions will differ- I'm siding with Couthard (the commentator in the link I posted).

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

so, then, you didn't care for the rest of the race.

other than that, our opinions will differ- I'm siding with Couthard (the commentator in the link I posted).

Obviously, it was a great race. One of the most entertaining of the year. Alonso winning on his home turf was "story book". One couldn't write a better script. Seeing Schumacher on the podium was also very special. We disagree on Hamilton's actions, fine.

Alonso was faced with degrading tires in the previous race at Montreal. Cars were over taking him in the closing laps of the race because his tires were worn out. He did not resort to running the competition off the track to maintain his position, he allowed them to pass without incident.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

The F1 race was just fantastic, lots of great action. At the start of the race, I was thinking "here's where Vettel clamps onto the championship for the rest of the year", but alas, what a blow with the problem and Alonso winning. I still think Vettel will win the title. I just don't see Alonso being able to keep up with Vettel and Hamilton is just too inconsistent. The rest of the contenders are pretenders.

Hamilton/Maldanado...I placed blame on Hamilton, he must have known Maldanado was inside after being side by side the corner before, but he gave him no room and came down on him when Maldanado was way inside of him.

I did not watch the entyre Indy race yet, but what I have watched so far has been very entertaining. I did watch RB's comments about the 16th race and it sounds like it's not going to happen due to the lack of time to put it together properly, and that makes sense.

The tyres are making for good racing in both series right now. In both series drivers are actually driving and not just riding along.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

Obviously, it was a great race. One of the most entertaining of the year. Alonso winning on his home turf was "story book". One couldn't write a better script. Seeing Schumacher on the podium was also very special. We disagree on Hamilton's actions, fine.

Alonso was faced with degrading tires in the previous race at Montreal. Cars were over taking him in the closing laps of the race because his tires were worn out. He did not resort to running the competition off the track to maintain his position, he allowed them to pass without incident.

I didn't see the race, and based on your two comments before, the race was only about Hamilton crashing. I find it fascinating that people first post the negative first, and only the positive later. Even with that, you have a couple of lines about the the race, and a bunch of stuff about a single incident. odd. why is that?

As for Alonso, he could not resort to really being defensive, since the people passing him were so far ahead when they reached the corner. This case, Maldonado was way behind Hamilton until the corner, when he came up along side. So assuming what Alonso would have done is total bs. You don't know what he would have done in the same situation. There never was the same situation in canada. He DID take a defensive line, just like Lewis did. If Pastor was that much faster, he should have been able to launch off the DRS corner, and pass him easily- there's plenty of room there. But he wasn't THAT much faster, was he?

Realistically, with super slow mo, and hours and hours to review the play, what would you have done? Bearing in mind that it happened quickly, and apparently Pastor ran off the track. What should have Lewis done- when should he have given up? Don't forget that they have to do this is real time. And a lot is on the line. When do YOU as a driver, give up going into the corner?


BTW, there was enough room that Pastor could have under cut Hamilton- a very common move done when someone takes a defensive line. Could have done that. He could have waited for a better place to pull along side, instead of a dive bomb pass like that (and if i recall, Hamilton has taken abuse for virtually the same move Pastor did- so he's lynched no matter how he drives).

coulda, woulda, shoulda.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

F1 - so much in the news

Vettel to Ferrari in 2014 for 15m a year
Massa or Weber at Ferrari in 2013 for 5m a year, why the hell Weber would consider that unless he's retiring in 2014 is beyond me, stay at Red Bull and be the #1
Schumacher uncertain about his future

Hamilton's boss Whitmarsh came out and said he should have backed off. I think Hamilton had better pick up another couple of wins this year, the pressure is mounting on him

 

[alfablue]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

The other f1 news I saw was some contention that New Jersey is off the schedule- via Bernie. I'm pretty sure he said the same thing about Texas last year, so this isn't big news at all.

 

[MattS]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

The other f1 news I saw was some contention that New Jersey is off the schedule- via Bernie. I'm pretty sure he said the same thing about Texas last year, so this isn't big news at all.

At some point during the season I think he says this about every race except Monaco.

 

[manurespreader]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

I thought it was a great race though I agree the circuit leaves a lot to be desired. Alonzo was great and I agree Ferrari is very surprising how much they have improved the car. I think Hamilton should have given way but I can't blame him for trying to hold maldonado off, but really his car just wasn't fast enough to do it.
It Looked to me though that too late in the pass hamilton moved his car to the left specifically to impede things. He could have done it sooner and it might have worked better, but he put himself in the position of forcing maldonato to back out of it or crash, so not a surprising result as no one will give way in that situation seems to me.. I don't have an issue with what he did just that the timing was awfully late so he got what he deserved. As far as maldonado once he is even he has a right to the track as much as hamilton does, and personally Hamilton should have left him room.

 

[HumRsky]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

Just watched the Senna documentary. Very good and very moving.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

Indycar is reducing the base hp for upcoming roadcourses and adding push to pass which essentailly will get the engines back to max hp when they push the button. I don't know why they are doing this, the roadcourse racing has been very good this year. Perhaps the manufacturers want less engine problems? I just don't like it at all.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

Marussia test driver gal does a straight line speed test, slows the car down, then it accelerates and slams her head into the transporter. God Bless Maria. It will be interesting to hear what exactly caused the crash.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

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