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

[Timothy A]

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

Alonso also has luck that the stewards have their own interpretation of the overtime work rule.

After reading up on this, I can see plenty if wiggleroom in the rules to allow this to be ok. "It says simply, “each team will be permitted four individual exceptions to the above during a Championship season.”" I would define "individual" as daily and not per event. Funny thing is, even with the extra time, the Ferrari is still slow.

Vettel's still got it wraped up. He'll score points and may even catch Alonso, but he won't win.

 

[alfablue]

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

After reading up on this, I can see plenty if wiggleroom in the rules to allow this to be ok. "It says simply, “each team will be permitted four individual exceptions to the above during a Championship season.”" I would define "individual" as daily and not per event. Funny thing is, even with the extra time, the Ferrari is still slow.

Vettel's still got it wraped up. He'll score points and may even catch Alonso, but he won't win.

Earlier in the season, it was interpreted as per event, and not daily. Just at a different track. So that raises some eyebrows....

 

[Timothy A]

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

Earlier in the season, it was interpreted as per event, and not daily. Just at a different track. So that raises some eyebrows....

10-4. You shouldn't be interpetting a rule 1 way at one track and 1 way at another.

Very entertaining race today. I was happy to see Kimi win, though we were cheering like mad for Alonso to catch him. I thought Kimi would drive the tyres off the car like he had done earlier this season, but he did not. I was good to see Alonso cranking off fastest laps at the end trying to catch him.

Webber drove really rough today, he should have got tagged for the Maldonado incident.

I doubt Vettel/RB will give Alonso any more chances to make up ground the rest of the year.

 

[alfablue]

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

Heck of a race for Kimi- just a blinding start, that he backed up by pulling a lead with Lewis.

(and it's really too bad that Lewis didn't finish- he had one heck of a fast car)

Vettel got a few nice gifts- between the two safety car times. But he sure used them to a T. To go from last to 3rd is pretty amazing.

 

[MattS]

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

Heck of a race for Kimi- just a blinding start, that he backed up by pulling a lead with Lewis.

(and it's really too bad that Lewis didn't finish- he had one heck of a fast car)

Vettel got a few nice gifts- between the two safety car times. But he sure used them to a T. To go from last to 3rd is pretty amazing.

Kimi had a great race. It was nice to see him back winning a race! And the best moment of the race was when they broadcast Kimi and his race engineer talking. Basically it went like this:

Race Engineer: "Great job, Kimi. Your 5 seconds behind Lewis. Keep pushing and well let you know how you are doing."

Kimi: "Shut up! Leave me alone! I know what I am doing!"



And it really is too bad for Hamilton. I can certainly understand why he will move to Mercedes with all of the failures that McLaren has had this season. Those have to be weighing on him. I'm not sure if the move will pay off in the long run but I think I might make the same one too.

Vettel did get gifted by the safety cars but he still drove a heck of a race. And of course it helped that RBR could make any changes to the car they wanted due to the pit lane start.

I think this was the opportunity that Alonso needed to take back over the WDC but with the great race Vettel had he couldn't make the most of it. Alonso drive a heck of a race again but Ferrari's car just can't keep up with the RBR right now. The WDC is Vettel's to lose.

 

[Timothy A]

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

Kimi had a great race. It was nice to see him back winning a race! And the best moment of the race was when they broadcast Kimi and his race engineer talking. Basically it went like this:

Race Engineer: "Great job, Kimi. Your 5 seconds behind Lewis. Keep pushing and well let you know how you are doing."

Kimi: "Shut up! Leave me alone! I know what I am doing!"

That was a classic!

 

[MattS]

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

Kimi had a great race. It was nice to see him back winning a race! And the best moment of the race was when they broadcast Kimi and his race engineer talking. Basically it went like this:

Race Engineer: "Great job, Kimi. Your 5 seconds behind Lewis. Keep pushing and well let you know how you are doing."

Kimi: "Shut up! Leave me alone! I know what I am doing!"

Here is the actual race transmission quote:

Team Radio: "Alonso is about 5 seconds ahead of you, I'll keep you updated"


Kimi R: "Leave me alone, I know what I'm doing".

 

[manurespreader]

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

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/

 

[Runsub5]

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

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/

Vettel at times acts very childish. I can understand the excitement and jubilation, but pouring carbonated water on the interviewer and using vulgarity is really immature. These guys are paid millions of dollars and they need to represent the sport with more dignity than that. I see where he did apologize on his web site.

 

[MattS]

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

A quote from Grosjean when speaking about the COTA....

The first corner certainly looks to be good fun.

I am pretty sure this is a bad omen for the United States GP. Does this mean he will wreck 4 or 5 cars instead of his usual 1 or 2 on the start?

 

[JuveGG24]

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

I'm at the airport heading to Austin. Pretty nice birthday present from my girlfriend and her parents.

 

[MattS]

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

I'm at the airport heading to Austin. Pretty nice birthday present from my girlfriend and her parents.

I am so jealous! Have a great time!

 

[MattS]

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

As much as I dislike Vettel, he sure can drive a car (when he's not in traffic). Today he had the quickest lap time during FP1 while running on intermediate tires on a dry track!!!

Yes, I know the track is very green and slippery but still.

It's reported that RB was saving his slicks for later in the weekend.

 

[alfablue]

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

If you have access to Racecar Engineering, there's an interesting article in the current issue about the Renault V6 for 2014- spoke of quite a few things- engine speeds, drag, etc. Some of the key things that are a result of the fuel flow limit- much lower drag cars- even at tracks like Monaco, the Renault engine guys are projecting downforce levels from Monza; while engine speeds are capped at 15k, they are also projecting engine speeds of 12k, lower friction and all; instead of parts built focusing on inertia (speed), parts will be built for cylinder pressure; multiple energy recovery set ups- some based on the turbines in the exhaust.

The 2014 season looks to be very interesting. And much harder to drive relative to current cars.

 

[joecct]

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

As much as I dislike Vettel, he sure can drive a car (when he's not in traffic). Today he had the quickest lap time during FP1 while running on intermediate tires on a dry track!!!

Yes, I know the track is very green and slippery but still.

It's reported that RB was saving his slicks for later in the weekend.

I think I heard that each team got an extra set of hard tires for the weekend. I would be running hards all Friday with the softs coming out on Saturday.

Circuit looks nice! Think Indy would go there during the spring?

EDIT: The Starting Grid is on a downhill section?? That's going to make the start fun - clutch, accelerator, and brake waiting for the lights...

 

[Craig P.]

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

EDIT: The Starting Grid is on a downhill section?? That's going to make the start fun - clutch, accelerator, and brake waiting for the lights...

Suzuka's grid is downhill too, isn't it?

 

[MattS]

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

I think I heard that each team got an extra set of hard tires for the weekend. I would be running hards all Friday with the softs coming out on Saturday.

Circuit looks nice! Think Indy would go there during the spring?

They did get extra tires for the weekend.

I think maybe Indycars come in the future but not in the coming couple of years.

EDIT: The Starting Grid is on a downhill section?? That's going to make the start fun - clutch, accelerator, and brake waiting for the lights...

Isn't the starting grid more or less on a flat section of track with an immediate uphill climb into turn 1? Remember this is a counter-clockwise track.

 

[alfablue]

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

Good race. Vettel was just not able to pull away like he has in the past, so Hamilton was able to make the pass late and make it stick.

How about Ferrari taking the trans seal off of massa's car? That 5 spot penalty put Alonso on the clean side and he made the most of that to finish 3rd. Onto brazil where Ferrari normally does really well.

I must say, I do like COTA, being varied enough to let the teams options for set up. And it's wide, especially going into turn one. The fact that there were passes all over the track was awesome. Now I have to hope that a few years will give us the chance to afford tickets.

 

[solovsfett]

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

excellent race today, and drivers up and down the field making passes all over the place, Raikonnen, Maldonado, Senna, Button et al
Hamilton's pass on Vettel was world class

I really like the circuit. I hope attendance doesn't drop off as it did @ Indy

Mercedes had a **** day, I hope Brawn finds something over the winter to give his team an advantage, it would be terrible if Hamilton is stuck in 9th place each race

 

[Runsub5]

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

What a great race. Lots of competitive racing and most of all there were no accidents. Nice PR by the drivers on the podium praising the fans and the facility. Important for the long term future of the venue.