Formula 1

[shedite]

Well went to my first Grand prix yesterday. Absolutely amazing experience. We had GA tickets so no seats. to be honest, I was expecting to be able to stand wherever you wanted, but the track it very covered so there's only very few places to see the race.

When we got there we headed over to the start to watch the cars getting ready and watched the start through the stands, then we walked around a bit and watched from a straight where the cars were passing at 330km/h!!!

Eventually we headed down to the hair pin bend where we got a fantastic view where we could also see big screen and commentry.

then Sata's car went off the track right in front of us and the fire people were putting out the fire. They brought on a crane to lift the car and Schumacher skidded and nearly hit the crane!

Great day out though. I would defo get a seat next time if anyone's going. 32 degrees too was nice and there was a concert on the track after which was a cool idea coz it staggered the 125,000 crowd's exit.

[mypost]

The Canadian race was a slow-burner, but livened up in the second half, with Button the latest driver to fall victim to the "Champions Wall". Montoya was black-flagged, neither Renault driver finished, despite having a 1-2 at one stage. Eventually Raikkonen kept his car in one piece, and won his third race this season, with the Ferrari scoring the most constructors points, with both drivers ending up on the podium.

The Indianapolis track in the USA hosts round 9. The long straights, and sweeping corners should hand the McLaren's a distinct advantage, possibly allowing Raikkonen to close the gap further in the championship. However, the races at Indianapolis tend to be processional, and it's not one of my favourite circuits, the second shortest on the calendar.

[mypost]

The USA GP turned out to be a farce. One of the tyre manufacturers failed to have an adequate set of tyres for the weekend, and only 3 teams competed in the race, leading to crowd trouble in one of the worst weekends in F1 history.

Motor racing is dangerous. It's that danger that draws people to the sport. The sport can never be made completely safe. F1 races in the past, have been run in torrential rain, run on weekends of major global disasters, run during earthquakes, yet F1 millionaire drivers can't drive a race because one corner of a track is deemed unsuitable for a tyre to race on, and there was apparantly, no possibility to consider any alternative options, for the sport's sake.

Tbh, this kind of thing has been coming for a long time. Schumacher's dominance of the sport in recent times, has led to many changes in the rules. The old qualifying sessions were interfered with. Then qualifying became effectively part of the race. Then engine use was restricted. Then in-car technical devices were banned. Then tyre use was restricted, in order to not only cut costs, but to attract more people to watch races. The teams only care about what's best for them, not what's best for the fans, or the sport. There is no Plan B considered for exceptional circumstances like what happened at the USA GP. The rulebook must be adhered to at all times, or else.

For the record, Schumacher notched up his first win of the season. But the GP itself was not a race, it was a joke.

[Macy]

Michelin's fault, and I don't blame the Bridgestone runners for not wanting to change the course. Nothing wrong with their tyre, so why should they? Bugger the spectical - if Michelin can't produce a safe tyre for the track, it's on their head.

Doubt Michelin will be in a position to fook up next year knowing Ecclestone...

Another damning indictment of the pathetic rule changes. That's 2 of the last 3 races adversly affected by the new tyre regulations - what a great safety measure

[elroy]

The USA GP turned out to be a farce. One of the tyre manufacturers failed to have an adequate set of tyres for the weekend, and only 3 teams competed in the race, leading to crowd trouble in one of the worst weekends in F1 history.

Motor racing is dangerous. It's that danger that draws people to the sport. The sport can never be made completely safe. F1 races in the past, have been run in torrential rain, run on weekends of major global disasters, run during earthquakes, yet F1 millionaire drivers can't drive a race because one corner of a track is deemed unsuitable for a tyre to race on, and there was apparantly, no possibility to consider any alternative options, for the sport's sake.

Tbh, this kind of thing has been coming for a long time. Schumacher's dominance of the sport in recent times, has led to many changes in the rules. The old qualifying sessions were interfered with. Then qualifying became effectively part of the race. Then engine use was restricted. Then in-car technical devices were banned. Then tyre use was restricted, in order to not only cut costs, but to attract more people to watch races. The teams only care about what's best for them, not what's best for the fans, or the sport. There is no Plan B considered for exceptional circumstances like what happened at the USA GP. The rulebook must be adhered to at all times, or else.

For the record, Schumacher notched up his first win of the season. But the GP itself was not a race, it was a joke.

Well generally I would be in favour of the rule changes this year, otherwise we would have had another Schumacher parade for the season. However yesterday was a disgrace, it showed a complete and utter disregard for the fans. Can you imagine if you forked out €000's to go see that.
I wouldnt blame the drivers, mainly the FIA and the team principals and Michelin to an extent. Yes they brought the wrong tyres but why they couldnt reach an agreement like all bridgestones start at the front, all micheling cars are given a time penalty at the end/start of the race in return for the chicane.
It was a complete joke, there should be some sort of arbitration body to deal with circumstances like this whose decision would be binding on all and ultimately would lead to what the fans want-a race.
F1 in the US is dead for sure.

[Schumi]

Motor racing is dangerous. It's that danger that draws people to the sport. The sport can never be made completely safe. F1 races in the past, have been run in torrential rain, run on weekends of major global disasters, run during earthquakes, yet F1 millionaire drivers can't drive a race because one corner of a track is deemed unsuitable for a tyre to race on

I don't think that's fair at all. Did you see the accident that Ralf had? If there's a significant chance of that happening to cars in the race, it's completely unreasonable to expect drivers to race. It would be like forcing footballers to play on a pitch with land mines.

[elroy]

I don't think that's fair at all. Did you see the accident that Ralf had? If there's a significant chance of that happening to cars in the race, it's completely unreasonable to expect drivers to race. It would be like forcing footballers to play on a pitch with land mines.

Agreed, the drivers were not to blame for yday. I dont particularly like him but on the formation lap you could hear Coulthard on the team radio trying to get the team to let him race.
Yesterday was a result of a terrible error by Michelin and massive egos and politics in F1.

[Macy]

btw Was it last season or the season before where Bridgestone had problems with the tyres and requested a track change? Michelin refused, so I guess what goes around comes around. More michelin runners shouldn't make the difference - I doubt had it been reversed the Michelin runners would've agreed the changes....

[Superhoops]

I don't think that's fair at all. Did you see the accident that Ralf had? If there's a significant chance of that happening to cars in the race, it's completely unreasonable to expect drivers to race. It would be like forcing footballers to play on a pitch with land mines.

Agree completely, but there was another option offered by putting a chicane in before that particular bend to slow down the drivers. However, Ferrari would not agree. They obviously had reasons for doing it, but that decision took no account of the fans who had turned up to see a race. The reaction of the fans was predictable and justified. I am no fan of F1, but I cannot see what benefit Ferrari got out of winning a six car race. Surely the mother of all 'hollow victories'.

[Macy]

Agree completely, but there was another option offered by putting a chicane in before that particular bend to slow down the drivers. However, Ferrari would not agree. They obviously had reasons for doing it, but that decision took no account of the fans who had turned up to see a race. The reaction of the fans was predictable and justified. I am no fan of F1, but I cannot see what benefit Ferrari got out of winning a six car race. Surely the mother of all 'hollow victories'.

Bridgestone produced a tyre that was capable of being used safely on the track. Michelin didn't. Technical fook up by Michelin, so Bridgestone runners right to go ahead on the agreed track. Why should the Bridgestone runners be disadvantaged because of a mistake by a supplier to other teams? The blame lies squarely at Michelin.

[Superhoops]

Bridgestone produced a tyre that was capable of being used safely on the track. Michelin didn't. Technical fook up by Michelin, so Bridgestone runners right to go ahead on the agreed track. Why should the Bridgestone runners be disadvantaged because of a mistake by a supplier to other teams? The blame lies squarely at Michelin.

Maybe it does, but surely the sport has more of an obligation to the thousands of fans who spent a lot of money travelling to Indianapolis to see a race rather than to an obligation to one team? Had Ferrari been using Michelin and the only teams that were using Bridgestone were the 'no hopers' like Jordan etc. there would have either been no race at all or a compromise on the layout of the track. If one team is allowed to become bigger than the sport then the sport deservedly has problems.

[mypost]

Did you see the accident that Ralf had? If there's a significant chance of that happening to cars in the race, it's completely unreasonable to expect drivers to race. It would be like forcing footballers to play on a pitch with land mines.

Motor sport is dangerous, and the danger is all part of F1. If you drive a car around at high speed for 1.5/2 hours, overcoming all the hurdles on the track, you deserve your success. These guys are handsomely paid to put their lives on the line, every time they test, practice, qualify, and race, for our entertainment. It's their job.

Personally, I don't blame Michelin. I blame the FIA. How do they punish Michelin, without throwing the championship into disrepute? If they deduct points, or suspend teams from races, there will be uproar among most of the teams, and another sign that the FIA are biased towards Ferrari, for commercial reasons. I blame the FIA who refuse to consider alternative options for such serious and exceptional circumstances, hiding behind their rulebook. Common sense demanded that they come up with an acceptable compromise to the teams who are supplied by Michelin. Racing whilst waiving points is unacceptable, as you may as well not race when you're effectively wasting your time going round, and round for an hour and a half.

What happens if this tyre issue comes up again later this season? What happens if cars with Michelin tyres fly off the circuit at the Adelaide hairpin in Magny-Cours, Stowe in Silverstone, Stavelot at Spa, Parabolica at Monza, or Spoon in Suzuka, will there be another 6-car race again? The next race is coming up soon, and Michelin's tyres may still not be considered safe to drive it. Will the Michelin teams withdraw again? It's certainly possible.

Personally, I think that as a face-saving measure, the USA GP should be declared null and void, and be re-run after the end of the scheduled races this season, with free admission for fans who turned up yesterday who had their day ruined. I think that's the fairest solution.

[Macy]

Personally, I don't blame Michelin. I blame the FIA. How do they punish Michelin, without throwing the championship into disrepute?

WTF, Michelin are supposed to produce a tyre that is capable of performing on the track. They didn't, so how is that the FIA's fault? They took a gamble on the tyre to get as much advantage as possible - they went too far. Entirely Michelin's fault what happened.

Michelin will be punished by no longer being suppliers to the F1, and too right too if they're not up to the job.

Bloody yanks - spectacle above the sport's rule book. Next they'll be wanting safety cars because someone's too far ahead

[pete]

Has to be Michelins fault. Why didn't they use the tyres from 2004?

[shedite]

It's a stupid situation.

Michelin should have brought safe tyres - they could have seen the track for the past few months.

FIA should have put in a chicane.

Everyone's a looser here.

[Schumi]

Next they'll be wanting safety cars because someone's too far ahead

Surely not!

[Macy]

Surely not!

I know, just wouldn't be proper motor racing would it....

[shedite]

Just had a thought. If any team had reappeared from the pit lane during the final lap, and was on the track while micheal schumacher passed the finish line, they would have got points for coming 7th. Could have been very funny.

Also could have been funny - Schumacher and Barichello took each other out as he came out of the pit stop. Jordan 1-2.

By the way, is Jordan any bit Irish owned anymore?

[pete]

By the way, is Jordan any bit Irish owned anymore?

Don't think any irish ownership left. Eddie Irvine was rumoursed to be involved in takeover as think Jordan verging on bankruptcy with new owners.

[mypost]

WTF, Michelin are supposed to produce a tyre that is capable of performing on the track. They didn't, so how is that the FIA's fault? They took a gamble on the tyre to get as much advantage as possible - they went too far. Entirely Michelin's fault what happened.

Michelin will be punished by no longer being suppliers to the F1, and too right too if they're not up to the job.

Paul Stoddart, Minardi boss, is calling for Mosley's head, and his team's tyres are not supplied by Michelin. Knowing that their tyres were screwed up, Michelin attempted to race while allowing concessions to the non-Michelin shod teams, but the FIA wouldn't permit them. Somebody had to lose on Sunday, but nobody wanted to accept responsibility. And that's the problem. Everybody says it's not their fault, but the sport is run by organisers, who should have done everything possible to ensure we had some form of race in Indianapolis. It's the FIA's fault for not doing what they are supposed to do, i.e. govern. You can't have a competitive race with just 3 teams, or you lose all creditability, as a sport. Mosley says it's not their problem, but it will be. Punishing Michelin won't hurt them, they'll still make money in other ways, or move to compete in a less bureaucratic form of motor-sport. The FIA will lose sponsorship, lose tv viewers, ticket sales will plummet for other races, and they'll take a heavy financial hit in an important commercial area, North America. The FIA could have allowed something resembling a proper "race" to take place in Indianapolis, but as they chose not to, the financial repurcussions for them and the sport as a whole, could be horrendous.