Formula One 2005

[dboat]

Well, how many of you are following Formula One this year? No Michael at the front or on the podium for the first two races which is unusual for the first time in many a year. Maybe it will be really competitive this year but the 2005 Ferrari will be out this weekend at the Bahrain race. Its nice to see several different drivers and cars being competitive, even though I like to see Michael win. He is the best ever, IMHO.
Sixpipes, I know you watch, what about anyone else?
Dana

[Silver_2000]

I like watching the races - Just dont see as many as I could - strange air times and poor advertising

[Mark #2]

Qualifying today, I watch it, but the one engine rule for 2 races is absurd and 1 set of tires/race is unsafe and boring. Grooved tires are for the rain. Should I go on....

I dislike the present rules, in case you haven't guessed:mad:

[Silver_2000]

after seeing thing I saw the race this weekend on speed - set the dvr to record it - its all on at like 4 am ....

[dboat]

Qualifying today, I watch it, but the one engine rule for 2 races is absurd and 1 set of tires/race is unsafe and boring. Grooved tires are for the rain. Should I go on....

I dislike the present rules, in case you haven't guessed:mad:

Counterpoint,

They are trying to lower the cost of racing in this series to get more teams, but it is one expensive series. So the engine rule is there to get more engineering out of the teams and hopefully, folks like us will be the winner in the long run if the technology transfer holds up.
The tire thing is the same, but this is more of we need to slow these guys down somehow due to the speeds they were reaching. The move to grooved tires was a way to lower the contact patch area and limit grip. They already have rain tires that are separate. Again, the upside for us is if a high performance tire comes out that can go 60k miles and still stick to the pavement like the current F1 or Nitto.
I do miss the tire changes as part of the pit stop though, it was an area where a mistake could get made. I did like F1 pitstops better than NASCAR pit stops, very efficient..
I love the way those engines sound too.. they idle at 7000 rpm and routinely rev to 18000 rpms and beyond :eek2: :tu: :bows
For the engineers out there or just the math guys, how many times is that spark plug going off per minute or second? it is mindboggling knana
Dana

[Mark #2]

Counterpoint,

They are trying to lower the cost of racing in this series to get more teams, but it is one expensive series. So the engine rule is there to get more engineering out of the teams and hopefully, folks like us will be the winner in the long run if the technology transfer holds up.
The tire thing is the same, but this is more of we need to slow these guys down somehow due to the speeds they were reaching. The move to grooved tires was a way to lower the contact patch area and limit grip. They already have rain tires that are separate. Again, the upside for us is if a high performance tire comes out that can go 60k miles and still stick to the pavement like the current F1 or Nitto.
I do miss the tire changes as part of the pit stop though, it was an area where a mistake could get made. I did like F1 pitstops better than NASCAR pit stops, very efficient..
I love the way those engines sound too.. they idle at 7000 rpm and routinely rev to 18000 rpms and beyond :eek2: :tu: :bows
For the engineers out there or just the math guys, how many times is that spark plug going off per minute or second? it is mindboggling knana
Dana
Lowering the cost for F1 is an oxymoron; this is supposed to be the highest tech racing in the world. One engine rules and one tire rules are a compromise to the sport. Tire costs are insignificant in F1, with 2 to 3 stops/race. They are not pushing the limit with the one engine rule so I do not agree with your arguments. Looks like Michael is back though.

As far as the spark plug issue, these are 4 stroke engines and 1 fire/2RPMs, 2 strokes fire every RPM, my weed trimmer is achieving the same spark plug firing sequence as these motors.

[dboat]

Well, Michael started out strong only to have tranny fail with Barrichello falling out of the points at the very end to the Red Bull car of David C. The Renault's are looking very strong, three wins in a row and unbeaten this year. The Ferrari's were brought in two races before they were planned on to try to keep the championship within reach, it isnt looking good for Ferrari right now.
In the post qualifying interviews, at least Michael said its a team sport and we win and lose as a team and wouldnt blame Bridgestone or anyone else for the teams poor showing to date. It is common knowledge that the Ferrari team members love working with this guy because of his team mentality and the way he shares all the glory with the team.
Are we seeing the baton being handed from Michael and Ferrari? Dont know yet, but I bet they are getting concerned.
One has to admit, if the baton is being handed, Alonso, Trulli, Montoya, Raikkonen and hopefully Button are the heir apparents to Michael. Jacques Villeneuve has had his day in the sun and now it is passing him by, too bad because he was a talented driver.
Dana

[Sixpipes]

Top eight places went to Michelin with Bridgestone (Barricello) loosing the last point position on the last lap. A Ferrari with the best driver in the world apparently cannot overcome the inferior rubber they are using. :cool:

[Mark #2]

Yeah great race, 6 cars on the lead lap, and 12 running at the end. Love the new rules;)

[dboat]

Top eight places went to Michelin with Bridgestone (Barricello) loosing the last point position on the last lap. A Ferrari with the best driver in the world apparently cannot overcome the inferior rubber they are using. :cool:

True, but it wasnt because of the tires they werent competitive. It was the transmissions.. they are trying to bring them on the circuit too soon and that was the risk and price they paid for it. But they knew that the 2004 car was not competitive on the circuit at all. It will make it an interesting year.


Yeah great race, 6 cars on the lead lap, and 12 running at the end. Love the new rules;)

The reason for so few on the lead lap is that the outside temp was over 100 degrees and the track was even hotter. Having said that, I can remember races not too long ago where Michael and a few others had lapped the field. It demonstrates the difference between the haves and have nots. Thats why they are trying the new rules to help level the playing ground. It seems to be working somewhat. At least Renault, Toyota, Mercedes and BMW are being competitive for once, instead of it being a 1-2 Ferrari finish every week.
Dana

[Mark #2]

I have no issue with many teams being competitive. I just disagree with one engine and transmission having to last two races. I think that this is just stupid for F1, even guys that race go carts and motorcycles will freshen motors between races.

[dboat]

I have no issue with many teams being competitive. I just disagree with one engine and transmission having to last two races. I think that this is just stupid for F1, even guys that race go carts and motorcycles will freshen motors between races.

Mark, dont think for one second that I dont agree with you. I like the 7-8 second pit stops with 3 guys at each wheel making the change and all.. But its still the best racing to watch for me. Heck, at least they run in the rain.
Dana

[Tex Arcana]

It's shaping up to be a very interesting year. Alonso with two wins? RENAULT with three??

I said it before, in the last thread about F1, that Alonso was going to be the guy to beat in the near future, and it's shaping up to be right.

This year is going to be interesting... seeing how Michael was hanging on alonso's tail from the get-go, the F1-2005 is going to be a good package, despite the tranny issues they had (brought on by being forced to bring the car out too early). I think that, if Ferrari gets things togther with the car, they will be fighting Alonso for the top spot, and it will go down to the wire. I'm pulling for Michael to make it, if only becasue he'll set a couple more records along the way (most poles, most championships, etc), and go down in the books as the greatest before F1 becomes FormulaNASCAR. After this year, I think Alonso will become the man to beat, until they completely strip the series of any sort of technical superiority, and turn it into Euro-WWF-On-Wheels.

The big surprise this year, besides Alonso, is BAR/Honduh: WTF happened to them?? Answer: They fired David Richards, and therfore cut their own nuts off. Now that Honduh is back to their old Explode-A-Matic engines, chassis007 will end up with a bullet in its brain, and Button will wish he was driving for a CART team.

The glimpse of the future Sunday, tho, was Pablo de la Rossa... damn, can that boy drive or what?? I think the writing is on the wall here: whichever of the WonderPair--Rakkonnen or Montoya--does badly this year, PdlR will replace them, and then be a real contender. And, is it me, or does Raikkonnen sound like Cartman with a self-confidence problem??

It was a good race, and the year is shaping up well. I love the fact that the former Jag cars--which were so bad that "fat-ass" Webber couldn't make the cars wide as a dump truck--are running so well and so high; and that Webber, now that he's in the mighty Williams/BMW cars, still can't drive wide enought o block the entire field. Personally, I think he's a spare and will be out of his seat before year end. Now, Nick Heidfeld?? Damn, he's hella better than anyone suspected. He'll do well.

Toyota is surging well, but I don't see them doing better than 3rrd overall, but that will bode well for their future.

The fun is just beginning... let the games begin!! :d

[dboat]

It's shaping up to be a very interesting year. Alonso with two wins? RENAULT with three??

I said it before, in the last thread about F1, that Alonso was going to be the guy to beat in the near future, and it's shaping up to be right.

This year is going to be interesting... seeing how Michael was hanging on alonso's tail from the get-go, the F1-2005 is going to be a good package, despite the tranny issues they had (brought on by being forced to bring the car out too early). I think that, if Ferrari gets things togther with the car, they will be fighting Alonso for the top spot, and it will go down to the wire. I'm pulling for Michael to make it, if only becasue he'll set a couple more records along the way (most poles, most championships, etc), and go down in the books as the greatest before F1 becomes FormulaNASCAR. After this year, I think Alonso will become the man to beat, until they completely strip the series of any sort of technical superiority, and turn it into Euro-WWF-On-Wheels.

The big surprise this year, besides Alonso, is BAR/Honduh: WTF happened to them?? Answer: They fired David Richards, and therfore cut their own nuts off. Now that Honduh is back to their old Explode-A-Matic engines, chassis007 will end up with a bullet in its brain, and Button will wish he was driving for a CART team.

The glimpse of the future Sunday, tho, was Pablo de la Rossa... damn, can that boy drive or what?? I think the writing is on the wall here: whichever of the WonderPair--Rakkonnen or Montoya--does badly this year, PdlR will replace them, and then be a real contender. And, is it me, or does Raikkonnen sound like Cartman with a self-confidence problem??

It was a good race, and the year is shaping up well. I love the fact that the former Jag cars--which were so bad that "fat-ass" Webber couldn't make the cars wide as a dump truck--are running so well and so high; and that Webber, now that he's in the mighty Williams/BMW cars, still can't drive wide enought o block the entire field. Personally, I think he's a spare and will be out of his seat before year end. Now, Nick Heidfeld?? Damn, he's hella better than anyone suspected. He'll do well.

Toyota is surging well, but I don't see them doing better than 3rrd overall, but that will bode well for their future.

The fun is just beginning... let the games begin!! :d

You know what Tex, I dont think that I disagree with you too much on this one. Except, Toyota may still surprise us. They have the team on a short lease with orders to win or else get cut..
Dana

[Tex Arcana]

You know what Tex, I dont think that I disagree with you too much on this one. Except, Toyota may still surprise us. They have the team on a short lease with orders to win or else get cut..
Dana

I would think that Toyota coming in 3rd in the constructor's championship will help their cause immensely. I can't see the standings being any better than Schumacher/Alonso being in the top 2 spots, barring Ferrari and Renault completely imploding, which I figure isn't likely because of the history of the teams.