OT: Racing 2009 (Spoiler Alert)

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:14 pm

Sebastien Bourdais gets the boot.

Alguersuari gets nod for Hungary debut

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76945

toonarmy · Post by **toonarmy** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:17 pm

pk500 wrote:
But Scheckter was an ass, Toon? Tomas had a hugely legitimate beef. Tagliani cornholed him and took him out of the race. That was a ridiculous dive-bomb attempt by Tags. He didn't even have his front wing even with Scheckter's gearbox, let alone his front wheel inside Schecky's rear wheel, when he tried that ill-fated pass attempt.

Take care,
PK

Absolutely he was an ass. Certainly he had reason to be furious, but it's incredibly lame to throw stuff at a moving car to vent your frustration. Surely you do not condone angry drivers running up to a moving car and throwing stuff at it during the race.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:28 pm

toonarmy wrote:
pk500 wrote:
But Scheckter was an ass, Toon? Tomas had a hugely legitimate beef. Tagliani cornholed him and took him out of the race. That was a ridiculous dive-bomb attempt by Tags. He didn't even have his front wing even with Scheckter's gearbox, let alone his front wheel inside Schecky's rear wheel, when he tried that ill-fated pass attempt.

Take care,
PK
Absolutely he was an ass. Certainly he had reason to be furious, but it's incredibly lame to throw stuff at a moving car to vent your frustration. Surely you do not condone angry drivers running up to a moving car and throwing stuff at it during the race.

No, I don't. But Tagliani was a complete ass for attempting that move. That was 150 percent his fault, and it eliminated Scheckter for no reason. Christ, that looked like me in iRacing, and no professional driver should look that bad!

Throwing the gloves was stupid, but it's good drama for TV.

At least he didn't throw his helmet at the car, Dale Jarrett-at-Bristol style.

It's funny: This was a good race for the series for more than just the on-track action. Good animosity built between a few pairs of drivers, which always makes things spicy. A hot rumor is that Viso grabbed Moraes by the hair -- come on, dude, man up and throw punches -- and slammed him against a trailer after the race.

Roll on, Edmonton!

Take care,
PK

Smurfy · Post by **Smurfy** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:25 pm

I have mixed feelings about the Indy coming back here to Toronto. Some people - like Franchitti and Power - drove really well - but there was some real amateur stuff going on out there as well.

I also think sports fans in here Toronto tend to be among the dumber sort (look at the all the support the Leafs get, not to mention how easily they stand up only to see a fly ball fall far too short at the Rogers Centre). Two years ago, they cheered as Bourdais was knocked out at turn 3 by a Smuryesque rear-ender from Doornbos. Although I don't blame Tracy for yesterday's accident, they had no business booing Castro-Neves. Tracy is the most experienced idiot in Indy racing but Torontonians will never fail to show their partisanship.

And let's not forget Tracy's younger and dumber racing compatriot Alex Tagliani... Sigh, it's not good to be a Canadian racing fan any more

I miss the older days of the turbo powered beasts flying down Lakeshore Blvd. These cars aren't quite the same thing. Then again, I wouldn't want some of these drivers in the older cars.

Still, it was an entertaining race.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:07 pm

Smurfy wrote:Although I don't blame Tracy for yesterday's accident, they had no business booing Castro-Neves. Tracy is the most experienced idiot in Indy racing but Torontonians will never fail to show their partisanship.

I thought it was great! It was passion, something of which you can never have too much at a sporting event.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:55 am

Jean Todt says he wants to be the next FIA president after Max Mosley said he wants to hand him the keys.

Todt will stand for FIA presidency

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76998

Toro Rosso confirms Bourdais exit

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76988

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 10:30 am

Nicky's Back !

Pos Rider Bike Time Gap
1. Valentino Rossi Yamaha 1m32.520s
2. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 1m33.160s + 0.640s
3. Casey Stoner Ducati 1m33.759s + 1.239s
4. Nicky Hayden Ducati 1m34.404s + 1.884s
5. Alex de Angelis Gresini Honda 1m34.490s + 1.970s
6. Randy de Puniet LCR Honda 1m34.564s + 2.044s
7. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha 1m34.607s + 2.087s
8. Dani Pedrosa Honda 1m34.725s + 2.205s
9. Loris Capirossi Suzuki 1m34.741s + 2.221s
10. Mika Kallio Pramac Ducati 1m34.771s + 2.251s
11. Andrea Dovizioso Honda 1m34.892s + 2.372s
12. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki 1m34.937s + 2.417s
13. Marco Melandri Hayate Kawasaki 1m34.938s + 2.418s
14. James Toseland Tech 3 Yamaha 1m35.005s + 2.485s
15. Niccolo Canepa Pramac Ducati 1m36.012s + 3.492s
16. Gabor Talmacsi Scot Honda 1m36.055s + 3.535s
17. Toni Elias Gresini Honda 1m36.531s + 4.011s

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:36 am

Nick is improving, no doubt. But the session took place in TORRENTIAL rain -- I haven't seen rain like this at a MotoGP race since Indy last year in the remnants of Hurricane Ike. Nick always has been a good rider in the wet.

Some of the crashes during qualifying today were massive, all in Turn 8. Toni Elias high-sided and landed on his lower bike, and the bike continued to haul ass into the air fence. Crazy.

But the most insane wreck involved Nicky and Canepa. Nicky lost the back end in Turn 8 -- there was a river of water running through there -- as he started to dive under Canepa, and he high-sided off the bike, flying right into Canepa! Both riders rolled into the gravel trap.

Nicky was OK, as hitting Canepa absorbed most of his energy. But Canepa was removed on a stretcher, writhing in pain. To Nick's credit, as he's a really good guy, he ran to Canepa's side in the gravel as soon as he got up.

Rossi stole the pole from Lorenzo on the very last lap of the session, taking six-tenths from Lorenzo. The intramural battle between those two is heating up, big time.

A very, very interesting session. As much as I don't like seeing riders falling in the wet, I hope it stays soggy at the Sachsenring tomorrow. That will give Nicky a good shot at his first podium of the season.

Go 69!

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:24 pm

pk500 wrote: A very, very interesting session. As much as I don't like seeing riders falling in the wet, I hope it stays soggy at the Sachsenring tomorrow. That will give Nicky a good shot at his first podium of the season.

Go 69!

Take care,
PK

Here, here. Keeping fingers crossed for a podium finish for our boy Nicky.

fletcher21 · Post by **fletcher21** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:28 pm

Speaking of motogp, is the game for the 360 any fun?

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:27 pm

Autosport are reporting the death of Henry Surtees, son of former motorcycle and Formula One champion John, after an accident at Brands Hatch in today's Formula Two race.

I was watching the race when Henry was struck in the head by a loose wheel from a crashed car, and unfortunately it seemed from the outset that he didn't have much chance. He was just 18 years old.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 8:03 pm

GB_Simo wrote:Autosport are reporting the death of Henry Surtees, son of former motorcycle and Formula One champion John, after an accident at Brands Hatch in today's Formula Two race.

I was watching the race when Henry was struck in the head by a loose wheel from a crashed car, and unfortunately it seemed from the outset that he didn't have much chance. He was just 18 years old.

That's horrible. I think I recall reading about young Henry in Autosport when he was running in Formula BMW UK.

I wonder if wheel tethers are mandatory in F2. They should be required in every open-wheel series.

RIP.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 8:33 pm

Just saw the Surtees video as it's all over YouTube. F2 clearly did not have mandatory wheel tethers, which is negligent. Henry Surtees would still be alive tonight if tethers were required.

Tethers were first used in open-wheel racing in the IndyCar Series after the Charlotte tragedy in May 1999. It blows my mind that an FIA-sanctioned open-wheel series doesn't require them, 10 years later.

Appalling.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 9:43 pm

That's horrible.

I saw the Youtube video and two cars went off. One car hit the wall sideways and moments later another goes off. What's strange is both accidents didn't look like oh sh*t, "it's time to meet your maker" which is what I expected when I saw the Robert Kubica crash in Canada.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 9:58 pm

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77088

"Surtees was knocked unconscious in the accident and his car failed to negotiate the following Sheene Corner, running straight off the track and into the barrier."

After reading this sentence I don't know what killed him? Was it getting hit on the head from the airbourne wheel and tyre or was it from heading full speed into the tyre barrier?

Either way that's terrible.

Smurfy · Post by **Smurfy** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 10:08 pm

What a crying shame.

That's amazing that they don't have wheel tethers in F2. Only today I was watching a TV show about the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Hindsight makes these fatalities look like they were easily avoidable.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 11:20 pm

I would reckon it was the wheel. I'm sure the impact caused massive head injuries. The wall impact could not have helped, but cars are designed to absorb frontal impacts of that magnitude, especially after the car runs through a gravel trap.

But the human brain and skull are not designed to withstand the impact of hitting a heavy, moving object at triple-digit speeds.

Sir John Surtees has been very active in motorsport since Henry's career began, serving as the head of the British A1 GP team, as I recall. You have to wonder if he will withdraw from the sport now, and it's hard to blame him. He's no kid at 75.

But that would be sad, as Surtees is an absolute motorsport legend. The only competitor ever to win World Championships on two and four wheels.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:45 pm

Hmm ... Joe Saward at grandprix.com said in his blog that F2 does have wheel tethers. Man, that didn't seem like a severe enough impact to sever the tether. I've seen HUGE hits on ovals in IndyCar where the tether remained intact.

So sad, any way you look at it.

Take care,
PK

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:55 pm

pk500 wrote:Hmm ... Joe Saward at grandprix.com said in his blog that F2 does have wheel tethers. Man, that didn't seem like a severe enough impact to sever the tether. I've seen HUGE hits on ovals in IndyCar where the tether remained intact.

So sad, any way you look at it.

Take care,
PK

Seen something similar in F1, sometime in the 1970's. Think a marshal got killed at the same time, but deffo a driver hit on the head by a tyre.

Reading it again, it was even more unfortunate. During the 1977 SA grand prix, Tom Pryce (Shadow) was killed when two marshals sprinted across the track to deal with his teammate's car which was on fire, but did so without permission so no flags were out. Pryce hit one of them, killing the marshal instantly, but the extinguisher he was carrying killed Pryce instantly.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:23 pm

And a pretty grisly video of it also.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 7:28 am

There's rumors that Kovalainen could be out in favor of Nico at the end of the year. While I think Nico is the better of the two my problem is that Heikki has performed better and more consistently than his superstar teammate this year.

Thoughts ?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:18 am

Rodster wrote:There's rumors that Kovalainen could be out in favor of Nico at the end of the year. While I think Nico is the better of the two my problem is that Heikki has performed better and more consistently than his superstar teammate this year.

Thoughts ?

Lewis is the franchise. Hell, he's the franchise of Formula One. Surely you're not suggesting that Heikki is as good as Lewis or should stay in lieu of him, are you?

That said, I'm not entirely sold on Nico. He's great on Fridays, but Sundays matter just a smidge more in F1.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:26 am

pk500 wrote:
Rodster wrote:There's rumors that Kovalainen could be out in favor of Nico at the end of the year. While I think Nico is the better of the two my problem is that Heikki has performed better and more consistently than his superstar teammate this year.

Thoughts ?
Lewis is the franchise. Hell, he's the franchise of Formula One. Surely you're not suggesting that Heikki is as good as Lewis or should stay in lieu of him, are you?

That said, I'm not entirely sold on Nico. He's great on Fridays, but Sundays matter just a smidge more in F1.

Take care,
PK

Certainly not, what i'm trying to say is Heikki has on average given the team better results than Lewis this year both in qualifying and during the race. Therefore while Nico might have more star power or marketing value than Heikki. I don't think Mclaren should dump Heikki for Nico.

Lewis isn't going anywhere as he's the Senna of this era. Notice I said Senna not Schumacher as Senna was very popular ala Valentino Rossi. Michael was like Howard Cossell, you either love or hate him.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:07 am

My thoughts are with Felipe and his family. I just read he took a hard hit into the tyre barrier after picking up some debris from Rubens car. Initial reports are that he's in stable condition.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77247

F1-Live.com reports the following:

"Massa was on his final hot lap of the second session when he was struck by the suspension component on the left hand side of his crash helmet. Massa was able to apply the brakes, so was not knocked out by the impact, but the F60 continued on at high speed and nosed heavily into the tyre barriers. Massa was removed from the Ferrari and airlifted to hospital for what seems to be precautionary measures."

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 4914.shtml

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 12:59 pm

That Massa incident was scary as hell. Sounds like he has a concussion, 'skull damage', and a cut over his eye but at least was admitted to the hospital in stable condition. He's going to undergo surgery; hope it goes well and Felipe gets on the road to recovery quickly.