OT: Racing 2009 (Spoiler Alert)

F308GTB · Post by **F308GTB** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 2:07 pm

Could not ask for a better guy to win Valencia. I'm sure Lewis is pissed about his 2nd due to the pit crew screwing up, but the sting is probably lessened by having such a good guy come home with a victory for the first time in some 5 years.

The last races of the season will be interesting. McLaren is looking really good and Kimi is getting in the groove as well. With 3 cars (Badoer was abysmal all weekend, so Ferrari really is only racing 1 car) making gains, you have to think Button is feeling pretty confident for the driver's championship despite a poor showing this weekend. Lewis and Kimi for sure will probably be stealing points from Webber and Vettel in the final stretch.

Good job Rubens!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 2:32 pm

An incredibly dull race, which is what F1 deserves when Bernie puts a sh*t track with no passing zones in the middle of a dingy warehouse/dock district and tries to sell it as the Monaco of Spain.

But James is right: There's no one on the F1 grid I would like to see win more than Rubens. Such a quality guy. Very happy for him. Well deserved!

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 3:30 pm

Good guy indeed. Didn't realized it's been that long for Barrichello to be at the top podium.

F308GTB · Post by **F308GTB** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 3:33 pm

pk500 wrote:An incredibly dull race, which is what F1 deserves when Bernie puts a sh*t track with no passing zones in the middle of a dingy warehouse/dock district and tries to sell it as the Monaco of Spain.

Paul, did you catch the comment from Bob Varsha how one particular shot looked like a computer game? Your comment fits right in. The venue does have a Need for Speed feel to it rather than a proper racing venue.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 4:40 pm

It seemed like an odd, shitty track. I must have missed it last year or I managed to scrub it entirely from my memory.

Ferrari can't stick with Badoer, can they? Someone, anyone, has to be both available and faster.

What an amazing turnaround for McLaren.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 5:32 pm

Dave wrote:Ferrari can't stick with Badoer, can they? Someone, anyone, has to be both available and faster.

I would think that if anyone from Ferrari read that, their first post at DSP would be, "What are you doing next weekend?"

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:22 pm

F308GTB wrote:
pk500 wrote:An incredibly dull race, which is what F1 deserves when Bernie puts a sh*t track with no passing zones in the middle of a dingy warehouse/dock district and tries to sell it as the Monaco of Spain.
Paul, did you catch the comment from Bob Varsha how one particular shot looked like a computer game? Your comment fits right in. The venue does have a Need for Speed feel to it rather than a proper racing venue.

Missed it, James. Races like today were made for fast-forward on the DVR. My son and I watched it in about 45 minutes, lest we fall asleep and waste a perfectly fine Sunday afternoon.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:42 pm

F308GTB wrote:Could not ask for a better guy to win Valencia. I'm sure Lewis is pissed about his 2nd due to the pit crew screwing up, but the sting is probably lessened by having such a good guy come home with a victory for the first time in some 5 years.

The last races of the season will be interesting. McLaren is looking really good and Kimi is getting in the groove as well. With 3 cars (Badoer was abysmal all weekend, so Ferrari really is only racing 1 car) making gains, you have to think Button is feeling pretty confident for the driver's championship despite a poor showing this weekend. Lewis and Kimi for sure will probably be stealing points from Webber and Vettel in the final stretch.

Good job Rubens!

Rubens is similar to Valentino Rossi, two guys you have no problems rooting for. I'll say this, Jenson Button must be losing sleep these days. His championship lead is shrinking and shrinking fast with 6 races left. Ferrari and McLaren have closed the performance gap while Red Bull is still their biggest threat.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 9:07 pm

Rodster wrote:I'll say this, Jenson Button must be losing sleep these days. His championship lead is shrinking and shrinking fast with 6 races left.

His head's gone, hasn't it?

His qualifying performances have fallen away, his race pace is erratic and he appears at all times to be trying to find fault with the car. Somewhere, somehow, he seems to have lost a little confidence in it. The saving grace for Jenson is that whenever he has a bad weekend, the men nearest him do the same - Vettel's car can't find the end of a race anymore, Webber's car was like a tortoise after a heavy lunch this weekend and even Rubens winning today has reduced Jenson's championship lead by only 0.5 points.

He can't rely on that for the rest of the year, though, and perhaps seeing a Brawn driven by someone else winning a Grand Prix might jar him into getting his act together. It'll really be time to worry if the other Brawn rattles off another couple of wins in succession.

Speaking of the other Brawn, it's about time, isn't it? I'm an emotional fella but not to the extent that I'd ever be crying tears of joy at the end of a race. Today, though...

Smurfy · Post by **Smurfy** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:05 pm

It was very nice to see Rubens win his first race outside of Ferrari. What made it even better was knowing that not just any grand prix driver would have won in a Brawn today.

Jenson is getting lucky with McLaren and Kimi stealing points from the Red Bulls. But he did what he needed to do earlier in the season to help his cause out. I guess the car doesn't suit him any longer and he has no idea how he wants to set it up? Earlier in the season, weren't there a few cases where things weren't going so well for him until they put Rubens' setup on his car? Perhaps the car is getting a bit more particular about how it needs to be set up for Button's driving style?

I read on formula1.com that Rubens had talked with Felipe Massa about racing lines around Valencia. I find the comradery among the Brazilian drivers to be pretty neat.

Oh, one more thing. Doesn't Button usually run well at Spa?

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 11:45 pm

Even though there wasn't a single lead change, the Sonoma IndyCar race was fantastic. It was mayhem on the final restart. Hell of a drive by Mike Conway to get to the podium, his deke on Hideki Mutoh for third was awesome.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 12:38 am

Dave wrote:Even though there wasn't a single lead change, the Sonoma IndyCar race was fantastic. It was mayhem on the final restart. Hell of a drive by Mike Conway to get to the podium, his deke on Hideki Mutoh for third was awesome.

I thought the same thing! I can't recall the last time I've seen such a good race in which the lead never changed.

The race box score might be the most deceiving of the year if you didn't see the race. This was anything but a snoozer.

Take care,
PK

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:05 pm

I'll admit that I don't watch Indy very often (but now that I finally have an HDTV I'm trying to catch more, it looks awesome!) but whenever I do watch, I usually end up seeing Marco Andretti causing... something.

He appeared to be one of the major factors in the first lap incident, and then he apearred to spin Dixon?? out at the last corner......

Maybe he belongs in Nascar?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:08 pm

Gangrel wrote:I'll admit that I don't watch Indy very often (but now that I finally have an HDTV I'm trying to catch more, it looks awesome!) but whenever I do watch, I usually end up seeing Marco Andretti causing... something.

He appeared to be one of the major factors in the first lap incident, and then he apearred to spin Dixon?? out at the last corner......

Maybe he belongs in Nascar?

Gang:

Marco is overrated. He has the same last name as his grandfather and father but doesn't have the same talent.

Take care,
PK

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 5:09 pm

I have never watched any racing series with any regularity, but have DVR'd the last 6 or 7 IRL races and found it to be pretty good.

Would be nice if the AGR cars were faster this year and could actually push Penske or Target/Ganassi, but as is, it should still be a pretty interesting finish to the season between Briscoe, Franchitti and Dixon.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 5:29 pm

Naples39 wrote:Would be nice if the AGR cars were faster this year and could actually push Penske or Target/Ganassi, but as is, it should still be a pretty interesting finish to the season between Briscoe, Franchitti and Dixon.

Especially if the new aero regs and push-to-pass make the final three shows of the season -- all on ovals -- as good as the Kentucky oval show earlier this month!

Watch out for Dixon. He's an animal on 1.5-mile ovals, and -- you guessed it -- the last three races are on 1.5-mile ovals. He could easily erase his points gap and catch Franchitti and Briscoe for the championship.

Glad you're enjoying the series, Naples. As an employee of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I'm curious about what has attracted you to the series and kept you in front of the set. Always looking for feedback from new fans. You can reply here or PM me. Thanks!

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:59 pm

The Telegraph are reporting that the latest man to throw his hat into the Better Than Badoer ring, along with you, me and the rest of the western world, is Anthony Davidson. I could happily go for that particular switch.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:05 pm

GB_Simo wrote:The Telegraph are reporting that the latest man to throw his hat into the Better Than Badoer ring, along with you, me and the rest of the western world, is Anthony Davidson. I could happily go for that particular switch.

I could happily go with Sebastien Bourdais at this point mate after seeing a Ferrari running in 17th place at the hands of Badoer.

Davidson's not a bad choice. Too bad they couldn't borrow De la Rosa from McLaren. This sort of shows the ineptitude of Ferrari. Why is it a car company with the exposure they get in F1 doesn't have a program for young drivers for situations like these? They sort of remind me of the NY Yankees who focus on veteran players instead of their farm system.

Smurfy · Post by **Smurfy** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:21 pm

GB_Simo wrote:The Telegraph are reporting that the latest man to throw his hat into the Better Than Badoer ring, along with you, me and the rest of the western world, is Anthony Davidson. I could happily go for that particular switch.

For entertainment factor alone, I submit the following candidates:

- Takumo Sato
- Giovanni Lavaggi
- Ricardo Rosset
- Toranosuke Takagi

Though Sato may be too fast a driver, he does provide good entertainment for your spectating dollar (or pound).

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:28 pm

Johnny Carwash! I remember him at Hockenheim in 1996, climbing slowly from his Minardi, untangling his radio leads and drinks line, blissfully unaware of the fire leaping through the airbox six inches from his head...

I fail completely to understand why either of last year's Super Aguri driver pairing aren't in F1 this year. Taku's an easy target but he was never less than dependable after leaving BAR (sure, he was never anything like dependable while he was there, but that's devastating to my case) and Anthony was a groundhog away from sticking the Aguri on the podium in Montreal a couple of years back. They've both got fundamental pace, plenty of experience and the ability to develop a car. I'd employ them, at any rate.

Rod, the idea is that when Ferrari call whichever of the world's elite they want, the driver will answer. They have no need of a driver development programme, because you just don't turn down Ferrari. This is, of course, less true now than ever, because it's a much less romantic place now Todt's been through it...still holds to some extent, though.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:47 pm

GB_Simo wrote: Rod, the idea is that when Ferrari call whichever of the world's elite they want, the driver will answer. They have no need of a driver development programme, because you just don't turn down Ferrari. This is, of course, less true now than ever, because it's a much less romantic place now Todt's been through it...still holds to some extent, though.

I know m8, as by the Italian GP we should get the confirmation of Fernando at Ferrari next year. Ferrari should learn from McLaren who nurtured and brought Hammy thru the ranks and now he's one of the sports superstars.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:13 pm

GB_Simo wrote:The Telegraph are reporting that the latest man to throw his hat into the Better Than Badoer ring, along with you, me and the rest of the western world, is Anthony Davidson. I could happily go for that particular switch.

That would be great. Ant is a cool dude who never got a fair shake in F1.

Bourdais, no. He had his chance. He's on the F1 scrap heap.

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:15 pm

I had to watch my recording of qualifying three times to be sure, but Martin Brundle definitely said, "I'd like to see little Piquet in that Ferrari, try him in a different environment..."

In his defence, it was very warm in Valencia the whole weekend.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:30 pm

I think someone may have missed my sarcasm regarding Bourdais.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:10 pm

GB_Simo wrote:I had to watch my recording of qualifying three times to be sure, but Martin Brundle definitely said, "I'd like to see little Piquet in that Ferrari, try him in a different environment..."

In his defence, it was very warm in Valencia the whole weekend.

You know, I almost made the comment that even friend of Petrolheadblog.com Nelson Piquet, Jr. would be an improvement over Badoer...