OT: Racing 2008-2009 (Spoiler Alert)

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:54 am

I'm watching it right now live on Sopcast, woohoo.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:49 am

Great drive by Lewis but Alonso is a freaking STUD. The guy drove the whole race on ONE FREAKING SET OF TIRES and got some points. Wow is all I can say.

Ferrari screwed up Kimi with their strategy, wtf gas but no tires. And how about Rubens with third place for Honda. Brawn is working his magic again with the team.

edit: It appears Alonso did change his tires. It serves me right for listening to Star Sports who said he never changed his tires. If you guys think ITV and James Allen is bad you out to listen to the two jokers calling the race.

Hey at least it's free via Sopcast.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:57 am

Oh and I forgot a 3 way tie in the Championship. This one is shaping up to have the same drama as last year. One question though. WTF was Felipe doing today? He was driving like I do in rFactor with the BMW Sauber.

I like Felipe as a driver and he seems like a nice guy but you can tell the level of skill between him and Alonso. Kimi also had his share of moments as well even after his tire change. Alonso was the most impressive with no tire change during the race.

Somehow I seem him in a red car in the not too distant future.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 3:21 pm

I was trying to avoid people posting spoilers for everyone else not using Sopcast, Rod, but...okie dokie, shall we open the floodgates? The rerun ought to be finishing up any minute so now's as good a time as any.

On Alonso first of all, he did change tyres having made the same mistake Raikkonen and Webber made on the first stops and keeping the original set of inters. Kimi says he was expecting track conditions to improve (we heard Gascoyne on the radio telling Sutil it would rain, and Ross Brawn told ITV the same thing at around the same time so you wonder about Ferrari's forecasting), and had that happened he'd have been in the pound seats, with minimal tread left on the tyres and a virtual slick for some laps thereafter. Because it got wetter, a virtual slick was emphatically not the thing to have. Same deal with Alonso, who was unfortunate in that regard.

Hamilton, having changed, was in position to benefit that, but more than once during the race it was highlighted that nobody on inters was within 5 or 6 seconds of Hamilton per lap. How the Hell was he doing that?

As far as Felipe...I don't know, I really don't. Neither Ferrari looked particularly easy to drive today, but Kimi did a far better job all weekend. In saying that, Felipe had a couple of spins after barely touching the throttle - he really wasn't being an animal with the car so maybe there's more to it. In saying that, on the same track in the same kind of weather in 2003 he spun exactly as many times as he did today, so he's got previous for this kind of thing.

How about Nakajima? Not a stunning drive, but he appears to have a useful knack for having what looks like a pretty rotten race and still scoring points at the end of it. Yes, he got passed on the last lap (worse, passed by Trulli), but he's level in the championship with Rosberg which can't be bad.

Rubens would have been second had they got any meaningful amount of fuel in at his change onto full wets, but all the same, that was a top drive from the old man. At the end of last season we had a discussion about the merits of keeping Barrichello, Coulthard et al when there was a bundle of new talent that could be given the drive, and if DC's not exactly helping my case, I think Rubens is doing a cracking job.

Smurfy · Post by **Smurfy** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:38 pm

Hamilton's drive was fantastic. He was the only guy on the intermediate tires to find a way to get them working.

I'm a Rubens fan so I was over the moon to see him on the podium doing his drunken stumble thing again (or whatever that gesture is that he does with the bottle of champagne).

I was also very pleased to see Heidfeld beat Kubica finally and do it with a second place finish (would have been third if Honda didn't have the refuelling problem). But poor Nick is always the bridesmaid...

Sorry for Button and Coulthard though. I figure I was wrong to still rate Button so highly.

I don't know what to say about Alonso. He can drive well, but I don't remember how many laps it took him to agree with the team to finally change those tires.

I'll really miss Silverstone. It may not be the best venue to visit, but the track itself often makes for great racing.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:43 pm

GB_Simo wrote: Hamilton, having changed, was in position to benefit that, but more than once during the race it was highlighted that nobody on inters was within 5 or 6 seconds of Hamilton per lap. How the Hell was he doing that?

Yeah dide. Not to mention that ridiculously fast start. I don't get it, but the guy was seriously moving that thing some shitty conditions. He just checked out. Kid's a rally driver in disguise.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:06 pm

OK, here's a random question. For those real petrol-heads out there with a deeper appreciation than mine:

I have a friend who is a WRC fan who will be attending the first two days of the WRC Rally Germany. But here's the thing: he's never been to a live event before, and neither have I.

Can anyone give me some tips or advice that I can pass on to a first-time WRC attendee? Where to go to watch? Anything electronic or mechanical to bring along to keep up with what's happening? What to do at night? i.e. where's the party?

Any kind of tips or general accounts of rally attendance would be appreciated.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:32 am

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 1830.shtml

I'm not so sure now the British GP will be leaving Silverstone after all. I read an article on F1-live.com that says Donnington is having difficulty getting permission to go ahead with it's necessary changes to the track prior to 2010. It also went on to say that funding might be an issue.

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 5737.shtml

Another rumor article on the site says Santander is set to leave McLaren for 2009 and is to join Ferrari worth 25 million euros and a 30 million euro retainer for the services of Alonso.

Signs are beginning to point to an Alonso move as i'm seeing it. Luca di Montezemolo has stated to Ferrari no more stupid mistakes. The British GP was filled with them and Stefano Domenicali admitted numerous mistakes.

I still ask what the hell was Massa doing on the track last Sunday? OK he had concerns prior to the season driving in the wet with no traction control. His performance last Sunday bears that out.

Numerous articles about whether Kimi might even be in F1 after 2009 when his contract is up. I think Ferrari would be stupid to pass up on Fernando who is still very young F1 wise.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:39 am

There are some who say Alonso is very likely to be in a Honda next year. Pots of money, Ross Brawn, all that business, and Honda are actively chasing him by all accounts.

As far as the British Grand Prix, you're right, Rod - an announcement that a deal has been agreed with Donington Park to host the race does not necessarily mean that the race will be hosted there. We've been here before with the British Grand Prix, and it's something that'll play out over time, but it'll be a good while before anything is set in stone.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:45 am

I've read the Honda/Alonso articles as well and Ross has gone on record to say he would love to have his services. He also said he would have to see what the other team "meaning Ferrari" does.

I'm sure given the choice Alonso would much rather drive for Ferrari where every Sunday he knows he has a chance to win and compete for championships until he gets bored.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:37 am

Rodster wrote:I'm sure given the choice Alonso would much rather drive for Ferrari where every Sunday he knows he has a chance to win and compete for championships until he gets bored.

The only problem with that, of course, is that this season he could have been in a McLaren winning races had he only kept his trap shut. Granted, Jenson Button isn't Lewis Hamilton, but there's sometimes more to consider than just pure pace. Kimi's spent years saying he doesn't look past the end of his current contract so I wouldn't read anything into that, though perhaps Massa could be shunted aside somehow. Having said that, he's jointly leading the world championship at the minute.

Quick note on Felipe - he was a terrible wet weather driver with traction control too.

Zep, has your friend had a look here?

http://www.rallye-deutschland.de/start/index.php?lg=e

Is your friend local to those parts? If not, the missus has been to Trier, rally HQ, and she tells me it's a gorgeous part of the world so I guess there's scope for some sightseeing in there too. I've never done Rallye Deutschland, but sound advice for any and all WRC events is to arrive at your chosen special stage in plenty of time to get to your spectator point, and to resist the temptation to cram a load of stages into one day - plan to see as many as you can get to easily and in good time, and no more. From reading the above link, it looks as though the rally organisers will be designating spectator areas, so there'll not be any need to go orienteering to find the best places to watch.

I don't know how they set these things up in Germany, but it might be an idea to take a radio - for the UK event there's a radio station set up to broadcast news and stage times, though as I say, I've no idea whether Germany has something similar.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:28 am

It seems to me that Kimi is getting a little tired of all the F1 BS lately. He shoved a camera man to the ground when he got to close to his face and car.

I see him leaving F1 and doing some other form of racing in 2010 or maybe just taking some time off. It does appear that both he and Fernando get along well so you never know how those two would react to each other on the same team. I could be mistaken and this is coming from a huge Kimi fan but I would put Fernando as the better of the two. He's more dedicated and driven to be on top.

I somehow see Felipe out of the picture for 2009. I personally tip Lewis for the Championship this year. McLaren is on a mission and so is Lewis and Ferrari just seems out of focus. Ferrari obviously has the better package at most races but somehow they seem to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

This is where Fernando comes in. He's too focused to put up with that BS and would push Ferrari to stay on it and not do stupid sh*t like they did last Sunday.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:18 pm

Rodster wrote:I personally tip Lewis for the Championship this year.

Rod, I seem to remember you doing that before Interlagos last year too, and my heart can't take any more races like that one. Don't suppose you could do me a favour and tip Kubica instead?

Don't know if you ever read the Notebook articles by the generally excellent Ted Kravitz on the ITV website, but his first Silverstone one is interesting reading, particularly on the subject of Sunday's stupid sh*t epidemic:

http://www.itv-f1.com/Feature.aspx?Type ... z&id=43305

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:04 pm

I forgot about that, good memory. OK I hereby tip Robert Kubica for the title...fixed.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:02 pm

Ha, I've always loved you, man.

You and I might as well say hello to Ted Kravitz now, because clearly he's written his entire Notebook this week after reading this thread. Part two relates to Donington Park, and bears out some of the points we've made over the last week while adding some other rather more important ones:

http://www.itv-f1.com/Feature.aspx?Type ... z&id=43306

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:01 pm

Hey fellas I was able to watch the BTCC at Snetterton. What a race !

Question, what are those cars they were driving? The TV screen said it was Race Renault. So i'm assuming they were Renault's but they looked like 1967 Jaguar XKE, albeit shorter versions. Very cool looking cars and fantastic wheel to wheel racing.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:26 pm

The BTCC includes these cars this season:

SEAT Leon TDI (diesel)
BMW 320si E90
Vauxhall Vectra
Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch
Honda Civic
Honda Integra
Chevrolet Lacetti
MG ZS

The BTCC has fantastic door-banging action.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:33 pm

PK out of all the cars you listed I would say it could have been the MG's. Btw it was the race before the Seat's took to the track, in case you or Adam happen to watch the race.

I discovered a very cool website where you can watch live sport event's from around the world. I caught the 125cc, 250cc and the MotoGP race live this morning.

Stoner is an animal. Too bad Pedrosa lost it with a 7sec + lead. But The Doctor is leading the Championship so all is good !

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:59 pm

Rod, the list PK provided is of the cars in the BTCC itself. It sounds like the car you're asking about is one of the support classes. There is a Renault Clio championship that runs with the BTCC but they look nothing like a Jaguar XKE. If I had to guess (and since I was playing football this afternoon, I suppose I do) I'd say you were watching a Ginetta race of some description.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:27 pm

I know it wasn't the Renault Clio as I would have recognized it quickly as it's one of my many many favorite rFactor mods.

"I'd say you were watching a Ginetta race of some description"

I think the name sounds familar. The ITV race took place prior to the SEAT race. The cars were somewhat round at the top like a VW Beetle.

Man now that i'm hooked up for P2P sports i'm going to check out more BTCC action. That racing series is insane.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:24 pm

I stumbled upon these videos earlier tonight and I thought a couple of you might find them interesting - an Autocar journalist in a Jaguar R5, with some interesting insight from Martin Brundle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7XRNJlGNCw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb8N6bGOvkY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1IDXkFO7_k

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:21 am

Awesome drive by Lewis. That dude is dialed in to that McLaren. A very dominating win two GP's in a row, very Schumacher like.

All I got to say is he better win with the way he's driving right now. It's just a hunch but someone in Ferrari is out after this year and i'm referring to the drivers. It's the second week in a row they were mauled. Kimi lacks consistency and Massa is good but not enough. Second week in a row Kimi has slipped back.

How about Nelson "freakin" Piquet ! Nice drive and his performances of late are making it easier for both Alonso and Renault to part ways in case the Ferrari rumors are true.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:30 pm

Kimi's car was understeering into corners and oversteering off them, so a setup issue rather than a driving one, not that that absolves him of blame, of course. For my money, he's the fastest man in Formula One and any team fortunate enough to have his services would do well to hang on to them. Massa, on the other hand, ought to be quite ashamed of his driving these last two weekends. Silverstone was a lesson in how not to drive a wet race, and his concession of second place to Hamilton today was frankly pathetic.

Piquet's race today was generally solid before the safety car and very, very good after it, but given he was 8th in France, threw away a good result in Britain and would have been somewhere around the Alonso-Bourdais scrap had it not been for Glock's suspension, I can't imagine Renault are in that great a hurry to promote him. After all, he qualified a full twelve places behind his teammate this weekend. His podium was similar to that of Wurz in Canada last year, in that while it was a good drive there was a huge element of fortune about it. Like Wurz, he can't seem to qualify well consistently, and the way the cars are these days that dooms you to a bad race result on a normal day. Piquet's fortune is that even Alonso can't flatter that car for an entire race, so at least the deficiencies of his car are obvious.

Speaking of Alonso, isn't it marvellous to see he's not the same bitter individual of one year ago? Oh, wait:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69334

Your teammate had some luck, you didn't drive too well, and Trulli and Vettel did absolutely nothing wrong. Deal with it.

Hamilton was mighty all afternoon, and what might Nick Heidfeld do in a race if he just once qualified somewhere near the front? Yes, his was another result that owed something to good luck but fastest laps aren't recorded by fluke.

Top Moto GP action at Laguna Seca too. I'll say nothing just yet (I'm assuming it went out live in North America, because that's where they're racing, but just in case), but recommend that all those who didn't see it try to catch a repeat somewhere down the line.

jcalvert · Post by **jcalvert** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:53 pm

Does anyone know when the Fox tape delays are going to end? This pretty much sucks ... not sure why they are taking away from Speed TV's core audience, except that they have nothing else to offer sports fans on Sundays.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:00 pm

JC, I think I heard Varsha say during free practice that this was the last delayed Fox broadcast of the season.