OT: Racing 2009 (Spoiler Alert)

Smurfy · Post by **Smurfy** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:53 pm

What freaked me more was Hamilton's description of Copse

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:05 pm

Smurfy wrote:What freaked me more was Hamilton's description of Copse

But you're taking Copse nearly flat in the BMW on rFactor, surely? You big girl.

I've spectated from the inside and outside of Copse, and the direction change on the way in there is absolutely mind-blowing. I suppose that when you're strapped into a racing car you can feel what it's capable of and trust it completely, but from the outside what they're doing barely looks possible.

Smurfy · Post by **Smurfy** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:02 pm

GB_Simo wrote:
Smurfy wrote:What freaked me more was Hamilton's description of Copse
But you're taking Copse nearly flat in the BMW on rFactor, surely? You big girl.

If I told you that it's a kilt that I'm wearing and not a skirt, would it make any difference to you? :p

Smurfy · Post by **Smurfy** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:21 pm

Double-post.

I still think the 2009 Formula 1 season is less interesting than last year's season. At least we had title battle on our hands.

I'll take Ferrari/McLaren dominance over this season any time.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:39 pm

Smurfy wrote:I still think the 2009 Formula 1 season is less interesting than last year's season. At least we had title battle on our hands.

I'll take Ferrari/McLaren dominance over this season any time.

I am actually loving it. For me the appeal of F1 has never been just about the racing or the points battle. To be honest, the true racing hasn't been that great in the 20+ years I have followed F1 pretty closely.

Seeing Brawn, Button, Webber, Vettel, Rubens etc. and all the controversy is really interesting to me. I am enjoying the circus, even as the racing is not that great. Also, I really appreciate a run-away winner. It's funny in sport how we celebrate dominance way after the fact, but lament it when it is actually happening.

Button may have a ridiculous advantage and team shenanigans at work, but the guy is just not making mistakes, or at least not that we are aware of. Never really thought he had it in him. And he, Brawn, and Vettel seem to be having great fun too. I feel sorry for Rubens. I have always been a fan, but he does sure seem to get the screw job.

If it was really all about close racing and the points battles, MotoGP, SBK, and the IRL would have been top dawgs on the planet in racing for the last several years.

toonarmy · Post by **toonarmy** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 2:05 pm

DChaps wrote:
Smurfy wrote:I still think the 2009 Formula 1 season is less interesting than last year's season. At least we had title battle on our hands.

I'll take Ferrari/McLaren dominance over this season any time.
I am actually loving it. For me the appeal of F1 has never been just about the racing or the points battle. To be honest, the true racing hasn't been that great in the 20+ years I have followed F1 pretty closely.

Seeing Brawn, Button, Webber, Vettel, Rubens etc. and all the controversy is really interesting to me. I am enjoying the circus, even as the racing is not that great. Also, I really appreciate a run-away winner. It's funny in sport how we celebrate dominance way after the fact, but lament it when it is actually happening.

Button may have a ridiculous advantage and team shenanigans at work, but the guy is just not making mistakes, or at least not that we are aware of. Never really thought he had it in him. And he, Brawn, and Vettel seem to be having great fun too. I feel sorry for Rubens. I have always been a fan, but he does sure seem to get the screw job.

If it was really all about close racing and the points battles, MotoGP, SBK, and the IRL would have been top dawgs on the planet in racing for the last several years.

I am extremely happy for Brawn. As much as I have not liked Ferrari over the years, I have always had a healthy amount of respect for some of the members of their teams. Brawn is at the top of that list. He is the only person in Formula One who could be pulling off what he is doing now. The guy is a true mastermind at this point in his career.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 2:39 pm

It looks like our boy Nicky is finally coming to grips with the Ducati. In the 1st practice he was sixth overall and real close to the pace of Casey Stoner.

He qualified 13th today but would have placed higher if not for a spill at the end of qualifying. Keeping fingers crossed for tomorrow.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 5:32 pm

There are only a few tenths between fifth and 14th at Barcelona, so the action in mid-pack should be fantastic tomorrow. Otherwise, it looks like an intramural battle up front between Lorenzo and Rossi, which is becoming a fascinating duel.

Stoner, though, always seems to find something in his setup for the race, as he did at Mugello.

Roll on, MotoGP, the most exciting road racing series in the world.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 6:44 pm

I'm watching the 24H Le Mans on the internet. Would someone care to explain the basics?

1) How many classes of cars compete in this race?

2) Are the scoring rules the same for this race as they are in the ALMS?

3) Is the 24H Le Mans part of the ALMS schedule?

4) Is the winner of each class determined as in any other race where the largest lead in that class wins.

5) How is the overall winner determined in this race?

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:16 pm

Rodster wrote:I'm watching the 24H Le Mans on the internet. Would someone care to explain the basics?

1) How many classes of cars compete in this race?

Four - LMP1, LMP2, GT1 and GT2.

2) Are the scoring rules the same for this race as they are in the ALMS?

I don't entirely know what you're asking there, mate, so I'll have to leave that to someone else.

3) Is the 24H Le Mans part of the ALMS schedule?

No. The cars run to the same regulations and the top couple of cars in the ALMS championship gain an automatic entry to the Le Mans 24 Hours each year, but the race is now a stand-alone event, though in sportscar racing's halcyon days it was a part of the World Sportscar Championship.

4) Is the winner of each class determined as in any other race where the largest lead in that class wins.

Yes, Le Mans is no different to any other race in how it determines class winners.

5) How is the overall winner determined in this race?

The car that's completed the most laps once 24 hours are up is the winner. No handicapping systems or anything like that. The car that goes the furthest the fastest is the winner, just as in the ALMS or FIA GT racing or wherever else you might see multi-class sportscar racing.

To be classified as a finisher, you not only have to take the chequered flag after 24 hours but have to have done a certain amount of running during the last hour. In times past, drivers with broken cars would wait in the pits or even pull to the side of the track, waiting for the 24 hours to end so they could roll slowly to the finish and be counted in the results...

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:22 pm

Thanks Adam, question #2 was asked in the event 24H Le Mans and the ALMS were all the same but you answered they are not.

On a side note i'm totally amazed how fast these guys are driving in the night. Very scary and very cool all at the same time?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:54 pm

My 8-year-old son and I have been watching Le Mans on the DVR for the last few hours. We just started the second segment of SPEED coverage today, which is excellent.

It's so sad that SPEED has become almost an exclusive NASCAR channel because when it wants to do other forms of racing properly, such as F1 and Le Mans, it does the job so well.

Come on, Audi! Come on, Corvette!

Those Gulf Astons are b*tchin', too!

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:15 pm

Eurosport are showing the whole thing live, and I don't have a DVR so Mateschitz sees another spike in profits in north-east England. I've got Radio Le Mans going on the PC too, to cover the Eurosport commercial breaks.

It was through one of those breaks that I heard about Treluyer going off in the Pescarolo Peugeot. Having now seen what's left of the car but not how it ended up in the fence (currently there's no positive confirmation of even where he's gone off, but it's definitely early in the lap), it must have been a huge hit, and there's a lot of worry about the driver. Hopefully, this isn't as serious as it looks.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:29 pm

What do the following classes stand for? I assume P1 and P2 stand for prototype?

LM P1

LM P2

LM GT1

LM GT2

How are these groups or classes created i.e. is it broken down strictly by HP, Engine types and chassis?

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:00 pm

OK I got another question. I noticed some cars have yellow lights. Is that a personal and design choice or is it to differentiate the different car classes? Particularly I noticed some of the Ferrari's and Porches running yellow front lights and I assume they are in the GT1 and GT2 classes, right?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:09 am

Rodster wrote:What do the following classes stand for? I assume P1 and P2 stand for prototype?

How are these groups or classes created i.e. is it broken down strictly by HP, Engine types and chassis?

LM P1: Le Mans Prototype 1 -- most powerful, fastest prototypes.

LM P2: Le Mans Prototype 2 -- less powerful prototypes.

LM GT1: Le Mans Grand Touring 1 -- most powerful,, fastest production-based sports cars.

LM GT2: Le Mans Grand Touring 2 -- less powerful production-based sports cars.

I believe engine displacement, horsepower and car weight all are factored into the classification of cars. Simo, correct me if I'm wrong, mate.

Thanks,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:11 am

Rodster wrote:OK I got another question. I noticed some cars have yellow lights. Is that a personal and design choice or is it to differentiate the different car classes? Particularly I noticed some of the Ferrari's and Porches running yellow front lights and I assume they are in the GT1 and GT2 classes, right?

Correct.

Prototypes use white headlights; GT class cars use yellow. Helps the drivers and fans differentiate between the classes at night.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:03 pm

Thanks for the answers PK.

Is Nascar in trouble? Here's some food for thought.

NASCAR’s truck series nearing its end?
http://racingwithrich.com/?p=817

NASCAR back in Michigan, but not so close to Detroit anymore
http://apps.detnews.com/apps/blogs/racingblog/index.php

Also it's being reported that ticket sales for Michigan are dismal. I use to enjoy this series back in the 90's but since Nascrap has gone mainstream and the Nascar suits sold their soul to the devil, I really don't care about Nascar anymore. It's also a shame that Speed Channel has become a Nascar cable channel.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:17 pm

Rodster wrote:Thanks for the answers PK.

Is Nascar in trouble? Here's some food for thought.

You can feed me an all-day smorgasbord of food for my brain, and you'll never convince me NASCAR is in trouble. No racing series is doing well now, but NASCAR is FAR, FAR healthier than any other major racing series in North America.

Other series would give their first-born for half the crowds, TV ratings, car counts and cash in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series.

I agree with you about SPEED, though. Events like F1 races and Le Mans show just how well the network can produce and air non-NASCAR races. But NASCAR gets the ratings and advertisers.

The car customization and reality shows also attract younger viewers more than racing broadcasts, which is vital to SPEED's advertisers.

So expect an even more intense mix of NASCAR, "Unique Whips," "Pinks: All Out" and "Wrecked" on SPEED in the future. Unfortunately, it's not racing's version of PBS -- they need to turn a profit.

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:20 pm

PK, as far as I know the factors you listed are exactly the ones determining which car fits in which class in endurance racing.

Edit: I'm a spoiler-fied d*ck! Luckily it appears the YouTube video has been taken down. Just watch the Moto GP from Catalunya on tape delay later in the day, and we'll forget this ever happened.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:23 pm

Simo:

You're a spoiler-fied d*ck: The race isn't on here in the States until 6 p.m. (ET), about 5 1/2 hours from now.

Sadly, MotoGP is always televised on same-day delay here in the U.S. instead of live.

No worries, though. You didn't know!

I don't remember much from high school French, but I did pick up this from the announcer: "C'EST MAGNIFIQUE!"

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:53 pm

I prefer to think of myself as a gentle tease, if it's all the same. I offer the link, you're drawn to the Play button and BOOM! Away we go.

I didn't see it live, as it goes, since I was playing football. Watched it on Eurosport, who have a deal this year to broadcast on a tape delay. To be honest, it didn't even register that you'd be further tape delayed than I was. Mea culpa.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 5:37 pm

LeMans was a good race, cool to see Peugeot take the win, and to have David Brabham on the team.

Benoit Treluyer's wreck was horrible, holy cow that car was destroyed. Thank god he'll be OK. Is there any footage of what actually happened?

And let me also give my 2 cents that pitting to clean your car so it looks nice and shiney at the finish is lame. I agree with David Hobbs, at the finish the should look like its been through a 24 hour race.

And those Aston Martins are pretty. Of course, if you painted Adam in those colors I'd say he was pretty too!

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:19 pm

I love my Ferrari's but damn those Aston Martin's won the show in looks.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:29 pm

I forgot to mention, what a sweet MotoGP race today. Nicky is taking baby steps with the Ducati. He started 13th and finished 10th. Nice pre-race interview with Nicky.