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[Pimpwerx]

Whatup! It's another week, and another race. And hopefully, not another horrible Imola race. It's been rather dreadful for some time now. Since they went and ruined it and all. But enough sour grapes, let the European leg of the season BEGIN...

Practice Session 1:

 P. No  Driver       Team - Engine   Tyres    Times      Ave/Gaps
 1. 35  DE LA ROSA   McLaren Mercedes  M   1'21"060  219.082 Km/h  
 2. 38  ZONTA        Toyota            M   1'21"174    + 0'00"114  
 3.  3  BUTTON       BAR Honda         M   1'21"750    + 0'00"690  
 4.  1  M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari           B   1'22"085    + 0'01"025  
 5. 37  KLIEN        RedBull Cosworth  M   1'22"736    + 0'01"676  
 6.  4  SATO         BAR Honda         M   1'22"945    + 0'01"885  
 7.  9  RAIKKONEN    McLaren Mercedes  M   1'22"962    + 0'01"902  
 8.  8  HEIDFELD     Williams BMW      M   1'23"086    + 0'02"026  
 9. 10  WURZ         McLaren Mercedes  M   1'23"391    + 0'02"331  
10.  7  WEBBER       Williams BMW      M   1'23"532    + 0'02"472  
11.  2  BARRICHELLO  Ferrari           B   1'23"797    + 0'02"737  
12. 15  LIUZZI       RedBull Cosworth  M   1'24"052    + 0'02"992  
13. 14  COULTHARD    RedBull Cosworth  M   1'24"126    + 0'03"066  
14. 12  MASSA        Sauber Petronas   M   1'24"175    + 0'03"115  
15. 11  VILLENEUVE   Sauber Petronas   M   1'24"255    + 0'03"195  
16. 19  KARTHIKEYAN  Jordan Toyota     B   1'24"512    + 0'03"452  
17. 18  MONTEIRO     Jordan Toyota     B   1'25"257    + 0'04"197  
18. 39  DOORNBOS     Jordan Toyota     B   1'25"555    + 0'04"495  
19. 17  R.SCHUMACHER Toyota            M   1'26"333    + 0'05"273  
20. 21  ALBERS       Minardi Cosworth  B   1'27"353    + 0'06"293  
21. 20  FRIESACHER   Minardi Cosworth  B   1'27"411    + 0'06"351

Practice Session 2:

 P. No  Driver       Team - Engine   Tyres    Times      Ave/Gaps
 1. 35  DE LA ROSA   McLaren Mercedes  M   1'20"484  220.650 Km/h  
 2.  3  BUTTON       BAR Honda         M   1'21"052    + 0'00"568  
 3.  9  RAIKKONEN    McLaren Mercedes  M   1'21"704    + 0'01"220  
 4. 38  ZONTA        Toyota            M   1'21"889    + 0'01"405  
 5.  5  ALONSO       Renault           M   1'21"899    + 0'01"415  
 6.  1  M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari           B   1'22"025    + 0'01"541  
 7.  2  BARRICHELLO  Ferrari           B   1'22"048    + 0'01"564  
 8. 10  WURZ         McLaren Mercedes  M   1'22"174    + 0'01"690  
 9.  6  FISICHELLA   Renault           M   1'22"211    + 0'01"727  
10.  4  SATO         BAR Honda         M   1'22"335    + 0'01"851  
11. 12  MASSA        Sauber Petronas   M   1'22"791    + 0'02"307  
12. 11  VILLENEUVE   Sauber Petronas   M   1'22"955    + 0'02"471  
13. 16  TRULLI       Toyota            M   1'23"343    + 0'02"859  
14.  8  HEIDFELD     Williams BMW      M   1'23"458    + 0'02"974  
15. 17  R.SCHUMACHER Toyota            M   1'23"466    + 0'02"982  
16. 14  COULTHARD    RedBull Cosworth  M   1'23"815    + 0'03"331  
17. 19  KARTHIKEYAN  Jordan Toyota     B   1'23"842    + 0'03"358  
18.  7  WEBBER       Williams BMW      M   1'23"964    + 0'03"480  
19. 18  MONTEIRO     Jordan Toyota     B   1'24"573    + 0'04"089  
20. 37  KLIEN        RedBull Cosworth  M   1'24"625    + 0'04"141  
21. 15  LIUZZI       RedBull Cosworth  M   1'24"626    + 0'04"142  
22. 39  DOORNBOS     Jordan Toyota     B   1'25"172    + 0'04"688  
23. 20  FRIESACHER   Minardi Cosworth  B   1'26"620    + 0'06"136

PEACE.

EDIT: This reminds me. CBS is running the race at 1-3pm Sunday afternoon. This is a good thing for people who don't subscribe to Speed. Give it a watch. I can't promise Imola won't suck, but when you see these cars perform, it's amazing. There's also bound to be some carnage on the start. Those ridiculous chicanes only collect pileups.

 

[Shinobi]

:lol Beat me by five minutes...ah well.

 

[Shinobi]

Here's the US TV weekend sched (all times EST)...


Tonight
9:00 pm Formula One Practice



Saturday
7:00 am Formula One Qualifying
San Marino - Session 1

1:30 pm Formula One Qualifying
San Marino - Session 1
NR



Sunday
12:30 am Inside Grand Prix
San Marino Grand Prix

2:00 am Formula One Practice
San Marino Grand Prix

NR
3:00 am Formula One Qualifying
San Marino - Session 1

NR
4:30 am Inside Grand Prix
San Marino Grand Prix

Sun., Apr. 24 Grand Prix of San Marino 1:00


Quirky fact...a Bridgestone-equipped car failed to collect a point in the last race for the first time since 1997. That's pretty ridiculous.

 

[Pimpwerx]

Quirky fact...a Bridgestone-equipped car failed to collect a point in the last race for the first time since 1997. That's pretty ridiculous.

I blame Jordan. :lol PEACE.

 

[Shinobi]

:lol

McLaren with another strong showing in practice...gotta make that count in qualies though. And on one hand it's good to see Villeneuve keeping pace with Massa...on the other hand they're about middle of the pack so far. Hopefully they were just working on race setup. Looks like Button's back with a vegenence...he can't be happy with his season so far compared to what was done last year. And Ferrari seems to be slowly getting back to form, at least hanging with the Reanults. Should be a fascinating couple of months, and of course an interesting race weekend.

 

[MaverickX9]

EDIT: This reminds me. CBS is running the race at 1-3pm Sunday afternoon. This is a good thing for people who don't subscribe to Speed. Give it a watch. I can't promise Imola won't suck, but when you see these cars perform, it's amazing. There's also bound to be some carnage on the start. Those ridiculous chicanes only collect pileups.

Sweet!

They should do that more often. I've been dying here ever since F1 went to Speed.

 

[Pimpwerx]

Practice Session 3:

P. No  Driver       Team - Engine   Tyres    Times      Ave/Gaps
 1.  1  M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari           B   1'21"356  218.285 Km/h  
 2.  2  BARRICHELLO  Ferrari           B   1'22"885    + 0'01"529  
 3. 12  MASSA        Sauber Petronas   M   1'22"971    + 0'01"615  
 4.  9  RAIKKONEN    McLaren Mercedes  M   1'23"723    + 0'02"367  
 5.  7  WEBBER       Williams BMW      M   1'23"788    + 0'02"432  
 6. 15  LIUZZI       RedBull Cosworth  M   1'23"894    + 0'02"538  
 7.  6  FISICHELLA   Renault           M   1'24"120    + 0'02"764  
 8. 17  R.SCHUMACHER Toyota            M   1'24"156    + 0'02"800  
 9. 10  WURZ         McLaren Mercedes  M   1'24"262    + 0'02"906  
10.  8  HEIDFELD     Williams BMW      M   1'24"341    + 0'02"985  
11. 14  COULTHARD    RedBull Cosworth  M   1'24"523    + 0'03"167  
12.  3  BUTTON       BAR Honda         M   1'24"757    + 0'03"401  
13.  4  SATO         BAR Honda         M   1'24"770    + 0'03"414  
14. 19  KARTHIKEYAN  Jordan Toyota     B   1'25"197    + 0'03"841  
15. 18  MONTEIRO     Jordan Toyota     B   1'25"197    + 0'03"841  
16. 11  VILLENEUVE   Sauber Petronas   M   1'25"393    + 0'04"037  
17. 16  TRULLI       Toyota            M   1'25"730    + 0'04"374  
18. 21  ALBERS       Minardi Cosworth  B   1'27"658    + 0'06"302  
19. 20  FRIESACHER   Minardi Cosworth  B   1'27"854    + 0'06"498

See something you like?

Practice Session 4:

 P. No  Driver       Team - Engine   Tyres    Times      Ave/Gaps
 1.  3  BUTTON       BAR Honda         M   1'20"058  221.824 Km/h  
 2.  5  ALONSO       Renault           M   1'20"114    + 0'00"056  
 3.  9  RAIKKONEN    McLaren Mercedes  M   1'20"209    + 0'00"151  
 4.  1  M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari           B   1'20"319    + 0'00"261  
 5.  6  FISICHELLA   Renault           M   1'20"351    + 0'00"293  
 6. 10  WURZ         McLaren Mercedes  M   1'20"358    + 0'00"300  
 7.  7  WEBBER       Williams BMW      M   1'20"424    + 0'00"366  
 8.  8  HEIDFELD     Williams BMW      M   1'20"431    + 0'00"373  
 9.  4  SATO         BAR Honda         M   1'20"450    + 0'00"392  
10. 12  MASSA        Sauber Petronas   M   1'20"506    + 0'00"448  
11. 17  R.SCHUMACHER Toyota            M   1'20"802    + 0'00"744  
12.  2  BARRICHELLO  Ferrari           B   1'20"851    + 0'00"793  
13. 16  TRULLI       Toyota            M   1'21"105    + 0'01"047  
14. 14  COULTHARD    RedBull Cosworth  M   1'21"136    + 0'01"078  
15. 11  VILLENEUVE   Sauber Petronas   M   1'21"543    + 0'01"485  
16. 15  LIUZZI       RedBull Cosworth  M   1'22"188    + 0'02"130  
17. 19  KARTHIKEYAN  Jordan Toyota     B   1'22"964    + 0'02"906  
18. 18  MONTEIRO     Jordan Toyota     B   1'24"910    + 0'04"852

Bridgestone bouncing back? PEACE.

EDIT: Oh, and Speed announced that Ferrari is supplying Red Bull with engines starting next year. So they lose Sauber and gain Red Bull. An even trade.

 

[Shinobi]

Well, so much for Jacques keeping pace with Massa :lol To be fair they're a lot closer in the second session, but it's still a second and a half gap. Anyway, so long as Kimi's in the top three or four, it's all good. He's clearly one of the three fastest, most talented drivers in the field along with Michael (don't call it a comeback) and Alonso (still the boss till he's defeated)...he just needs good qualifying position. Anyway, I expect the top four in session two to be the drivers to watch the next couple months.

 

[Project Midway]

woohoo, Kimi took the pole! I was bit worried after his first section but second and third were awesome.

1. Kimi Räikkönen McLaren 2.42,880
2. Fernando Alonso Renault + 0,561
3. Jenson Button BAR + 1,225
4. Mark Webber Williams + 1,631
5. Jarno Trulli Toyota + 1,638
6. Takuma Sato BAR + 1,778
7. Alexander Wurz McLaren + 1,809
8. Felipe Massa Sauber + 2,050
9. Nick Heidfeld Williams + 2,316
10. Rubens Barrichello Ferrari + 2,363
11. Ralf Schumacher Toyota + 2,536
12. Jacques Villeneuve Sauber + 3,379
13. Giancarlo Fisichella Renault + 3,830
14. Michael Schumacher Ferrari + 4,364
15. David Coulthard Red Bull + 5,190
16. Vitantonio Liuzzi Red Bull + 5,275
17. Narain Karthikeyan Jordan + 9,219
18. Tiago Monteiro Jordan + 11,372
19. Patrick Friesacher Minardi + 14,168
20. Christijan Albers Minardi

 

[Cronos]

Yes! Kimi in pole position! Just saw the 2nd qualify. Schumacher starting at 14th position, definately not his weekend. :lol

 

[DrM]

:lol :lol

 

[Shinobi]

Michael was actually having a pretty good weekend...obviously something got fucked up in the second session. Guessing he was pushing too hard trying to make up the 0.2 second gap to Kimi and Alonso and lost it somewhere. Fuel/tire strategy couldn't account for that much difference, not for the Ferrari anyway. Christ even Rubes is starting further up, and he pretty much sucked all weekend.

Not that I care...my boy Kimi's on the pole, so that's all that really matters. :lol Now we'll get to see how he and McLaren compare to Alonso and Renault.

Oh yeah, expect Button to fight for the podium as well...he's been quick the entire weekend, and has something to prove after the controversial off season and disasterous start for the team.

 

[Project Midway]

:lol :lol

:lol

I find it bit suspicious that Montoya isnt even at the pits with McLaren. I wonder how he is doing with Ron Dennis...

 

[Shinobi]

:lol :lol

:lol Gee, wonder who their favourite driver is. :lol

Oh BTW, here are the times for the first qualifying session, coupled with the total aggregate times for easier comparison...



First qualifying times from Imola:

1. RAIKKONEN McLaren 1m19.886s
2. ALONSO Renault 1m19.889s
3. M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari 1m20.260s
4. WEBBER Williams 1m20.442s
5. BUTTON BAR 1m20.464s
6. TRULLI Toyota 1m20.492s
7. MASSA Sauber 1m20.593s
8. WURZ McLaren 1m20.632s
9. HEIDFELD Williams 1m20.807s
10. SATO BAR 1m20.851s
11. BARRICHELLO Ferrari 1m20.892s
12. R.SCHUMACHER Toyota 1m20.994s
13. VILLENEUVE Sauber 1m20.999s
14. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m21.632s
15. FISICHELLA Renault 1m21.708s
16. LIUZZI Red Bull 1m21.804s
17. KARTHIKEYAN Jordan 1m23.123s
18. MONTEIRO Jordan 1m25.100s
19. ALBERS Minardi 1m25.921s
20. FRIESACHER Minardi 1m26.484s






Final positions from Imola:

1 K Raikkonen (McLaren) 2:42.880
2 F Alonso (Renault) 2:43.441
3 J Button (BAR) 2:44.105
4 M Webber (Williams) 2:44.511
5 J Trulli (Toyota) 2:44.518
6 T Sato (BAR) 2:44.658
7 A Wurz (McLaren) 2:44.689
8 F Massa (Sauber) 2:44.930
9 N Heidfeld (Williams) 2:45.196
10 R Barrichello (Ferrari) 2:45.243
11 R Schumacher (Toyota) 2:45.416
12 J Villeneuve (Sauber) 2:46.259
13 G Fisichella (Renault) 2:46.710
14 M Schumacher (Ferrari) 2:47.244
15 D Coulthard (Red Bull) 2:48.070
16 V Liuzzi (Red Bull) 2:48.155
17 N Karthikeyan (Jordan) 2:52.099
18 T Monteiro (Jordan) 2:54.252
19 P Friesacher (Minardi) 2:57.048
20 C Albers (Minardi) accident

 

[Project Midway]

Damn...Kimi is out...

 

[Cronos]

Damn...Kimi is out...

Yeah, the guy has no luck...

 

[ElyrionX]

I got a question regarding the pit crews.

So as we all know, the rules changed such that the drivers would have to survive the entire race with only one set of tires. This effectively eliminates the usefulness of a whole chunk of the pit crew. So previously, it took like 20 people to change a complete set of tires (1 to unscrew/screw, 2 to pull the old one out, 2 to put the new one in), 3 or 4 to do the fuel topup and a couple more here and there for the miscellaneous stuff.

In this season, we see a much slimmer pit crew but there still are some guys hanging around the tires (trying to look important, no doubt, :lol). So what are they doing? I see some just looking at the tire, inspecting them for damage perhaps? And then I see some guys holding on to what look likes a huge hairblower or something. So what exactly are these guys doing?

 

[Project Midway]

I got a question regarding the pit crews.

So as we all know, the rules changed such that the drivers would have to survive the entire race with only one set of tires. This effectively eliminates the usefulness of a whole chunk of the pit crew. So previously, it took like 20 people to change a complete set of tires (1 to unscrew/screw, 2 to pull the old one out, 2 to put the new one in), 3 or 4 to do the fuel topup and a couple more here and there for the miscellaneous stuff.

In this season, we see a much slimmer pit crew but there still are some guys hanging around the tires (trying to look important, no doubt, :lol). So what are they doing? I see some just looking at the tire, inspecting them for damage perhaps? And then I see some guys holding on to what look likes a huge hairblower or something. So what exactly are these guys doing?

well, IIRC you can change punctured tyres and also change wet and extreme-weather tyres. But these can only be used when the track is declared wet by the race director.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Koshiro]

Oh shit.. here comes Schuey... someone make him stop

 

[Project Midway]

schumi got his game on!

 

[Koshiro]

God damn motherfucking Williams!

 

[ElyrionX]

HOLY SHIT!! Schumacher is a fucking racing GOD!!

 

[Koshiro]

Holy crap, I was gritting my teeth waiting for that finish line, just praying Alonso could hold off Schuey long enough. God damn, awesome race!

 

[DrM]

What a race!
Alonso with nerves of steel, Schumi with comeback, Barichello and Kimi again with car problems, BAR comeback....
oh yes, this will be very interesting season!

 

[ninge]

WTF was up with the ad break 3 laps from the end when it was all going down? fuck ITV..

 

[Rainbow L33T]

Would've been fun to have Kimi in that fight with the two in the end.But you remove the mistake of Michael in 2nd qualification and this race is all over.The pace he had in this one was out of this world.Fuck,a 31s lead from Alonzo and 20s lead from 2nd place of Button an he managed almost a freaking win and all that in 30 laps.

Also,good race pace by Jacques.The press will probably give him some slack for a little while now.

 

[tracky_dacks]

Oh my, what a terrific race -- I bow to you Schuey! Yeah had he had been further up the grid, it would have been all she wrote, but that's racing.
Poor Kimi though. The guy has the worst case of bad luck.

 

[Rainbow L33T]

The fastest lap of the day was 1:21.858,done by Michael.Second fastest was Button with 1:22.604.Alonzo was fourth with 1:23.133.

Bridgestone really got it together for this one and it's looking good for the remaining of the season.

 

[Pimpwerx]

Holy shit! That was a finish. CBS tried to harsh my buzz with too many ads, but that was a tremendous finish. Awesome race by Michael. 13th to 2nd, and woulda had the win IMO if Button hadn't held him up a bit. Alonso showed some major courage under fire there. His car wasn't fastest, but he withstood Michael's best today. Alonso didn't give a goddamn inch today. I haven't been on the edge of my seat for an F1 finish in months. That was good. That was fucking great. Imola is usually dreadful, and this race was pretty damn bad on overtaking. But for this Schuey fan, it was great watching him put in one of his finest drives ever. Man, I'm spent. PEACE.

EDIT: Good drive by JV. I give him shit all the time, but he drove a good race, and had a nice move getting by Webber. If he keeps this up throughout the rest of the season, he'll have earned that seat.

 

[Bat]

That was the best race in years. Edge of your seat action for a good thirty laps.

 

[Shinobi]

I got a question regarding the pit crews.

So as we all know, the rules changed such that the drivers would have to survive the entire race with only one set of tires. This effectively eliminates the usefulness of a whole chunk of the pit crew. So previously, it took like 20 people to change a complete set of tires (1 to unscrew/screw, 2 to pull the old one out, 2 to put the new one in), 3 or 4 to do the fuel topup and a couple more here and there for the miscellaneous stuff.

In this season, we see a much slimmer pit crew but there still are some guys hanging around the tires (trying to look important, no doubt, :lol). So what are they doing? I see some just looking at the tire, inspecting them for damage perhaps? And then I see some guys holding on to what look likes a huge hairblower or something. So what exactly are these guys doing?

The guys that look at the tires are generally inspecting for dirt or damage, as well as adjusting tire pressures.

And I have to echo the sentiments...that's the best race I've seen since the British GP a couple years ago, and one of the best in recent memory. Damn shame my boy Kimi went out early with car trouble, as he could've been a factor towards the end. But I don't think even he could've matched Michael's ridiculous pace. That pass he made on Button was just ridiculous...reminded me of the infamous pass Mika Hakkinen made on Schumi at Spa. To react that quickly and decisively is just abnormal for a human being. I thought for sure that Mike was gonna reel Alonso in, but give that kid credit...he didn't give a single inch. Make no mistake though, Ferrari and Bridgestone defintely look to have the upper hand...without that screwup in qualifying, this would've been a rout.

Great to see my boy Jacques get 6th as well...hopefully he can get a few more points paying positions.

 

[LusDekkar]

:lol :lol

:lol if only there was a high res version of that i'll put it up as my wallpaper!

Good race, although there wasn't much over taking, schumi drive a good race. Good thing that schumi stuffed up in qualy2 though, or else he would have won for sure. A few times i had to hold my breath because schumi and alonso were so close to each other that i though that they'd crash. It might have been the camera angles though because some of them were pretty shocking.
I was abit worried about his tyres towards the end because he had been driving so hard for so long. But it looks like Bridgestone have got their act together. I suppose it wasn't hot today so that would have helped for sure.

Gotta feel sorry for Kimi, every time he's looking good for a race his car stuffs up.

 

[fart]

fuck i had a painful night of bug hunting and missed it

 

[Shinobi]

Do you live in the US? If so, Speed Channel's showing an encore of the race this Friday at midnight.

 

[Pimpwerx]

fart: If you look in the right places, you can find torrents of the race. If I had a DVD-9 burner, I'd save all races and then burn a few DVDs at the end of the season. This one is certainly worth the watch, if not just to see a fire light under Michael for 40 laps straight. He was just there, there, there, and then wham, he's just chewing up ground on everyone. I was scratching my head for a bit after his first pit stop, b/c I couldn't believe how far he'd gotten. If MS didn't screw up, and Rubens lasted the race, it could have been a Ferrari 1-2. The car was that good.

Otherwise, it was a normal Imola race. Pretty dull all-around. They might never drop it from the schedule b/c it killed Senna. IMO, Italy doesn't deserve two races, and of the two, Monza is by far the better track. Imola is only around for nostalgia. It shouldn't take such an extraordinary effort to get a good race. PEACE.