Formula 1 2005

[conchgtv]

I think it was kind of stupid to have sixteen guys over the wall just to fuel the car. if i was one of the guys other than the hose guy, id feel pretty stupid and useless. I think the rule change to make the cars more durable is a good one. I think they should get away from one race disposable cars. but this no tire change rule is ridiculous. if there is anything good to be learned from nascar, its that pit crews make for good action, and contribute to the team feeling of the whole endeavour. well, thats my two cents...
come to sebring!

[Hit an Apex]

Fox bought speedvision in 2002 and turned it into SpeedTV in Feb02. That's why it has gone from road racing > nascar.

[GreyGTV6]

Maybe a really dumb question, but what's the connection between Fox & Nascar? Is there so much Nascar on Speed because that's the viewer demand and where the money is or is there some vested interest? I have no problem with the Nascar other than I simply don't watch it, but the BTCC & DTM were my favourite. The new World Touring Car series would be nice to watch.

[Alfajack]

When Fox first bought Speedvision they were going to turn it into the "Nascar Channel," an all-Nascar all-the-time kind of thing. It was only the outcry from Speedvision subscribers that kept them from doing so.

Nascar fits nicely with Fox's hypernationalism and their sell sell sell 24 hours a day mantra. Haven't you noticed that at least half the commercials on Fox are for shows on Fox, the news on Fox reports on (sells) the shows on Fox, etc. Selling oodles of commercials for Tide or Bud or whatever else is plastered on the side of a Chevy on Speed makes the Fox people drool.

AJ

[conchgtv]

fox, newsspeak, welcome to 1984

[deltahf_2]

First, for everyone lamenting Ferrari's recent dominance, remember the 21 years that we Ferrari fans waited from Jody Schekter in 1979, during which there were significant periods of dominance from McLaren and Williams. Ferrari under Todt has assembled a world class team that truly functions as a team - which is why it wins. As soon as McLaren, Renault, or Williams stops bickering and starts working as a team, one or more of them will challenge Ferrari (Toyota and BAR have bigger problems).

As for Australia, if watching retread Villeneuve hold up traffic is Bernie and Max's idea of a good race, F1 is really in trouble. The arbitrary and contrived rule changes designed to increase passing did nothing of the sort - witness how long Alonso with a much much quicker car was stuck behind Villeneuve and how long it took Schumacher and Raikkonen to make any progress through the field. The majority of the overtaking took place in the pits - as was the case last year. Other than that it was an F1 parade, with a few exceptions. We'll see at the next race the impact of the two race engine rule - let's hope engine failures don't reduce the already miniscule field to 8-10.

F1 has always been the pinnacle of motorsport and technical development, but I fear that Bernie and Max are ruining the sport for the sake of personal wealth, tobacco markets, and TV ratings with their contrived "competition" that is actually nothing of the sort.

[dretceterini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltahf_2 F1 has always been the pinnacle of motorsport and technical development, but I fear that Bernie and Max are ruining the sport for the sake of personal wealth, tobacco markets, and TV ratings with their contrived "competition" that is actually nothing of the sort.

[Hit an Apex]

Not FIA's fault that a Honda can't pass an underfunded Sauber driven by a former world champ.

[AlfaMale]

Quote:

Originally Posted by conchgtv I think it was kind of stupid to have sixteen guys over the wall just to fuel the car. if i was one of the guys other than the hose guy, id feel pretty stupid and useless. I think the rule change to make the cars more durable is a good one. I think they should get away from one race disposable cars. but this no tire change rule is ridiculous. if there is anything good to be learned from nascar, its that pit crews make for good action, and contribute to the team feeling of the whole endeavour. well, thats my two cents... come to sebring!

[boggissimo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfaMale I don't know how many guys are over the wall, but I doubt its 16. Anyway, they have a guy on each tire with a cosmic device which measures and adjusts tire pressures as necessary. So one for each wheel, two refulers, the lollipop guy, the front jack/stop here guy, the restart dude, someone to wipe the driver's butt, oh I mean face mask, and the crew chief, so that makes 11. Anymore?

[Hit an Apex]

I believe its
3 per tire = 12
2 fuel = 14
2 jackman = 16
lolipop + cleaner = 18
radiator crew = 20.

[deltahf_2]

I'd certainly be willing to feel stupid and useless as one of the extraneous 18 guys on the Ferrari pit crew Where is the signup?

[84_SPIDER]

I do believe I saw pit crew member, about 10 feet (what's that 3.5 meters) behind the car with what looked like a hose contraption. I figured that he was a fireman, incase all hell broke loose, with a refueling fire. He was behind the guy with hand held starter motor.
Also, do they run "regular" gasoline these days? I remember a decade ago they had some volitile mix of chemicals that would make a DuPont chemist smile.

[italcarguy]

So....is your money on Renault, McLaren, or you think Ferrari has a chance? Ferrari needs to $hit can those Bridgestones, but I don't think those Michelin teams would agree with that. Does Ferrari have some kind of contract with them they can get out of?

[AlfaMale]

I think it is pretty evident that the battle this year is between Kimi and Alonso. After watching Monaco me thinks Mclaren is going to be the Ferrari of 2005. Kimi just checked out just as he did in Spain. Montoya was running very well at the end. He simply had a lousy starting position.

I don't believe Bridgestone is inherently bad, they just have to find a way for their tires to come in quicker. Michael was setting fastest lap by the end of the race yesterday.