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Post by chrisfinch on Jul 2, 2006 19:33:12 GMT
Can't say I really watched this, more interested in the world touring cars from Brazil, but from what I saw it looked unspectacular (except for the start!!!)
Star of the race: Tonio Liuzzi for Toro Rosso's first points Rejects of the race: McLaren
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Post by FordTeamRS on Jul 3, 2006 0:29:46 GMT
I wanted to watch it, but my good for nothing phone didn't wake me up! That's what I hate about these North American rounds that start at 2am But it didn't look like much of a race staying up for anyway, the start stole the rest of the day's actions and put it in one mammoth of an accident. Good thing Nick Heidfeld walked away from that one Star of the race: Jarno Trulli for not dozing off and finishing on the lead lap for once Reject of the race: Whoever started the accident
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Post by Nick McRae on Nov 22, 2008 23:03:33 GMT
Two years and four months on, does this still need to be pinned?
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Post by FordTeamRS on Nov 23, 2008 0:57:32 GMT
It's a time capsule. I might as well try and resurrect it, I'm the worst moderator on the planet Beware the wall of text though. Well those you that are unaware, 2009 brings in a whole host of new regulations to spice up the racing. The first of which has been the slightly contentious issue of KERS (kinetic energy recovery system)- which basically generates stored energy under braking, which is then transferred to a power boost function to give drivers extra power to overtake another car. Some teams will adopt the system for next year, some may delay it to later in the year or in 2010. It was also subject to a safety scare when a BMW mechanic was electrocuted by a test car, he's fine and there have been measures taken to reduce the risk of static shock. It's also been a costly exercise with teams spending umpteenth millions of dollars developing systems, whereas the teams could have done the smart thing and created a standard system designed by all teams to dramatically reduce cost. Alas ego got in the way. Another change is the warmly welcome return of fully slick tyres to F1. Gone are the awkward looking and awkward handling grooved dry tyres, and back comes good old mechanical grip. Already they have proved faster in testing alone, Sebastian Vettel testing for Red Bull set a time faster than Kimi Raikkonen's pole time from Barcelona this year. It may shake up the grid a bit with most drivers disliking the grooved formula, slicks may just shine the skills of drivers that haven't had much to show for the last few years. The last major technical change is the aero regulations. The last couple of years, aerodynamicists have been obsessed with creating a simple and sleek car only to ruin it by chucking visually offensive flick-ups, winglets, horn noses, moustache front wings and station wagon engine covers in a desperate attempt for the eternal search for downforce. The new regulations are also designed to compliment KERS and slicks in creating overtaking much easier, which has been problematic the last several years. The front wing is much wider and lower to the ground, and the rear wing has been reduced in width and increased in height. Those little aerodynamic flick-ups have been banned, which you think would bring back the days of sleek and clean F1 cars. Here's a photo of the now visually disproportionate F1 car of the future... Note that Honda forgot about the rear wing change. It's been rather contentious, at first it was widely hated amongst pretty much everybody in the F1 community. BMW test driver Christian Klien cut the PR bull and labelled out down right ugly. It may just be a rough interpretation of the rules, with teams perhaps keeping their more attractive designs to themselves before the first race next year. If not, I guess we have to put up with it in the name of racing. Worryingly, it is starting to grow on me. I'd hate to think how an F1 aerodynamicist designs their own house though.
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Post by Nick McRae on Nov 23, 2008 13:29:07 GMT
Slick tyres and F1 cars are sexy! But not in THAT way. Ahem. I must admit seeing a front view of the BMW looking back at from MN this week has allowed me to warm to it but does the rear wing need to be so high!?
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Post by FordTeamRS on Nov 24, 2008 1:30:43 GMT
Well initial reports have suggested there is less disturbance when following another car, I guess we won't fully find out the difference until the first race in Melbourne.
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Post by Mixa on Nov 24, 2008 10:45:54 GMT
I like about the new rules IF them brings more overtakes and action to the F1. The cars were quite a box type in end of 80´s-start of 90´s but offered some awesome action! Honda has an old type back wing on the shots so I think thats not their final car.
Also if mid teams can be closer to top and its not just Ferrari-McLaren all the way Im happy!
But as I said when Hamilton won the title(I even hate to say it, so sorry Brits) as long as Toyota doesnt win races or Hamilton wins Im not returning to modern F1. I stick with the old F1 videos and other motorsports where racing is still exciting!
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Post by Vivski on Nov 26, 2008 13:32:45 GMT
It may take a little while to get the parity into the sport (there's parity in F1?) but this is a great step in the right direction. Not sure about the regenerative braking, but the slicks are well overdue. I really like the look of the cars aside from the rear wing... half-way through next year we'll wonder how we ever did without the tall, narrow wings.
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Post by FordTeamRS on Nov 27, 2008 0:12:02 GMT
Bernie Ecclestone's lost his marbles and is seriously pushing to implement an Olympic style medal system only rewarding the top 3 drivers. His motive is that the current points system means drivers play it conservative for the sake of gathering points rather than out right winning. The purpose of it also being to promote harder driving and overtaking. Coupled with impending rumours of a standard engine getting closer, I'm not too sure whether I like where F1 is heading.
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Post by Vivski on Nov 27, 2008 13:10:58 GMT
If he wants to keep drivers pushing then the title should be calculated based on aggregate time over the season.
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Post by Mixa on Nov 27, 2008 17:19:01 GMT
I kinda hate the medal system because theres only one way to go what comes to FIA. "Hey what about if we test it out first at somewhere else... ööh,like at the WRC" . Im sure it will be in all the FIA championships if its head to F1.
Why motorsports just cannot be as them were? Its always been about the points. Ecclestone has really lost it all!
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