2006 (Japanese Grand Prix)

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Pupik

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The 2006 F1 World Driver's Championship comes down to the wire; Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher are tied with the same points total, with only the number of wins separating the two of them. Renault have a slim lead on Ferrari in the Contructor's title, just one point separates the two teams. And with the Fuji International Circuit securing the rights to next year's Japanese GP, this may be a swansong for the venerable John Hugenholtz-designed track, a fixture on the F1 circuit since 1987.

Expectations are high after last year's superb race; Kimi Raikkonen battled superbly to take the lead from Giancarlo Fisichella on the last lap, and Alonso made a mighty sweep on Michael Schumacher into the R130 earlier in the race. Wonderful racing, no whining about the passing maneuvers, and everyone kept it clean. It was truly an all-round classic race, one for the ages, as this 19-year-strong F1 fan will attest.

I turn it over to you (all) in the forums...
 
Hopefully Suzuka's final race (for now anyway) will be as exciting in one way or another then last year. As you say, both championships currently have nothing in it between the two big players so that will most definitely add to the atmosphere and excitement.

A dry race would be best of course and short of a retirement/no points finish for either Schuie or Fernando, it will still leave people in mystery as to who will win it.

I'll miss Suzuka to be honest...I join some of the drivings in backing two japanese races and have both Suzuka and Fuji. Not even the England match will distract me from the anticipation of this race
 
Should be a good race, remember Honda are using a new engine, an engine that seems to be the base for the 2007 design. If this goes horribly wrong, they could be in alot of trouble..
 
Bee
Good ol'reliable Sato.. :lol:
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Well, that's par for the course, then.

Friday 2nd practce results (there were only 11 recorded times for the wet 1st practice).
Code: 
1. Giancarlo Fisichella 	Renault 		8 	1:34.337 	 	 
2. Felipe Massa 	Ferrari 			10 	1:34.408 	0.071 	0.071 
3. Michael Schumacher 	Ferrari 			10 	1:34.565 	0.157 	0.228 
4. Fernando Alonso 	Renault 		5 	1:34.863 	0.298 	0.526 
5. Anthony Davidson 	Honda 			23 	1:34.906 	0.043 	0.569 
6. Sebastian Vettel 	BMW 			30 	1:34.912 	0.006 	0.575 
7. Jenson Button 	Honda 			6 	1:35.002 	0.090 	0.665 
8. Pedro de la Rosa 	McLaren-Mercedes 	6 	1:35.064 	0.062 	0.727 
9. Jarno Trulli 		Toyota 			12 	1:35.343 	0.279 	1.006 
10.Kimi Raikkonen 	McLaren-Mercedes 	5 	1:35.367 	0.024 	1.030 
11.Ralf Schumacher 	Toyota 			12 	1:35.375 	0.008 	1.038 
12.Michael Ammermuller Red Bull-Ferrari 	25 	1:35.433 	0.058 	1.096 
13.Rubens Barrichello 	Honda 			10 	1:35.528 	0.095 	1.191 
14.Mark Webber 	Williams-Cosworth 	5 	1:35.866 	0.338 	1.529 
15.Nico Rosberg 	Williams-Cosworth 	10 	1:36.176 	0.310 	1.839 
16.Christijan Albers 	Spyker MF1-Toyota 	4 	1:36.180 	0.004 	1.843 
17.Alexander Wurz 	Williams-Cosworth 	25 	1:36.234 	0.054 	1.897 
18.Robert Kubica 	BMW 			5 	1:36.299 	0.065 	1.962 
19.Franck Montagny 	Super Aguri-Honda 	20 	1:37.354 	1.055 	3.017 
20.Vitantonio Liuzzi 	Toro Rosso-Cosworth 	15 	1:37.441 	0.087 	3.104 
21.Scott Speed 	     	Toro Rosso-Cosworth 	16 	1:37.501 	0.060 	3.164 
22.David Coulthard 	Red Bull-Ferrari 		6 	1:37.596 	0.095 	3.259 
23.Tiago Monteiro 	Spyker MF1-Toyota 	9 	1:37.702 	0.106 	3.365 
24.Neel Jani 		Toro Rosso-Cosworth 	26 	1:37.741 	0.039 	3.404 
25.Robert Doornbos 	Red Bull-Ferrari 		9 	1:37.788 	0.047 	3.451 
26.Takuma Sato 	Super Aguri-Honda 	18 	1:38.533 	0.745 	4.196 
27.Nick Heidfeld 	BMW 			5 	1:38.779 	0.246 	4.442 
28.Sakon Yamamoto 	Super Aguri-Honda 	14 	1:38.955 	0.176 	4.618 
29.Adrian Sutil 		Spyker MF1-Toyota 	14 	1:43.914 	4.959 	9.577
 
That's ununsual for the big guns to be up there this early.
 
daan
That's ununsual for the big guns to be up there this early.
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They were the last to run the track which was drying out and the sun was out fully for a while just before they ran. So, they were able to run on slicks, unlike everyone else.
 
Oh boy, here we go again. Sato just about took out his own team mate while he was having car problems.
 
How many of Scott Speed's sentences start with either "Yeah, no...." or "No, yeah....". He gives a good interview, except for that nonsense. Of course, we have to give him a break; he's from California ;).
 
Kylehnat
How many of Scott Speed's sentences start with either "Yeah, no...." or "No, yeah....". He gives a good interview, except for that nonsense. Of course, we have to give him a break; he's from California ;).
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Yeah, no, I don't agree, dude. Dude, check it out, no, yeah, I guess maybe you're correct.

MS just ran a 1:28:95 lap. It's over for Alonso. Kimi's car is not sounding good and there's a little bit of smoke puffing out.
 
I'll be suprised if Kimi can pull off what he did last year after what he's gone through this year.

Poor fella can't seem to get a break.
 
*McLaren*
I'll be suprised if Kimi can pull off what he did last year after what he's gone through this year.

Poor fella can't seem to get a break.
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He already said he wouldn't. He said his car sucks. lol

Looks like it might rain in this last QS. They're all coming in soon to get their new tires on before any rain falls.
 
Things are looking bad for Alonso's championship hopes tomorrow as he will start P5. The Constructors isn't looking too good either as Fisichella starts next to him in P6. Who's on the front row, you ask? Ferrari, of course. Toyota put in a nice performance placing both of their cars on the second row.

Should be a little less windy tomorrow, with little chance of rain.

Note: In Q2, Schumacher managed a blistering time of 1'28.954.

Results:
 
It's official. Ferrari will start 1-2, and I think it's Toyota 3-4, Row 2, with Renault in Row 3.

So, tomorrow, it looks like Massa or Michael will have the Toyotas trying to hold off the Renaults.
 
The Renaults will eat the Toyotas at the start. I don't care who wins; I want the season to be over so Michael will finally go away.
 
Kylehnat
The Renaults will eat the Toyotas at the start. I don't care who wins; I want the season to be over so Michael will finally go away.
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I doubt that. I think the Renaults will be loaded with fuel and the Toyotas will be light on fuel.

Can the Renaults go 27 laps without refueling and tires? They need a one stop strategy to win.

Sorry Alonso, better luck next year with McLaren, dude! :crazy: 👍
 
I’d say Toyota was pulling a PR stunt, but they were genuinly quicker than Renault in Q1 and Q2, so it has me thinking they have a decent car under them. Oh, and the Bridgestone tyres might have helped a little. ;)
 
At least Sato-san is near the back of the grid so no probs for the the first 15 laps or so until they catch him:sick:
 
Remember last year, when they put the thing on pole and dominated the race, before they pitted on, what? Lap 4? :lol:
 
Blake
Remember last year, when they put the thing on pole and dominated the race, before they pitted on, what? Lap 4? :lol:
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Haha yeah something like that. I have to agree, I think Toyota pulled a marketing run there and it wouldn't suprise me if they are running on fumes. :lol:

Massa screws everything up again though, will he play the team game this time round? I'm really not sure, it seems like he wants to really prove something, but I don't know what now he has been confirmed for 07.

Predictions:

1st: M Schumacher
2nd: Massa
3rd: Alonso
4th: Button
5th: Rosberg
6th: Fisichella
7th: Trulli
8th: Webber

So yeah 3 Michelin runners in the points, if they are lucky. If it rains however..
 
Too bad Yamamoto couldn't pull-off that drift.



With 4 cars in front of Alonso, his claim that they have the better package in the wet and dry goes straight out the window.
 
Okay, I think I have slept enough to watch this one until the end. 👍

Go Massa!
 
Pink_the_Floyd
Excuse me? Honda got owned now :D

But as usual, Toyota sucks in starting and their strategy is crap :sick:
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Toyota will pit before anyone else. Both Rubens and Button will finish ahead of either Toyota, barring an accident, mechanical failure or botched pitstop.

As always, Go Rubens, Button and Kubica! 👍
 

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