Australian Formula One Grand Prix

[VNAF Ace]

Speed overtook DC on yellows right but I think he should be damn proud of what he did. He actually drove a fair race and challenged Michael. If you're American, be proud of Speed, he could be going places and not just be a marketing gimmick from Red Bull.

Unless the FIA pisses him off to the point where he leaves for Champ Car...

 

[liam2maps]

Honda radio.

"Rubens, just a reminder you have Rosberg in front of you, he's pretty hot headed from what we've seen so far...he tried to run his teammate off the track in Malaysia."

 

[amp88]

5// Speed overtook DC on yellows right but I think he should be damn proud of what he did. He actually drove a fair race and challenged Michael. If you're American, be proud of Speed, he could be going places and not just be a marketing gimmick from Red Bull.

...challenged Schumacher because he was on tyres that were two steps too hard (according to Martin Brundle) and they weren't anywhere near the temp they needed to be. Schumacher was lapping several seconds a lap faster than Speed only a few laps later (when he got tyre temp). Speed seems to be driving well, but saying he was challenging Schumacher is missing the bigger picture.

 

[liam2maps]

...challenged Schumacher because he was on tyres that were two steps too hard (according to Martin Brundle) and they weren't anywhere near the temp they needed to be. Schumacher was lapping several seconds a lap faster than Speed only a few laps later (when he got tyre temp). Speed seems to be driving well, but saying he was challenging Schumacher is missing the bigger picture.

I didn't pick Schumachers tyres Luizzi got through Michael in his Minar.... I mean STR and Speed was hassling Michael. I say it as I see it but hey Speed did put up a fair show there. I'm not his greatest fan though.

 

[Elegy]

IMHO, the real problem is the damage to Speed's credibility in the eyes of people who were already cynical about an American in F1 again, not the lost point (as I also believe he's got another run at the top 8 in him). He'll need to bring down the hammer at Imola if he wants to save face.

 

[Tornado]

What a race so far? Cars and car parts have been flying everywhere. A whole lot of drivers have dropped out, how Yuji Ide has managed to miss all of it is amazing.

Even more amazing, Takuma Sato didn't cause any of it.

Quite simply he passed someone under a yellow flag, thus giving him a 25 second time penalty at the end of the race, seeing as DC was only a couple of tenths behind Speed at the end of the race, DC finished ahead of Speed after the penalty and thus took his point.

Pretty surprising that they didn't do the same to Ralf, as he magically ended up in third around the time the caution came out. David Hobbs said something funny when Bob Varsha wondered aloud as to how Ralf got up so far so fast, saying something along the lines of "It's pretty easy to pass people under yellow." I know the yellow wasn't out when he passed everyone (though it was out after he got 3rd), but the safety car signal was out, and I was under the assumption that they both meant "do not overtake." Don't strike me up as having bias for Speed, as I could care less about him. He's pretty good, but his greatest quality is that he is an American. I'm just sick of the FIA pulling "favorite son" crap.

Also, on a lighter note, it's "Flip" Massa!

Also, that was the best (not to mention coolest ever) Jenson Button can possible give for not winning a race he should have had in the bag. I was thinking at the start when Alonso passed him like he was standing still after the first safety car "What excuse will Button come up with this time?"

 

[Blake]

I don't get why Button didn't cross the line, if the engine cut out then fair enough but I heard on ITV that he was told to stop so he could get a fresh engine. I'd much much rather have 3 points for 6th then a new engine in Imola, especially since that was a new engine that lit up in the race.

Button said that he wouldn’t have got to the finish line anyway, and perhaps it is better to have no penalties at Imola, where Button is traditionally very strong.

 

[James2097]

I am soo happy for Button that he blew up in a ball of fire. Very amusing. He should've pushed (as in get out and push) it over the line though, even just for Valentino Rossi-style comic effect.

I live next to the track (literally) and the sound this year really wasn't anywhere near as loud as last year. It must be the drop from 900hp to a 700hp limit (I think those are the right numbers but haven't checked).
You used to need ear plugs but this year's cars really weren't painful in the membrane, even when right next to the track. Yes, VERY loud, but not painful.

Webber's silly macho chin (reminds me of the fake one jim Carrey gets in "Me, Myself and Irene"). Its the reason why he burnt his clutch out, the increased drag from the chin put too much load on the engine, needing too many revs to keep up.

Too bad for Ferrari, hey. Doesn't stop the damn merchandise selling like, well, Ferrari merchandise...

 

[Lee]

Button said that he wouldn’t have got to the finish line anyway, and perhaps it is better to have no penalties at Imola, where Button is traditionally very strong.

Button would say that, also, even with the new engine, I'd have a slight bit of concern considering that was a new engine that burnt his arse.

I'm just gonna wait till the end of the season where Honda/Button only need 3 points to hop ahead of the next competitor, I'll unleash the "told you so" line and feel almighty.

 

[liam2maps]

Button will be penalised for the next race according to some. If you check f1.com it list Button as finisher, not only has he finished but failed to score points from pole

 

[Jim Prower]

From the highlights on Speed Channel, it looked like the Stock Car boys at Martinsville!

 

[Dropout.]

If you check f1.com it list Button as finisher

Hmm, okay then. How's that one work, seeing as he didn't make it to the line?

 

[Lee]

Hmm, okay then. How's that one work, seeing as he didn't make it to the line?

Because there were drivers out still who were a lap down, so he retired a lap ahead of them when the race had finished so he counts as a finisher.

 

[Famine]

He finished ahead of Sato and Ide...

I guess since he was on the lead lap when he expired and all of the lapped cars finish the race when the leader does he's counted as the highest-placed, non-lapped driver.

 

[Roo]

I think that's where he's classified as being at the end of the race - the end of the race being when the last unlapped car crosses the line, that of David Coulthard (on the road - penelties aside), and Jenson completed more of the last lap than Albers in 11th, so he's classified 10th but didn't actually finish because he didn't cross the line to end his 57th lap.

Or something.

 

[Dropout.]

Because there were drivers out still who were a lap down, so he retired a lap ahead of them when the race had finished so he sounts as a finisher.

...Oooooookay.

I guess I'll never work that one out.

 

[m7ammed]

so does he actually get a penelty next race??

 

[Dropout.]

I THINK so, as they'd have been on their second race in Malaysia, so this was the race they were due a change.

 

[Omnis]

He finished ahead of Sato and Ide...

I guess since he was on the lead lap when he expired and all of the lapped cars finish the race when the leader does he's counted as the highest-placed, non-lapped driver.

Correct.

 

[daan]

And he didn't actually cross the finish line, so he is not due a penalty for the next race.

 

[amp88]

87) a) <snip> Any driver who failed to finish the race at the first of the two Events for reasons beyond the control of the team or driver, may start the second with a different engine without a penalty being incurred.

Button was classified in 9th place, but didn't finish the race. He'll be allowed to start in Imola without a penalty (unless, of course, there are troubles at Imola).

 

[Dropout.]

Oh, right you are daan.

 

[Kylehnat]

"Classified" cars are the cars that have completed a certain percentage of the winner's laps. I forget what the percentage is, but it generally works out to about 3 or 4 laps. Hence, any car that finishes the race more than 4 laps down will not be classified, and any car that goes out in the last few laps WILL be classified, but won't have finished the race.

It's sort of confusing how they do that, but the bottom line is that Button is okay for an engine change

 

[amp88]

"Classified" cars are the cars that have completed a certain percentage of the winner's laps. I forget what the percentage is, but it generally works out to about 3 or 4 laps. Hence, any car that finishes the race more than 4 laps down will not be classified, and any car that goes out in the last few laps WILL be classified, but won't have finished the race.

It's sort of confusing how they do that, but the bottom line is that Button is okay for an engine change

Yep, in order to be classified you have to have completed at least 90% of the number of laps the leader has completed.

 

[Kylehnat]

Yep, in order to be classified you have to have completed at least 90% of the number of laps the leader has completed.

👍

Okay, so that would be 4-7 laps down, depending on the circuit.

 

[liam2maps]

Times like these I'm glad I don't for the FIA.

 

[Brett]

Do what now?

 

[amp88]

Do what now?

I imagine he meant "Times like these I'm glad I don't work for the FIA".

 

[liam2maps]

I imagine he meant "Times like these I'm glad I don't work for the FIA".

Yeah what you said. Thanks for that *hides face with large mexican hat for the next 2 weeks*

 

[[FPV]Rusty]

Anyone think that they allow passing of lapped cars under safety car so that the pack doesnt automatically splinter at the restart?