Magyar Nagydij – 2006

[Scaff]

I know what you're saying but that, to me, is not a true racer. Settling for a position other than first, is something a true racer will never do. Even when they get first, they are still pushing, risking going off. A true racer pushes every lap, irrespective of what position they are in. A true racer is going to have a hard time winning a championship for that very reason though.

Sorry but to me that just sounds a lot like a one dimensional driver who is very unlikely to even finish the majority of races, certainly they would have no chance in the Dakar.

A true racer is one (to me) that knows when to push and when the do, they do so with the utmost conviction, when a win is possiable they will go for and not let go.

However a true racer also knows that you need to win the war, not just the battle. No point exists in trying to get first place if you are 30 seconds back on the last lap, all that will end in is disaster.

A true racer will know how to defend a position as well as attack for one, a true racer will not throw it all away for ego alone.

Its easy to go out on a blaze of glory in the penultimate lap, but it proves very little and too me is often an indicator of a lack of self-control. Wreaking the car and possiably themselves for the sake of a 1/10 more than was possiable.

A true racer can and will lead a charge from the back, when they know it can be done and they will also know when to try and push for one more place will end in disaster.

Colin McRae (go on I dare to say he's not a real driver) has on may occasion known when a rivals lead is just too great and a push to win will be a push too far.

I mean Sato pushes beyond his limits on every lap, and normally the results are far form good, does that make him a true racer?

By the logic of a true racer over-driving the car and himself on every lap then no true racers have ever won the Dakar or LeMans (which is bad news for the likes of Bell and Vatenan).

Sorry but I just can't agree on this one.

Regards

Scaff

 

[STLbarcelona5]

So if he's not a true racer. Is he then deemed a false racer?

 

[Lee]

I think what Scaff is describing is a 'Smart Racer', he knows when to push and not when to push, it's becoming an increasingly common sight on race tracks, boring it may be but aslong as the car comes top at the end, they don't care how they get there.

I agree with Daan and Der Meister in that a 'True Racer' would push, wheel to wheel just for the taste of champagne at the end, just to see the faces of those they are above on the podium. A true racer loves to win and hates anything else.

 

[Blake]

By some accounts Kimi Räikkönen is, what some are calling, a true racer. Just think back to the 2005 European GP. The thing is, though, he had to push a lot because of the circumstances he was in, in the championship. Best car, but a massive gap to fill.

But then, in races he was comfortably leading he wasn’t really pushing that hard. I can’t really think of any drivers that would push all the time. Are there any true racers?

Personally I agree with Scaff. No one who’s getting paid to race would push irrespective of the circumstances. They wouldn’t get a drive. You have to have self-control. Whether it’s practice, racing, testing, or even qualifying. You have to know when it’s right to put a lot on the line, and when it’s just not worth it.

I bet any of you would call someone a moron if they did crash while comfortably leading a race. Why wouldn’t you? It would be retarded to push in that situation.

 

[Lee]

I think it's a natual evolution of a racing driver, you see many young drivers trying to make their mark by pushing all the time. Later on in the career they become more controlled, more precise.

 

[slackbladder]

Hang on. I'm confused. Everywhere I look it says the wheel nut was the cause of Alonso's retirement. Even Renault said so -

As he left the pit-lane, it was evident there was a problem at the right rear, which firstly put him into a spin at turn 1 then ended his race at turn 2. What’s more, TV footage showed the wheel nut part company with the axle before Fernando spun. Initial investigations suggested an axle problem had been at fault, but detailed inspection of the damaged parts showed the cause lay elsewhere.

“There is a safety mechanism holding the wheel-nut on, and it did not disengage at the second pit-stop,” continues Pat Symonds. “That meant the wheel nut was damaged as it was removed, and did not re-attach correctly as the new wheel went on. The reassuring fact is that this is a simple problem to fix, and doesn’t put the exceptional reliability of the R26 in any doubt. We will have a modified solution in place for Turkey.”

From the Renault F1 site. Link.

 

[mipuumal]

True, but as i said, a REAL racer only focuses on the win, this is why drivers like Hakkinen took so long to become champion in their career. They were too conservative and looked to finish.

What are you talking about? 1997 was the first year McLaren had a car that was quick enough to win some races but had zero reliability. 1998 was when Häkkinen had his first real chance of winning the championship and he did. Last year Alonso was the most conservative driver out on the field and he won the championship hands down.

Your theory is flawed.