Round 14: Spa Francochamps

[Syxx_Killer]

I thought it was a good race. I was hoping Alonso would have done better than third, but still not bad. It was almost kind of weird seeing Kimi win a race for a change. The doughnut at the end was pretty cool - very NASCAR-esque.

 

[Appie]

Yeah that doughnut was pretty cool, even though it was a short one:tup:

 

[Metar]

Spa promised, and boy oh boy, it delivered!


Spyker owning everybody, Super Aguri sticking the finger to Honda, kick-ass battles for midfield positions, Raikkonen celebrating with a doughnut... I loved it.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Indeed, we should see more donuts, it's just pure awesomeness, it's incredible how calm The Iceman stays though

 

[slidesquad#1]

Indeed, we should see more donuts, it's just pure awesomeness, it's incredible how calm The Iceman stays though

Bit too calm, if you ask me. I normally watch the races with a bunch of workmates, and we have a sweepstake about how many times he adjusts the mic when he talks. This makes the interviews somewhat bearable.
You know its not a good sign when it takes twenty seconds to work out he's not talking english any more.

Donut was awesome though.

 

[Blake]

For the sake of my driver and the championship, I’ll be happy with a boring dry procession.

And yes, I am happy. Woooooooooooo!

Awesome race by Ferrari, totally dominant. Kimi continues his streak at Spa, barely had to try it seems.

Alonso was really a jerk, and I was expecting something bad to go down in Eau Rouge. In fact, I’ll be surprised if they don’t take eachother out in one of the remaining 3 races of the season. Lewis did a really great job keeping his head and remembering the championship, though.

Well done to Kubica and Sutil, both did really great jobs—unfortunately both came home empty handed.

 

[Sureboss]

Sutil was very impressive, the Spyker seemed to come out of nowhere! Alonso's move out of La Source was terrible and it could've caused an accident, I really wouldn't care if he never raced in F1, his attitude is terrible and doesn't deserve the honour of racing in our sport.

 

[Brett]

Bit too calm, if you ask me. I normally watch the races with a bunch of workmates, and we have a sweepstake about how many times he adjusts the mic when he talks. This makes the interviews somewhat bearable.
You know its not a good sign when it takes twenty seconds to work out he's not talking english any more.

Donut was awesome though.

I took the time to watch the post-race interviews yesterday and I have to say that I could actually hear and understand what Kimi was saying during the interview. It sounded like to me that he slowed down while talking in English. I think that is the first time ever that I have actually heard Kimi talk something other than "mumble mumble mumble".

I completely missed the donut . . .

 

[Slick Rick]

Im glad Kimi won, He deserved it. The best part of the race was Sato overtaking Button....again

 

[Pupik]

The doughnut at the end was pretty cool - very NASCAR-esque.

I thought Alex Zanardi invented the post-win "doughnut" during his CART years, during 1996 or 1997.

NASCAR just has to admit it was an imported idea, like beer and frankfurters.

 

[Metar]

I thought Alex Zanardi invented the post-win "doughnut" during his CART years, during 1996 or 1997.

NASCAR just has to admit it was an imported idea, like beer and frankfurters.

According to Wikipedia, you're correct:

After winning a race, Zanardi was fond of spinning his car around in tight circles, leaving circular donut-shaped patterns of tyre rubber on the track; this would eventually become a popular means of celebrating race wins all across America.

 

[fafat]

good to see Ferrari back in the business, hope they didn't do it to late...

 

[Syxx_Killer]

I thought Alex Zanardi invented the post-win "doughnut" during his CART years, during 1996 or 1997.

NASCAR just has to admit it was an imported idea, like beer and frankfurters.

Cool. I never knew that.

 

[Appie]

good to see Ferrari back in the business, hope they didn't do it to late...

At least they won the Constructers title lol

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

I thought Alex Zanardi invented the post-win "doughnut" during his CART years, during 1996 or 1997.

You mean we are supposed to belive no one ever did victory 'douhnuts' until ten years ago?

Geez, I'm not even that old and I've seen victory doughnuts as far back as the 70's and I'm sure they were being done earlier than that.

 

[Brett]

I think it is more Alex Zanardi perfected it, rather than invented it kind of thing.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

I think it is more Alex Zanardi perfected it, rather than invented it kind of thing.

I think you forgot to put the '' at the end of that sentence.

Seriously... we aren't talking about rocket science here. If it really took several decades and one man to supposedly invent or even perfect a victory doughnut, then I'm afraid there is no hope for mankind.

I would submit that this whole "Zanardi invented the victory doughnut" can be chalked up as a poorly thought out myth regardless of whether or not it was started by an over zealous fan or publicist of Zanardi, or Zanardi himself.

 

[Bram Turismo]

I just read an article saying Hamilton was pissed at Alonso for his move, he also was saying he gives more about the team then Fernando does...

Agreed on Alonso's move but the young lad Lewis, he should pick out his words more carefully, he's beginning to sound as if he's a double world champion...


Link: (Dutch page)

http://www.f1journaal.be/f1_nieuws.aspx?34_5=1028

 

[Metar]

Right then - he didn't invent it, but he made it a lot more popular than it was.

 

[JohnBM01]

I didn't see the race at all. All I saw were highlights. I do congratulate Kimi R. for the win. As for McLaren... wow. $100M penalty and loss of all manufacturer's/constructor's points. Driver's title still up for grabs, though.

To talk about Spa-Francorchamps itself, I say it's still one of the finest race tracks in the world. I think some may even say the last great Grand Prix motor racing circuit. But I look online and listen to stuff in media, and people say the Spa-Francorchamps of about 1968 on out is the best circuit. Which leads me to a little unique debate:

John's Debate! - The Best Spa-Francorchamps
Which is the better Spa: today's circuit... or the 9.32 mile course of about 1968? Do you think F1 could actually race on an extremely long track like... say... the Nürburgring Nordschleife? Can F1 have a race on such a track in this day and age, and WILL the FIA actually have F1 racing on such an extremely long course?

Have at it. The next race is in my favorite country outside of America- Japan. I have to say that while I am not particularly fond of the new Fuji, I'm actually interested in how racing at this course will be like there.

 

[peterjford]

John's Debate! - The Best Spa-Francorchamps
Which is the better Spa: today's circuit... or the 9.32 mile course of about 1968? Do you think F1 could actually race on an extremely long track like... say... the Nürburgring Nordschleife? Can F1 have a race on such a track in this day and age, and WILL the FIA actually have F1 racing on such an extremely long course?

I think the FIA would allow a long course, but the cost of making such a long course meet FIA safety standards makes it nearly impossible. I miss the old courses, but I do not miss all the fatal accidents.

 

[Metar]

I haven't seen the old Spa, but it sounded like a blast...

Spa's current length is already problematic - qualifying is incredibly tough when you have to carry enough fuel for almost a whole lap on shorter circuits, per each lap. It'd be completely awesome to have those, again. I guess in the early days, a Nurburgring race was pretty dull to watch - once every 7-8 minutes a car zips by - but nowadays, with the mix of both increased media-reach (TVs, wireless transmissions everywhere) and faster cars, a long circuit is far more of an option than it ever was.

But I assume it'd have to go with another regulation-change. Something regarding fuel-consumption. I always thought a no-refuelling/fixed amount of fuel per weekend (not including practice) is a nice idea...

 

[Roo]

The top 4 won't change tomorrow - barring retirements, they'll finish exactly the same way they started.

I should go and buy a lottery ticket.

F1 will never race on a course longer than the current Spa - they'd need to many marshals and it wouldn't be safe. Never saw any racing on the 9 miler so I can't comment on that.

On the race, however, meh. Some good passing moves in the midfield. Alonso on Hamilton was tough but fair (why when Hamilton does it it's 'brave' and when Alonso does it it's 'dangerous'?) Good to see Sutil outperforming the Spyker, shame about his off at Les Combes. Nice to see Kimi's donuts at the end too.

By this season's standards, it was a race of unusually high attrition - 5 drivers retired.

 

[daan]

Alonso on Hamilton was tough but fair (why when Hamilton does it it's 'brave' and when Alonso does it it's 'dangerous'?)

I think it was mainly because Hamilton gave Massa enough room, at least a cars width, on the track. Alonso didn't, and forced Hamilton off-track.

 

[Casio]

F1 will never race on a course longer than the current Spa - they'd need to many marshals and it wouldn't be safe.

I'd also think from a fan point of view, those at the track would like to see the cars zoom past more than 15 times.

(why when Hamilton does it it's 'brave' and when Alonso does it it's 'dangerous'?)

Agreed.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

I think it was mainly because Hamilton gave Massa enough room, at least a cars width, on the track. Alonso didn't, and forced Hamilton off-track.

Exactly. There's a big difference between those two "moves".

BTW: I just finished watching last night's Speed Report on SpeedTV and they reported that after the race in response to an inquiry about the first turn, Alonso said that Hamilton should not have gone of course to try and pass him.



This even when the slowmotion replays CLEARLY showed Alonso stearing well off his line and into Hamilton's. Unreal.

I tell you, the more Alonso speaks the worse he looks.

 

[Blake]

Do you think F1 could actually race on an extremely long track like... say... the Nürburgring Nordschleife? Can F1 have a race on such a track in this day and age, and WILL the FIA actually have F1 racing on such an extremely long course?

F1 could race on the Nordschleife, however I’m sad to say it will probably never happen. As others have mentioned it’s pretty bad for the spectators when they only see the cars drive past 14 times during a race. To make spectators happy you’d need to get them very close to the cars (which they are at many parts of the Nordscheife, see below) and put up lots of TV screens.



Qualifying would be problematic, each car would get 1 flying lap per session, and the drivers and teams (and spectators) would complain. The tyres would be well past their best by the time a drivers flying lap had started. I guess the best they could do there is to have the pit lane before the timing line so drivers could start there flying lap straight from coming out of the pits. Actually, how do they manage that for the 24 hour race?

Marshalling and safety is a problem, but it could be managed quite well these days.

The circuit itself is quite dangerous, but in modern cars it’s a million times safer than it ever was when F1 raced there. In such a bumpy and long circuit the driver really has to drive to his own limit and not that of the car, so it would be a circuit where the really great drivers would shine, in a similar but more exaggerated way to Spa.

I would love it and so would any fan, but I think the FIA will never let it happen. In the mean time, I hope BMW will go back and have a day where they try to break the record.

 

[Brett]

I think you forgot to put the '' at the end of that sentence.

Indeed I did! Fixed! 👍

F1 could race on the Nordschleife, however I’m sad to say it will probably never happen. As others have mentioned it’s pretty bad for the spectators when they only see the cars drive past 14 times during a race. To make spectators happy you’d need to get them very close to the cars (which they are at many parts of the Nordscheife, see below) and put up lots of TV screens.



Qualifying would be problematic, each car would get 1 flying lap per session, and the drivers and teams (and spectators) would complain. The tyres would be well past their best by the time a drivers flying lap had started. I guess the best they could do there is to have the pit lane before the timing line so drivers could start there flying lap straight from coming out of the pits. Actually, how do they manage that for the 24 hour race?

Marshalling and safety is a problem, but it could be managed quite well these days.

The circuit itself is quite dangerous, but in modern cars it’s a million times safer than it ever was when F1 raced there. In such a bumpy and long circuit the driver really has to drive to his own limit and not that of the car, so it would be a circuit where the really great drivers would shine, in a similar but more exaggerated way to Spa.

I would love it and so would any fan, but I think the FIA will never let it happen. In the mean time, I hope BMW will go back and have a day where they try to break the record.

It would be wonderful to see a race at the Nordschleife, though I also very much doubt it would happen. I think qualifying would have to be extended just a bit to ensure a better show . . . maybe a special one off time thing per year?

 

[Metar]

Qualifying would be problematic, each car would get 1 flying lap per session, and the drivers and teams (and spectators) would complain. The tyres would be well past their best by the time a drivers flying lap had started. I guess the best they could do there is to have the pit lane before the timing line so drivers could start there flying lap straight from coming out of the pits. Actually, how do they manage that for the 24 hour race?

That's what I thought would be reasonable. Doing it like the starts of hotlaps in video games - you start a few corners before the line, so unless it's an oval, you can start at full speed right away...

 

[MagpieRacer]

. I guess the best they could do there is to have the pit lane before the timing line so drivers could start there flying lap straight from coming out of the pits. Actually, how do they manage that for the 24 hour race?

They do a lap of the GP circuit, the final turn is divided with cones, you stay on the inside of the cones going onto the GP straight to start a flying lap.