Formula 1 Decade

[grinner]

The episode of F1 Decade that was shown this week was the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. This is a race that is infamous... as it is a race where 2 drivers died. Roland Ratzenberger and the Great Ayrton Senna.

I wasn't going to watch this show... because I watched the race back in 1994 and was saddened by the accident. I have watched Formula 1 racing since 1986 and Ayrton Senna was my favorite driver. I still remember watching the race... when on the start there was an accident... and instead of the typical Red Flag which would stop the race... the FIA sent out a pace car. This decision led to the tires on the race cars to cool and caused the cars suspension to bottom out on the race track. Once the pace car was brought in... it was only a lap and a few corners before the terrible accident which claimed Ayrton's life... the suspension bottoming out into a turn... launching the car into the wall... Ayrton being impailed in the head by a piece of the suspension. I remember it vividly... and didn't want to see it again. But I did watch the show. And I knew what was going to happen. They showed the accident in Qualification which claimed Ratzenberger's life... and then the race started. I knew what was going to happen... and I watched anyway. The accident was as horrific as I remembered... watching it I felt like I did 10 years ago... standing in front of the television with tears streaming down my face. I really didn't think it would affect me like it did... I knew it was coming... but seeing it was as much a shock as I recalled.

I know many of you don't watch Formula 1 racing... but Senna was special. Ayrton Senna (http://www.ayrton-senna.com/) brought such excitement and thrill to Formula 1... which hasn't been the same since his death. I am a fan of Michael Schumacher, but Senna will always be my hero in Formula 1. RIP Ayrton.

[scrape_medic]

Agree

[Scaper_S]

I remember that fated race vividly and have never been able to watch it again. Ayrton Senna remains my all-time F1 hero also, though I do admire Michael Schumacher for his skill, pace, focus and success but Ayrton Senna had something Schumacher doesn't - if your a fan of Ayrton S you'll know, as it's something I can't put into words.

[BaseLine]

He is a legend...RIP

[Darth Buddha]

Had that on in the background, but turned to another station as soon as I realized just which race it was.

Nice to know, though, that there are those on this board who really watch the RACE, not watching in hope of seeing an accident.

[grinner]

So, I am watching the Bahrain Grand Prix this morning... and I understand the reason that F1 is leaving the historical tracks for these new tracks are so that the Cigarette companies can still have their advertising on the cars... but these new tracks lack... soul. I long for the days of overtaking on more than one corner... where the tracks were smooth and flowing instead of chopped up and uneven. I loathe the short s turns before the main turns... turns whose only purpose is to slow the cars down and make them form a single line thru the turns. I long for the days of Fangio and Hill, Stewart and Prost, where the cars would slide thru the turns... before all the technology. I love the technology... but if there is going to be so much technology... the tracks should be made to fully test the machines.

That said, I seriously don't think that anyone other than a Ferrari will win a race this year. I have a feeling that Michael Shumacher will have the most polls after this season... the only record that he doesn't have. It makes me wonder... how it would have been different if Senna hadn't died. He was 33 years old... so he could have had at least 4 more decent years of driving...what could have been different.

[Scaper_S]

Well, I thought Bahrain was great. I feel the need to go there next season (funding permitting). I really enjoyed today's race; sure Schumacher was unopposed (things aren't quite as close as last year and the only team who may be vaguely competitive is BAR) but 5 of the 6 of my Fantasy F1 team finished in the points, so woohoo for me!

Seriously, regarding Senna - if he was around - wouldn't that be something.

Maybe Ferrari should let Schumacher & Barrichello race each other properly.

P.S. grinner - absolutely fantastic avatar! I love it.

[grinner]

Originally posted by Scaper_S


Maybe Ferrari should let Schumacher & Barrichello race each other properly. That will never happen. Barrichello is used as Schuey's test monkey. There is absolutely NO need for Schuey to be worried about Ruebens. The Ferrari team is set up as 2 Test drivers and Micheal. Why else do you think that Ruebens always has a different tire compound than Micheal? So that Ferrari will have both bases covered to see which tire is better.


P.S. grinner - absolutely fantastic avatar! I love it. it is just one of the many avatar's that I have on my computer. I like this one as well.

[BaseLine]

I really feel a pity for Raikonnen. He doesn't have any luck this year. I also wonder how Montoya feels about this ;)

[MJS]

Räikkonen (or Raikkonen, if you don't have that scandinavian thing installed) Yeah, his luck is bad, but I'm not surprised. Mercedes hasn't been able to build a good car for long time. Even Coulthart breaks his car too often.

[BaseLine]

Originally posted by MJS
Räikkonen (or Raikkonen, if you don't have that scandinavian thing installed) Yeah, his luck is bad, but I'm not surprised. Mercedes hasn't been able to build a good car for long time. Even Coulthart breaks his car too often.

That is one of the reasons why Schumi and Barrichello are doing so well. The Ferrari's almost never break down. The pitstops of Ferrari are also very smooth.

[grinner]

I think that IF Montoya would be in a Renault... that the Renault would be more competitive. That car handles better than the Williams or the McLaren... it only needs a better driver. I can't believe that Montoya is going to McLaren next year... when there is absolutely no evidence that McLaren gets the new formula.

I think the big 3 are going to be Ferrari, BAR and Renault.

[BaseLine]

Originally posted by grinner
I think that IF Montoya would be in a Renault... that the Renault would be more competitive. That car handles better than the Williams or the McLaren... it only needs a better driver. I can't believe that Montoya is going to McLaren next year... when there is absolutely no evidence that McLaren gets the new formula.

I think the big 3 are going to be Ferrari, BAR and Renault.

True, Renault is certainly in an uprise (as is BAR). But I wouldn't dismiss Williams from the top teams. Ralf just has to drive more carefully next time (he drove like shit in Bahrein). The car itself is OK (once an engine problem with Ralf in Malaysia).

[grinner]

BAR should rejoice that they have Dave Richards as the Principle for the team. Look at what the man has done for ProDrive and Subaru. Once I heard that he was taking over, I knew that Jacques Villeneuve was gone as the primary driver and that the whole situation would change. BAR is going to be one to watch.

That said... I am surprised that Toyota is still pouring the money that they are putting into their F1 effort... supposedly more than Ferrari... and the car isn't right. I wonder what it will take for the Toyota to be competitive.

[BaseLine]

Toyota is missing the experience that Ferrari has. They began very ambitious in the F1 (wanting to be a top team), but now they're doing things step by step.

Ecclestone is apparently on a roll. In Bahrein he said he wanted new races in Russia and India. I'm still hoping for the return of F1 to Zandvoort. :D

[grinner]

Originally posted by BaseLine

Ecclestone is apparently on a roll. In Bahrein he said he wanted new races in Russia and India. I'm still hoping for the return of F1 to Zandvoort. :D That race will never happen. The Netherlands doesn't allow the needed Tobacco marketing that is required. That is one reason that the Canadian Grand Prix is on such shakey ground right now... Tobacco advertising. Russia allows Tobacco advertising as does all the new tracks. There is going to be less and less European races in Formula 1 and World Rally Championship because of anti-tobacco legislation in 'Western' Society. That said... having seen some of the Dutch Grand Prix races... that is a wonderful track.

[grinner]

Ove Anderson should have continued with Toyota WRC operation and Toyota should have had someone else run the F1 operation. The Toyota Corrola WRC was one of the most dominant designs when it first was released in 1997... that if half of the money that Toyota poured into its F1 operation would have gone into the WRC program... Toyota would be the dominant force in WRC right now. Alas, that was not to be.

[BaseLine]

You've just shattered my hope ;). I thought the FIA had decided to ban Tobacco advertising in 2006. But our friend Bernie is indeed looking in the more remote areas for new races.

[grinner]

No, the FIA is going to 'Ban' Tobacco advertising in EUROPE. Why do you think that there was a Rally Mexico last month? Mexico allows the needed Tobacco advertising. How long do you think West Tobacco or 555 or Lucky Strikes or Marlboro or Benson and Hedges would allow their names to be blacked/whited out? Marlboro spends 'MILLIONS' on Ferrari's team... shoot... BAR is named after a Tobacco company. You are going to see more and more 'Fly-away' races and less on Europe proper.