Formula One

[desertpilot]

2005 U.S. Grand Prix - Race No.9 of 19 Official Result


Pos. Driver Team Time Points

1 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1 : 29:43.181 10
2 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari + 1.005 8
3 Tiago Monteiro Jordan-Toyota + 1 laps 6
4 Narain Karthikeyan Jordan-Toyota + 1 laps 5
5 Christijan Albers Minardi-Cosworth + 2 laps 4
6 Patrick Friesacher Minardi-Cosworth + 2 laps 3

Withdrew
7 J. Trulli Toyota + 73 laps 0
8 K. Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes + 73 laps 0
9 J. Button BAR-Honda + 73 laps 0
10 G. Fisichella Renault + 73 laps 0
11 F. Alonso Renault + 73 laps 0
12 T. Sato BAR-Honda + 73 laps 0
13 M. Webber Williams-BMW + 73 laps 0
14 F. Massa Sauber-Petronas + 73 laps 0
15 JP. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes + 73 laps 0
16 J. Villeneuve Sauber-Petronas + 73 laps 0
17 R. Zonta Toyota + 73 laps 0
18 C. Klien Red Bull Racing+ 73 laps 0
19 N. Heidfeld Williams-BMW + 73 laps 0
20 D. Coulthard Red Bull Racing+ 73 laps 0



June 19, 2005 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway
What's happening to Formula One? Fans boo Michael Shumacher to victory because only six of the cars raced (three teams), the rest of the teams elected not to race as a protest to the FIA after Michelin the tire supplier for the seven teams, advised against using its tire due to safety concerns.


The Official Formula 1 website link

[iglesias]

The suggestion by the FIA to the Michelin teams to slow down in turn 13 was ridiculous. Once the drivers get into a race, their racing mindset would take over and they would start pushing the limits in that turn.

In the news article on the F1 web site about the Michelin-shod teams being summoned on June 29th, it says:

Rather than boycott the race the Michelin teams should have agreed to run at reduced speed in turn 13. The rules would have been kept, they would have earned Championship points and the fans would have had a race.

"had a race"?!? Only if you count the 14 cars that would have been more laps down than the two Minardis because they had to slow down in turn 13. Or maybe they were counting on the cars slowing in turn 13 taking out some of the Bridgestone-shod cars as they tried to pass?

I find it hard to believe that Michelin couldn't supply tires that could take the loads from turn 13; they've been there 6 times already. It would have been interesting to be in the Michelin boardroom today! They have taken a pretty bad hit because of this debacle.

[FASTER345]

Originally posted by iglesias
The suggestion by the FIA to the Michelin teams to slow down in turn 13 was ridiculous. Once the drivers get into a race, their racing mindset would take over and they would start pushing the limits in that turn.

I disagree. Racers understand more than anyone what their car can and can't do. If they fear they have a tire problem they can slow down just as they do if they have a brake/engine/aero/suspension/etc. problem. During a race their cars change, the weight goes down, tires either get better then start to fade as do brakes and the driver constantly compensates for these changes. If the individual drivers wanted to race they should have been allowed to do so and just slow down where they believe they may have an issue just as so many others have done and will continue to do in every race run anywhere on earth. But the team managers took the gamble that by sticking together and pulling out the race would be restarted with the chicane or something else. Too bad for them.

I think the FIA absolutely did the right thing. Why penalize the whole field for one part supplier's problem? Had this been a Bridgestone issue, do you think the other teams would have agreed to a chicane just to 'help' Ferrari and the other two teams? I guarantee they would not. What would happen if teams were allowed to pull out of a race any time they aren't as fast as the other teams? Since that applies to basically every race, that would make for a pretty shoddy series. In hindsight, they should have just slowed down on that one turn, carry less fuel, have ane extra pit stop, closely monitor tire wear and hope the faster cars have some other technical issue. But they chose solidarity.

If Alonso or Raikkonen lose this championship by one point, I bet they'll wish they had raced at Indy and collected the wasted points for 7th and 8th that no one received. And if they lose to Schumi...well that'd be amazing for many reasons.

Just my thoughts. Cheers.

[Titans Fan]

Originally posted by FASTER345


I disagree. Racers understand more than anyone what their car can and can't do. If they fear they have a tire problem they can slow down just as they do if they have a brake/engine/aero/suspension/etc. problem. ...

But it's a racer's nature to take their car right to the edge of what it can do. When they miscalculate, they crash. Maybe a suggestion to slow down in turn 13 would work when no other cars are around, but when a car is jockeying for position with another and approaching that turn, the urge to take it faster than their competitor "just this once" would be too great (I would think). And since not every car running Michelins crashed in practice, maybe some drivers would think they could get away with higher speeds in that turn "some of the time". Besides, a brake/engine/aero/suspension problem would manifest itself every lap. As I understand it, the tires would handle fine- until they failed.

NASCAR (and many other series) has a mandatory pit road speed limit. But drivers still routinely are penalized for speeding. The urge to go just a little faster to get ahead of a competitor is just too great. (Of course, that could also describe a typical rush hour commute )

[CNYGuy]

I find it difficult to get into F1 racing. I don't know if it is because we don't see it often or because it is more of an international thing than a US thing. Kind of like international soccer. I root for the US team at world cup but otherwise pay little attention to it.

Nascar is on every weekend it seems, and usually somewhere nearby, with a driver you've heard of. I did watch the Indy 500 because of Danica Patrick, but I don't think I've seen another open wheel race in years...

[FASTER345]

Originally posted by Titans Fan
But it's a racer's nature to take their car right to the edge of what it can do. When they miscalculate, they crash.

Which happens at virtually every race for a variety of reasons.

...the urge to take it faster than their competitor "just this once" would be too great (I would think).

Why? These guys know how to get the most out of their cars whether or not they're running at 100% so I don't see why they would just blindly ignore the advice of their parts suppliers, engineers, etc. and drive recklessly. They get black flagged for reckless behaviour. Like Montoya in Canada.

...maybe some drivers would think they could get away with higher speeds in that turn "some of the time".

So you don't pass on the outside of that one turn. Instead pass at the 3/4 mile long straight that follows it. Safety problem solved.

But drivers still routinely are penalized for speeding. The urge to go just a little faster to get ahead of a competitor is just too great.

If these urges were so uncontrolable, these guys would all be dead by now.

[rocky]

Originally posted by FASTER345

solved.


If these urges were so uncontrolable, these guys would all be dead by now.

F1 would be dead too. Black eye for Michelin, the teams, F1 and FIA. The lawyers are circling as we speak

[FASTER345]

Originally posted by CNYGuy
I find it difficult to get into F1 racing. I don't know if it is because we don't see it often or because it is more of an international thing than a US thing. Kind of like international soccer. I root for the US team at world cup but otherwise pay little attention to it...

Every F1 practice, qualifying and race is broadcast in the US, usually on Speed Channel. I find it difficult to get into NASCAR. Maybe because it's like the Starbucks of the racing world: popular and omnipresent. The only time I can watch that type of racing is if it's a support race at something I'm attending. And even then I fall asleep.

Nascar is on every weekend it seems, and usually somewhere nearby, with a driver you've heard of. I did watch the Indy 500 because of Danica Patrick, but I don't think I've seen another open wheel race in years...

I too watched the Danica 500 this year but just to see at what point supergirl would screw up. No offense, but she's not that great. Did she ever even win a Toyota Atlantics race? She was good for the series because she was briefly interesting to the general media, but to me she's just an oval track racer that happens to look ok in a bikini. Not exactly what I require in a race driver.

[FASTER345]

Originally posted by rocky
Black eye for Michelin, the teams...

Well, seven of the teams.

[indy-rich]

I was there all week-end. I know I don't speak for everyone else who was, but I had a great time. Friday and Saturday were fine days. We were buying the morning newspaper each day and understood that there was a tire problem. Michelin was reportedly air freighting in a replacement set of tires that might make it there just in time for the race. The newspaper pointed out that this was against the rules and wondered what the FIA would do to maintain the integrity of the sport.

History now tells us that the FIA held their ground which was the right thing to do but unfortunate in its consequences. Michelin, worried about litigation happy America, held their ground as well. I find it amazing that Michelin was able to get everyone to agree to boycott. There were certainly Michelin teams that were not exhibiting the problem who wanted to race.

What was disappointing was that the social club of gazillionaires who control F1 these days could not arrive at a compromise that would allow the show to go on.

My take was that they should have put the chicane in, made it a non-points race for all the Michelin teams and let the Bridgestone guys occupy the first 6 spots on the grid. Ferrari would have got the win and the points they rightfully deserved. Some of the Michelin guys could have still salvaged bragging rights by driving through the pack and overtaking whatever Bridgestone cars that they could.

I've been there for each of the 6 USGP's so far. Will I return next year? You bet. At least I'll always remember this one as the Grand Prix that wasn't.

[CNYGuy]

Originally posted by FASTER345

Every F1 practice, qualifying and race is broadcast in the US, usually on Speed Channel. I find it difficult to get into NASCAR. Maybe because it's like the Starbucks of the racing world: popular and omnipresent. The only time I can watch that type of racing is if it's a support race at something I'm attending. And even then I fall asleep.


I too watched the Danica 500 this year but just to see at what point supergirl would screw up. No offense, but she's not that great. Did she ever even win a Toyota Atlantics race? She was good for the series because she was briefly interesting to the general media, but to me she's just an oval track racer that happens to look ok in a bikini. Not exactly what I require in a race driver.

I'm not criticizing F1, I'm just saying I've never found it appealing. The same can be said for a lot of sports I haven's taken an interest in(rugby, water polo, cricket, x-games, etc.)

I don't even know what a Toyota Atlantics race is, let alone who won . I think many people are critical of "supergirl" and want her to screw up, but I think if you qualify, compete and finish any Indy 500, you may not be great, but you're better than a lot of wanna be's...

[borg]

Truly a black day for F1, it may be too severe for it to recover from.

I suspect that the bigger reason for the incident is greed.......for power, for money!

It wouldn't surprise me a bit if their was a break out series comprised of the seven teams that didn't race at INDY in the very near future, which would leave F1 with a Ferrari team & two lesser teams.

I hope that they can find a resolution somehow, I believe that F1 will not survive if their was a break out league & the break out league would need a marquee team like Ferrari to succeed.

[Titans Fan]

Originally posted by borg
... It wouldn't surprise me a bit if their was a break out series comprised of the seven teams that didn't race at INDY in the very near future, which would leave F1 with a Ferrari team & two lesser teams.

I hope that they can find a resolution somehow, I believe that F1 will not survive if their was a break out league & the break out league would need a marquee team like Ferrari to succeed.

I hope F1 and teams look to CART as an example of what not to do. Their split several years ago turned it from a top tier series into a second rate one. While it was not a death blow, I don't think they ever recovered.

[desertpilot]

2005 French Grand Prix - Race 10 of 19


Pos. Driver Team Time Points

1 Fernando Alonso Renault 1 : 31:22.233 10
2 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes + 11.805 8
3 Michael Schumacher Ferrari + 1:21.914 6

4 Jenson Button BAR-HONDA + 1 laps 5
5 Jarno Trulli Toyota + 1 laps 4
6 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault + 1 laps 3
7 Ralf Schumacher Toyota + 1 laps 2
8 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-Petronas + 1 laps 1

9 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari + 1 laps 0
10 David Coulthard Red Bull Racing + 1 laps 0
11 Takuma Sato BAR-HONDA + 1 laps 0
12 Mark Webber Williams-BMW + 2 laps 0
13 Tiago Monteiro Jordan-Toyota + 3 laps 0
14 Nick Heidfeld Williams-BMW + 4 laps 0
15 Narain Karthikeyan Jordan-Toyota + 4 laps 0

Retired:
16 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes + 23 laps 0
17 Christijan Albers Minardi-Cosworth + 32 laps 0
18 Patrick Friesacher Minardi-Cosworth + 36 laps 0
19 Felipe Massa Sauber-Petronas + 41 laps 0
20 Christian Klien Red Bull Racing + 69 laps 0


Fernando Alonso performed strongly with his fifth win of the season in a dominant way at Renault's home circuit. The Spaniard led from start to finish and despite a masterful strategy from McLaren, Kimi Raikkonen had to settle for second place. Michael Schumacher collected the final podium position for Ferrari.

Jenson Button of BAR-Honda team finished fourth place.


The Official Formula 1 website link

[desertpilot]

2005 British Grand Prix - Race 11 of 19 Official Race Result 7/10/05

Pos. Driver Team Time Points

1 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 1 : 24:29.588 10
2 Fernando Alonso Renault + 2.739 8
3 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes + 14.436 6
4 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault + 17.914 5
5 Jenson Button BAR-Honda + 40.264 4
6 Michael Schumacher Ferrari + 1:15.322 3
7 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari + 1:16.567 2
8 Ralf Schumacher Toyota + 1:19.212 1

9 Jarno Trulli Toyota + 1:20.851 0
10 Felipe Massa Sauber-Petronas + 1 laps 0
11 Mark Webber Williams-BMW + 1 laps 0
12 Nick Heidfeld Williams-BMW + 1 laps 0
13 David Coulthard Red Bull Racing + 1 laps 0
14 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-Petronas + 1 laps 0
15 Christian Klien Red Bull Racing + 1 laps 0
16 Takuma Sato BAR-Honda + 2 laps 0
17 Tiago Monteiro Jordan-Toyota + 2 laps 0
18 Christijan Albers Minardi-Cosworth + 3 laps 0
19 Patrick Friesacher Minardi-Cosworth + 4 laps 0

Retired
20 Narain Karthikeyan Jordan-Toyota + 50 laps 0




2005 German Grand Prix - Race 12 of 19 Official Race Result 7/24/05

Pos. Driver Team Time Points

1 Fernando Alonso Renault 1 : 26:28.599 10
2 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes + 22.569 8
3 Jenson Button BAR-Honda + 24.422 6
4 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault + 50.587 5
5 Michael Schumacher Ferrari + 51.690 4
6 Ralf Schumacher Toyota + 52.242 3
7 David Coulthard Red Bull Racing + 52.700 2
8 Felipe Massa Sauber-Petronas + 56.570 1

9 Christian Klien Red Bull Racing + 1:09.818 0
10 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari + 1 laps 0
11 Nick Heidfeld Williams-BMW + 1 laps 0
12 Takuma Sato BAR-Honda + 1 laps 0
13 Christijan Albers Minardi-Cosworth + 2 laps 0
14 Jarno Trulli Toyota + 3 laps 0
15 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-Petronas + 3 laps 0
16 Narain Karthikeyan Jordan-Toyota + 3 laps 0
17 Tiago Monteiro Jordan-Toyota + 3 laps 0
18 Robert Doornbos Minardi-Cosworth + 4 laps 0

Retired
19 Mark Webber Williams-BMW + 12 laps 0
20 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes + 32 laps 0


First podium (legal) for Honda and Jenson Button. Button set up Michael Schumacher and out-braked the German down the inside of the hairpin, stealing second place on lap 45. In summary, after the first lap fiascoes it turned out to be a slow-burn race which came alive near the finish. Fernando Alonso of the Renault team is still the current leader. There are only seven more races to go in this season. The next race will be next week in Budapest Hungary.

Note: I was on vacation in Northern California during the British GP, here is the result even if it's very late sorry.


2005 F1 GP Drivers Championship Standings:

1. Fernando Alonso - Spanish - Team Renault - 87 pts
2. Kimi Räikkönen - Finnish - Team McLaren-Mercedes - 51 pts
3. Michael Schumacher - German - Team Ferrari - 47 pts
4. Juan Pablo Montoya - Colombian - Team McLaren-Mercedes - 34 pts
5. Rubens Barrichello - Brazilian - Team Ferrari - 31 pts
6. Jarno Trulli - Italian - Team Toyota - 31 pts
7. Giancarlo Fisichella - Italian - Team Renault - 30 pts
8. Ralf Schumacher - German - Team Toyota - 26 pts
9. Nick Heidfeld - German - Team Williams-BMW - 25 pts
10. Mark Webber - Australian - Team Williams-BMW - 22 pts
11. David Coulthard - British - Team Red Bull Racing - 19 pts
12. Jenson Button - British - Team BAR-Honda - 15 pts


2005 F1 GP Constructors Championship Standings:

1. Renault 117 pts
2. McLaren-Mercedes 95 pts
3. Ferrari 78 pts
4. Toyota 57 pts
5. Williams-BMW 47 pts
6. Red Bull Racing 24 pts
7. BAR-Honda 15 pts
8. Sauber-Petronas 14 pts
9. Jordan-Toyota 11 pts
10. Minardi-Cosworth 7 pts



The Official F1 website link