| Author |
Message |
Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Member
Username: Tifosi12
Post Number: 579
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 11:45 am: | |
These rules are weird. If not downright dangerous: According to Speed's reporters the teams weren't even allowed to make necessary adjustments for the wet conditions. It didn't seem to matter much as it dried out quickly, but what if it had started to rain?
Having the setup for a dry race and let the field loose in the rain is downright murder. It is not enough to just put on wet tires, you need to change everything, wings, dampers, packers, stabilizers etc.
Hopefully they start thinking along those ways now and make some adjustments to the rules. |
James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member
Username: Napolis
Post Number: 749
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 8:36 pm: | |
Thanks!
Weird!
Going down to watch... |
John A. Suarez (Futureowner)
Member
Username: Futureowner
Post Number: 545
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 7:26 pm: | |
James, check this out from F1-live.com
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"With limited testing and the sort of reliability issues that are to be expected without the benefit of a winter testing program, the decision was taken today to start both Minardis from the back of the grid for tomorrow's GP," Stoddart said. "This is to allow the team's mechanics to give us our best possible opportunity to finish the race, but perhaps most importantly, to allow us the latest possible opportunity of assessing the likely race conditions and thus planning our strategy."
Verstappen and Wilson would have gained nothing by completing their laps, as they would have been the two slowest and started from the back of the grid anyway.
"Now we have the cars all night. We can decide the fuel we want to run and the strategy we want to use," Stoddart said.
A spokesman for the sport's governing body FIA confirmed Minardi was able to do unlimited work on its cars, but they would have to start from the back of the grid.
"They're not in parc ferme, so they can do whatever they like," he said.
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Strange!
|
James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member
Username: Napolis
Post Number: 745
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 7:14 pm: | |
If they are not in Park Ferme can they add fuel? |
Paul Jeffery (Peajay)
New member
Username: Peajay
Post Number: 15
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 6:15 pm: | |
In fact there is no requirement to have 20 cars on the grid and technically Minardi will not be in the race, however for any race where the competitor/team has not qualified the race officials can allow the car/cars to run so long as other team members do not object. Typically they look for the time posted to see if it is reasonable or if there is some other reason that is acceptable. Anyway, you know they are not going to stop Minardi running the first race of the season , especially with new rules. They may have their wrists slapped though and told to behave for the next race !! |
Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Junior Member
Username: Stickanddice
Post Number: 141
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 4:32 am: | |
Loopholes and everything...it's Minardi.
They're not going anywhere this season. |
Anthony_Ferrari (Anthony_ferrari)
Junior Member
Username: Anthony_ferrari
Post Number: 193
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 4:27 am: | |
This also means that they can look at the weather on Sunday morning and set their cars up to suit it. Although they haven't broken any rules I suspect this loophole won't exist in 2 weeks time! |
MFZ (Kiyoharu)
Junior Member
Username: Kiyoharu
Post Number: 55
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 11:47 pm: | |
I think Tillman may be right on that one. Basically, Minardi is trying to gain some advantage through loopholes of the regulations.
I don't think Minardi will be the darlings of the F1 crowd anymore, now that they are trying to be a whiny, cheating and annoying bunch of people. I can see a lot of the sympathy for 'the smallest F1 team' starting to fade away already. |
Tillman Strahan (Tillman)
Member
Username: Tillman
Post Number: 428
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 11:34 pm: | |
The rules states that if the car doesn't complete the qualifying lap, it isn't allowed back on the track during that session.
The rules also state that cars that have completed qualifying are locked down and can't be worked on until the next morning.
Technically, the Minardi cars didn't qualify, and shouldn't be allowed to start the race. However, there has to be at a minimum 20 cars on the grid, so the Minardis have to start.
By not qualifying, they start on the back of the grid (typical for them anyway) and can work on the cars during the lockout period.
That's the theory, anyhow. Whether it worked, I guess we'll see tomorrow. |
Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Member
Username: Squidracing
Post Number: 437
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 10:15 pm: | |
I'm having a hard time understanding why they did what they did. |