Chinese GP **SPOILERS**

Well, there's your problem. Which one the many interesting commercials were they showing while this was happening (happened at least twice all the way down the straight):
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No need to rub it in about our commercials. They're painful as they are.

But yes, we certainly haven't seen all of it. No question.

 

I notice they "time compressed" the replay and added even more commercials. I'm glad I stayed up late to see the live feed.

But that dithering over whether Fisi should pass Alonso did resemble a "reverse and scissors" a couple of times. Part of that comes from getting off the drying line -- Fisi's first attempt to go around would up with him sliding off to the side.

But I can just imagine what Alonso and Flabbio would be saying if Schumi blithely strolled past Massa for position toward the end of a race. I think Todt was putting the FIA on notice that if Renault can do it, Ferrari will feel free to use team orders if needed.

But then, half the people here don't think Massa will be close enough for it to matter.

We shall see.

 

When you are being held up by one car, it's hard enough to pass. When two cars are right on each others tails and collectively holding you up, it's pretty much impossible to pass. Combine that with a drying track with only a single viable line and it is impossible to pass.

Fisi was clearly MUCH faster than Alonso at that point, yet refused to pass for quite a while. He swerved back and forth a bit as if he was looking to pass, but he didn't do it until Alonso was so painfully slow that he had to, so he did. But IMO there was a fairly long period where fisi was much faster than Alonso but just would not make the pass. Maybe, rather than traditional blocking, it was "sandbagging and making sure you keep the guy behind you, behind you", but however you slice it, I think it was inappropriate and Renault only stopped it because it was so bad and unsporting that had they tried to do it for a few more laps or until Alonso came in, one or both would have been penalized.

Todt said it right. I disagree with him on many things but on this one, he's right. I hope no blocking takes place to win the WDC, but had it been the other way around, people would be screaming bloody murder and more "MS is a cheat!" accusations would be flying.

 

Speaking of commercials, if I see the Michelin man in the black Mercedes again I'm going to kill myself. Don't they have enough money for a new one?

 

Perhaps he's savoring each win and remaining race that much more since he feels they will be his last. He might be a bit less passionate if he knew there were more seasons ahead for him.

 

"OR NOT"---------------------(ditto, Sindo)

 

Great race.

Seperates the men from the boys when the "grip" starts to go away.

Give F1 slicks and take away all the aero help and lets see what happens....

 

It appears that between Renault and the FIA, they may have opened Pandora's Box.

 

MS knows his math, his physics, his psychology - - - and his race car. He slowed down, not to make "it close" - - but to make it home. With one lap left and a 7 second lead, why play close to failure's front door? He knew what was needed to win - and did it!!!

Damn, I really enjoyed this one!!!!!

 

Sindo, I've been saying that all year. But don't kill yourself over it--after the next two races you won't be seeing that commercial, or any other Michelin one, during any F1 races for a long time!

 

The Bridgestone ad is far worse ... if it wasnt for a few shots of the tire, I would been fooled to thinking it was a different type of rubber advert..

 

No don't kill yourself. Next time you are at a Tire Kingdom, beat the crap out of the Michelin Man they have in the lobby.

When that guy says "burn out", I want to throw something heavy at the TV.

 

Not only that, but the midget Euro Trash Alonso would have had to PASS Michael, not just catch him.

 

Thank you Mr. Schumacher for another brilliant race! Going to miss that guy dearly...........

As for sulking Alonso, I he gets Kimi's reliability record when he jumps to McLaren, and of course Kimi can get superb Ferrari reliabilty, should finally be time for Kimi as WDC 2007, and where better than at Ferrar?!

 

Damn right! I think I enjoyed this one more than other wins because I was not expecting much from Ferrari. As the race went one and the bridgestones came alive it built up to an exciting win. Even during the last few laps I was on the edge of my seat knowing that a downpour could cause a huge shake up in the order.

 

Time for everyone to come clean! How many of you were hoping for a safety car when FA had a 20 second lead ?

 

not me. i was just hoping he'll slid off!

anyways, i was wondering if MS had been playing a game with FA at the closing stages. turns down the revs, and cruises...i wonder if he was giving some kinda false ' hope ' to FA to try and push, and force him into a silly mistake and send him out of the race.

 

Brilliant, brilliant race by MS. What a way to go out, eh?
Wish he was not retiring but I give him kudos for going out on top with all his skills.
I like Alonso less and less every time I see him.

 

I still believe Alonso will win the championship in 2006. He had tire problems that caused him to have to slow down and let Fisi pass...before that he was consistently faster than everyone else on the track...

 

I see your point. Good analysis.

 

Didn't I hear that his mechanics had problem with a wheel nut and that one of his pit stop lasted 20 secondes? I only saw the highlights, and it was 2 in the morning, so, I wasn't paying much attention.

If that's the case (delays in the pits), that's how he lost the race, no?

 

True dat.

 

I feel that Alonso caused his own tire problems. He drove way too fast in the beginning and wore his tires down. I guess he didn't anticipate that it will never really rain hard again.

In the conversation with his pit crew prior to his first stop, he said "I don't think these tires will last another 20 laps" and hence he was forced to change into a newer set of intermediates at a time when a worn down inter was the best choice. Michael and Fisi had maintained a more measured and steady pace and didn't energize their tires as much thru their gentler driving styles - Michael was pacing himself while Fisi was holding up the rest to allow Alonso to get away. They were able to double stint their tires and it made all the difference.

Sure the pit stop bobble caused Alonso to lose about 8-10 seconds but Michael had a sufficient gap to him at the time to be ahead and enough pace to stay ahead.

Alonso was gifted the second spot yesterday. I am sure Fisi had the pace to keep him behind him if he was allowed to.

 

Actually, he had already been passed by Schumaker and was behind by 7 secs or so prior to the pits. The pit drama definitely didn't help his cause, but I wouldn't say he would have won if not for that situation. I think everyone is assuming that because he had the fastest laps on the dry tires that he would have beaten Schumaker with less of a gap. I think MS already indicated that he dropped his revs down (need the engine again this weekend) and focused on managing his lead up front. Alonso had no choice but to drive like a bat-out-of-hell, but the race was over already. In fact, in the press conference FA admitted that they were "looking for a miracle with dry tires" so they knew it was already pretty much a done deal. The wheel nut saga just eliminated the drama.