5.3 The distance of all races, from the start signal referred to in Article 38.11 to the chequered flag, shall be equal to the least number of complete laps which exceed a distance of 305 km (Monaco 260km). However, should two hours elapse before the scheduled race distance is completed, the leader will be shown the chequered flag when he crosses the control line (the Line) at the end of the lap during which the two hour period ended. However, should the race be suspended (see Article 41) the length of the suspension will be added to this period. Does it mean that the race MUST stop after two hours or that id COULD be stopped? Thank you.
Exactly what I would like to know. Plus, can they lift the car off the track with a crane with driver and engine running, put him back on the track and continue the race?
Yes, they can. the sporting regulation requires that you have your engine ON (and it was) and that you're in a "dangerous position" of the track (and it was too), but says nothing about "just man" or "forbidden machines" to help the driver to take the track again. As you have seen, the risk of the stewards was bigger then the risk of the driver, also i think there's something wrong in the regulation, or?.
The race was classified as being 2 hours 6 minutes long. From what I can tell by my DVR this includes the stoppage time. I didn't time it exactly, but close enough. So adding the stoppage time to the 2 hours (greater than 6 minutes), the race was on time. Plus, 6 minutes is less than 4 laps and Fred passed Phil before that.
LH was not really in a dangerous position. Yes, other cars went off there, but he was far off the track.
Which paragraph? I just looked through the 2007 (march) regs, from the FIA website, and I can no longer even find anything allowing the marshals to push a car back into the race, even if it's blocking the track. Only after the driver has "abandoned" the vehicle is anyone but the driver allowed to touch the car outside pit lane. (And the marshals take control of the vehicle after it's been left.) Which is stupid -- it doesn't even make exceptions for medical personnel. (If a crash trips the g-load light, the driver has to "present himself" to medical exam without delay -- but no mention of how he's supposed to get there.)
From what you quoted there I'd say it's MUST, but then again I'm no lawyer and maybe there's a way around this.
Do you know a side of the track NOT dangerous for the drivers? I, sadly, not. What do we mean for "distance" away of the track? 100? 200? 500 meters? Also, by the moment that there is no a RULE, let's to decide about CLEAR RULES, nothing that the stewards can "read" in first person. Actually the rules means that the driver can't die but the steward yes, do you agree with this point of view?
I found it: it's in the "2007 GENERAL PRESCRIPTIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL FIA CHAMPIONSHIPS, CHALLENGES TROPHIES AND CUPS AND TO THEIR QUALIFYING EVENTS RUN ON CIRCUITS": So it gets fuzzy here. That wasn't exactly "on" the track -- unless you figure that someplace a half dozen cars went was part of the track. I guess pulling the car from the gravel pit and placing the car back on the track surface would be deemed moving the car from a dangerous position if you figure the rain made the gravel pit part of the racing line. Pity they didn't specify a race that was divided into two parts separated by an interval. Curiously, the F1 specific regs seems to contradict that "17 I c and d" part -- The F1 regs prohibit push-starting a car off the grid. It goes back to the pit stall for starting. Oh wait: Code: internos Join Date: Jul 2007 Rookie [color=red]Posts: 2[/color] Not Subscribed Is that Lewis's father posting?
Fernando passed Felipe before two hours had passed. Lewis didn't score any points after being put back on track. It doesn't matter.
Agreed, if anything, it just shows that we are debating for the sake of debating rather than as Ferrari fan boys who think we can grab a few more points.
I'm curious. Ralf went off in a "dangerous spot", and his engine was running, he was stuck in the kitty litter. Could the crane then lifted him and put him back on the track too? Why did he get out of the car?
IMO,This situation has set a rather tricky precedent... No driver will want to leave his car, after venturing too deeply into the katt-pan, leaving his engine running and insisting that the marshalls crane or tow his car onto the track, so he may rejoin the race. As it seems to me, if they do not, he has cause for a formal protest...now.
+1 EXACTLY. And who do you put back on the track first if there is more than one driver stranded? Would this have happened at Monza for Lewis? I think not. If it had happened at Silverstone the **** would have hit the proverbial fan. If they do this for Kimi or Phil at Monza, you don't think McL will protest? The precedent has been set. If FIA doesn't disqualify Lewis (since it makes o difference anyway as he scored no points) they have opened Pandora's Box. Think about it.
I do agree with PhilNotHill, about the box... That is, unless we hear tomorrow, that there are a slew of protests regarding today's action. BTW, I had a good time, thanks Al. The BRIC at Road America is always a good gathering.
Ok, if you want to take that perspective then I will play. If there is no "safe" part of the runoff, then why would any driver who's engine is still running get out of their car when it is stuck? Wouldn't that make things MORE dangerous? Let's face it. The spirit of a race is that the car is supposed to go from start to finish under it's own power. If somebody needs to be pushed/lifted to continue the race, then they shouldn't be allowed to continue. Peter
Does anyone remember the race 2 or 3 years ago when Montoya punted MS off the track into the litter, he kept the engine running and was able to get the marshals to push him back on the track. Yes, he wasn't dropped back on using a crane, but he asked for assistance, got back on the circuit and finished in the points. That was more precedent-setting than Lewis' situation yesterday.
