Sam Posey: I disagree with some of his ideas -

While I generally respect Sam Posey (in a way) as an author and motorsports figure, he has an article in the latest Road & Track that I disagree with - most of it, anyway...

He basically makes the premise that 2012 is "well on its way to being the best in 62 years of motor racing history." He basically says the season is so good because nobody can dominate it any longer.

He applauds the decisions of the "Overtaking Working Group" - tire changes, the DRS, and KERS as having a lot to do with this great improvement.

He is in favor of the "no refuel" pit stops, "cost reduction efforts", and greatly limited testing.

He thinks it is wonderful that we have six world champions on the grid. (OK) He also thinks it is wonderful that wins are so hard to come by that several of them cannot achieve one.

He makes the statement that the tires rules are designed to create tires that "degrade and lose grip at a rate which is hard to predict - behaving differently on each track." I ask - to what good purpose is that?

Here is what I see missing in all this: I think the state of the sport (and the rules) in 2012 makes it extremely difficult for a great driver to make much of a difference - too many variables in the name of "fair competition". These variables are really starting to look like mere randomization to prevent any one person from winning too much.

Same story with the manufacturers - not much chance for any one designer or builder to make a clear difference.

Posey says he thinks all of this will do great things to create another American World Champion - he leaves me asking WHAT??? HOW???

Finally, what do any of these changes have to do with the so-called goal of providing "trickle-down" to road cars? (Posey even claims this is one of the historical main purposes of F1).

I am just thinking that I see far too much rules-making in the name of so-called competition - and far too little emphasis on driving, team management, designing, and building skills.

 

I agree with sam, f1 should also have crankshafts that degrade, so engines can go kaboom. Great show for the fans when engines explode.
Ed

 

"New Rule for 2014: engines should last the distance of a GP plus 1 km."

If for some reason they don´t figure it out exactly, lots of kabooms in the last lap.

Hope that Bernie is not reading this.

 

And not only that, but you cannot test-run the engines, so the crankshaft will degrade at completely random and unknown times.

And maybe this could spill over to the benefit of road cars?

 

Maybe Bernie will retire by then.

 

Let's change the rules every week and not tell anybody until the last lap. If you can guess which rule or rules will change you get an advantage. otherwise you may get a stop and go penalty on the last lap or be disqualified completely. Spying to find out what the rules are would add alot of suspense between races.

Nigel Pevney could come out of retirement and Hamilton would go back to McLaren.

 

I'm with you. More arbitrary rules can make for a better show but having the fewest rules possible makes for the best sport.
It's clear where the protectors of the sport have placed their priorities.

 

And for all this "evening out the odds by rules" it is starting to look like Red Bull may be getting their lock on the season back in order.

 

No matter how much you shake up the milk the cream still rises eventually.

 

I've been saying that, albeit not so eloquently, since the first race, damnit!

They're remarkably close and the tire lottery has certainly shaken the milk a *lot*. But, as always, the best will eventually reveal themselves.

Cheers,
Ian

 

So do away with all the angst and mishugas.

 

I remember how frustrating it was when Q3 was not run on last gasp fumes so you could truly see who was the fastest - I feel the racing today is very similar.

Tire management, not pushing 100% to comply with some tire strategy, controlling the gap with those around you, not running in Q3 to save tires - what ever happened to balls out racing where the fastest man wins?!

 

Didn't get the TV numbers.

 

All I know is the freaking rules are starting to look like the tax code; it's getting ridiculous. This reminds me yesterday's Continental's title race yesterday. A stupid paperwork issue handed the title to somebody else. Even the 'winners' were stunned; nobody wants to win like that. Why the hell just not limit fuel and set a maximum budget and let innovation rule? Nobody would put a V10 turbo if it'd only carry you half way thru the race. Or spend more than allowed, if that's their worry. Yes, rules are needed, but this is suppposed to be F1. The fight is among top teams anyway. But I don't see rules going backward, unfortunately. But with more and more rules, they'd need an IRS team to enforce them pretty soon. So much for cost containment. Rant over .