Chinese Grand Prix Thread

Gee er, I hope that was not your father ... that is just sad.

Us blokes DO have to face facts that when a woman gives birth to a child we come way less than 2nd. Put yourself in the woman's shoes ... imagine having a child start it's life in you, grow and then give birth to another humanbeing. How can us mere males possibly expect to be top pecking order after they have experienced that.

Plus nature has it that they have to give their attention to the baby, otherwise it will not survive.

Pete

 

I wonder if he'll start at the back or from the pits... I'd think he'd be tempted to start with a full tank for the period where he's passing the slow-end of the field... and then be lighter when working his way through the faster part of the field.

Go Rubens!! I picked Rubens to win the race... I'm hoping he can clinch second in the drivers championship tomorrow.

Should be a fun race!

 

He will start from the pitlane. How fantastic! This will be another case of my favorite "Reversed grid" and we'll get to watch the world champion at his best slicing through the grid! Super!

How about the Ferrari B team? 4 and 7! The Sauber were happy with the track from the beginning, but I'm thinking low fuel levels to play to the "near by" Petronas sponsors had something to do with it.

At any rate, this race will be not another Dubai, but more likely another Monza! Yahooo!

 

I do all the hardwood flooring in the Sutton Place Hotel. Even did the floor in the "Accent" lounge. I love Toronto!

 

Sooooo, Michael must have been spying on FChat and stumbled across my suggestion that he start from the back of the grid.

Anyway, here's my weird dream last night (I fell asleep watching qualifying): I dreamt I was entered in a vintage LeMans-style race driving one of those awesome Gulf-Porsche 917s. During the night, while it was pouring out, I decided to walk down the street, which was like the Main Street of a small town. I peered into a rain-blurred store window and saw Jacques Villeneuve chatting with the proprieter. I knew it was JV because of his helmet. I went in to say hello, and Jacques immediately asked how my wife has been doing. Apparently we were good buddies from another dream. He asked if I had the new t-shirts (no), so he gave me several, which were white shirts with a mishmash of Chinese writing all over them in red. I put on all the shirts, which made it difficult to get my suit back on. I walked through the store and found myself inside a shopping mall, where a girl was playing with a remote control Ferrari. She kept trying to crash it into my feet, ultimately smacking into the wall and ruining the toy car. Suddenly, I heard the racing cars' engines being fired up outside (the rain had resulted in a red flag, I guess), and I also noticed that JV had slipped out of the tiny store. By now the sun had come up, and I found myself running around pitlane frantically looking for my car. The mechanics in the garages kept changing the team signs as a joke, which made it hard to find my spot. Trying desperately to get my shoes and helmet on, I was too late and the field pulled away. Opportunity lost. I dejectedly walked up to the car owner (a guy I actually know, but he doesn't own a 917) and he consoled me by letting me enter the next event by driving in his giant motorized roller blades. Fortunately I woke up shortly after that.

 

Michael will relish the idea of passing the entire field.......it will be very exciting to watch him work his magic.

 

I can't quite remember - was the "Accent" the name of the bar downstairs?
If so, lot's of us "did the floor" there as well!!

 

You really dreamt all that? Holy cow! My dreams normally fall apart half way through the story or when I end up killed. I never dream of anything remotely Ferrari or racing related. I envy you for such a cool dream, what are you drinking before bed time? Or smoking?

 

It's unusual to remember so many details from a dream. I think the general theme of chaos is one that repeats itself for me a lot. I'd imagine the racing theme was just luck because I fell asleep to Speed Channel. I'll have to try it again tonight

 

I wonder if it was low tire pressures/temps that caused Schumi to spin out so dramatically.

I was watching the live timing on www.formula1.com simultaneously along with the qually on TV yesterday.

Compared to Ruben's warm up lap, Michael was about 1-2 secs slower in sector 2 and 3 - This is why I think his tires weren't up to operating temperature. Also he was squirrelly in the last turn prior to starting his qually lap.

It seemed unnatural the way the car slid away from him so early into the turn. Bruni messed up also in Turn one but he had issues midway thru the corner.

Schumi's comments also indicates that he does know what happened - was it a car issue or an "operator error"

Michael Schumacher, Ferrari (no time):
“I am not really sure what happened when I spun. We usually have to fight some understeer in that corner and we had not changed much on the car since the morning session. At the moment, the data does not provide an answer, so we will look into it. I don’t know if it was my fault or not, but if we don’t find something on the car then maybe it is down to what is between the fuel tank and the steering wheel! It is hard to say what I can do tomorrow, from this position. One thing is certain, it will be a big challenge. I had to come through the field in Monza and honestly, I was hoping it was the last time this season that I would have to do that. Now, I will just have to try again. I am not angry, just disappointed.”

Anyway it should be an awesome race as long as Schumi can charge his way back up the field w/o incidents in Lap 1 with the tail-enders

 

That first corner is very unique and a nightmare to drive through. The car just begs to understeer and at the turn in/braking zone it tends to go into snap oversteer.

There is another seemingly endless carousel turn before the other long straight, but that turn is opening up, so you can carefully apply throttle. The first turn in comparison is an exercise in self discipline to keep it steady without accelerating.

 

That's the one! With all the celebrity photos on the wall.

 

That's great! Those rollerblades are fast too. I saw them race in Springhill {A crator on Mars}, they handle well, good luck!
:}

 

if you are watching live, this rocks!

http://formula1.com/race/livetiming/729.html

 

Lap 18....damn MS shows everyone who is the king.

 

and 19 isnt looking that bad either!

I wonder how much longer he will say out..must be running a bit low..

 

L20 He is in now....and out way behind again....Wonder how long Ralph will say out?

Side note, RB and Kimi seem neck and neck alright. Not bad show by either.

 

MS a minute behind. I really don't see it happening unless there is some messed up strategy that no one knows about. I'm also wondering if the Klien/MS bump did anything to the suspension. Time will tell.

 

Damn Poor MS...

 

poor Ralph. =/

 

FDLOL! holy crap! Poor Minardi!

at least they got some camera time.