Agree, but I'm just trying to balance out the anti DC and pro-RB attitude. RB is about as good at passing as DC and from what DC AND RB said tried a big gamble move. DC said he took the 130R corner flat, as did RB ... thus RB had no hope in heck of pulling the pass off. For once DC was driving a good race ... RB was driving only an okay race considering the equipment available to him. Yes he would have beaten DC, but tactically DC was looking like being part of the top 4. So I retract my blocking comment, as like you said once beside blocking is not an option ... DC was not expecting RB to have a go ... RB was optimistic (good on him ) ... an accident occurred, that racing. I just watched the footage you provided and RB was kidding himself if he thought he was going to make that corner ... impossible. Thus while my comment about blocking was wrong, RB was at fault IMO. Pete
Yep ... man those Ferrari engines appear to have big horses. Those Saubers were just driving past just about everybody. Must have made Fisi think ... ie. he just screamed past his next year car in a 2 year old Ferrari engined car! Pete
errrrrrrrr....try watching frame by frame. what direction was DC heading in before the hit? at least rubens was following the road! see the white line? isn't that the edge of the track?
Yep. Sauber's chassis is also based on the F2003-GA, but modified for the 2004 regulations and now of course with the added development done during this season.
I was about to post a link to this story http://www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view.asp?cid=1&nid=101039 as it's titled "Barrichello apologises for DC shunt.", however after actually reading the story Rubens doesn't actually apologise! Rubens says, "I think I caught him by surprise - he didn't see me, closed the door and we touched. It was a racing incident." and DC says "I had a coming together with Rubens at the chicane whilst he was trying to pass me. I don't think anybody is to blame - it's just one of those things which happen when you are battling for positions. However, after my move on Ralf [Schumacher] in China, perhaps this was payback of sorts." So I hardly see this as Rubens apologising!!
I'm a little unfamiliar as to what the racing line would look like from the video's angle, but it appears to me as if DC makes an overly erratic deviation in racing line, one far too late to be considered a fair blocking move, which sends him violently into Ruben's front left. If I had to form an opinion based on the footage, I would say that DC was totally oblivious to Ruben's approach up until he was approximately 3/4 of the way to his side; when he finally does notice him, DC attempts an extremely ill-timed block, much too late given the Brazilian's position. Looking at where DC is steering the car just before the crash, not only does his orientation on the track look utterly incongruous, but it almost appears as if he's trying to drive in circles around RB. See fig. I think RB and DC are both very gentlemanly drivers and their attitudes after the crash reflects that in my opinion. But DC is not renowned for hasty reflexes, and wether Ruben's pass was overly ambitious or not, DC's reaction shows either unawareness on his part, or a novice lapse.
"based on the F2003 GA"? That is stating it a little strong. At the beginning of the year there were accusations from other teams just like that, because the Sauber looked so close like last year's Ferrari. However examinations revealed that this wasn't the case and of all people Ron Dennis even defended the Sauber team. There are similarities, because this year Sauber also uses the Ferrari gearbox. But only this year as they run out of time developing their own with the regulation changes for 04 which brought them the 04 Ferrari engine (as opposed the 03 model as it used to be). Next year's Sauber will again have its own (Sauber) gearbox and the latest Ferrari engine. Pete, thanks for noticing Fisico. I'm getting a little worried now about the Sauber driver pairing for 05: We knew that Massa sucked, but seeing Villeneuve as a mobile chicane is not very promising. I hope he'll get his act together over the winter.
But Sauber was already getting more than they deserved with Fisi...I personally think they should bring back Frentzen...he was decent last year. Either that or drop that piece of **** Massa and get Heidfeld back into the car(arguably faster than Frentzen).
Why I like David Hobbs: paraphrased: "..JV's team mate is running off while he <JV> maintains a bovine pace..."
Aircon, DC was taking the correct racing line to make the corner. RB was taking the WRONG line and would NOT have made the corner. Remember guys you are supposed to use all the road and cut the apex. RB would have had to stand that car on its nose to make that apex ... I say way over optimisic ... but again atleast he is trying to pass now. Thus the photo you show is of DC taking the corner as he has done every lap previously ... not realising that kamakasi (sp?) RB is diving up the inside. When you are racing you look in your mirrors before going into corners and you judge whether you have to worry about the guy behind or NOT. As DC said he took 130R flat out ... and before 130R RB was miles behind ... thus he quite rightly did not expect a challenge. IMO 100% RB's fault ... as IMO if he had NOT hit DC he would have missed the chicane completely. RB should have waited until he got a slipstream tow from DC ... say the next lap and then he would have been closer and not had to enter the corner with way too much speed. DC would have then been completely aware that a challenge was mounted. Heck in RB's defence, MS did this last race to Klien. I guess when you are driving by far the best car on the track, you get a little cocky about it's passing ability Pete's opinion only
I agree with you 100%. For Rubens to brake so late as to all of a sudden be alongside DC - clearly off the proper racing line to approach that corner - Rubens would have missed the corner.
David Hobbs is a funny guy for sure - I like his sense of humour! But compared to a Brundle he raced in an era very different from today and I am not sure he can relate to the current technology, cut-and-dice racing of today. Anyway, I am happy to get a decent F1 coverage unlike you Australians who are given the rotten end of a stick
sorry...i still don't see it. the direction DC'ss aiming in would take him right over the top of that white line. so, either that white line is NOT the edge of the track, or he's aiming infield! What am I missing here?
Arh I see where we are miss-comunicating now. This is the chicane and the chicane is a sort of add in part of the track. The track does continue straight and is used by F1 as a run off area, but for other races I believe the chicane is NOT used ... this explains why it looks like DC is about to drive OFF the track, which technically he is, as he is correctly aiming for the 'extra' bit of track that was made for the silly little chicane. I've attached a picture for explanation. The blue line is the track edge: Pete
from ferrari list... I just got back from Japan today. I was sitting right at the chicane when DC and Rubino came together. It was all Ruben's fault I have to say. He came dive bombing down the inside and didn't event try to make the corner. Just totally over cooked it. David went to turn in and boom; there was a red Ferrari. We also got to see a lot of wheel to wheel stuff with mid pack runners. I don't know how the feed was but, there was some good stuff going on further back. Missed the typhoon. We were staying in Kyoto and taking the Super Express to Nagoya (36min) then down to Suzuka (40min). Nagoya was all sold out four months ago when we tried to book hotels. Good to be back in L.A.
That makes a bit more sense now. Upon looking at the evidence, it does indeed seem as if RB's move was a touch over ambitious Thanks Pete
