So does Ferrari now impress upon their newest employee, Kimi, how *important* it would be for Michael to win this race? Wink wink, nudge nudge, hint hint??
After the qualifing FA and Spain TV commntators said the that two punctures during quali today were due to debrie from the earlier Porsche race wrecks. They hope they clean the track for tomorrow. FA said that he did got the puncture about mid straight and that he was trying to avoid to collide with MS for a while before exiting straight at the chicane. - Julio.
Kimi could hold up Schumi's pace ... at least, until Kimi DNFs. I just hope he doesn't brake check Schumi in the first chicane, like he did to JPM at Indy. Massa doesn't have much of a track record at holding up Alonso. But Heidfield has been known to bang wheels with past champions. But with Fisi just chugging along in mid-pack with the Toyotas, I think Renault can kiss the makes title goodbye. (After Turkey, maybe he just wants to stay clear of Alonso in T1.) With the drivers' association complaining about safety at Monza, and based on last year's start, there may be a "keep it cool" drivers' agreement for Monza T1. Want to bet Alonso breaks it?
First person to mention Fisi's woahs. P10 at the start should be more than enough for Ferrari to take a permanant lead in the CWC!
Just so you know, in the pre qualifing race chat of the drivers with Charlie Whiting, they asked him about MS start at Turquey. Apparently the rules specify that a driver at the race start can only make a change of trajectory to avoid being passed. Well after the complain, Charlie went to watch Turkey race start again, and after seeing it he went to have a 'chat' with MS before tomorrows race. Now you can start conspiring again. - Julio.
By the looks of things they'll be happy to have kimi winning pole at Monza next year. Maybe he just got a little confused today.
Kimi did not brake check JPM at Indy. JPM didn't know how to use his brakes and ran into the rear of Kimi. Team McLaren was livid with JPM, big reason why he is no longer in F1.
I am very impressed with Alonzo's lap, under .4 seconds down from pole, with a damaged car and possibly more fuel under a huge amount of pressure.
Charlie may be a bit slow off the mark if it took him this long to recognize a "full court press". Schumi on the inside, Massa in front -- together, they put Alonso was in a box, neutralizing the Renault launch control. Ferrari "teamwork" in action. Compare that to Alonso chopping Fisi off in the process of trying to deal with it. No teamwork there. Okay, maybe I should have added a smiley. But Kimi does have a propensity for getting tangled up in turn 1 incidents.
It was an impressive lap. Not so sure about his fuel load, but Massa, Button, Kubica, De La Rosa, Barichello and Fisichella seem to be running heavy fuel loads. Their 3rd segment qualifying times are .5 secs+ slower than their 2nd segment, while the front runners are roughly .2 secs slower. Rubens is over 1 sec slower so I'd look out for him tomorrow.
And if anyone cares (besides me); how much distance is .002 seconds when you zipping along at 180mph? 6.336 inches........... Kimi, winner by a nose (cone).
Did not seem like he was being held up? Did not find that info on f1.com, f1i.com or planetf1.com. Wishful thinking?
No way. Unless he did something strange at Parabolica (which would make no sense as he begins a hot lap), I thought FA was flying on his out lap in order to get his last hot lap in. I just didn't see anything that suggested he impeded Felipe's lap. edit: I stand corrected. This seems absurd, even to a Ferrari fan. Felipe was ahead of Raikkonen's pace going into Parabolica, then fell off at the end. Maybe Alonso brake-tested him or did something weird, but I didn't see it. Oh well, just more drama in the DC race. http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/060909192852.shtml
There is not going to be any "full court press" release, in the same way there was none when MS jumped the chicane twice at Hungary. Just some little slap in the back from Charlie... "bad boy Michael ... bad boy, don't do it again, alright?" It is not about teamwork or not, is about what the rules says. MS did 3 unjustified moves to avoid loosing his starting position, and that is simply against the rules, rulse specify only one is allowed. Obviously this must not be 100% clear when all is going to happen is a verbal warning from Charlie. And BTW DGS, I am not defending FA now, I am just providing some info from different media than the US news providers. I don't have a clue, what Charlie said to MS when he went to talk to him after seeing the tapes, he might had told him "Well done Michael, do it again"! All I said is more wood for conspirancy theorist! - Julio.
Confirmed on Pitpass.com as well. http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=29261 Mark
Considering everything, I would rather the stewards just let this one pass. Certainly I would like to see Michael win this race and the championship, but not this way. It did not appear to be intentional. Yes its the rules, but that is the hazard with this multi-car qualifying.
i'd suggest michael and company be on their best behaviour during tomorrows warm up. ferrari was handed a gift like this before, only to have schuey penalized in the a.m. practices for similar actions. hoping for a drivers champoinship. but realisically, the constructors championship is probably the best bet. joseph
I agree, as much as I want to MS take the driving title, the stewards in Italy should have let this one go....
