Button tops the charts in Barcelona

The testing times dont mean crap. We will know the real deal in a couple of weeks.

 

Oh well if this continues I have a few post's I'am going to enjoy revisiting...

Go Button!!..just for you Jim..

 

Today:

Times at 16:00:

1. Rubens Barrichello 1.19.266 89 laps
2.Nico Rosberg 1.19.774 89 laps
3. Timo Glock 1.20.091 89 laps
4. Felipe Massa 1.20.677 65 laps
5. Sebastian Vettel 1.20.678 62 laps
6. Robert Kubica 1.20.740 105 lapsla
7. Lewis Hamilton 1.20.869 56 laps
8. Sebastian Buemi 1.21.013 62 laps
9. Giancarlo Fisichella 1.21.045 116 laps
[10. Fernando Alonso 1.21.276 47 laps

 

Sorry to break the bad news to you again, but the cars do not need to meet the tech requirements during testing. Only during a race weekend. That's why McLaren had been running last year’s rear wing a couple of times this year. Why? Because they say it provides the same amount of downforce that their new wing (to be unveiled just before Australia) provides. If what you're saying was true they wouldn't be allowed out on the track with the old wing.

In testing you can run at whatever weight and with what ever body configuration you want.

 

Time Laps
01 R. Barrichello Brawn GP BGP001...........1'18''926 -- 221
02 J. Button Brawn GP BGP001................1'19''127 +0''201 212
03 N. Rosberg Williams FW31...................1'19''774 +0''848 209
04 T. Glock Toyota TF109......................1'20''091 +1''165 260
05 F. Massa Ferrari F60..........................1'20''168 +1''242 201
06 R. Kubica BMW S. F1.09.....................1'20''217 +1''291 248
07 K. Raikkonen Ferrari F60......................1'20''314 +1''388 136
08 N. Heidfeld BMW S. F1.09...................1'20''338 +1''412 223
09 S. Vettel Red Bull RB5........................1'20''576 +1''650 185
10 F. Alonso Renault R29........................1'20''664 +1''738 282
11 L. Hamilton McLaren MP4-24...............1'20''869 +1''943 156
12 K. Nakajima Williams FW31..................1'20''907 +1''981 177
13 J. Trulli Toyota TF109........................1'20''937 +2''011 242
14 S. Buemi Toro R. STR4.......................1'21''013 +2''087 213
15 G. Fisichella F. India VJM02.................1'21''045 +2''119 238
16 M. Webber Red Bull RB5......................1'21''347 +2''421 183
17 S. Bourdais Toro R. STR4....................1'21''629 +2''703 127
18 N. Piquet Jr Renault R29......................1'21''662 +2''736 126
19 A. Sutil F. India VJM02.......................1'21''834 +2''908 211
20 H. Kovalainen McLaren MP4-24.............1'21''991 +3''065 178

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/results/tests/test_barcelona_20090309.shtml

 

Whoa. As in WOW. I think we're too close to the start of the season to be seeing an outlier here. They were all on track in various fuel loads and with 2009-spec aero packages so with Brawn consistently running at the front, it looks like the real thing. At the very least, Brawn GP will be a force to be reckoned with in the initial races. Low cash would likely limit mid-season development...

 

Ok, and... this has nothing to do with the topic at hand.

This does. And I'd love to see where you pulled out "could not be insured to run the car!" LOL That's rich! Jim, it's a race track. you show up with a car, as long as items aren't falling off they're going to let you run. There's no rule ANYWHERE that states the cars that are testing must meet the race tech requirements. If there was you would have posted it above with the new rules. But you didn't did you? Why? Because there isn't one.

But, if you'd really like me to I could pull up testing reports showing the McLaren running with last year’s rear wing in testing. Which according to you couldn't EVEN be allowed onto the track as it didn't meet the current tech for the insurance. You should stop and just enjoy the times Braun is throwing down. It may very well be they're legit. It may be that they're running light. But, the fact is within testing teams DO NOT HAVE TO BE Within THE RACING REGULATIONS. They can run what they've brung. That's why teams will test items and then show up to a race and then come under protest. If everyone was legal under testing then there wouldn't be any protests right? All of that would be sorted out before they ever got onto the test track according to your line of thinking. Which isn't the case is it?

 

If that's the case, could you please explain how Mclaren (among others) have been running their (illegal) 2008 wing in testing?

I'm, almost certain there is no weigh bridge at the tests BTW.

TIA,
Ian

 

*sigh*
I have been personally involved with racing. I've raced 80, 125cc shifter karts as well as FF1600 with the Jim Russell program in England. I've also worked professionally as a race mechanic for over two years (though I'd worked on race cars for a total of about six years) on FF1600, FF2000 (USAC pro series as well as SCCA Pro and amateur series), FA (SCCA Pro and amateur), GT1, GT3, GT4 (All SCCA) and ITA as well as ITS (SCCA series). One of the things I got to do while running those cars was work in the support races for the 94 F1 GP in Canada. That was both with Mike Sauce in FF1600 which runs right before the F1 race on Sunday (which we won! ) and with Bernie Shuckman (sp? it's been a long while) in the Pro FA race. So, I've been to a race or two. I've been to a test session or two. I've had MY THE CAR I'VE TURNED MY OWN WRENCHES ON go through tech many, many times. And I can tell you one thing. You don't know your what you're talking about. There’s a difference between a race weekend tech and a testing tech.

If I'm wrong than why oh why are some of the F1 teams thinking the same thing I am?

So there's your proof. If teams HAD to be within the regulations, go through a full race tech which includes a weigh in, why would some of the teams be thinking Brawn are running without ballast? I mean they'd know right? Right? Oh, wait they wouldn't because they don’t have to.

Oh and since you so cavalierly called my experience with race cars into question, what’s yours?

 

I'd love to hear his answer to that question as well.

 

Dude! You posted the regulations:

Given that, simply look at the pictures! - They've been running (some of the time) with an obviously low / wide rear wing - 1000mm is very different to 750mm.....

 

Because McLaren, Ron Dennis himself, said they were running it.

You're beginning to look like a stubborn ass. Just admit you were wrong and lets move forward. At the moment you're just disseminating false information to other readers.

 

This is getting comical.

 

Oh come on. Really? So rather than admit you were wrong you'll slink away? You insult me by calling my experience into question and then take offence to me calling you out?

Look, if it takes me apologizing then I'm very sorry. I didn’t think I was out of line but that’s not up for me to decide. It’s for you and the others here on the forum. I didn’t mean to insult you in any way.

But the evidence is very much against your argument. We've all been wrong. I've been wrong before and I'm sure I'll be wrong again on a number of things. One for which might be that Brawn isn't running under weight and has true pace and also that I believe McLaren are sand bagging which also seems to be false.

I’d still like to know what your personal experience with race cars is.

 

Here you go:

#1: From Racecar Engineering, at the launch, with a legal rear wing
#2: From Catalunya earlier this week I believe, could be earlier, but it's definitely 2009 testing. BTW, I've also just noticed the pitot tube above the airbox - Also illegal in "race" trim....

Sorry dude, but you are quite simply wrong in that the cars must meet the '09 regulations in these tests. We don't need anyone's resume, name calling etc.

Cheers,
Ian
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Wow, good eyes! Actually, the different wings are meaningless. It's that tube that is responsible for the performance

 

Jim, I'am not going to spoil your day in the sun, you have banged on about Button through thick and thin, and we have had are up and downs in the past, but I do respect Charles and Ian opinions..

I'm real happy for you and I hope the Brawn flyer is a winning car..the below highlighted must make you smile..

02 J. Button Brawn GP BGP001................1'19''127 +0''201 212
03 N. Rosberg Williams FW31...................1'19''774 +0''848 209
04 T. Glock Toyota TF109......................1'20''091 +1''165 260
05 F. Massa Ferrari F60..........................1'20''168 +1''242 201
06 R. Kubica BMW S. F1.09.....................1'20''217 +1''291 248
07 K. Raikkonen Ferrari F60......................1'20''314 +1''388 136
08 N. Heidfeld BMW S. F1.09...................1'20''338 +1''412 223
09 S. Vettel Red Bull RB5........................1'20''576 +1''650 185
10 F. Alonso Renault R29........................1'20''664 +1''738 282
11 L. Hamilton McLaren MP4-24...............1'20''869 +1''943 156

 

Even better - From today:

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Rubens Barrichello Brawn GP 1:18.926 110

The *only* guy to get into the '18's......

 

If this translates into real racing pace, this season will be one of the best I hope..

 

Haug admitted today that McLaren has a problem: Their chassis simply isn't fast enough. It is all about reducing the loss of downforce, which is why the Brawn GP is doing so well: Their car produces the most downforce.

Also the Brawn GP is best balanced, because it uses extra weight to achieve perfect balance instead of using it on KERS. Finally having no KERS means the car is less abrasive to the rear tires, that's why the Brawn GP even was doing well on the long distance run.

So expect the McLaren to be not so great at Melbourne and the Brawn GP perform a surprise.

OTOH the Brawn GP will not be able to maintain its current level of dominance since their development budget is a lot smaller than those of the big guns. I expect the Brawn GP to go backwards as the season progresses. Akin to the Saubers before they became BMW.

 

Thanks Andreas.. er my Russian roulette game looking better eh!!..