QUANTAS AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX - RACE - **spoiler**

not that it really matters but ......

Lucas di Grassi and Timo Glock will start from the pitlane for the Australian Grand Prix after Virgin Racing opted to replace parts on its cars after qualifying.

Virgin has encountered further reliability problems over the Melbourne weekend, with qualifying blighted by fuel pick-up issues that forced the teams to run heavier fuel loads than would be ideal for single-lap pace.

In a bid to try and overcome the problem, Virgin replaced fuel collectors on both cars.

Although the changes were allowed by the FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer, the parts are different from the original specification and the team has opted to make modifications to the set-up of the suspension. That means the two drivers will be required to start from the pitlane.

The requirement to start from the pitlane does at least mean Glock and di Grassi will be able to start the race with their fuel tanks filled to the brim rather than using up some of their marginal capacity by driving around to the grid.

 

Hi Brian - dry track reported with increasing winds

Carol

 

Yes, and same to you. Speedy is there and it's too bad he can't take photos and email them to someone who could in turn post on here (like I did with Ian for the last F1 test in Barcelona). About 40 minutes and pre-race should begin. Enjoy......

Carol

 

bummer.

 

You're welcome Frank.....I think most of us would really like a wet race so it's not another boring event like Bore-rain. We're all staying up to watch this at ungodly hours and we really don't need disappointment!!

Carol

 

with the late start, Rubens makes a point (autosport)

Rubens Barrichello believes light conditions will become a problem for drivers even before half distance of the Australian Grand Prix.

With cloud cover now certain for the second race of the season, and rain a possibility at any time after the 5pm start, the Williams driver has backed the view of other drivers who believe the event should have started earlier.

"After 5.30pm it becomes dodgy," said Barrichello. "Friday was very, very bad, although Saturday wasn't such a problem as we all programmed ourselves a little bit better.

"All the drivers asked the race director on Friday to see if they could make a change [to the start time] because it is far too late - but obviously there was no change.

"There are a lot of implications there – but from the safety point of view it is not easy. You can't see. Last year you had the sun and the flashes of the trees and everything, but at least it is bright. Right now it is not bright. You can see the 200M and 100M board because they are shiny, but the track itself is quite dark."

When asked if the low light conditions were actually worse than being blinded by the setting sun, as happened last year, Barrichello said: "You have that moment going through the trees that you blink, but you go so fast through them.

"The problem with the poor visibility that you are all the time facing, is that when you go to the trees it is even darker."

 

Mobil 1 The Grid is just about to go off on p2p and pre-race should begin... hopefully...oop's Inside Grand Prix is on

 

filmon is on with DC/Eddie/Jake but it will disappear in due time....like yesterday I would suspect.

 

He's only a fill-in for Will Buxton.....Will should be on board soon as his wife had a baby last week......Will has been doing GP2 in the past...

 

filmon went off not long ago - I should have paid the $55 for the other feed...running two computer systems here with three windows shrunk and displayed on one/four on the other with speed recording everything - absolutely crazy ! ! !

 

It's raining in Melbourne - thank you ! ! ! !