A lot of people said that last years hunting of FA by MS made for one of the most exciting races in years.... you think this year beat it? Also, do you like F1 better now that there are a few teams that could potentially win races rather that Ferrari sweeping almost everything? For all of us Ferrari fans here, what is better to root for: Ferrrari winning every race always, or for them to have a suck year and have to fight back?
It was a great race. And, it just goes to illustrate once again how hard it is to pass in F1. Alonso was clearly faster than MS but just could not get around him...
Domination is boring, it doesn't matter if the car is red or blue. I always prefer when you have a several teams capabable of winning on any given sunday. So far we haven't had that result, but it terms of pace, there are 4 teams at the front right now. I thought last year's Imola was more exciting, since MS was on the attack, but yesterday's race was still very good. And I agree with your last point, it is good to be back. I think we all got spoiled by those years on top.
The race was closer than it should have been; Schumacher's tire problems in his 2nd stint saw to that. As for all the claims that Alonso's car was much faster, where exactly? Michael was unflappable; Alonso, bouncing off curbs in desperation, almost took himself out twice trying to catch Michael. Fernando, to his credit, tried everything possible but MS was in total control. Now MS and Ferrari need some luck.
Well is it true that the rule changes before the 2005 season were specifically to hurt Ferrari to make for a more compettive series?
I think both were equally exciting in their own ways. The Ferrari was blazing fast on the straights for 06 Imola. I wonder how much more faster Schumacher would have been if his tires didn't have the graining issue
05, 06: It's the pits. In both years, the car in front remains in front. (Not much passing potential, without a major blunder up front.) In both years, the pit stops is where most of the passing occurs. (On CBS, one dweeb asked "where would be the best place to pass Schumacher". The other replied, "in the pits".) In both years, Ferrari looks better at Imola than they do elsewhere. Guys, having to fight for a win on your home track is not a real good sign. MS was fighting for the win in Imola in '05 ... and you know how the rest of that year went. It's a bit early to start celebrating the "comeback".
Being quicker than someone and being able to get passed someone is MUCH MUCH different. I have found times where while racing I am faster than someone in many parts of the track but not quite fast enough to pass them. Michael is not going to give any gaps for alonso to pass with. Alonso tried everything possible and I am glad he is not stupid enough like Sato to Dive bomb michael in desperation.
Can anyone imagine today's F1 cars with the turbo motors of 1983-84 or so ? With that power, and today's aerodynamics, what do you think we would see on the long straights, 250 ? 260 ?? (BEFORE the FIA found a way to limit power)
I think Ferrari/Schumacher would be making a major mistake to think they are at the same level of speed as Renault/Alonso.
We would see the same speeds, but any of those long straights butchered into 5 more chicanes. I really think Imola should be dropped from the calendar. They totally ruined this once great track with those four idiotic chicanes. Hopefully the new pits will take at least one chicane out. Speeds should be controlled via tires: One manufacturer making one super hard compound that doesn't stick like glue.
We were at Imola in 2005 and it was by far the best of any race we had attended up to that point, BUT we were again in Imola this past weekend and this was by far THE BEST F1 race we've ever attended. The only improvement is to get Super Aguri out and get real competitive teams in the loop. Carol
Interesting statement. I have attended over a dozen GPs, but couldn't really say which one was best. They were all different and to be honest I don't really get too much of the race while attending anyhow. I'm too busy taking pics and on TV at home I think it is a lot easier to follow what's going on. I go to the GPs for the athmosphere, to take pics and to cheer, I never really expect "a great race". Just my $ 0.02. PS: I define "best race" more by things like seating/viewing position, cleanliness of toilets and how much hassle it was to get to and from. By that defintion my trips to Monaco win hands down and Interlagos was the absolute worst. Imola was somewhere in the middle.
