Massa not angry at mechanic after pit incident SINGAPORE: Ferrari's Felipe Massa said he holds no ill-will for a crew member whose mistake during a pit stop Sunday led to his disastrous finish after starting from the pole position at the Singapore Grand Prix. In an embarrassing blunder for the Formula One powerhouse, Massa was given a green light to drive with the fuel rig still attached to his car. This resulted in the hose being yanked off its moorings and trailing Massa's car all the way to the end of the pit lane before he stopped. The incident happened in the first set of pit stops, and by the time he rejoined the track he had gone from leader to 18th and last. "The only problem is that we had a human problem," said Massa who had started on the pole and finished 13th after losing time while waiting for his crew to run the length of the pit lane and remove the hose from his car. That was only the beginning of a calamitous race for Ferrari. Massa's teammate, Kimi Raikkonen, who started third, crashed his car into a barrier after bouncing over a chicane with three laps to go before the checkered flag. Ferrari has not identified the crew member who gave the green signal to Massa, and the Brazilian was philosophical about the debacle. "These things happen. We are all human beings. Everybody can makes mistakes. I am not the kind of guy who goes to the guy and fights with him," he said. "So I went to the guy and gave him even more motivation because we need him and we need everybody together for the last three races of the season." Massa incurred a drive-through penalty for an "unsafe release from a pit stop" because he almost collided with another car while leaving the pit with the hose. A mechanic was knocked to the ground in the incident and was rushed to an on-track medical center. Massa is now seven points behind championship leader Lewis Hamilton of McLaren. "But we have 30 (points) in front of us and we have a quick car. That's the most important thing," Massa said. The 27-year-old Massa, who has 25 podium finishes, never thought he would be a victim of such a bizarre incident. "You know anything can happen," he said. "But I didn't imagine this thing to happen today. For sure not. But anyway it happened, so we need to think forward." His disaster coupled with Raikkonen's crash deprived Ferrari of valuable points in the constructors' championship. Had Raikkonen maintained his fifth position at the time of the crash, he would have received four points. Ferrari was leading McLaren by five points before the Singapore race. Now, McLaren is at 135 and Ferrari at 134. In other incidents, Renault's Nelson Piquet Jr. crashed against a side protective barrier, Ruben Barrichello's Honda stopped suddenly and Adrian Sutil of Force India crashed into a barrier in lap 52, bringing a second safety car period. Piquet was apparently unhurt, climbing out of his wrecked car before dashing across the track to get out through an opening. Barrichello also found his way out of the track to mingle with spectators and shake their hands. source:The Associated Press http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008...re-GP-Massa.php
Massa is a class act! I just wish the guy could catch a break now and then. Sheesh, the poor guy has the worst luck!
He has the same mentality as Schumacher which is great. It reminded me of what happened after MS' engine blew in Suzuka 2006, how he was smiling and hugging his team.
It looked like he would have won with a good gap today had this mistake not happened. If he goes #1 and Kimi goes #2 for the remaining races, the championship is still possible (assuming Hamilton gets 3rd in all of these races).
I'm guessing that Ferrari wrote that speech for Phil, ... ... so when that crewman turns up face down in a plate of pasta, ... Seriously: How did the system go green with the fuel rig attached? Wasn't there supposed to be a proximity sensor to prevent that? Releasing him against traffic could be a human error -- but it's the second time they've done that to Phil. But the fuel rig? Human error? "Somebody on our side, ..... isn't." -- (Dean Martin as) Matt Helm. Weird season: Phil has taken pole at "all three" street circuits: Monaco, Valencia, Singapore (although, personally, I count Canada as a street circuit, too). And the team messed up his pit stops at all three of those races, too. The lesson is clear: When you have a race in the city, the pit crew shows up hung over.
What I fail to get is they've had trouble with the system before, this is the second time, right? Wouldn't you as the driver, almost be forcing a peek in the side mirror when the light goes green next time? I know it costs a couple tenths, probably enough to screw the pooch in a really close race, but, human nature being what it is, I'd think you'd be forced to just double check it. I'm assuming the entire point of this light system is to avoid the loss of 1/2 second or so in reaction time from the guy who used to flip the paddle in front of the car to a faster electronic system. I don't think it's working out so well for them considering it's cost them big points this time. (And me about 30 points on F1Tipping!!!) Damn, I was really enjoying the race to that point. Must add, Massa shows a lot of class with his remarks, even if Ferrari wrote them for him!
...although I feel very sorry for Massa, all I can say is P-O-E-T-I-C justice! Yes, he probably deserved to win the race..but so did Hamilton at Spa. Funny how the FIA didn't seem to want to discuss Alonso's chicane incident (I suppose we could call that 'chicane(ry)! ). Overall a great impersonation of the 'Keystone cops' by the Scuderia today... ps. have to say I am very impressed at Massa's reaction to the pitcrew who made the mistake....speaks highly of his character
haven't seen Massa say or do anything boorish since the FA after race incident last year .... class act as for the fuel rig incident, there are 2 ways to look at it, sack the guy and get someone new (who make exactly the SAME mistake) or keep the guy and he will be even more focused to make a right of his wrong good management do the 2nd btw Franco, my crystal ball sees Massa winning all remaining races and that idiot Raikonnen setting fastest lap in the dying stages if he's sober, god's gift to racing will crack under pressure
If we wish to micro manage the team and demand the head of any member who screwas up, there wouldn't be too many folk left in F1 including drivers.....
I watched the replay on Speed report. When they accidentally released Massa with the fuel rig still attached, did you notice the pit clock? 9.2 sec. 9.2?!! And they were still adding fuel?! Those idjots were overfueling him again!!!! After how many other times they overloaded Massa in potential rain conditions, they kept Kimi waiting, stacked, while they added penalty weight to Felipe again?? That's the ball game. The Ferrari pit crew is unable to learn from their mistakes. Or there's some back room deal that Hami will win this year, after Ferrari was handed last year's WCC and McLunk coughed up 100 Mil. (How much was FIA's contract for those McLaren ECUs, again?) Ferrari is either *trying* to lose, or they've just gone completely stupid.
My guess: The guy responsible has at one point or another done something of great significance for Massa. Bailed him out of jail, maybe, or disposed of a body.
look at Massa. so positive, he's still confident he can win the WDC. i see a lot of Michael in him. congrats. i'm sure he'll bounce back. win or lose, he's been the man of the season.
+1000....what a great gesture of how to lead a team...Damn why do we need those lights for?...BRING THE LOLLIPPOP BACK!!!
DGS has a point. Maybe someone should empty the Mini Bar at the team hotel on thursday,Ha Ha Dont you think it would be a good time to bring back the Lollypop with the mirror on one side? Its all about 1000ths of a second, but do it right first, do it fast second
Excellent statement. The person holding the Lollypop is facing towards the car & can see the overview of what is happening, both with the fuel rig & with pit lane traffic. If they don't drop this fiasco of a way to handle pit top releases, I sure hope they can explain to the Tifosi why they are sticking with something that has cost the team at least 2 races already. It just plain doesn't make sense to keep using the light bar. There are too many ways for it to go wrong, as has been proven clearly.
I don't think a driver can see much if anything at all with all the pit crew around the car. That's why they have the lollipop man. The lights system clearly doesn't work. This is the third time it messed up. Time to switch back to the lollipop.
