I just heard that the DNFs were the "worst since the 2005 tire debacle." That's what I was wondering, but that couldn't be called attrition. I wonder when the last actual DNF record was. Anyone know?

 

I was a Schumi fan (most of the time), and loved to watch him work, but it was boring when they followed him when he was just driving around on his own. Of course the problem back then was there usually wasn't any action further back either.

 

I miss Schumi...an emotion not shared by many, I know.

 

Okay, answered my own question. It was the '96 Monaco GP, with 3 finishing. A wet race, and the usual causes for the DNFs. Accidents led, but not one massive pile-up as the number of finishers would suggest.

And a young lad named Michael S. had the pole; crashed out during the first lap. Such is racing, I guess.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Monaco_Grand_Prix

 

This one wasn't that bad of course, but it is on the short list of races where some of the points were awarded to drivers who didn't finish the race. Now we wait to see whether Barrichello gets to keep his.....

 

After hubby watched the race this A.M. I asked him how he liked it, and he said, "looked like they were a bunch of amateurs."

Comments? (I haven't seen him in the cockpit of an F1 race car lately. Any race car, for that matter...)

 

Congrats to Lewis!

I think this is going to be a very accurate prediction for the rest of the season, but with fewer DNF's. With the new reg's it is going to really shake up the status quo. With small driver/team mistakes having a much bigger effect on the race standings.

Braking/acceleration control has finally come back as a something that the drivers have to contend with.

 

If we could have only seen Ron's 2nd reaction after he took fourth back from Heikki . . .

Great to see Nico on the podium . . . finally.

 

For what it's worth (not much), looks like maybe Alonso didn't take 4th back so much as Heikki gave it to him - if you believe Heikki's excuse (I do) he tore off a visor strip and accidentally pushed the pit lane speed limiter button in the process.

Still, credit where it's due, Alonso drove a great race and definitely deserved 4th.

 

Fascinating race to watch. Sounds like Lewis could have pushed even more, but why with so much drama behind him in the overtaking...poor Kimi!! Anyway, I agree, this year's changes have made things (the first race anyway) very interesting. Did Barrichello ever get a more severe penalty...what a weird pit stop!?!? It'll be fun to watch the teams adjust as the season progresses.

 

I haven't seen anybody mention the fact that Kimi would have been the leader after those in front (3 or 4 people, I think) had made their final stops. He was all set at that time but threw it away with that bonzai move! At least he didn't hit the wall tho....

It will be a fun year to watch...

 

Yeah, why didn't they DQ Barrichello? Sure looked like a violation to me--didn't the stewards look at the photos?

 

No such implication intended . . . however if he pushed the speed limiter button that's certainly a driver error. Either way, seeing Ron's "oops" reaction on the heels his initial excitement would've been great.

Kind of like the look on MY face when for a brief moment I thought Kimi had overtaken Heikki.

 

If only...

 

Reubens was in fact, DQ'd, which gave Kimi one point.

 

Ok, good. Funny--the Yahoo F1 site didn't say anything about it.

 

Try F1.com

 

Not only one for Kimi, but one more each for new guys Nakajima and Bourdais.

 

+1
Awesome way to start 2008. Did anyone see the Peter Windsor's pre race chat with Rosberg? Someone gunned thier engine right next to him and he flinched like it blew his ear drums out. Funny as hell! Then, there was someone (forget who) who had the first stop and go. As the timer counted down, he just held the motor at what sounded like 16k and dumped the clutch. Out of 22 cars, how many finished? 7 or 8? It seems like taking away TC and engine braking really leveled the field. Bourdais was running in 4th in his opener until his motor went boomski. This is going to be an awesome season.

 

That was Barrichello - guess he wasn't too worried about his clutch.....

 

You know, since champ-car doesn't run traction control, Bourdais might have a little advantage there.

Renault has made a pretty good leap forward compared to last year, and might be among the front runners by mid season.

Ferrari has a little sorting out to do.

Might see BMW or Williams take a win this year.

 

Hmm. Can't say that I see his POV.

Maybe Massa . . . who made a mess of the first turn, or Coulthard for the manner in which he slammed the door to his own demise.

It's easy to jump all over Kimi's first mistake . . . until you consider what he'd accomplished to that point with what had to be the heaviest car in the field.

However, his second spin will prove, I hope, to be his season low point.

Overall, I thought there were some great performances today, especially from the likes of Alonso who I feel is wringing all that can be had from a car in need of much more development.

 

I'd be stoked to see Kubica stand as a winner this year. Didn't he finish like 5 or 6th in his first race? This guy did great in his first few races and has been steady in his performance since his debut. He's held off the likes of the Iceman a few times and given the best a run for their money. He's just been overshadowed in the last year by Hami. That, and after watching an interview with Rosberg today, he seems like a new man. He didn't come off as the standoff-ish *** that he used to be. I remember one of the announcers talking last year about BMW's press conference. I believe it was Dr. Mario said "We're proud to have this person as one of drivers. Then we have Rosberg who, uh, he, uh, um...Then we have our new Friday test driver..."

 

Well, let's see. Do you want total in the field collecting points, running or not? 8

Or do you mean running at the end? 6

 

And one of the 6 running at the end was disqualified!