This is what the F1 website says about KERS:
"This could be worth several tenths of a second in terms of lap time, but the weight and packaging of the system - and its impact on the car’s weight distribution - also have to be taken into account."

I took that the mean the weight and packaging of the system would be more than that of a normal car along with changing the weight distribution. Do they loose fuel capacity with this system which would mean other cars could carry more fuel(weight) and they would even out? Or I could just be reading it wrong too. Also I guess I just assumed that if you are adding a battery or flywheel then you would be adding weight. I am not expert though so could be totally wrong.

 

There's the minimum weight that a car and driver combo can weigh. So naturally, un-ballasted, you would want the car to be as light as possible. That way, when you add driver at the car's minium weight, you can add ballast as optimally as possible. So, basically the only thing that is hindered is the ability to distribute ballast throughout the car. And the parasitic loss on the drivetrain when the KERS isn't engaged.

But yes, they could either decide to carry less fuel or design a larger fuel tank, which would then add more weight when the car is full at the beginning of a 1-stop race strategy, and take more ballast distribution ability away.

The whole goal is to end the race as close to that minimum weight as possible without going over. I cant imagine that the teams would allow their car/driver combo to be over that minimum weight without fuel. LOL, I love it because they always drive offline and pick up all the bits of rubber on the tires to gain that little bit of extra weight for parc ferme.

 

Who--Bernie or STLMINI?

Just kiddin' STL. BTW, I think the reason you couldn't find it is because it's a daily site, and time marches on...

 

Greetings F1 fans! I've been AWOL from NAM for a few months and I'm trying to catch up. Looks like it'll be a very interesting season and maybe even less predictable than last year.....and since lack of predictability adds spice to fantasy leagues as well, I expect an entertaining PickSix season.

If you haven't heard of it, some of us NAMers have fielded a small F1 fantasy league team (of sorts) for four years so far at a site called PickSix.

It's very late to start, but better late than never.....right? Here's hoping I can convince at least a few of you decide to join in.

Even if you're registered at other F1 game sites, please consider playing along at PickSix as well so you can be a part of the "NAM F1 Challenge" league there. If you haven't played in a previous year and you're not familiar you're not far behind because it has to be the simplest "fantasy league" ever.

Check out this thread for a few more details, and here's last year's thread as well just to be thorough.

cheers - steve

 

Yeah, good point, I totally forgot that they would be running with ballast anyway.

The FIA will be posting the "expected weight" of the cars at the start of the race, so we are supposed to be able to tell who is running heavy on fuel, who knows how accurate these "expected weights" will be though.

 

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/...10-ecclestone/

This is not a drill 13 hours till Friday practice people only 13 hours!

And 3 more teams for 2010.

 

Yeah, I hear ya. It's cool that they're doing that. But if the FIA's weight calculations are as accurate as their weather forecasts, the teams and spectators will have just as much info as they did last season.

Ooooo, Inside Grand Prix starts at midnight. Midnight:30 practice starts!!!!!

 

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/...er-protesting/

Looking good for the Brawn Team!

 

Man, I think this is going to be a fantastic race.

You would think that these other teams would have at least brought another diffuser based on what they saw on these other cars, just in case they were deemed legal...which just happened. Toyota apparently brought several versions of their diffusers in case their original one was declared illegal.

 

YES I WILL BE UP LATE WATCHING PRACTICE!!!

(i'm excited)

 

6:30pm on the west coast.

 

How are you watching it at 6:30? Speed doesn't show the 1st practice and it's not on until 12:30am here in St. Louis.

 

lol, it's that west coast math.

 

Live timing is on at 6:30pm.

http://www.formula1.com/services/liv...ve_timing.html

benjam83

 

Try this benjam83, http://www.justin.tv/atomic_napalm...

Live feed -

 

That's awesome! Thanks astroglide! I mean, astrochex.

 

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/...th-work-to-do/

I just hope they were really heavy on fuel!

 

While McLaren didn't look strong in practice, I think they will sort it out and still be a contender this year.

 

Woo-hoo!! Just made my PickSix picks. Probably have to revise them after Q3 but at least I have a placeholder there.

 

I've never tried that live timing before. That's cool. lol, I thought you were talking about watching Speed's coverage.

Holy crap, those practice timesheets looked like Formula 1 Yatzee. I think there's only so much setup work the red and silver teams can do. It looks like they just don't have the grip to keep up. I think I would be very ok with Williams or Brawn winning this race.

I'm a big fan of the low-budget under-dog teams. And a good result could bring just the injection of funds that those teams really need.

 

see now, west-coasters ain't that dence!

 

So, anyone have an explanation for all the chicanes having times in the top half of the field?

I was also surprised to hear that there will be NO more testing other than what they do on the Fridays before the races.

Wonder how many of those huge wings will be sheared off at corner 1...

 

I was thinking about those wings also, they extend beyond the outside of the front tires.

Can you say carnage?

 

Besides, they look hokey. Doesn't seem right that a multi-zillion dollar car would have something that looks like what a kid would put on his '96 Civic.

(Full disclosure--my kid has a '96 Civic.)

 

Kimi's take on last night:

http://www.formula1.com/news/intervi...09/3/9071.html

And everyone else's:

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/3/9068.html

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/3/9067.html