Cos they didn't see that one coming and were not prepared for it, I recall they were leading the charge against them. Just like Michelin tires and Renault Mass dampers and so on.

Write up some basic rules and go racing

 

Agreed!

so let me ask a question that is perhaps worn out - I have not been keeping up like ususaly - "no development after the season begins" means Ferrari is stuck with their diffuser?

What actually consitutes development?

 

I'm not sure what constitutes development but even if they can justify some sort of development they have no testing, right? Only on Friday, really.

 

We'll have to wait and see what goes down, I doubt they will be illegal and the teams will be allowed to develop them - but only the diffuser.

It would be interesting to see if they outlawed them.....

 

Does "No Testing" mean they can't run their cars around Fiorano, or Woking?

 

...a year with a completely new rule set might in of itself be an argument for on-going development...I cannot imagine being penalized for the entire season...to ask a team(s) to endure a shortcoming for a season, knowing the cost, is actually quite insane...why bother?

 

My understanding is the testing at the various tracks all the teams use, including Ferrari and McLaren. I don't know how they'd enforce the individual team tracks. BTW, Ferrari's track in Maranello is completely surrounded by their buildings. Only one little hole at the end of a street between some apartment buildings where you can see the cars. Just wish there were some F1 cars on the track when we peeked through--"just" a Ferrari test mule (California?), and what was probably a customer's car off the production line.

 

I thought the no development was for engines, not chassis. Don't know how they'd enforce no testing at private test tracks though.

 

There is only a ban on testing, not development. They're still allowed to develop in wind tunnels and on Friday and Saturday practices before a race.

I'm pretty curious to see how it all works out when a team tries a new part without having gotten a bunch of laps on it before putting it on track.

 

There is a very large viewing are along Via Giardini Sud as it crosses over Via Pedemontana. This is not an official viewing area but it is closed off with a 12' tall chain link fence...the orientation is basically with Fiorano's straight coming not so sharply from the right - you are looking a few degrees to your right as the cars come from under the bridge at Fiorano - to the double apex coming across from right to left in front of this viewing area. I tried to take pictures of an F1 car working out for an hour, but the fence and the shear speed of the car offered nothing more than a blur - I'm not a photographer.

This viewing area is just over the small bridge on your right...at times you will find large empty tour busses across the street...everyone including the drivers clinging to the fence. While there a week ago we saw nothing...the rain didn't let up for three days.

 

Well, it looks like the diffuser question has been settled in the current leaders' favor:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/moto...ne/7996698.stm

 

More info on the diffuser out come.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/...-confirms-fia/

 

Good write up on what the diffuser case was all about.

http://www.f1badger.com/2009/04/diffuser/

 

I think it was a little optimistic of Ferrari and the like to think points would be stripped from the leaders...and perhaps they anticipated this since they - the other teams - have been developing new diffuser designs. Not sure if those will be ready by Friday...?

I am a Ferarri fan, but I like things mixed up a bit. This season a funner than the last...funner being a technical term.

 

May you race in interesting times

 

Here's a scary thought for you. Ferrari and Chrysler could become part of the same company. Can't wait to see a Ferrari with dashboard bits from a Neon.

 

Always being one to think there is more to the story than what is being told, Ron has now completely stepped out of F1 leaving Martin to handle things.

Makes you wonder if that Max scandal will finally be finished, he wanted Ron out and now he's got it.

If I was Mclaren, I'd be really nervous about preferential treatment from Mercedes right now...........maybe the Australia situation was actually created by Ron's instruction ? and it is Mercedes that asked Ron to bow out ?

With these high profiles careers and such, it seems that the truth is never the truth.....

 

That's some of the most cynical talk I've heard all.....um, morning. And you probably aren't far off, lol!

 

 

I think the engine manufacturers with large customer bases in the US, will be tripping over themselves to make a deal with USF1 (or whatever they will wind up being called). Might be the only connection they have with the US market through F1 they'll have for some years.

So with McLaren shooting themselves in the foot, and Brawn doing quite well, I can see Mercedes dumping McLaren over image problems, and supplying to the new kids.

 

KERS or not?

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/4/9180.html

 

Does anyone know a website that I could watch Qualifying on Saturday night?

 

I don't think there is any website that broadcasts F1 live for free; you could always go to one of those satellite TV on you computer websites and pay to get that software. I have no idea how much it cost though, I doubt it is worth it. And there might be a more shady way too; there is some software called SopCast; people basically feed TV into there computers then onto SopCasts network so then you can go on and watch it. Chances are that someone will be feeding the F1 race.

 

Ferraris already share parts from lower end FIATs. My old FIAT Panda had bits which were the same as a coworkers Ferrari (possibly a 328gtb), he showed me how to turn on my parking lights.

 

Lets hope that they do want to help USF1 and that drives them to push for a US race. All of this would happen (I think) if the Bernie would just retire and allow someone to get F1 back to its glory.