I agree, and that's out of character for him. This might explain some of it:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/300320...g-manager.html

And maybe they've kissed and made up:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/290320...e-mclaren.html

 

So then, what explains Lewie's penchant for putting his foot in his mouth when Dad WAS there?

 

Youth.

What explains Alonso's penchant for kicking in doors, blocking the pits, etc.?

 

If I may I'd like to venture an opinion here...

These views are an interesting glimpse into what goes through a driver's mind. Both examples (Hamilton / Alonso) portray an individual who at the moment is under great duress. They lash out at others (be it the team, fellow drivers or inanimate objects) due to their inability to cope with the frustration they are under at the time.

Are they wrong for doing so? Of course they are, but their actions are understandable due to the circumstances. Anytime that you step into the cockpit of a racecar you place yourself at the hands of that cruel entity called Pressure.

There is no denying that there are those drivers who feel that they are owed everything but it is their actions after the fact that we should use to judge them. Are they sincerely apologetic for their behavior afterwards or do they just brush the incident off and move on or worse yet feel that they are the injured party and demand contrition from others?

A driver makes a mistake and frustration takes over compelling him to look into the old Dictionary of Excuses for a way to rationalize the event(s) that he just went through. The heat of competition does strange things to people sometimes.

Drivers will be judged by their actions both before and after the fact. The truly great though, are able to take 10 steps back, compose themselves and soldier on. Winning with grace is a feat that only the true champions are able to deliver.

I do not condone either Lewis' or Fernando's behavior but I do understand why they did what they did. Wrong?... YES... but before we brand them as prima donnas, brats, or immature people we must first take a walk in their shoes.

Oh and btw, I admire both Fernando and Lewis... No one is perfect and I hope that they can learn through their experiences... It is a lofty perch that we place our heroes upon...

 

Hamilton's behavior and back stabbing.

 

Which is?

Actually, I think Sabre states it well, and I think it explains a lot of on and off track "incidents." From Danica Patrick's famous blowups to Michael Schumacher's parking maneuver at Monaco, that intense desire to win gets 'em.

 

I think a lot of the pressure is placed there by themselves. And I agree that the ability to cope with that pressure is something that is learned. I mean, look at Massa or Sato. Both talented and fast. But when they were still new drivers, you put a little pressure on them and they'd fold like a house of cards.

But Sato's last year or two with Super Best Friends, specifically 2007, and Massa at Ferrari. I gotta say, pretty rock solid.

 

I think drivers, by nature, are fiercely competitive, but having a multi-million dollar contract certainly doesn't hurt!

 

How about the McLaren mechanics cheering and applauding when Vettel went off. No class.

Jim

 

What sport do you play, where when something bad happens to a competitor, you don't cheer or get pumped up?

Basketball - team gets the defensive rebound, team cheers.

Football - defense recovers fumble, team goes nuts. Head-butts and butt-slaps for everyone!

Curling - Ummmm, you get a 3 and your teammates nod at you approvingly.

See?

I'd imagine that team receive some sort of bonus from their management depending on how successful the team is.

 

True 'nuff, benjam83, and I'm sure if something Bad had happened, regardless of the team, you wouldn't have seen any applause...

 

Yeah Ben, I can see your point. I just usually don't gain happines through the misfortunes of others.
Don't know what goes on in football or basketball, never watch 'em.
Now curling,though..........

Jim

 

LOL, curling is actually one of my favorite events to watch on the cold olympics, just because it's the only time it's ever covered.

The only sport I can think of where people don't cheer when something unfortunate happens to a competitor that they don't support, is golf. How dare you for comparing F1 to golf!!!

I think being enthusiastic toward your team is only natural and I applaud it. Emotion has to be part of it. Without emotion, there's no passion. And I don't think we would have any passion for it, if the people competing in it didn't have it. Plus, it isn't like Vettel had a bad wreck or anything. If you had seen that kind of reaction during Kubica's wreck in Montreal, you would absolutely be correct, no class.

And for the record, I don't watch basketball either. It's in the same level of boring as Nascar.

 

No rain, except for qualifying. The race wasn't what I was hoping for.

Unless there's rain, it just doesn't have me on the edge of my seat. In past years, with refueling, the strategy thing did have me on the edge of my seat.

How about that Alonso? He drove his entire race without a clutch. I had to do this for 800 miles once when the car I'd just bought, had a clutch cable snap. I cannot imagine doing that on these high-tech seamless shift trannies. I just wish he would have finished, just because it would go in the books like Schumacher's race way back when, when he was stuck in a gear and drove around the problem. Instead, it just goes down as a DNF.

 

A sterling performance by Fernando Alonso!

I sat on the edge of my seat watching as he masterfully struggled with the reluctant transmission (seemed to slip into neutral during the downshift then abruptly bang into gear) hounding Button's McLaren in the closing stages and threatening him for 8th place.

Alonso turned in some magnificent laps times in the process of catching the Massa/Button duel (a lap of 1:37.231 on lap 41, the second fastest lap of the race - fast lap belonged to Webber at 1:37.054) and when taken in the perspective of the fact that he came from the back of the pack (19th inside of row 10) it was a truly brilliant drive.

What a shame that Alonso failed to cross the finish line...

Still it was a virtuoso performance by the Spaniard and a drive that will be long remembered and admired!

 

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-...s-are-illegal/

Oooooo, I see "Ride-height Gate" brewing . That name doesn't really flow off the toungue like Watergate, Stepney-Gate, Lie-gate or Crashgate.

I'd be very interested to see what solution Red Bull have got so their ride height doesn't increase as they burn fuel off. My mind is spinning with all kinds of half-cocked ideas of what they might have done.

I did notice the RB mechanics standing around the back end of the RB6 at the last race, like they did last year around the double diffusers....so me thinks it's something juicy!

 

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-...ys-ecclestone/

Someone else should be waving goodbye, you old coot....and it aint the races.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-...rding-to-plan/

According to plan huh? Hmmmmmm.

I will be interested to see how things shake out when they head back to Europe

 

Aerodynamics is everything to today's F1 machine and nobody does aero better than Adrian Newey! He is quite the genius when it comes to designing a racecar... I remember how elegant and fast his designs have been (my favourite is the Leyton House March CG 901).

Keeping the ride height constant is a huge advantage in setting up the car and keeping the airflow variables constant. It will be interesting to see if such a "ride height" equalization system exists. I have to admit that if such a system is present it is very cleverly concealed.

AMEN brother benjam... AMEN!

Bernie is literally ripping the heart out of F1 in his single minded approach to avarice!

I can see that if Ecclestone gets his way circuits like Spa, Monza, Silverstone, etc. will be replaced by Mickey Mouse street circuits (New York, Rome, Moscow, etc.) or a boring Tilke designed track (yawn).

Hey Bernie, is that AARP I hear calling? Be a good lad and retire... Off with you now and enjoy your Golden Years while you still can... [/quote]

Michael Schumacher is still a force to be reckoned with.

Schuey has not raced F1 since his retirement and to set the pace that he has is impressive and I can see he is getting faster with each event. I firmly predict that Michael will be on the podium this season and (edging out onto that limb) will win a GP... It's only a matter of time.

 

I was kind of referring to his lack of results and the fact that Nico has consistently out-paced him so far this year. Ok, fine, he's been out of the game for a while.....not an excuse. He should have juiced like Lance Armstrong, ROFL!!! Just kidding.


I'm sure his lack of pace has some to do with the car just not suiting him and some to do with shaking the rust off. I don't understand why he didn't limp the car back to the pits after he lost the wheelnut. They could have put one back on, right? Or was it more of the safety concern?

 

Maybe we should listen to what Schumacher himself had to say about the errant wheel nut...

(from the Michael Schumacher website - http://www.michael-schumacher.de/?page=news&story_id=&lang=uk )

A missing wheel nut stopped Michael in Malaysia

"It is a shame that I could not finish the race but unfortunately one of the wheel nuts on the left rear was lost. The car suddenly was becoming very unstable in turn 6 and I could hardly steer and had no drive left. I initially thought it was something to do with the suspension but after I had stopped I saw that there was one wheel nut missing. It is something very unusual to happen, in testing we never had problems with it."

 

Bernie's grand scheme for 2010 seems to be unravelling a bit...

F1: 2010 Korean GP May Be Canceled
The first Korean Grand Prix may not happen after all...
SPEED Staff / GMM | Posted April 11, 2010 GMM Newswire


The inaugural Korean Grand Prix could be called off, according to a report in the German media.

The news magazine Focus says the circuit under construction in Yeongam, about 400 kilometers south of the capital of Seoul, may not be completed by the time of its first scheduled race this year at the end of October.

Amid rumors of serious problems with the construction, the report said F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone travelled to South Korea immediately after last Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix.

The report said the 79-year-old will decide in the coming days whether or not to cancel the race, a move that would reduce the 2010 schedule from a record-equaling 19 events to 18.

F1 regular Hermann Tilke's company was responsible for the design of the circuit, but unlike most of his other projects, the German architect is only an advisor for the actual construction in Korea.

"For the first time I am concerned that a (Tilke) circuit is not going to be finished on time," he is quoted as saying.

Focus said a possible outcome for South Korea, in spite of the fact that tickets for the October 24 race are already on sale, is a postponement for one year.

 

I really think he has a house of cards. He's depending on too many new tracks, in too many unproven areas. He's also scheduling races at bad times so the Euro audience can watch at prime time--witness the Malaysian GP that just about guaranteed an afternoon rain (you'd think he would have learned from last year!).

Was it my imagination, or did the stands look fairly empty?

 

So...

Anyone need a way to get their MINI to the track or anywhere for that matter?

If you do, then read on...


F1: USF1 Trucks Seized And Put Up For Sale
The remnants of USF1 are beginning to be sold off...

GMM Newswire | Posted April 12, 2010

Two transporters intended to move the USF1 team around Europe this year have been seized and are now for sale.

London's High Court issued the seizure order on behalf of a UK creditor, and the writ enforcement officer has place the items on eBay.

"As a keen motorsport fan, it is certainly one of the more interesting seizures we've made," said David Carter in a statement.

One of the trailers can carry three F1 cars and contains a machine shop while the other is used to carry equipment and also has office space.

"The trailers were recently bought from Brawn GP by the judgment debtor and really are something special," Carter said.

USF1 had not re-painted the trailers, so they still feature the Brawn GP logo and the words, "Jenson Button #22".



Just think, you can take your MINI and also have room to bring along some friends and their MINIs too!

Need to work on the cars... No problemo... you have all you need for maintenance...

It's all on eBay and up for bids... any takers?

 

I know that I digress (from the subject of F1 by bringing this up again) but I wanted to share with all of you two interesting videos that I found.

The first, is a lap of the original Laguna Seca (as depicted in Gromit's track diagram) onboard the 1985 IMSA GTP, Group-44, Jaguar XJR-7 driven by Chip Robinson.


The second is a lap of the present day configuration of Laguna Seca as you ride onboard the Drayson Racing LMP-1 Lola-Judd V-10 during the 2009 ALMS race.



I can see why Gromit says it ain't the same track!

Gromit (or for that matter anyone) feel free to chime in on this.

 

Do you have the item number(s)?

While searching for it, I did find a McLaren-Mercedes SLR for sale ($250,000, but they'll take offers). It's listing 250602600449. And joy of joys, it's only 60 miles away!

I'm on my way out the door...