What is the world coming to? The world is coming to Shanghai! What a facility...

Davidson fastest on Friday in the Honda...

 

Didn't see any of the stuff today, but hope to watch the race live. The BBC who has most of the live links around the world said at the last race they won't be able to control a blackout if they (the Chinese) want to pull the plug on it.

This is F1, why do they want to pull the plug on a racing event.

 

It's not the BBC's fault....it's the tyrant behind the machine. Bernie Ecclestone.

nice location isn't it!

 

It’s not Bernie, its China. I’ve been there – had that done. It’s the Chinese government who will pull the plug if something seems wrong to them. I traveled through many of the unrestricted provinces and had film or cameras destroyed for no reason. You’re in there FREE nation so THRY will do whatever they will to make themselves look good to the world.

 

...and I expect the grid girls will be less than adequate also?

 

Not the ones I met when I was there.

 

 

You've got about 10 min to get a beer and tune in the F1 race in China.

 

Enjoy the race, kids! So, will there be go-go girls on the sidelines? LMAO!

Clover

 

i am having TIVO record the race so i can watch it over and over -- im so glad that ralf is back and am hoping he does well -- (being a BMW-Williams household and all) but i gotta say that i wa jumping up and down when Kimi made P2 --
should be a good race --
although that turn 1 looks dreadful for the front right tire !!!

i will check this thread back later --

hey - did you guyshear that this track was built on a swamp? kinda interesting in a scary sort of way...

 

With Button on a 2 stop and everyone close to him a 3 stop, he’s looking great. Can this kid ever get any respect? If he wins the race I bet all they’ll say is “but Sato did fantastic this race”.

 

As Bruni’s wheel comes off and rolls across the track in another direction, I loved the instructions by his pit “you need to come in”. No *****, I bet he might have thought that also.

 

1.Rubens
2.Jenson
3.Kimi
Great race. Im kinda glad that Schumacher wasn't a factor in this race. I like the guy, and think he is a great driver but I like to see others in the race.
Personally, since i'm colombian I always want to see JPM take the race,but its been a tough year for him. Well guys have a good one and I hope you all enjoyed the inagural Chinese gran prix as much as I did.


Danny.

 

Did anyone else hear over the weekend that Bernie was subsidizing Villeneuve at Renault and made them an offer they couldn't refuse to take him on the team?

 

Great race! Imagine is they have about 5 more laps to work with at the very end there...

gorgesou track! looked a little bumpy in parts for such a new track. and what about the dust storm everytime they'd hit the concrete in the pits!

 

I was very impressed with both the circuit and the pitlane girls, for those who doubted if China could pull off a world class spectacle. The track was so wide that it was possible to take a variety of racing lines and passing was done in more than just the pit lane. Hell, even the Jordons looked good out there with enough runoff room to make their cars work, and how about those Saubers?

Villeneuve must be out of shape due to lack of seat time. It's been almost a year since he last raced, I'm hpoing for good things come next race, and next year too.

 

Also with the testing restrictions and all...I have to admit this is the first time I was routing for JV...

As far as Berni subsidizing him...I didn't hear that, but I'll be scouring the f1 forums and see what I can find about that.

The track was amazing...having so many slow corners really makes the race a race...

Shumi wasn't in form at all...I know he's not used to having to deal with all the slower cars, but his bump in with Klein was unacceptable...it was both their faults and it should not have happened...but it's quite impressive that he made it and the jag had to retire...I wonder what happened there.

L

 

Japanese GP final qualifying on right now...why is NASCAR on SPEED right now?

Super typhoon washes out Saturday, so two qualifying sessions and then grand prix in one day...should be good. Trulli in the Toyota takes the provisional pole...final qualifying now...but no TV.

 

Hmmm, not much excitement as Der Weltmiester has returned to his form, running away with the race. Schue #2 was back as well, getting a well deserved podium finish. Disappointments for Barrichello, Coulthard, Montoya, Weber, and Trulli . Sato and Button, or is that Button and Sato (3rd and 4th respectively) did Honda proud today. Pity we didn't have the home town boy on the podium though.Boos and Hisses for the Japanese television feed. Besides losing audio and video every few minutes, they didn't even have the Coulthard, Barrichello incident on their screens. How the 'ell will the FIA determine who's to blame with no tapes?

What does F1 need? More teams competing and more pit lane girls! At the beginning of the 1990's there were 26 cars racing and a pre-qualifying that kept another four to six competitors out, now we are at risk of having only 16 - 18 cars total next year.

Hey Bernie, what are you doing, killing F1?

 

Michael on the rebound win, needing to prove to himself that he does indeed rule the world, LOL. Props to Ralf for hanging in there, and kudos to BAR for another great effort.

Was Trulli overdriving the Toyota, or does the Toyota just suck that much?

Ditto with Webber/Jaguar (wait, don't answer that)

 

I missed the race last night so I’m watching the replay now.

Why is it my kid (Jenson Button) that may be the F1 world champion in a few years still gets no respect and Rodney where ever you are, you’d love this guy.

He’s third in the points for the year – no one is even close to him. He’s made his car 2nd in the constructers points, Sato didn’t. Ferrari can’t be beat, by driver or car.

I’ve talked about this guy for two (actually 3) years now – will someone notice what I’m talking about. Jenson Button is great!!!

The race replay is not over yet, but I’ll not change my opinion about Button. When the older ones retire who will be the new? Button is my kid of choice.

 

i agree, Button is a quality driver, but i think his car is not as high-quality as others. if he raced for say, renault, which made a great comeback from last year, he could have as much potential as Gerard Berger did for that same team. Ferrari is just too good and its clear domination of the tables this year shows its priorities. It, unlike other companies, produces it cars almost based on these cars, like the enzo and whatnot. The range of cars from other teams is far greater than Ferrari's, from motorcycles to family sedans to F1. However, I still think the engineering technology of Ferrari is far to great to beat.

 

MONTOYA WINS AT INTERLAGOS !!!!!!!!!!



Finally, great win, great race, and great finish. Montoya finished off his career with Williams with a awsome race. Lets see what is in store foe the 2005 Formula 1 season. I will definitely miss watching my doses of F1.

Well till next year guys, its been fun..

Danny

 

Great race indeed. I wonder if we'll see more of JPM and Kimi sitting next to each other next season??

Too bad about Button.....kinda makes you wonder if the mechanics just kinda sorta maybe, let something "slip" by them for inspection on the engine as a message to him. Kinda like in Any Given Sunday, when the team lets Jamie Foxx take a beating to show him he's not the only person on the team.....

 

Yep, JPM raced a good race. Anytime you can best Kimi, Reubens at his home GP, Fernando Alonso and Takuma Sato is a good day. Proper strategy, a well balanced car, proper motivation and a pinch of luck all worked out for Montoya today. As we are a 25% Montoya household, there was much celebration at home this afternoon.

Now the wait begins for the 2005 season.

Is it March yet?