Nope. In fact I just took another look at it (to be sure I wasn't mistaken) and he was back on the track behind Winkelhock and the SC nearly 3 minutes prior to the red.

 

I missed that. Someone must have forgotten to push the privacy button. It would be nice if we could hear more of that audio. NASCAR broadcasts the radios for something like 10 drivers every race on Sirius, which would be great if they had the same delay as the TV broadcasts. As it is, they don't sync up so it doesn't work as well as it should.

 

As long as the car is still running the corner workers can help get the car back on track. I remembered that when I saw LH still in the car as it was lifted back onto the track -- good heads up action by LH or McLaren to keep the fire lit. Wasn't it at the Nurburgring that Shummacher got the push off the curb when he high sided his Ferrari?

And I don't think the race was red flagged yet when LH got going again. They had just deployed the SC at that point.......remember ---- Luizzi almost backed into the SC at a high rate of speed at the first corner when the SC was waiting to pick up the field.

Maybe LH had to go around (after being pushed back by his mechanics) for tracking equipment reasons, so the scoring loop showed him doing so.

 

It was right as Kimi was coming around on his cool down lap at the end of Q3. Even the announcers got a laugh out of it.

 

They didn't forget to push the privacy button all together, they just didn't get to it quite fast enough..... The commentators were hushed and listening intently to hear something good and then it's just "Kimi, Kimi we need to keep the ..." and it goes dead (as hemi wrote) and they busted out laughing about it.

 

Speed's burning his bridges this week <click for story>.

 

Scott has known for awhile that Berger wants him out.
I'd love to see him go to Toyota. Bet they'll have a seat open soon.

 

To me, SS has the talent and ability but has always gotten screwed by either other 'tarded drivers (Aguri) or had bad luck with a crappy car. When the planets align, he does really well. I personally would love to see him take at least a top 5 in a race, if not a podium. Hell, points period would be nice.

 

The FIA says McLaren is guilty of possessing Ferrari's confidential information, but McLaren itself will not be punished because it has not been proven that the information was used by the team. They were warned that the case is not closed, and they face exclusion from the 2007 and 2008 championships if further evidence comes to light.

I understand the FIA does not want to penalize a team for the actions of one (supposedly) rogue employee, but one could also make the case for zero tolerance when it comes to obtaining another team's data.

In F1, tiny refinements can have huge consequences on the track. Even if there isn't direct evidence of McLaren incorporating any Ferrari designs in their own car, there exists the possibility of something being changed just as a result of someone seeing what another team was doing.

 

These are pretty serious charges...bordering on international espionage! I completely missed this entire incident!!!

 

Surprise, surprise - opposing views from the rival camps - McLaren says "the punishment fits the crime" and Ferrari are "outraged!" This one isn't over yet.

 

Here is the latest...

Ferrari have hit out at the FIA’s decision not to punish McLaren after the British team were found in breach of the International Sporting Code for possessing confidential documents belonging to their Italian rivals.

The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council opted not to impose a penalty as it could find no evidence that McLaren had made use of the data, which was found in the hands of the team’s chief designer, Mike Coughlan.
Ferrari, however, said they found it “incomprehensible that violating the fundamental principle of sporting honesty does not have, as a logical and inevitable consequence, the application of a sanction,” and added that they believe the decision “legitimises dishonest behaviour in Formula One and sets a very serious precedent.”

In a statement issued after Thursday’s hearing, Ferrari continued: “The decision of the World Council signifies that possession, knowledge at the very highest level and use of highly confidential information acquired in an illicit manner and the acquiring of confidential information over the course of several months, represent violations that do not carry any punishment.

“The fact that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was in possession of such information was discovered totally by accident and, but for this, the team would continue to have it. This is all the more serious as it has occurred in a sport like Formula One in which small details make all the difference. Ferrari feels this is highly prejudicial to the credibility of the sport.”

Ferrari added that they will continue with the legal action already under way within the Italian criminal justice system. The team are understood to be pursuing cases against both Coughlan and sacked Ferrari engineer Nigel Stepney, who is alleged to have provided the material in question. Both men have also been summoned to appear before the FIA.


I personally feel the FIA are wrong. This leaves open the possbility for McLaren, or others, to deny having literally persued technical information despite being in possesion of the information - it doesn't matter how the information was obtained or if the information will or will not be used - at this point, the FIA are helpless to quarantine the information. The information is simply in the wrong hands. However, given the level of competition that exisits in F1, I find it hard to beleive that any advantage will be ignored, even if given a casual "I didn't really look at it" glance. McLaren do not have to literally incorporate use the information into their chassis to gain an unfair advantage. McLaren may gain insight into Ferrari's future plans simply based upon the content of the information and that is still an unfair advantage. McLaren should be sanctioned, period!

As for the two gentlmen above...they should move to another planet.

 

I agree with you and Ferrari, meb. To say possession of another team's data shouldn't be punished is confounding. If you're caught with my DVD player in your house, it counts as theft. It doesn't matter if you hooked it up and watched Octane Guy's detailing video on it or not.

This could be a case similar to steroids in baseball. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa's home-run battle revived the sport after its labor stoppage. If MLB thought they were using steroids, what would they have gained by finding out for sure, compared to what was gained by having two players break the single-season record? Positive tests would have driven the sport down even further.

F1 now is in the midst of a great, competitive season after the departure of one of its greatest and most popular drivers. If they were to penalize McLaren at this point, they would hand the title to Ferrari and the entire championship would have a shadow over it.

 

...well your last two paragraphs are bit more insightful. There is a balancing act here...I never thought about the sport, only justice. I guess what works right, doesn't have to be right...unfortunately for Ferrari.

 

Anyone been to the Canadian GP that can recommend a nice hotel? My wife is going and would prefer a boutique hotel. PM me or email me at mike@stlmini.com.

 

Sorry, can't help, but you did remind me that the provisional 2008 schedule was released today:

March 16 Australia
March 23 Malaysia
April 6 Bahrain
April 27 Spain
May 11 Turkey
May 25 Monaco
June 8 Canada*
June 22 France
July 6 Great Britain
July 20 Germany
August 3 Hungary
August 24 Europe (Valencia)**
September 7 Italy
September 14 Belgium
September 28 Singapore**
October 12 China
October 19 Japan
November 2 Brazil


* provisional (contract hasn't been signed yet)
** subject to approval of street circuit

 

I guess I missed something now....I thought they announced Bahrain as the opener....?

 

I'd to go and stay in the US but it looks like I might have to go to Canada next year.

 

Ferrari has promised to follow up with prosecution..........can you imagine what will happen when Mclaren's transporters cross over onto Italian land? Immediately confiscated while the complicated and complex Italian legal system works it's "magic"? They might not get their cars back for years! Look how long they held onto the cars after Senna's death!

 

Well this sucks. I hope Scott get's a better ride and blows Red Bull/Toro Rosso into the wind.

BBC

Toro Rosso axe Speed for Vettel

Vettel made an impressive debut at Indianapolis
Toro Rosso Formula One team have axed Scott Speed and replaced him with BMW's third driver, Sebastian Vettel.
The 20-year-old became the youngest driver to win F1 points when he drove for BMW Sauber in the US Grand Prix in place of the injured Robert Kubica.

Vettel raced karts for the Red Bull Junior team before driving for BMW in Formula Three.

Speed's future had been in doubt after an angry row with team chief Franz Tost after the European Grand Prix.


To place obstacles in his career path now would go against our concept of talent promotion, BMW team chief Mario Theissen said once the German driver received the offer, there was no way they could stand in his way.

"As our test and reserve driver Sebastian has carried out sterling work for us," he said.

"When he stood in for Robert Kubica in the USA Grand Prix he made history by becoming the youngest debutant to earn a world championship point.

"However, the current testing rules mean that he barely gets a chance to drive for us.

"Now he has been offered the opportunity to get inside a Toro Rosso cockpit.

"We have sponsored and coached Sebastian over a number of years.

"To place obstacles in his career path now would go against our concept of talent promotion.""

 

I'm not really surprised, though I figured they would just name a new driver for next year and let him finish the season.

 

Berger really wanted him out. Of course if you read the responses from the European press, they're bashing Scott. Typical. I think he really could have shown us something in a decent car.

 

WTF! Now what are those of us who like to see an American driver do? Do we start calling Kimi "Kevin" or what? Maybe ignore Hamilton's accent...

 

Martin Brundle on ITV regarding Scott Speed:

 

I thought Scott Speed performed well considering the equipment and organization he had to work with . . .

It would be nice to see him have a go with another team but I'm afraid we may have witnessed his last Grand Prix start. Considering the wealth of proven and potential talent looking for open seats in F1, I'd say the odds are stacked against him.

I can really feel for him, as I seriously doubt Berger is a great guy to work for. I also doubt that no matter who's driving, Toro Rosso will always be sweeping up the back of the pack under his helm.

Bring back Minardi.