^^^^ +2. And then they can make it closer to a 103% or 104% rule.

 

I agree with this...Weber drove like he expected Kovi to move out of his way by reading his mind or something and got impatient and when it didn't happen...zigzed, then zaged and boom, ran into him...this is dangerous driving and yet there is another driver that I have been silent about and that is Petrov...U talk about cowboys here...he has made a number of moves that others have had to avoid and yet he has not been penalized...he, like Weber have got to cool it or there will be bodies, limp bodies coming off of the track...that was a horrific accident and demonstrates that the safety features e.g., monoque shell, etc. saved his a***s big time!...but there are limits to how much the safety devices can be effective and those driving out of control are responsible for the consequences as well as the FIA who sit there with their thumbs up their...A***.

To GG: Yes, something has got to be done to allow the new teams to become more competitive not only before the season starts but also during the season when those teams with $$ can make more improvements and increase their speed further resulting in larger and larger speed gaps to develop over time. The >100% rule only puts the axe over their head...something definitive, like testing for the new teams as U suggest, is needed...otherwise we will see more of this in upcoming races.

Later, Ken

 

After checking the replay again, he was honestly mid-straight when he hit Kovalainen, i.e. well in advance of the corner and more importantly the normal braking zone for the quick cars. You're right though. He was completely impatient and just didn't properly judge how Heikki was going to drive his car through that section.

 

Agreed! Not only that but all the new teams should've had a set amount of time for testing before this season began. Poor planning by the FIA, IMHO ...

 

This (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84896) is what U have to do after speaking out in the heat of the moment....apologize, apologize and then some more.

Later, Ken

 

At least one of the slower teams agrees:http://www.crash.net/f1/news/161174/...hi_to_pit.html

Later, Ken
Edit: although he is including all the teams, not just the new ones

 

This (http://www.crash.net/f1/news/161174/...hi_to_pit.html) is Button's view of why he did not even attempt to pass...because he couldnt or gave up first place podium...either way, as a race car driver, a bit too conservative for me.

Later, Ken

 

Whitlash, head of McLaren is now saying, Hold on, we need to evaluate the consequences of adding an adjustable rear wing next season for we do not know the consequences of such a change(http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84914).
This is rather ironic that the team who, in their own "laboratories", saw a hole in the existing 2010 reg's, proceeded to invent the F-duct to increase straight line speed for their own advantage, is now saying, after all teams now know and agreed to ban same and install instead the adjustable rear wing for 2011, "Wait a minute we have to be careful about this modification to make sure it is right for F1"(paraphrasing here)...what is he talking about?...it was ok for McLaren to use their F-duct as long as everyone else did not have one; in short good for McLaren, who cares about F1...a bit hypocrital ehh Mr. Whitlash?

Later, Ken

 

Ross Brawn is head of FOTA technical committee, probably because he saw and raised loophole for DD last year and no one listened, has indicated how the rear wing adjustment will work. One criticism by Jarno Trulli is safety, namely if going into a turn from the straight and wing fails to return to high downforce position...bang. However, according to Brawn description this should not happen: "The way it works is that the front of the flap lifts up, it is not the back of the flap going down. So the main plane and the flap will be horizontal and, if there is a failure, the wing will drop back into its fully loaded position...Current plans to allow a 10mm slot gap in the rear wing to open up to a 50mm slot gap may be trimmed back if teams find the cars get more than a 10 km/h straight-line speed boost..."Now comes the sticky part...when to use it and it is here they get it all wrong: "What we now have to define carefully is when you are allowed to use that facility. The idea is for some sort of calculated proximity based on the section times and loops in the track - so when a car is close enough he will have the message that he is close enough and he can use it for the next period, part of the lap or a complete lap, and reduce the drag on the straight."

As indicated earlier, IMHO have the wing driver operated at all times, not just for the rear car...it is stupid to have the lead car not be able make same adjustment as the rear car. But U say, then there is no advantage, so why have it at all? The aero design with and w/o wing in down/low drag position could be a significant advantage to the team that does it right.

Later, Ken

 

^^^^^ To me, all of this is just FOTA and the FIA accepting that all of the changes they've made to the cars over at least the last few years to increase passing have simply not worked, so instead they're going to take a different route and just make it easier for the following car to get it done with a top speed advantage. It's a real give-up.

 

^ I say the first half of the season last year looked promising (minus the Brawn) but the FIA screwed up when they made the larger valume diffuser legal. That was a bad move, if you want to see passing in F1, they have to get those diffusers off the cars. That will be a step in the right direction...

 

Done...DD are banned for 2011.

Later, Ken

 

This from Bridgestone: "The track was previously one of the most severe for the tyres in terms of layout and circuit roughness on the calendar. The new layout, if anything, makes it more punishing, and certainly too severe to bring our super soft compound.
The additional straight means that the average speed should be higher than before. Entering the new section, the right hand turn at Abbey should create high lateral forces[cars will not lift, so flat out]...We are hopeful of a good spectacle with the soft and hard compound tyres and certainly will learn a lot from the new configuration."

While Bridgestone claims to have this covered with these two tires, the new track has not been tested with F1 cars...we shall see whether their predictions via GP2 races hold up.

Later, Ken

 

Hey, I know I could post this up in an off topic forum but I would like you guys to take a look at these and let me know what you think. I've always worked with charcoal and ebony pencils for my art but just recently started painting with oils. Again lmk what you think. [ATTACH][/ATTACH]

 

and these stupid pics wont show up that well.