Indy F1

Dr. Dre

Despite the fact that I'm a massive Schumi fan, I was very happy to see Rubens get his first pole of the season in Indy. It will be an interesting start tomorrow I think, there will be a number of very nervous drivers up front tomorrow when they see Sato alongside, his team mate included - if Button gets a small jump on him at the start I reckon he will cack himself, I have a very strange feeling that turn 1 could be the end of the race for somebody at the head of the grid tomorrow, Schumis dodgy starts could see him filling that role here

Coverage starts @ 5pm with the Jenson Button/BAR show (masquerading as ITV-F1)

Lucy Lu

Yes, It will be interesting to see if Sato makes it around the first corner without a problem. I hope it does not end up a boring race with Rubens and Michael leading from start to finish!!
I was at Indy last year and it was one of the best races of the season. Michael started 7th and still managed to win after an action packed race, not that i was too happy! (I am a Kimi fan)

Kalina

We need a diffrent winer today, hopefully we'll see a BAR or a Williams on the top step. The fact that Ferrari have the front row locked out bodes very well for them, they'll drive off at crazy speed leaving the rest of the field behind. And Schuey will probably win... AGAIN!!
I hope Sato doesn't make any silly kamikaze moves in this race, he's a good driver if a bit reckless and he needs to relax in the car and finish the races so he'll have a seat for next year.

Dr. Dre

Well what an event that was!
8 cars finished the race in one of the most bizarre GPs in a while.
There are many questions which have to be asked of event organisers today I think, including;

• Why did the safety car continue to plough through the considerable debris left by Ralfs accident, instead of taking them down pit lane ?
• Why did it take so long for Medics to get to Ralf ? - it seemed like an age before there was any movement, both by medics and by Ralf himself They were tense moments tbh.
• Why did it take nearly an entire race distance to disqualify JPM, for an infringement prior to the race even starting?

As was mentioned by ITV, a defence could be made that the clerks were working overtime to sort things out in what must have been a hectic day for them, but still.

ToxicPaddy

Originally posted by Dr. Dre
[*]Why did it take so long for Medics to get to Ralf ? - it seemed like an age before there was any movement, both by medics and by Ralf himself They were tense moments tbh.

I have to agree here, it was close to 10 mins before the medical crew came near
him, and it was nearly 5 mins before a single marshal even came near the car..
completely crazy if you ask me.. :rolleyes:

Tox

Woden

and why the hell did bar not pit under the safety car?

just watched the race today had it taped, enjoyed it mainly due to all the jazz with the crashes and stuff.

good result for sato. brundle also mentioned that they said there was an incident under investigation with car 3, then 26 minutes or so later announced the result. he said he thought that the result had to be announced in 20 minutes? anyone here anything more on this

Kalina

I was wondering the same thing- why were the medics so slow to get to Ralf. What if his car had gone on fire and he couldn't get out?? I was yelling at the TV... not that it did any good.
It was an interesting race overall, lousy luck for Williams 2 races in a row. Bad luck for Jordan aswell- points were there for the taking had Heidfeld been able to continue. Still, it's great to see Minardi scoring a point, it'll mean a lot to their budget for next season.

aine

I love Indy...it makes for interesting viewing! From beginning to end it was probably one of the most entertaining races of the season and thats despite the fact that the safety car was out a couple of times!

What a start from fernando Alonso...given a better car that young fella could really go places! 9th on the grid (what was effectively 8th after JPM's difficulties) to third after the first corner!

As for Barichello/Schumi....I like every other F1 fan respect M Schumacher, his ability and his down right class, the car is like an extra limb to the man or something....what annoys me is the Ferrari mentality....after qualifying on Saturday, Schumi said in an interview that he was outclassed by Ruebens, that he was second best on the day....well doh! you are second on the grid! well done...give that boy a gold star an all!

Following day...which of you really thought that Ruebens would be allowed to win the race?! First lap after the safety car and low and behold.....Schumi passes Ruebens with little or no trouble, maybe its just me, but I think that Ruebens is a better class of a driver than that and given open and free driving conditions would probably be able to hold Schumi off for more than a couple of laps! but thats his choice, if he is content to be Ferrari number 2, then that is his choice, what really bugs me though is the charade they play out.....with Ruebens apparently 'just about to over take' Schumi.....in reality it looks like the two of them have finished a day's training/testing and are just mucking about a bit....but we all know who is going to "win"

ok I may have rambled a bit....

ToxicPaddy

Originally posted by aine
..... if he is content to be Ferrari number 2

I think you may have hit the nail on the head there.. I think he knows that with
Ferarri he's gonna be up there in the top 3 and with a class outfit like Ferarri, why
would you want to walk away. Deep down I think Rubens knows that he might
struggle to get to the same position in a different team as in Podium places grid
placings etc..

Better to be a good no 2 and be up there, rather than an average no 1 on an
average team where you are rarely gonna be in the top 5..

Id say Rubens knows that he's there ready to take it if anything ever happens to
Schuey.. as has happened in the past..

Mechanical failure, Driver error etc which takes Schuey out and the end result is that
Rubens takes the win.. it may be slim pickings, but lets face it, who else is getting a
look in these days with the reliability of Ferrari and the driving of Schuey

In the end, its Rubens career we are talking about and with a short enough life in
F1, he has to make the most he can and give him the maximum exposure to the
lower forms of racing so that if he wants to continue racing, he can so knowing that
his reputation as a solid reliable and excellent driver will stand to him.

Just my €0.02

Tox