JB, F1 Elimination Qualifying

[roscoe]

Sorry to hear the news about Catzilla.<br />I can send you 1 if you like, but she will likely turn into 6 by the time the plane lands.<br /><br /><br />I was wondering what your thoughts were on the qualifying procedures used in F1 this year.<br /><br />What do you think their objective was in going this route?<br /><br />What effect do you think it has on the teams, tv viewers, and trackside fans?<br /><br />And what about the 2 race engine rule?

 

[JB]

Re: JB, F1 Elimination Qualifying

I think they did it to get a bigger gate, roscoe.<br /><br />Plusses: You get plenty of opportunity to put in your best possible lap, complicated by the fuel load in the third session.<br /> <br />Minuses: You have to get smart or lucky to have a clear track for your ultimate lap, and you wear the engines and tires a lot more than in the old system. Strategy shouldn't play such a big role in qualifying.<br /><br />But it does entertain me and it sells tickets. It also puts the fastest car/driver on the pole as long as Schuey doesn't cheat That didn't happen as consistently before.<br /><br />I think the intent of the 2 race per engine rule was to try to level the field a bit. Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault, Honda and Toyota could easily build engines good for one practice and one race, while the less pecunious teams simply can't afford that.<br /><br />I don't think it has levelled the field a bit. It has been a terrible penalty that has little or nothing to do with a team's ability to spend megabux. Bad luck more than bad engines has plagued everyone.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: JB, F1 Elimination Qualifying

F1?!? What's F1? Who's F1? Who cares about F1, the World Cup is on!<br />

 

[roscoe]

Re: JB, F1 Elimination Qualifying

I just don't get it.<br /><br />Without the telecasters and their support crew keeping track of the cars/conditions/setup changes/tires condition, etc, it is almost impossible to follow.<br />I can't imagine paying to sit at the track and not being privy to all the info supplied by the tv coverage.<br /><br />The fuel load thing is silly in my opinion.<br />So you go out and burn as much fuel as you can in 15 minutes, come in and get new tires, then head out to put in the hot lap.<br />Sure seems like a waste of time, tires, and fuel.<br /><br />Also, isn't there a rule/penalty, that says all laps must be within 80 or 90% of the time of your fastest lap? So much silliness in my opinion.<br /><br />Yes, the penalty for an engine change is too severe.<br />So now they play games with that.<br />Haven't we seen a car or two drop out of the race on the last lap, DNF - engine failure ?, just so they could replace the engine for the next race without incurring the penalty?<br /><br />I would prefer to see them run a simple timed qualifying run.<br />Then give them the option of a second run an hour later, after everyone has put in their lap and had the opportunity to make setup changes.<br /><br />The way it is now, it seems it is better to qualify 11th, if you can't get the pole.

 

[roscoe]

Re: JB, F1 Elimination Qualifying

The World Cup? Isn't boxing season over yet?<br />

 

[18rabbit]

Re: JB, F1 Elimination Qualifying

You’re thinking of sumo wresting. That season just ended a few weeks ago.<br /> <br /><br />F1, any of the pro car racing… I used to enjoy watching the cars going around and around and around and around. Then it dawned on me (ok, I'm slow) that I was watching a big advertising campaign. That’s all any of the auto racing is, an advertising campaign. The sport is so regulate they’ve removed all vestiges of individuality. It’s like watching NFL or pro baseball; the teams are all the same.<br /><br />Alas, even the World Cup is caving in. The good players from Brazil are playing for Italy, Germans are playing with the Brits, Cameroon has the coach from Korea, and Japan recruited the winning coach from the USA… Any country’s team isn’t really that country’s players/coaches. It’s just not the same anymore. Maybe I’ll watch to see if Lance Armstrong finally loses a tour this year.

 

[JB]

Re: JB, F1 Elimination Qualifying

The broadcasters. Yes, they add a huge dimension to understanding what is going on.<br /><br />The Speed Channel crew are great. So good that they make the CBS crew look amatuerish.<br /><br />I am fascinated by how they can tell you times and gaps of every car on the track all the time. If Raikonnen is getting through a particular turn 50 milliseconds faster than Alonso they can tell you about it and at least speculate on why.<br /><br />I don't see how the live audience can get that much info and analysis, but in Europe, at least, they are as rabid as footie fans. Glad they aren't as obnoxious.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: JB, F1 Elimination Qualifying

JB - I saw a thing on the tube about the radio technology being used, how diff teams are assigned dif frequencies, etc. A laptop computer displays where any given car is at any time, how fast it is going, was it in the pits and if so for how long, time from point a to point b, etc. A team can monitor its own vehicle only, but there is a master monitor for officials/broadcasters. I don't recall GPS being part of the tracking electronics used in the US. Maybe GPS is used in Europe where they drive thru the street?!?