1) Overall a very good weekend. A positive way to start the season.
2) The new rules were very interesting – I didn’t expect that there would
be a lap limit between stops. I had been expecting a minimum number of
pitstops to be required. The lap limit will make it very interesting –
psuedo-F1 in some ways. I expect many drivers to not go full rich and do
short fills and other types of stints. Maybe Bridgestone will provide a
stickier but less long lasting tire for such an event.
3) The track is so Mickey Mouse. The cars are too damn slow on that
track. I understand the need to keep speeds from getting out of hand and
also for providing adequate run off areas but some spots need to be
relaxed.
The first chicane should be turned into an ‘S’ bend ala Becketts and
Maggots at Silverstone. It’ll still slow the cars down but it’ll be
challenging.
The infield section should be one long wide right hander – there’s room
for more runoff to be built there.
4) There’s a time to be fighting to stay on the lead lap and there’s a
time to let the leaders fight or let them by. Takagi should have given
way immediately. Andretti and Fernandez should have let Da Matta through
as well (although not as quickly).
5) Too bad for Tags and Tracy. Tags could have fought for the win and
Tracy might hav been top 5 were it not for the pickup problem.
6) Gah, a long time to wait for the next race.
7) The SPEED team is world’s better than ABC. Some of the broadcast was
weak but that’s Mexican TV’s fault. Varsha seemed like he was apologizing
for it most of the time.
It may be Mickey Mouse but the track is beautiful. It just should be
faster (and longer).
9) I think Lola is the chassis of choice this year. I like that nose and
those sidepods.
10) 20 cars. Such a shame. Wish guys like Memo and Buddy Rice had rides.
Till next race.
—
Eric Bin – annoy…@supafamous.com – http://www.supafamous.com
"I know what is best for everyone" – Onion T-shirt.
e…@sfu.ca (Eric Bin) wrote in message <news:a6hso1$23g$1@morgoth.sfu.ca>…
> 4) There’s a time to be fighting to stay on the lead lap and there’s a
> time to let the leaders fight or let them by. Takagi should have given
> way immediately. Andretti and Fernandez should have let Da Matta through
> as well (although not as quickly).
Takagi’s behavior was inexcusable. But I disagree with regard to
Andretti and Fernandez. I never once saw Da Matta get close enough to
Michael to signify that he should be let by. He never got close enough
at the end of the main straight to pull out and show a wheel to
Michael. If the roles had been reversed, and Michael had been in Da
Matta’s car, he would have been all over Da Matta and made it clear he
was faster. I was surprised at how non-aggressive Da Matta was in this
situation.
Zub
"Eric Bin" <e…@sfu.ca> wrote in message
news:a6hso1$23g$1@morgoth.sfu.ca…
> 1) Overall a very good weekend. A positive way to start the season.
I agree, excellent start for CART. Speed’s coverage was far better than
ABC’s has been for as long as I can remember and should only get better as
we move forward.
> 2) The new rules were very interesting – I didn’t expect that there would
> be a lap limit between stops. I had been expecting a minimum number of
> pitstops to be required. The lap limit will make it very interesting –
> psuedo-F1 in some ways. I expect many drivers to not go full rich and do
> short fills and other types of stints. Maybe Bridgestone will provide a
> stickier but less long lasting tire for such an event.
I wasn’t sure how they were going to enforce the new rules. My
understanding from listening to the press conference on AR1 was that they
were calculate how far the cars could go on full rich but I had no idea what
they would do with that information. It appears as though they have made
that the max distance you would be allowed to go before stopping. I’m happy
with it as long as it puts an end to fuel mileage racing.
> 3) The track is so Mickey Mouse. The cars are too damn slow on that
> track. I understand the need to keep speeds from getting out of hand and
> also for providing adequate run off areas but some spots need to be
> relaxed.
I agree. They’re never on full throttle for more than 8 seconds I would
guess, probably less. They need to get rid of the first chicane between
turns 2 and 3 (hairpin) because there looked to be plenty of runoff at the
hairpin (just pave it all the way to the tire wall). Then I would get rid
of the chicane at the exit of turn 5 so turn 5 is a medium speed right
sweeper (~100mph) leading down to a 90 left hand turn 6. From 6 to the
stadium is currently the fastest part of the track with a nice fast left
bend (looks to be about ~120-130 mph) and is fine with me. I would also
like to see them do something to the surface of the track so the cars can
get some grip. They look like they’re on ice, twitching and sliding all
over.
Mike