Staggering USGP... - Page 2

dcarrb · #16 06-21-2005, 06:51 AM

To draw a parallel between F1 and NASCAR: I heard recently that Michelin has been courting the latter, looking to unseat Goodyear. Bet they can kiss that business goodbye.

I'm reminded of when most top-name NASCAR drivers withdrew from the first-ever event at Talladega, Alabama, in 1969, fearing the tires available would not endure the speeds.

dcb

Royal Tiger · #17 06-21-2005, 07:20 AM

Why have the one tire rule in the first place. Changing the motor from qualifing to racing is a clear advantage. Unless you have some super secret compond qualifing tire, I don't see how changing the tires makes any difference. The USGP should run at Elkhart Lake, the best open wheel track in the US. Another consideration would be Laguna Seca. The FIA has always been a little wierd when it comes to rules and enforcement. As for Bernie, as the public figure head of F1 he needs to go. He maybe able to sell the women should be in the kitchen comments in China and Baharain but he sure didn't help sell tickets in Indy after Dana put them in the stands a few weeks earlier. Women in America have been steadily increasing the percentage of race fans, and more importantly race consumers. As for the NASCAR comments, NASCAR has a history of making sure the racing is competitive so everyone enjoys the show. Yes it's almost all ovals, but it's because at an oval you can see the whole track and it suits the cars. A NASCAR car weighs 3400 pounds and has tires smaller then on the SVX (11 inch cross section 15's).

Mr. Pockets · #18 06-21-2005, 05:33 PM

I don't like the tire rule, either, but the goal is simple: requiring that a tire last throughout the entire race means that the compounds will be harder and will slow the cars down. The idea is also to limit the number of tires the manufacturers ship to each race, decreasing the cost.

I don't like it for a number of reasons, the first being that a harder tire with less grip means that it's more difficult to pass another car. Since the tires have to last the entire race, the drivers are less likely to try something, anyway. Besides that, the recent changes to the aero regulations have made cars far more unstable when drafting.

It's all a very big mess, and I do definitely blame the FIA for creating the situation in the first place. But the rules are the rules, and Michelin wanted the FIA to compromise those rules and penalize the teams who managed to bring the right equipment.

The recent changes to the rules have created more problems than they've solved, in my opinion. The only way to fix everything is with wide, sweeping changes that undo a number of things. The problem is that most of the changes have been made in the interest of saving costs, so changing a whole bunch of things isn't really attractive to the FIA.

They've reg'ed themselves into a corner.

SVXphile · #19 06-21-2005, 07:08 PM

FIA is calling all the Michelin teams to a meeting. If the FIA tries to slap a sanction on them, like they did BAR-Honda, my guess is that they can kiss F1 as we know it, goodbye. This may be what the manufacturers are looking for...and excuse to begin their own series. Irregardless of the fact it was all Michelin's fault. Plus, as Pockets says, a stupid tire rule.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/s...=f1&id=2091112

Stay tuned....this is going to get REAL interesting!

Don

PS I thought this was coming!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/4110808.stm

Andy · #20 06-22-2005, 01:00 AM

This article gives a good history to the situation

http://www.itv-f1.com/Feature.aspx?T...en&PO_ID=33214

Andy · #21 06-22-2005, 01:40 PM

A simple explanation of the tyre problem

http://www.formula1.com/insight/tech...5/740/149.html

SVXphile · #22 06-22-2005, 05:37 PM

Those were very informative, ESPECIALLY the first one. (a "must read" folks!) It brings the problem into better focus, but the whole thing still looks like a train wreck ready to happen...

Take a look at this!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/4118472.stm

BMW now owns Sauber, so add one more team to the GPWC camp.
Negotiations for this must have been going on LONG before Indy, so BMW becomes even MORE of a player.

I think the shootout at the F.I.A. Corral is about to begin!

Don

SVXphile · #23 06-22-2005, 09:58 PM

....the old guy is senile!

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/s...irl&id=2092194

Don

Andy · #24 06-23-2005, 07:48 AM

A question & answer session with Max Mosley, giving the FIA point of view.

http://www.formula1.com/race/news/3218/740.html

Andy · #25 06-23-2005, 01:49 PM

At least there is a little humour from it all

SVXphile · #26 06-23-2005, 05:20 PM

A very interesting read. Like Pockets, I do disagree that the tire rule had nothing to do with it, but that's water over the dam. I see Max is looking forward to a nice, polite discussion with the teams....

Then the FIA sticks it to the Michelin users...

...and they revolt and form their own series.

Details at 6, as we say.

Hey, I LOVED the cartoon!!

Keep us informed about all the intrigue across the pond!

Don

Mr. Pockets · #27 06-23-2005, 06:08 PM

Well, the FIA wants a single tire manufacturer. I don't think they really care which one, but this might be the opportunity to get rid of one.

We'll see. I look forward to the outcome of that meeting.

Bobb · #28 06-23-2005, 06:34 PM

Hi everyone, I watched the event in Indianapolis. It was not a F-1 race. I don't have an answer but what took place should not have taken place. On a brighter note[which isn't hard] The sponsor of the Champ Car race in Cleveland,Oh will give free admission to anyone with a USGP ticket. So, if you live close enough to go over on Sunday the 26th of June you can get a little open wheel racing USA style. Take care, BOBB

SVXphile · #29 06-27-2005, 01:37 PM

O.K......did any of us not see THIS position coming?

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/s...=f1&id=2095301

and...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/4623833.stm

Sir Jackie's take....he must not like Max Mosley!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/4624343.stm

Don

Mr. Pockets · #30 06-27-2005, 05:17 PM

I don't know what the solution is. I definitely agree with Mosley - the rules have to be inforced. I agree with him concerning the proposals brought by the Michelin teams - they were not good ideas.

But he's dealing with a majority of teams, here. It'll be very interesting to see what comes out of the meeting on Wednesday. I have little doubt that the penalties assessed against those teams will be easily defined as 'draconian.' I think they deserve it, but not everybody feels that way.