04/26/24
April 23, 2006
Schuey Edges Alonso to Win at Imola: Michael Schumacher took some revenge on Fernando Alonso, beating the reigning Formula One champ in a race covered by SportsFilter columnist Mark Gero.
posted by rcade to auto racing at 04:49 PM - 6 comments
When was the last time an early pit stop actually worked? I can't recall. Renault blew that call.
posted by qbert72 at 03:21 PM on April 24, 2006
France 2004 if I recall. Button would have wound up in the lead, so Ferrari did a 4 stop race, since heaven forbid Schumacher should ever have to try and overtake someone. But yes, I agree, Fernando could have probably gone 5-6 laps longer. Of course, perhaps they crunched the numbers and saw a lot of traffic brewing under that scenario, and rolled the dice. I mean let's face it, a couple of seconds the other way, and they'd have come out looking like geniuses.
posted by Drood at 11:51 PM on April 24, 2006
Yes, but by pitting early, that only left Fernando with an outlap to make those two seconds. There was no way Schumi was doing another lap by himself on those awful tires. The percentage play really was to tough it out as long as possible and hope for Schumi to pit a couple of laps earlier than Fernando. Then again, maybe Renault didn't have that much left in the tank themselves either. Good call on France 2004, but I'd argue since it was Button who got caught it doesn't count. Ha! Still, when all you have to discuss is pit stop strategies, you know it was a boring race.
posted by qbert72 at 09:37 AM on April 25, 2006
Don't get me started on Button:) I've been told to fuck off by various fans of his due to my strong opinions on him:) I hate all this pit strategy nonsense. I've got all the old FIA season reviews, and it's not just wishful thinking and nostalgia. The racing WAS much better when refuelling was banned. When it was just tyre stops, the thing was a LOT more interesting. I don't mind pit stops for tyres. Punctures and stuff happen, so if everyone has to pit at some point, if someone has to pit for a wing, puncture or whatever... They're not as screwed. But refuelling is stupid, dangerous, and unneccessary. Look at Imola. Button was SO lucky he didn't incinerate his pit crew. And yes, Renault did screw the pooch quite spectacularly. I still wonder if there's factors at play we don't know. Or perhaps the stats were wrong and he genuinely had to pit then. Whatever, it's over, and as you say, if that's all there is to discuss, it's a boring race. Nurburgring next... Just once I want someone to break in over night, redo the tyre walls, and force the drivers out onto the 14 mile Nordschleife:) Then we'll see who the REAL drivers are in F1:)
posted by Drood at 04:11 PM on April 25, 2006
http://www.itv-f1.com/Feature.aspx?Type=General&PO_ID=35697 Interview with Pat Symmonds. Actually makes a good argument for what Renault did.
posted by Drood at 01:06 AM on April 26, 2006
Just like last years race, it shows why F1 needs to move away from shitholes like Imola and get that Tilker moron to design tracks that actually promote PASSING! Alonso would have won that race today. (Once it shook out Schumacher was leading, I checked the F1 news online, saw he won, and turned it off.) Just like Schumacher would have won it last year. Sick to death of processional races. With the aero and the circuits, overtaking is damn near impossible, but though Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson has a great solution to promote overtaking. All drivers are paid a bare minimum living wage. Then they get $100,000 for every overtaking move they do. Guarantee you'd see more passing then. (Just like when Piquet hit a bad slump. He moved to Benetton, had a salary structure that basically made points = money, and he started getting points finishes, and even a win (at Mansell's expense admittedly.)