21 replies to this topic

[freq019]

I think the new minardi Mazzacane will fall victim to schumi or MH in the 107% rule.

[mono-posto]

One important aspect of the 107% rule is that it remains up to the stewarts if the driver can still race. I remember one race last year (just can't remember which one) that a few drivers fell below the 107% but the stewarts still let them race.

I think this rule was more important when the field was limited to 26 cars or whatever and there was 30 entrants. I can only see it being enforced if the car is proven to be slow and can not be remedied before the race, then that car may pose a danger.

[whit]

I recall last year the exception was made because of rain during the qualifying. I see no reason to show mercy on anyone. Well, maybe if an engine blows during qualifying but the driver showed good speed in practice...but certainly not for just being too slow.

[mono-posto]

whit,

That's kinda what I was trying to say, thanks.

If a driver is slow in qualifying but has been fast otherwise and the reason is known why he was slow and it can be remedied by race time, the stewarts may very well let him race anyway and then again maybe not. It is really stewart discretion. If he was slow because he's slow then tough luck.

[Megatron]

That rule has a bit of a misunderstanding and could potenially cause some contrversy.

Basically, it was created to make people like Forti get thier act together because it was becoming embarassing when they were hopelessly off the pace and still making the field.

If it rains, or is an unusual stituation, it will proablly be dropped. Mark Gene started last year because the Stewards proablly felt that it was his first GP and the Minardi was not hopelessly off the pace, they gave him a break. However, they were not that forgiving in say, 1997.

Anyway, I think that maybe Mazzacane might DNQ. I would look for both Minardi's to DNQ at maybe Hockiehiem or Monza, a place where top end power is critical.

[Garagiste]

Is my memory fading? (Yeah, ok, it has been known )
Since the 107% rule has been in, I can't remember anybody not starting the race because of it. Not even Rosset, whose first and last letters of his surname were famously transposed on his scooter.
Well maybe Lola, but any others?

[GoAlesi]

Garagiste, your memory must be fading! Rosset DNQ 5 times in 98 according to Autocourse, although one of those times, at Germany, he did not set a time because of a heavy crash in an earlier session.

Last year everyone was easily within the 107% cutoff, and looking at today's practise times it looks like that will continue, despite Prost's problems.

[Lantern]

You can start the race even if you are outside of the 107% rule. But, you have to get full agreement from the rest of the teams and then you have to start from the pitlane. I believe Rosset tried this once before and was turned down.

[Ursus]

GoAlesi, I have to disagree! Last year im Oz Mark Gené was actually outside the 107%. 107.2% actually, but was allowed to start because he had been on the pace during all the other sessions

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Ursus
Trust me, send money.

[GoAlesi]

I guess you got me there Ursus! And of course, at the French GP a whole bunch of drivers were outside the 107% rule due to the unpredictable conditions. In general though, it seemed that the Minardis and Arrows were in little danger of not making the cut last year.

[Ursus]

Yes the backmarkers seemed to be pretty consistently running at ~105% of the pole time, meaning about 1-2 sec magin. I was a bit worried about Minardi not being able to keep up, seeing they didn't manage to secure a decent engine deal. It looks loke the travel- and Telefonica money has made an impact though.

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Ursus
Trust me, send money.

[Linus27]

I think both the Prost cars will not qualify which is a shame as Alesi is my favourite driver.

[DangerMouse]

I'm with Linus, I think only the Prosts risk missing the cut - probably NH, Mazzacane has been quick so far.

Poor old Johnny Herbert is being plagued by terrible reliability again - he must have done something really evil in a previous life!

[Laphroaig]

Friday practice... Heidfeld is 2.5 secs within the 107%, so even for prost that shouldn't be a problem!

[freq019]

I know that one should not read too closely into friday practise times, but schumi's fastest time was still ~2secs slower than the pole from last years gp. I am assuming that this years cars will be faster than last years so even though everyone was under 107%, there is still possibly 3secs to be made up, so there could possibly still be some hope for a DNQ.

[Pacific]

Nobody will DNQ this year unless massive reliability problems are an issue. Every team looks to be able to be within 104% this year. Gaston Mazzacane already crushed some people's concerns. It's obvious he's F1 worthy, now it just becomes, can he compete with Gene in a qualifying session and the race. Last year we were all like, "What the hell is Marc Gene doing here?" And by the end of the season Marc proved us all wrong. I was hopeful for Marc, as a Minardi fan, but I expected Badoer to blow him out the water. And Badoer won the F3000 title in 1993 I believe it was and was/is an experienced F1 driver.

Marc Gene's performance should give Jenson Button a lot of ammunition. Gene wasn't supposed to cut it. Jenson is considered far more talented. Gaston Mazzacane may turn out to be this year's Marc Gene, in which case, Minardi have one helluvan eye for inexpensive talent.

[This message has been edited by Pacific (edited 03-10-2000).]

[Todd]

Pacific,

You're onto something with Minardi spotting talented drivers. I didn't think Gaston Mazzacane was going to be F1 material. Turns out, he must be really quick. The Minardi shouldn't be as fast as the Jaguar, which has a two-year newer engine form the same source and a Ford-sized budget. Mazzacane still toasted Johnny Herbert. I think that if he repeats his 12th place position in qualifying, he'll be looked at hard by the well-funded teams.

[Jecko]

Freq019,

Why would you hope for some DNQ's? Are you hoping for less drivers on the grid or something?

[freq019]

No i don't hope for less drivers, it was just something to talk about till the real action begins later today.

[Linus27]

Alesi has found some speed. He should be OK. Cooool. I watch my favourite driver drive around last. Wicked, can't wait.

[JaqFan]

Mono-posto, I think that race was France last year, that was absolutely soaked...people like Hill and Irvine fell below the 107%, if I can remember correctly.

I guess the question ("will there be any DNQ?") has been answered .

[whitman]

True, nobody DNQ...but Freq019 did correctly predict Mazzacane's position. Very insightful.