9 replies to this topic

[FordPrefect]

There was very limited passing this weekend so I have to ask. Which tracks offer the best chances for passing?

And how about Indy? Any chance to overtake on the oval portion?

and lastly does the F1 really care.

FP

[BRG]

Taking your last point first, no, Max'n'Bernie don't care - they think there is plenty of overtaking and everything is just hunky-dory - heads up their a***s or what????

I reckon the oval part of the Indy GP course will provide a chance, at the point where they turn sharp right onto the infield. Even F1 drivers ought to be able to use their power or aerodynamic advantages (if they have them) to get ahead. Real drivers might even try to outbrake their opponents. But I have little hope that the rest of the mickey mouse Indy infield course will provide much entertainment.

Other circuits - well, Hockenheim, for the same reasons I just mentioned. But of course the FIA have now realised this and want to shorten it. Spa gives several opportunities - at Le Combe, the Bus-stop and la Source (guess, what Bernie was trying to kill off Spa last year...is there a pattern here?). The much maligned A1 Ring still seems to provide a couple of chances for the truly committed and the new Sepang track seemed to offer some possiblities. Most other tracks have one or two overtaking places even with today's cars. The worst are Hungaroring and Monaco, both of which I would happily dump, preferably in favour of Donington and Mugello.

------------------
BRG

"all the time, maximum attack"

[FerrariFanInTexas]

Good analysis, BRG.

I agree that the Indy course should permit passing at least as they leave the main straight and dive into the infield.

I also have some hopes that they might be able to pass ON the oval. The various other forms of racing seem to run three abreast on those corners, so I have some hope that some real racing may take place on the portion of the curve they've included in the design. On the other hand, the Champ/Indy/NASCAR cars hit those curves after the main straights and have a hell of a lot of speed when they get there. I'll be interested to see how quickly the F-1 cars can get the power down when they turn onto the back side of the curve.

They must keep Spa at all costs, and I'd love to see Mugello on the schedule!

[mtl'78]

It's not the tracks but the cars. However, Montreal with long straights and heavy braking is the prototype for the ideal overtaking circuit.

[Zeus]

BRG, Imola might as well get dropped to because in its current configuration, its just one big ass chicane (Senna must be rolling over in his grave-- especially because someone has the balls to name a chicane in his memory!).

Mangy-Cours, a very boring layout, does have one good point at the Adelaide hairpin.

Suzuka at the chicane after the 130R is another good opportunity.

:(How sad is it that you need to plot out passing attempts on a seasonal basis?

[RedFever]

any track is good for passing, provided the drivers have slick tires instead of threaded grooved pieces of ****

[silver fan]

I agree that the Indy track will promote good racing (fingers crossed) I just hope the F1 cars don't look to "dinky" on this track. I guess it's to late to moan about the fact that F1 is not goiing to a great track like Elkaht Lake, then the American public would really see what an F1 car can do, oh well off to the "Brickyard", at least there not goiing to race around a bloody car park in Vegas.

[Mila]

Zeus, yes it's something of a joke that the name "Senna" would grace a chicane at Imola.

and it continues--the ones I can think of are:

Hockenheim: Senna chicane (recently tightened to make it even slower)

Jerez: Senna curves (a safety measure encouraged by the Donnelly crash years ago)

Montreal: Senna hairpin (pretty slow, but not the slowest point on the course)

Interlagos: Senna "S" (much better than those above, but, still, one of the slow points on the course)

so the next time we hear an announcer exclaim, "he's taking Senna flat-out," we'll know that it's nothing special.

[Lantern]

Malaysia. Purpose built modern F1 track. And beautiful to boot.

[RedFever]

Mila, funny. But you have a point. Maybe they should have renamed the Parabolica in Monza after Senna. But then again, think about it. A fast driver can be the fastest even in slower parts of the track. Any doubt that Ayrton was faster at Tabac than most of his opponents?