6 replies to this topic

[mono-posto]

There has been a lot of argument on this board over the last 24 hours as to the legality of the skid blocks on some of the cars from the Brazilian race. I was wondering where this had come from?

I've been to a number of reputable F1 news sites (including our very own AtlasF1), to official team sites and even the FIA and can not find any info on this. I know what the rumors are but does anyone have any undisputed proof that 5 of the top 6 finishers had illegal skid blocks? Or was this just wild media speculation?

Did the FIA release a statement during or after scrutineering that would indicate this?

Does anyone have this statement?

I really don't want to participate in a discussion without any real info. Or was this all just made up?

[Smooth]

Try http://www.atlasf1.com/news/2195.htm :

Under the Technical Regulations, in order to ensure that they are raced with a specific ride height, all the Formula One cars must have wooden 'planks' fitted to their underbodies. There is a limit to the wear that is allowed on these planks.

Several cars failed post-race inspection in this regard. In fact, the only car (among the top six finishers presented for post-race scrutineering) that complied fully with the plank wear regulation was Giancarlo Fisichella's Benetton, which had crossed the line in third position. It is ironic that it was this car which had had the least underbody wear rate, because Fisichella had driven more laps than any other driver during the race with a heavy fuel load.

The problem is likely to have been caused by the bumpy nature of the main straight at Interlagos. However, it presented the Stewards with a difficult decision because, if this had indeed been the cause, it had not affected the post-race legality of all the finishers.

In that time, each team's representative was individually presented with the evidence. All teams claimed the excess wear was caused by the poorly repaved circuit, and the stewards - faced with the possibility of disqualifying almost all participants - decided to accept the teams' explanations. However, the McLaren of David Coulthard was not only found with wear exceeding the tolerance allowed, but rather its front wing endplates were 7mm under the legal size (2mm over the 5mm tolerance allowed by the regulations). The team maintains those were rotated into incompliance with the regulations by the constant bottoming against the track and curbs.

Seems pretty clear, though it doesn't say how 'out' of spec the planks were.


[This message has been edited by Smooth (edited 03-27-2000).]

[mono-posto]

Thanks smooth,

but that still dosn't give alot of info does it? What about the other 14 cars, all of which are scrutineered? And was there any official statement, or again just media rumors? I once read that Jesus came back and had a lizard for a baby.

I'm a technical kind of guy and need specifics!!!
Oh well, it well probably never be forthcoming.

Oh and stop editing your message. I'm getting confused.

[This message has been edited by mono-posto (edited 03-27-2000).]

[Damop]

I was just thinking - is there something in the rules that prevents the manufacturers from mounting hard bump points slightly higher than the bottom of a fresh plank that would take the abuse before the plank wore down too much? Just a thought...

[Ellen UK]

Can you imagine if Ron Dennis was the one that had the only legal car, like in Bennetton's case? he would have made official complains against every team and have evryone DSQed. I am glad Bennetton is not joining the circus of finger pointing

[RacerX]

Are all the cars inspected after the race, or only the points scoring cars? I haven't heard about any of the non-scoring drivers either being in OR out of spec.

[mono-posto]

Every car is scrutineered reguardless of it's finishing position.