Monaco Grand Prix

[bigC]

one of the slowest, trickiest, most scenic races of the season, the Monaco GP! the camera crews struggle yearly with this race, as they focus a lot of attention on the babes, boats, building and fans, and oh, llok at that fast car there, zooming by.

Ferrari's slide continues in Thursday's practice at the Monaco GP, as the season seems to be slipping away from them every race. blame the tires? blame an arrogant team? or, simply that the rest of the field has finally caught up with the prancing horse, and has in fact surpassed them. competition is a good thing, especially in a sport dominated by one team for so many years. Schumi and Rubens could not even crack the top ten, although the weekend is still early, and things may still change.

last year, Schumacher was leading the race, when he suddenly slowed his car in the tunnel (under a safety car), and if memory serves, was bashed in the back by JPM and was knocked out of the race. a bone-headed move by Schumi, and one he is likely not going to be able to do this weekend, since i doubt he'll get a chance to lead the race.

Renault, with Alonso being the fastest, and Fisichella in 4th, looked poised to win again. McLaren, RBR were fast as well, as was Toyota, but Ralf will be penalized 1/2 second for using a tire that was not allocated to him. oops. but where was Ferrari, Williams and Trulli (Toyota)? well off the pace, but that can change. Minardi and Jordan, you ask? look to the back of the grid. and BAR: they are serving the second of their two race ban for cheating, and are sitting this one out.

story: http://www.formula1.com/race/news/3024/737.html
http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/formul....asp?ID=125248
results: http://www.formula1.com/race/result/737/10.html

1. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 1min 15.835sec
2. Alexander Wurz (Aut) McLaren-Mercedes 1:15.912
3. David Coulthard (Gbr) Red Bull 1:16.184
4. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:16.519
5. Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) McLaren-Mercedes 1:16.534
6. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 1:16.558
7. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Red Bull 1:16.640
8. Felipe Massa (Bra) Sauber-Petronas 1:16.914
9. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1:16.917
10. Ricardo Zonta (Bra) Toyota 1:17.046

the diamonf debacle, part two? last year, the Jaguar cars each had a diamond on their nose, and one was lost after a crash. this year, McLaren will have them, but they will be on the driver's helmets instead: http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/formul....asp?ID=125270

JV: when being pressured, simply blame the team. that always works, right? http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/formul....asp?ID=125147

Alonso looks good to win another race, as he feels that the car is perfect. another win and Renault and Alonso will be even closer to locking up the season, lest they suddenly get hit by serious mechanical failures: http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=32871

is it the tires, or is Schumacher just too old? it was clearly the tires in Spain, as he suffered two blown tires that knocked him out of the race.http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/formul....asp?ID=125265

[bigC]

qualifying is set to change for next week's European GP. there will no longer be aggregate Sat/Sun qualy, just a single flying lap qualy on Saturday.

http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/formul...ng-formula_one

[bigC]

in the first qualy session, Kimi narrowly beats Alonso for first, followed by Weber in third and the other Renault. Heidfeld in 5th, with Trulli in 6th and DC's RBR car in 7th. his team mate, Liuzzi, is well down the grid in 12th. surprisingly, and for the first time this season, JV out-qualied his team mate, as he posted an 8th (ahead of both Ferrari's, who seem to be struggling greatly) and ahead of Massa, in 11th. there was actually a point in the qualy session where JV led the entire field, but that was short-lived.

story:http://www.formula1.com/race/news/3038/737.html
results:http://www.formula1.com/race/result/737/21.html

the top 10

1. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:13.644
2. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 1:14.125
3. Mark Webber (Australia) Williams 1:14.584
4. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Renault 1:14.783
5. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) McLaren 1:14.858
Montoya dropped to back of grid for Sunday's race
6. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Williams 1:15.128
7. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Toyota 1:15.189
8. David Coulthard (Britain) Red Bull 1:15.329
9. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) Sauber 1:15.921
10. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 1:16.142
11. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1:16.186

Ralf Schumacher had a spectacular accident and recorded no time, but at least he walked away from the incident. JPM was penalized for causing an accident in the practice session, and will start from the back of the grid. his weekend is all but over: http://www.formula1.com/race/news/3039/737.html

JV: "i could have died":http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/moto...ne/4569611.stm

[BrianG]

Narrowly beats? Nah, .4 seconds at Monaco is an insane amount at Monaco. If Kimi can keep out of the walls, he wins. Period.

[bigC]

Kimi on the pole for a second race, follwed by Alonso and webber. the Ferraris are well down the grid, but this is a race of attrition, only 9 cars finished last year, so they still have a chance, if the tires don't fail, or they avoid accidents.

JV has a bottle of wine from 1890 that he says he will open if he gets a podium. methinks it will remain corked for awhile longer.

story:http://www.formula1.com/race/news/3045/737.html
results:http://www.formula1.com/race/result/737/20.html

[mikechai]

The Renaults pretty much held up all others cars, until Trulli saves the day which he suffered from tyre/suspension problem after the amazing move. If not Trulli, the Ferraris might not even score a point....

Heidfeld's overtaking was also an excellent move and very cleanly done.

Yet another unfortunate incident faced by the world champion, M. Schumacher. He should be happy for getting 2 points nonetheless.

Raikonnen deserves his 2nd win in a roll with a clean lead from start to finish.

All in all, a good race. Who said overtaking impossible at Monte Carlo?

[bigC]

wow, did JV screw up his and Massa's day?! i'm sure Sauber is pissed.

i'd post a little more, but i'm hosting a little bbq (Queen Vic wkd in Canukle-land) and have just come to the PC for a pause: being head chef, bartender and photographer is rather tiring.

so, it's Kimi two for two, followed by both Williams, and Alonso, who fell to 4th. surprisngly, JPM managed a 5th, with Ralf in 6th, and Schumi and Rubino in 7th and 8th respectively. alas, both Saubers were out of the points, thanks to a momentary lapse of judgement by JV. no RBR driver scored points, both knocked out of the race. all in all, a good race, with some passing: ie, Trulli: he was passed by an s-load of cars, much to the shagrin of his team!

story:http://www.formula1.com/race/news/3049/737.html
results:http://www.formula1.com/race/result/737/8.html

[MUYA]

In the furture BigC, can you post results in a seperate thread with "Result Spoilers" in the title. Some people have intimated that they watch delayed broadcast of the races and do not want to know the results so I guess a spoiler thread will have to be started from now on

[bigC]

Kimi led from start to finish (no pun intended), Renault's Alonso had tire wear issues, not nearly as bad as Schumi's in Spain, but it may have cost them a podium, and both Williams got podiums.

well, JV will be called onto the carpet for his accident, where he ran his team mate off the road and cost them both valuable points.http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/formul...ng-formula_one

Jordan to be sold, yet again? Shnaider bought the team, and may noe be trying to sell it. Eddie Irvine is a prospective buyer:http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/formul....asp?ID=125492

another day, another change to the qualy system: aggregate is out, 1 day 1 lap is back: http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/formul...ng-formula_one

[bigC]

Originally Posted by MUYA

In the furture BigC, can you post results in a seperate thread with "Result Spoilers" in the title. Some people have intimated that they watch delayed broadcast of the races and do not want to know the results so I guess a spoiler thread will have to be started from now on

ok.

[MUYA]

thanks for understanding dude

[bigC]

Monaco fall-out:

JV: disappointed with his actions, admitting fault for taking out his team mate:http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/formul...ng-formula_one

both Rubens and Ralf criticized Schumi for his desperate attempt to get a few extra points. although, why should he be expected to settle for a lower position: he saw an opportunity, and raced to the end, but unfortunately couldn't capitalize and grab the points:http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/formul....asp?ID=125803