Aug 28 2010

F1: Spa Qualifying

Well, if you’re a Ferrari fan (and there are lots of them) you’ll be encouraged by the podium finish of Alonso at the Hungaroring.  Alas the drivers and constructors standings don’t justify much optimism as this year looks like a fight between Red Bull and McLaren with the advantage currently to Red Bull.

It’s been 3 weeks and the floppy Front Wing has been studied (though technically you’re not supposed to do any work on vacation) and many teams are sporting new aero bits where the rules allow them.

The efficacy of which remains to be seen.  Spa is notorious for its rain and much of the running in practice has been on Intermediates and Wets and the strategic question for the teams has been how much to ruin them because like the Primes and the Softs you get just so many sets but unlike them you can’t replace them between Practice and Race Day (they issue a full compliment of Softs and Primes today for Qualifying) and running used up Intermediates when it really is damp is a good way to end up in a wall.

As always your participation is welcome and desired, but you’ll have to tolerate my rambling regardless as I need to take notes to prove to Richard I’m paying attention.  I’ll attempt to highlight any surprises like Hamilton washing out in Q2.  This Qualifying is repeated on Speed at 2:30 am.  Tomorrow’s pre-race starts at 7:30 am preceded by GP2 on the same track at 6 am.

Need.  More.  Coffee.

rustymancuso581

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  2. Not sure about that Future Diary setting.

    This has the right time stamp, but it didn’t show up.

    And what’s up with style?

  3. And lots of it.

  4. Why?

    You only drop 7 and the 3 new teams are 6 of those.

    Unless you park in a wall by trying too hard.

  5. Boom, boom, boom.

    Out go the lights.

  6. They’re listing all the penalties and it’s like everyone is duking it out to start in the garage.

  7. Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son ?

    And where have you been my darling young one ?

    I’ve stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains

    I’ve walked and I’ve crawled on six crooked highways

    I’ve stepped in the middle of seven sad forests

    I’ve been out in front of a dozen dead oceans

    I’ve been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard

    And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, and it’s a hard

    It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.

    Oh, what did you see, my blue eyed son ?

    And what did you see, my darling young one ?

    I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it

    I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it

    I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin’

    I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin’

    I saw a white ladder all covered with water

    I saw ten thousand takers whose tongues were all broken

    I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children

    And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, and it’s a hard

    It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.

    And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son ?

    And what did you hear, my darling young one ?

    I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin’

    I heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world

    I heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin’

    I heard ten thousand whisperin’ and nobody listenin’

    I heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin’

    Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter

    Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley

    And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard

    And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.

    Oh, who did you meet my blue-eyed son ?

    Who did you meet, my darling young one ?

    I met a young child beside a dead pony

    I met a white man who walked a black dog

    I met a young woman whose body was burning

    I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow

    I met one man who was wounded in love

    I met another man who was wounded and hatred

    And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard

    And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.

    And what’ll you do now, my blue-eyed son ?

    And what’ll you do now my darling young one ?

    I’m a-goin’ back out ‘fore the rain starts a-fallin’

    I’ll walk to the deepths of the deepest black forest

    Where the people are a many and their hands are all empty

    Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters

    Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison

    Where the executioner’s face is always well hidden

    Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten

    Where black is the color, where none is the number

    And I’ll tell and think it and speak it and breathe it

    And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it

    Then I’ll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin’

    But I’ll know my songs well before I start singin’

    And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, and it’s a hard

    It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.

  8. Hah!

    Billion Dollar bumper cars.

    Schumaker has a fast lap, so does Barrochello.

  9. Everyone started on Primes.

    Morons.

    This will be an interesting field.  Raining hard now.

  10. And almost everyone used up one yesterday.

    Should be a fun race.

    Well, if you like flaming chunks of twisted metal.

  11. it’s only raining on half the track.

    Good way to chew up your rain tires.

    6 minutes to go.

  12. McLaren 2 & 3 on slicks.

    And it’s only Q1.

  13. But has the 15th fastest time so may go to Q2.

  14. DeGrassi out.

  15. Start at the back (Well, except for the penalties).

  16. Sunny now.

    Everyone on Softs.

  17. Button for instance in relegation.

  18. Of course it’s only Q2.

  19. Plus penalties.  17th and 21st.

  20. Alonso is the only driver who might improve.

    Hamilton stuck in 4th.

  21. Hamilton moved to 2nd? Did I hear right?

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