Is Mc Back?

[Nappe1]

hopefully McLaren has progressed more than the competitors...
as slighty off topic, I am very pleased to see another real flying finn. and yes I mean a real flying finn this time...

Sure J.J. Lehto and Mika Häkkinen were fast on their days, but nothing like Räikkönen who definately goes to top 5 of all time finnish racing drivers. The time how fast Räikkönen has come to top, is incredible. one of my mates used to race aginst him about 4-5 years ago in Karting 125 ccm class. Only one on finnish motor racing history able to do something like that I can come up right now is Jarno Saarinen (old skool RR / TT fans should remember that name from the time when Imatra Grand Prix, Finland was still in schedule. To others can be told that Saarinen is still only one able to won 125 ccm and 250 ccm starts in first try in motorbike world championship.)

Did you know that Jarno Trulli's first name was chosen to same as Jarno Saarinen?

on my most remarkable finnish motor racing history names -list has following entries: (not sorted)
- Timo Mäkinen (Winner of many many many Rallies in the sixties. Also 2nd place on Bathurst 24Hour race in 1967.)
- Rauno Aaltonen (Also legendary drivers of BMC Rally team on the 60's, 1st place in Bathurst 24H in 1967)
- Jarno Saarinen ( TT World Champion, "The Undertaker" )
- Leo Kinnunen (Prototype Class World Champion, first ever finnish F1 driver, though only one start at Anderstorp 1974)
- Keijo "Keke" Rosberg (F1 World Champion 1982)
- J.J. Lehto (1st finn to won LeMans 24 Hours race)
- Juha Kankkunen (four time Rally World Champion)
- Tommi Mäkinen (four time Rally World Champion)
- Kari "Mr. Enduro" Tiainen (7 times Enduro World Champion)
- Yrjö Vesterinen (3 times Trial World Champion)
- Tommi Ahvala (3 times Trial World Champion)
- Pekka Vehkonen (3 times Motocross World Champion)

wheeh... that went slightly off topic, but hopefully not too much.

edit: adding few more names on the list...

 

[Tahir2]

http://f1.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/031127173919.shtml

How much of MP4-19 is based on the MP4-18?
MW: "It is an evolution from MP4-18, but in fact the part count has a much higher proportion of completely new parts than we had supposed at the outset of the project. Certainly the front portion is very reminiscent of the MP4-18 in terms of its geometry. However, the suspension treatment and areas around the back are different and have evolved in line with our thinking and development work since we finalised the 18."

 

[Headstone]

Nice looking new model. Looks a lot better than the stupid BAR cars. Lets hope the new engine is not as reliable as the BAR one...

 

[Dave Baumann]

http://f1.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/031127173919.shtml

How much of MP4-19 is based on the MP4-18?
MW: "It is an evolution from MP4-18, but in fact the part count has a much higher proportion of completely new parts than we had supposed at the outset of the project. Certainly the front portion is very reminiscent of the MP4-18 in terms of its geometry. However, the suspension treatment and areas around the back are different and have evolved in line with our thinking and development work since we finalised the 18."

From that interview:

Another benefit is that we have already passed all our crash test requirements.

 

[davefb]

that crash test thing was wierd... from what i heard ( itv coverage probably) , the FIA wouldnt tell mclaren WHERE the failure had occurred , just that it had failed...... seems like a *very* expensive way to go about things ...

what about the french grand prix ? fantastic news that the paul ricard circuit might be able to step in and get the gig..

-dave-

of course just a coincidence that the owner of paul-ricard ( according to bbc sport) is bernie ecclestone.....

 

[V3]

the FIA wouldnt tell mclaren WHERE the failure had occurred , just that it had failed...... seems like a *very* expensive way to go about things ...

Really ? Is that the regulation ? I am suprised the crash test failure because I always thought team like Mc would actually do a crash test of their own.

But I am glad this one already past all the test. Last season was like "wait for that new Mc", but it was a no show. But last season was one of the best I've seen in the long while.

 

[MuFu]

the FIA wouldnt tell mclaren WHERE the failure had occurred , just that it had failed...... seems like a *very* expensive way to go about things ...

Really ? Is that the regulation ?

Well the second time around they failed the side-impact test. I would thought that'd narrow it down to a few key structures.

MuFu.

 

[davefb]

i havent found any news-report online repeating the info about FIA not giving them the absolute info,, so it was probably just rubbish spouted by an itv reporter

-dave-

 

[MuFu]

New Williams...

Hehe, they've been smoking something.

MuFu.

 

[Tagrineth]

I'd put Damon Hill on that list of top drivers.

What he pulled off in the Arrows (I *think* it was arrows, but in any case he was on a really crap team) was just mind-boggling.

 

[Fruitfrenzy]

The gearbox probably will resemble the Ferrari one as McLaren paoched the designer about 18 months ago.

I believe Maclaren have a completely new gearbox this year with a double clutch. Apparently it means they can change gear much quicker than the competition. It has something to do with getting the next gear spinning at the correct speed before you are ready to change so that when you change you can simultaneously disconnect one whilst connecting the other.

I suppose it is entirely possible that Ferrari already had that and nobody (outside of Ferrari) knew.

 

[pcchen]

Am I strange, or does the new William car really look weird?

 

[PC-Engine]

Am I strange, or does the new William car really look weird?

Aerodynamically it may function as a double wing. :?

 

[MuFu]

Am I strange, or does the new William car really look weird?

Aerodynamically it may function as a double wing. :?

Or a front-loading wood-chipper.

Fruitfrenzy, that sounds similar to Audi's (road) system. Supposed to be faster than the fastest manual changes and almost impossible to "fool".

MuFu.

 

[Dave Baumann]

The gearbox probably will resemble the Ferrari one as McLaren paoched the designer about 18 months ago.

I believe Maclaren have a completely new gearbox this year with a double clutch. Apparently it means they can change gear much quicker than the competition. It has something to do with getting the next gear spinning at the correct speed before you are ready to change so that when you change you can simultaneously disconnect one whilst connecting the other.

I suppose it is entirely possible that Ferrari already had that and nobody (outside of Ferrari) knew.

AFAIK, Ferrari have had that for a couple of years now - I believe the engineer that McLaren poched was the peson that designed it for Ferrari.

New Williams...

Hehe, they've been smoking something.

I was going tempted to start a nw thread on that one - "Williams - Innovations or abomination?" I'm starting to like the shape now. Its also got off to a very good start in its first tests.

AFAIK The point of the wing is to help stop understeer when the aerodynamic effects of turning are coupled with the twin keel suspension mounting. This will also pass a greater volume of firaly clean air directly under the car aiding the floor aerodynamics.

 

[Gollum]

coupled with the twin keel suspension mounting

... oh stop the dirty talk already, you're making me horny!

 

[BlackAngus]

BeyondF1.com anybody?? C'mon mate, one big website isn't enough work, surely?

MuFu.

I second that motion!

I was going tempted to start a nw thread on that one - "Williams - Innovations or abomination?" I'm starting to like the shape now. Its also got off to a very good start in its first tests.

Id have to agree. Very strange, but not too bad looking.

On a side note.
My wife and I are getting around to taking our honeymoon this year, and we are both big formula 1 fans. I thought Id ask you all - which circuit from the 2004 season do you think we should see? We are still making our minds up, and the only places we probally wouldnt consider are silverstone and the US, since she has been to silverstone, and we have both been to the US GP before. We live in the US as well, so we are looking for a nice vacation/GP =)
So give me your thoughts!

 

[Dave Baumann]

I've been to about 3 GPs at Silverstone - there is a problem with Silverstone in that as it was built on a runway, the entire area is basically falt, giving you a very limited track area to view. I'd imagine that the Indy circuit would be a great one to go to for actually viewing the race, since you should be able to see quite a wide area of the track on the banked oval design that its on - somewhere in the grandstand at the end of turn 3, start of turn 4 mihjt be good as you'll see them coming out of the slow section and accelerating onto the fast banked corner and down the main straigh, alternatively somewhere at the end of the mainstraight could be good as you'll see them slowing from full speed to get round the tight first corner (this is also where much of the overtaking happens). I can't remember if Spa is back on this year, but that would also be a great track to go to.

 

[BlackAngus]

Yeah Indy surprised me. The seats at the start are kinda poor visibility wise, all the way up the stands. But there is a nice back grass berm that you can get on, its kinda in the middle of the oval at indy. This gives you a great view from turn 3 thru the really tight corners, and in a different spot just past the walk over bridge thru the last turn on to the main oval again.
The berm was pretty much the place to be unless you had the ingarage, "I know someone" seats =)
On really nice thing is that you can see all the drivers and staff going into the garages. My wife snagged Ross "bananaman" Brons autograph. =)


SPA is back this year, and is a definate consideration.=)

 

[BlackAngus]

In other formula 1 news
The inquirer has some benchmarks for AMD/Ferraris vs Intel/Toyota.
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=13669

As we can clearly see the Opteron stomps the ITANIC.. (cough) er Itanium2.