The 2007 Japanese Grand Prix

[jacfan]

As for MW saying LH agreed to keep a constant speed, no one said he had to behave the same way, he only comes from a country that farms sheep, he doesn't need to behave like one. (I dont know what SV's excuse could be)

I find that remark very offensive to not only Mark Webber but to all Australians. FYI there are far more sheep in NZ than here.
And FYI I am not joking this time.

[Jim Watt]

Hi Ho, Jac Fan. I'm sure Gho Gho meant no ill will towards the land down under (or to the Webbo, for that matter). I'm not apologizing for him (he'll have to do that for himself), I'm just saying it's the kind of clever at the moment, but not so bright, really sounding thing I'd be as like to say as not! Didn't seem intended to draw blood, that is.
Of course, since you responded by contrasting the sheep count with New Zealand, it could well be something more to do with being in that hemisphere than a Yank can appreciate.

Anyway, the whole thing, [the penalize Lewis movement] to me, smacks more of a Bernie E. promo (all publicity is GOOD publicity!) than of serious FIA concern. And I tend to agree with Snowy that the video suggests nothing other than the fact that the stewards were putting television contracts and money over safety and drivers' lives!

Indeed, maybe we'd have more realistic calls from the stewards if they were required to ride in the back seat of the safety car with no belts or helmets!

And while I'm on the subject of trying as hard not to take offense as to give it, dear Snowy, as a supporter of Lewis H., you'll just have to not bother to respond any more than he does to the flak from fans of other drivers.

When you are as gifted and articulate AND LUCKY as Lewis is (or Michael was), any number of folks will be unable to live with it. Consider, for example, that we're not even to the end of his first season and already the conspiracy theorists are hard at work suggesting that he is anything but a racing driver!! Somehow he has managed to accumulate all those podiums and points by sneaky, underhanded, unsporting tactics!!!

And, even more incredible is that his team mate has actually supplied enough grist to the "sneaky underhanded mill" to keep conspiracy chaps awake for years to come! In fact, in the pages of F1 and Autosport more than one of the commentators are shaking their heads at the unsporting demeanor of our defending WDC. I think it's got to be hard on Jay Vee and I applaud her ability to be loyal to her champion without denying that he makes it a challenge sometimes. Well so did Ayrton; so did Nige; so did Michael. And so will Lewis.

the thing we can't say about this season is that it hasn't been full of surprises and some pretty amazing racing!



Jim Watt

[GhoGho]

As for MW saying LH agreed to keep a constant speed, no one said he had to behave the same way, he only comes from a country that farms sheep, he doesn't need to behave like one. (I dont know what SV's excuse could be)

I find that remark very offensive to not only Mark Webber but to all Australians. FYI there are far more sheep in NZ than here.
And FYI I am not joking this time.

Sorry

[GhoGho]

To Jacfan, and anyone else who may be interested,

My remark was not intended to offend you or Australians in general, but merely to emphasize the absurdity of the situation.

Yes, I understand that MW had a shot at a win, every driver in that situation will think he can win, be it realistic or not. I don’t believe that it would have happened, but anything is possible.

Yes, I can understand the disappointment of being taken out by someone else. Hang it, I am not a big fan of the bloke, but even I felt sorry for him.

Yes maybe SV made the mistake, but he is a rookie and sometimes people make mistakes. By his own admission he said he was not looking ahead, but was watching LH!

Yes, maybe LH even had something to with the situation. Maybe he was intentionally trying to distract the guys behind him. Maybe he was just trying to feed his ego by getting everyone’s attention, “look at me, I’m sensational” type of thing. He may even have been taking private lessons in how to win at all costs from one MS!

The fact remains that every driver has the ability to control the speed and direction of his vehicle. Hell, even us mere mortals on the highway to work, or out for a drive down a country lane have this ability.
Now, using this ability, I for one tend to give an erratic driver more space than usual, you know, the one on his/her cell phone who speeds up and slows down, or drifts around in their lane sometimes even using some of the lane next to them for no apparent reason. Hey, what difference does it make if I get there 2 seconds later? Common sense maybe?

I realize that these guys are racing, BUT, the lights on the safety car were still on, so there is absolutely no reason to be right on the guy in fronts tail at this stage. MW did not have to drive as erratically as LH. He could have controlled the pace and rhythm behind him from where he was, maybe even used it to his advantage.
If the lights were out and they were approaching the start line then there is a reason to close the gap, but the light were still on!

What makes the whole situation even more intolerable is the fact that the stewards, the FIA, Bernie or whoever even considered a penalty!! Why not just get the drivers to fill in a Lotto form and award points that way? Who really wants to see a bunch of guys actual racing anyway?

P.S. If you don’t think I should post my views here let me know.

[GhoGho]

Can you use that word?

I think so, especially when angered or expressing outrage

[GhoGho]

"Lewis Hamilton has escaped penalty after FIA stewards probed his alleged erratic driving whilst leading the field behind the safety car at Fuji Speedway a week ago."


Finally, common sense and sanity prevail!

I can feel my blood pressure decreasing