The 2006 Japanese Grand Prix

<T-K> · Post by **<T-K>** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 8:54 pm

That was not the result I was expecting

......To say I was shocked to see a ferrari let go would be an understatement.....

I am really starting to enjoy Alonso's victory celebrations......they are quite entertaining

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:05 am

<T-K> wrote:That was not the result I was expecting ......To say I was shocked to see a ferrari let go would be an understatement.....

I am really starting to enjoy Alonso's victory celebrations......they are quite entertaining

like watching a monkey on "speed"

JayVee · Post by **JayVee** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:38 am

Wow! Alonso The Cute once again showed what he can do when he is under extreme pressure. He made a great move at the start on Trulli then passed Ralf a few laps later then passed Massa in the pits. He then matched Michael even though his tyres weren't as good. Not only that, he set the fastest lap of the race

Then came the gift, Michael's engine blew during the race

Yes I was very surprised

Engines don't fail with Michael during a race, in practice maybe, with a teammate maybe but not with Michael during a race. Well it finally happened and it is only fair. In Italy Alonso retired with an engine failure, now it is Michael's turn.
Alonso retired in Hungary and Italy due to car failures and lost a potential 16 points in the process. Now he got 10 of those back

Thank you Jim for finally jinxing Michael, these things backfire you know

And I don't see any posts from F1greyhound

Seems that the 'GOD' theory didn't work last time eh ?

And to those who like to dream up the conspiracy theories, would it be at all possible that the Renault mechanic was a double agent

I think Button and Raikkonen had good races and Kubica tried but he still makes mistakes!

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 3:49 pm

Surprising race. I wouldn't have bet my pocket lint on Michael retiring due to engine failure but this is F1 after all. It happens.

Alonso was cool under pressure. He managed to pass both Toyotas which is good. His drive was not spectacular by any means but he did enough to win, thus getting my driver of the day vote. Fisi was plain lame though he finished on the podium. Having lost his best friend he was utterly devastated, hence I can understand his mood.

Toyotas were both disappointing. After having qualified high in the grid I'd have expected them to finish in a better position. Anyway, they came through okay.

Michael, as expected, was a big surprise. Massa did fine. If Fisi was in a better mood Massa might have succumbed to his pressure. Be as it may, he scored valuable 8 points for Ferrari and is the only reason why Ferrari are still contenders in the constructor's.

Kimi just finished the race. De La Rosa failed to impress. I think his seat beside Alonso next year is gone as well.

Hondas are just not good enough to compete with the Ferraris and Renaults. Button did fairly well. Barrichello might have done a lot better if he hadn't pitted to change the nose cone.

BMWs were quick and stable but they seem to have suffered because of the tyres. Pity.

As for the rest, Aguris were better than the others. At least they managed to have a double finish. That is very nice for a rookie team with a very limited experience.

Congrats to Alonso. It might be a little early to name him champion but I will do it anyway.

Southernman · Post by **Southernman** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:06 pm

Kimi gets my driver of the day pick. Like everyone else I was surprised that MS had an engine failure.

Alonso will be champ unless something happens that would keep the conspiracy theorists going for years.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:24 pm

Southernman wrote:Kimi gets my driver of the day pick. Like everyone else I was surprised that MS had an engine failure.

Alonso will be champ unless something happens that would keep the conspiracy theorists going for years.

All eyes will be on the right rear wheelman, every time Alonso pits.

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:09 pm

Jap GP: Lap-by-lap

(from Paddocktalk)

RE30B#16 · Post by **RE30B#16** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:23 pm

VIVO ALONSO!!!

Good job, Fisico!

Snowy · Post by **Snowy** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 7:37 pm

Pedro did himself no favours and Lewis a world of good in that race!

Ron is still reticent about blooding Lewis but by his comments post race it really seemed only a question of whether or not Lewis was starting his F1 career in Brazil in a Mclaren or Australia in a Mclaren!

I am full of optimism for Lewis but have a few reservations about the Mclaren car though what exactly was the excuse for their poor performance in qualifying?

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:25 pm

Snowy wrote: I am full of optimism for Lewis but have a few reservations about the Mclaren car though what exactly was the excuse for their poor performance in qualifying?

I agree that Lewis is okay, BUT with a few reservations. First of all he lacks the experience necessary to be successful in the F1 scene. Nico and Scott, despite having a couple of okay races, both failed to be consistent in 10+ races whereas Kubica accomplished that in just 5. Secondly, a young British driver in a British car which is supposed to be high in the running for the constructor's title will be under heavy pressure from the press. If Lewis will be able to handle that shall yet be seen.

On the other hand two Spaniards for McLaren seems to be a tad excessive. Don't get me wrong, I like DLR's style and aggressiveness but I doubt that his performance level will be enough for a team like McL. My bet is they will demote DLR to testing again.

As for McL's poor quali performance... Distractions I guess. Kimi is probably already dreaming of driving the red car and becoming the next Schumi. And DLR must have been aware that he won't be getting a race seat next year.

F1greyhound · Post by **F1greyhound** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:12 pm

Off course Im disappointed. But it was not MICHAELs fault, just something that can happen and it happened to FERNANDO in Monza, too.

While I think MICHAEL still has the edge over his rivals and it would have been a great bonus to retire with yet another WDC it doesnt really change much for him if he doesnt. After all it might even increase the chances for a comeback? MICHAEL obviously has nothing to prove but who knows, maybe he will miss the sport too much...

FERNANDO did a great job and would be a worthy champion for the 2nd year in a row. I for one dont enjoy the way he celebrates victories but thats a matter of taste.

Jayvee, re.the tyres, if anything than it were the MICHELINs which were evidently performing better in the race.

Julian, re.MARK vs.JENSON, what can I say? JENSON almost matches KIMI in the WDC...

What will happen in Brazil? I can see MICHAEL tempted between going out with a victory or handing it to FELIPE...but only heavy rain and full wet tyres would provide a realistic chance for MICHAEL to win and FERNANDO to DNF...

In the Constructors 9 points to make up is not quite as hard but still unlikely. With a FERRARI 1-2 RENAULT can afford a 4-5 and still win.

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:28 pm

F1greyhound wrote: In the Constructors 9 points to make up is not quite as hard but still unlikely. With a FERRARI 1-2 RENAULT can afford a 4-5 and still win.

True. I am not 100% sure about the constructor's though. In case of a Ferrari 1-2 and Renault 4-5 both teams will have equal number of points. Should that be the case, won't Ferrari (having won one more race than Renault) be getting the title?

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:40 pm

Fig, surely even you can acknowledge that Mark has been driving a bucket of bolts all season, and as soon as he decided to leave the team he has had to do so without washers. Button fought to the death to get out of Williams as soon as he knew MW was going there. QED

JayVee · Post by **JayVee** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:51 am

In China did they leave the washers on for him ? A mistake is a mistake whether a driver is leaving a team or not!

On Mark's own site (http://www.markwebber.com) he described his race as one of the most unremarkable of his career!
It went on to say:
"Once the reshuffling of positions had been completed, Webber emerged in 12th which became 11th when Michael Schumacher retired from the lead of the race with a blown engine on lap 36. But that was as good as it was going to get for Webber this race! The gap between Webber and Rosberg increased with Nico consistently lapping quicker while the distance between Webber and de la Rosa remained consistent at just over two seconds.

Webber?s race ended on lap 40, one lap after his second pit-stop, when he ran wide and smacked the barriers.

?I?ve had a pretty wild balance on the car all weekend,? said Webber afterwards, ?and coming off the final corner at the start finish straight I ran wide and went onto the grass. It?s very bumpy there and there?s no way you can bring it back from that. On new tyres the car had way too much power understeer, i.e. too much rear grip and no front grip. It?s a shame for the guys on the team but ultimately Nico and I weren?t good enough today to score any points.?

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:00 am

Deep sigh.............yes they left the washers off........but the post was not about China, or Japan.

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The 2006 Japanese Grand Prix

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