Canadian Grand Prix (Kimi Raikkonen wins!)

Ed · Post by Ed » Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:50 pm

This is the place to discuss everything related to the eighth round of the 2005 season taking place at Montreal between the 10th and 12 of June.

The Canadian Grand Prix Preview is now available here.
The main Canadian Grand Prix Page is available here.

Note: Christian Klien replaces Vitantonio Liuzzi at Red Bull Racing.

Also note that the race starts at 1 PM local time.

To submit your 8 'n' Pole Picks for Canada click here, to register in the competition click here (it is never too late to enter as the winner of each round wins a prize in addition to the overall prizes)

The Team preview page is available here (updated as they become available)
Williams, BAR, Sauber, Renault, Toyota, McLaren, Jordan, Red Bull

Bridgestone, Michelin

Friday Team and Driver quotes are available here

Sunday Team and Driver quotes are available here

FIA Press Conferences:
Thursday - with Rubens Barrichello, Christian Klien, Kimi Raikkonen and Jacques Villeneuve
Friday - with Flavio Briatore, Christian Horner, Colin Kolles, John Howett
Saturday - with Jenson Button, Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso
Sunday - with Kimi Raikkonen, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello

Ed · Post by Ed » Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:53 pm

The event timetable for the Canadian Grand Prix

Friday
1st Friday Practice 11:00 local time - 15:00 GMT
2nd Friday Practice 14:00 local time - 18:00 GMT

Saturday
1st Saturday Practice 09:00 local time - 13:00 GMT
2nd Saturday Practice 10:15 local time - 14:15 GMT
Qualifying 13:00 local time - 17:00 GMT

Sunday
Race 13:00 local time - 17:00 GMT

Ed · Post by Ed » Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:56 pm

The latest weather forecast for the Canadian Grand Prix (last updated 10 June)

Friday
1st Practice - 11:00 - 24 - Mostly Cloudy
2nd Practice - 14:00 - 27 - Isolated Thunderstorms

Saturday
1st Practice - 09:00 - 24 - Mostly Cloudy
2nd Practice - 10:15 - 26 - Partly Cloudy
Qualifying - 13:00 - 29 - Isolated Thunderstorms

Sunday
Race - 13:00 - 26 - Isolated Thunderstorms

F1greyhound · Post by **F1greyhound** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:24 am

The preview sounds pretty reasonable.

However I would see the pace classification as follows, dont agree on SAUBER being faster than REDBULL and WILLIAMS having an edge over FERRARI:

1. MCLAREN 10, Kimi 10, Monty 9.0
2. RENAULT 9.5, Fernando 10, Fisico 9.0
3. FERRARI 9.5, Michael 10, Rubens 9.5
4. WILLIAMS 9.0, Mark 9.0, Nick 9.0
5. TOYOTA 9.0, Jarno 9.0, Ralf 9.0
6. REDBULL 8.5, David 9.0, Christian 9.0
7. BAR 8.5, Jenson 9.0, Taku 8.5
8. SAUBER 8.0, Jaques 8.5, Felipe 9.0

JORDAN and MINARDI could be pretty competitive in GP2....

If everything goes to plan Kimi wont be beaten, Fernando will have to resist a strong challenge from Michael who could possibly start from the 3rd row if Bridgestone found a bit for the qualifying.

There is also a chance that Fernando will face a technical problem sooner or later....., a finish of 1.Michael 2.Kimi would be good for the championship which looks almost decided at the moment.

Monty might have a good day in the second MCLAREN fighting with Fisico and Rubens. Others to join that bunch are Ralf and probably Mark. I dont fancy Jarno and Nick as much around Montreal while it is very hard to see
any of the others really strong against this opposition.

Ed · Post by Ed » Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:56 am

You've got some valid points F1greyhound and they may come true on Sunday. I go by the results so far this season on similar tracks as well as last year's race.

The Renault's lost momentum last year at this race when neither car finished. That could be repeated and the championship gets exciting at the top!

Both Ralf and Mark will be disadvantaged by their very early slot in qualifying. It will be very hard for either to catch up with their teammates and the leaders.

Of course if an isolated thunderstorm finds its way to the track, almost anything can happen!
Back in 2000 under wet conditions Verstappen finished 5th in the Arrows!

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:03 pm

2 roubles...speaking of which....no, never mind...that Sato causes the first safety car!

Kapel · Post by **Kapel** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 7:33 pm

Rain...just Rain

JayVee · Post by **JayVee** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 7:43 pm

Kapel wrote:Rain...just Rain

You mean naRain ... just naRain

We've had such an exciting season, we don't need rain!!

Only those who are desparately thinking Michael is superior in the rain and will win are praying for rain.

He will spin out just as he did in the last wet race

But let it rain for naRain

Kapel · Post by **Kapel** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 7:57 pm

JayVee wrote:
Kapel wrote:Rain...just Rain
You mean naRain ... just naRain

We've had such an exciting season, we don't need rain!!

Only those who are desparately thinking Michael is superior in the rain and will win are praying for rain.

He will spin out just as he did in the last wet race

But let it rain for naRain

U got me

Yes just rain for Narain

Montreal is a completely new circuit for Narain & monteiro has driven Champ series there.

Narain couldnt go there b'cos of visa problems

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 8:01 pm

Kapel wrote:
JayVee wrote:
Kapel wrote:Rain...just Rain
You mean naRain ... just naRain

We've had such an exciting season, we don't need rain!!

Only those who are desparately thinking Michael is superior in the rain and will win are praying for rain.

He will spin out just as he did in the last wet race

But let it rain for naRain
U got me

Yes just rain for Narain
Montreal is a completely new circuit for Narain & monteiro has driven Champ series there.

Narain couldnt go there b'cos of visa problems

If it is wet, he could end up having dizzy spells

Kapel · Post by **Kapel** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 9:07 pm

julian mayo wrote:
Kapel wrote:
JayVee wrote:
You mean naRain ... just naRain

We've had such an exciting season, we don't need rain!!

Only those who are desparately thinking Michael is superior in the rain and will win are praying for rain.

He will spin out just as he did in the last wet race

But let it rain for naRain
U got me

Yes just rain for Narain
Montreal is a completely new circuit for Narain & monteiro has driven Champ series there.

Narain couldnt go there b'cos of visa problems
If it is wet, he could end up having dizzy spells

It might help him scoring one point

Ed · Post by Ed » Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:03 pm

Weather forecast updated.

30-40% chance of rain on all 3 days

K-D · Post by **K-D** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:16 am

Ed wrote:Weather forecast updated.

30-40% chance of rain on all 3 days

This is where I feel like singing. But other posters take on an evil personae, when doing this. So I hum out in the office enviroment.

F1greyhound · Post by **F1greyhound** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:37 am

K-D, Kappel and anyone else wishing for rain, lets make some rain dance on Sunday morning......

I want rain for Michael, Rubens and Narain

Jim Watt · Post by **Jim Watt** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 7:42 am

Hmm. Not much controversy so far. I expect to hear poor old Webbo being assaulted and abused since we hardly have Michael and Jenson to kick around any more.

My average for picks in 8'npole is so far out of contention now that I hardly feel any pressure making my picks any more! The gods of racing have decided now to favor Fernando --and that is VERY GOOD for F1. To have the youngest ever World Champion in the second fastest car will sell beaucoup billets in the coming season, especially since Kimi is so perfect by skill and personality to play the "dark horse."

Enough idle chatter, though. here are my picks and reasons:

Pole: Kimi --because he's bound to be VERY FRUSTRATED and he'll be in a brand new car

1. Kimi --because even Fernando's luck can't last THIS long!
2. Alonso --because he'll be in a very good grid position, far enough in front so that neither Ralph nor Webbo can punt him out
3. Michael --because he hasn't had a podium yet (is that REALLY true?)
4. Rubens --because of team orders
5. Nick --because he has to make his move NOW, or the Webbo will work to dump him next year
6. Jarno --because he's damn good
7. D.C. --because I'd like to put him even higher up (may be even a podium; he COULD, you know, with a little help, even beat Michael)
8. Juan Pablo --because he has a really fast car ... now if he can just keep in on the course!

Hope the race is really hard fought so that the following week I'll be able get in some good arguments out at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where I'll be enjoying the sights and the Fosters!

cheers and good racing, Jim