less than 24 hours until F1 Friday practice session:
 

00D 23H 43M 45S

Austrailian grand prix friday practice is on Thursday here.

I'm pumped. Can't wait to see who the real drivers are without traction control etc.

Looking forward to it too!

No TC, lets see Massa whined, Hamilton said cool and Kimi...well nobody really understands what Kimi is saying :D

werd :)

I'm particularly excited about this season, I have tickets to the Montreal GP.

No traction control should be great, I just wish they'd get rid of the flappy paddle gearboxes and drive like men...I heard they were going to go back to real manual boxes, but I haven't heard anymore since....

Sam and I are in total agreement again. Do I hear hoofbeats? :p

forza ferrari!

Go Ferrari!!

I found Kimi’s response to no TC:
“ireallyhavenopreferencetotractioncontrolmyfarrari isafukenrocketshipandiamtheworldchampionandcanbeet allposersonthegridthisyearnowsomeonepleasehandmeth evodka”

Alonso is now betting Renault may take a year to return ?

Aw come on, we've agreed at least 10 times in the last 4000 posts ;)

That's a dream. (I'd like that too, but it ain't gonna happen)

Went to the last Canadian race and it was excellent.

Agree with the low tech cars. Make them shift a gearbox again and end all the expensive crap on the car.

Just programmed it on the Tivo, and cannot wait!

as a great man said! BOOGITY BOOGITY BOOGITY....!!!!!:eek:
not.
I am really psyched about F1 this year.

So that’s it? People just want them to go back to sticks? This is not NASCAR were talking about.

No Traction Control is a huge step towards this along with the engine development cap imposed.
How can anyone argue with the sound of a 19k/rpm V10 or now V8 shifting in sub milliseconds?

Hell, lets talk about drivers and team strategies! :D

Sorry but any idiot can pull a paddle to shift. Show me someone who can shift a manual gearbox going around Monaco for 2 hours and win, and that man deserves to stand on the podium.

This is about skill AND tech, not just a frigging computer doing everything for the driver.

Go Lewis!!

Already invited a couple of buddies over for the race......

F1 racing is not a shifting contest, nor is drifting a racing contest. While I would also like to see a return to manual shifters, I understand the thought behind increasing the longevity of engines and gearboxes for a better show.

What if Bernie made drum brakes mandatory? That would help separate the men from the boys too. :eek:

Sherwood

Let's go back to bias-ply tires too! In reality, I doubt there were any F1 races ever won or lost because somebody was better at 'shifting' :cool: Let's face it, there hasn't been a real Grand Prix car since Porsche was designing them in the 30's :D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1205403824.jpg

Finally! Its been a long winter. I am really looking forward to this season too.

Was this supposed to be in green? Plenty of folks lost races because of missed shifts.

As to bias-ply tires, the wish for the return to manual gearboxes has less to do with restricting tech because they can, than restricting tech that makes the drivers championship something just a videogame. That is, we want the best driver - you know someone who can brake, steer, shift, find the line, place the car on the line..... to win. Sometimes this means that the best equipment doesn't win. Because that's what F1 has become. The best equipment (and biggest budget) wins for the most part.

The hand-operated shifters were connected to the same sequential gearboxes as paddle-operated shifters. What's the difference between pushing a lever forward and back a few fractions of an inch or using paddles on the steering wheel for the same purpose? Or are guys suggesting they go back 2 decades to H-pattern manual transmissions with foot-operated clutches :confused:

Exactly. Just ask that poor bastard Scott Stoddard after Aron's stunt at Monaco.




http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1205428261.jpg







Tim

Anyone know if Speed's coverage in HD will be really just that. I've heard 16:9 aspect ratio... but no true 1080 broadcast.

I just updated my TIVO to HD and bought a big 'ole 50 incher hoping to see some nice powerslides with no traction control. Whew....My F1 habit is costing money like my Porsche addiction.

Is the aussie race this weekend going to be televised on normal cable? I don't have speed so I might have to go out and watch the race (late)

Its on Speed.

I Tivo every race, if you miss it, PM me and I 'll burn you a DVD.

Speed on HD?!!!

Stop your making go nuts... I am sure Cox does not offer it in OC..

Dam, I should have gotten that HD DVR instead of the HD DVD player. :mad:

That's my boy. Finn for the win.

Go Kimi!!

Curious to see how Sebastian, no the other one, does with STR.

I like that they took away traction control and hope it makes for more mistakes and better passing opportunities.

I would like to see what Motion has to say about Paddle Shifting Vs. Stick.

Besides, look at the DTM cars, they are using sequential boxes as well, how can you expect F1 to dumb it down below that?


Lots of things have changed this year lots of driver moves and with the removal of TC I am excited to see how they handle the slippery roads of Melbourne.

Well Kimi summend it up at the press conference today on TC :D

Q: And same question about traction control. Was there a big difference in the cars initially?
KR: I think there was a big difference when we tried before Christmas for the first time with last year’s car. It was a lot more difficult but then with the new car we improved in the areas where it was less good and it helped a lot. Now with new tyres you do not feel the difference on the one lap whether you have traction control or not. I think when it is a difficult condition, wet or slippery, then it will be much more tricky but you don’t really notice.

Q: And have you changed your driving style at all to compensate for it?
KR: Not really, no.

He will pummel them in Melbourne!

As seen on Axis of Oversteer .. this should put you in the mood. 2.5 more hours!!

<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="267" data="http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=779821&amp;server=www.vimeo. com&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byl ine=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color="> <param name="quality" value="best" /> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /> <param name="scale" value="showAll" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=779821&amp;server=www.vimeo. com&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byl ine=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=" /></object><br /><a href="http://www.vimeo.com/779821/l:embed_779821">Formula 1 1950-2007</a> from <a href="http://www.vimeo.com/user319450/l:embed_779821">Axis of Oversteer *</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/l:embed_779821">Vimeo</a>.

Apparently, all races, all practices, all interviews will be broadcast on-line this year:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/mar/13/itv.television?gusrc=rss&feed=media

Well, screwed again. Service not available outside the UK :mad: Somebody's gotta be able to hack around this ....

First session is about to finish down here - haven't had time to check the times yet...but here's a weather report...HOT, VERY BL00DY HOT! Top temp forecast at 35 deg C, with a blustery northerly wind (that a hot wind for us down here, making it feel even hotter). Total fire ban across four states in Aus today - a late summer has hit with avengence.

Sat and Sun will hold more of the same - Sat will be a little cooler at around 30 deg, but race day is forecast for 36 deg...that is high 90s in F.

Survival of the fittest takes on a new meaning in these weather conditions - track temps will probably well exceed mid 50s C.

Oh well, better than rain and cold I suppose :rolleyes:.

Anyway,

BRING IT ON!!!!!! :D:D:D

first practice is already over. they don't show that session on speed. i won't spoil it for you guys though. :)

Curt,

I just watched the first session of practice online. Go to this link and scroll until you see the link. The quality of the stream was pretty good....just doesn't have the commentary. The second session begins at 12am eastern I believe.

http://www.myp2pforum.eu/motorsports/16889-grand-prix-australie.html

UPDATE:

It's hit 40 deg C in Melbourne!

No surprises - Kimi was fastest in the first session.

Red Bull team have some scrutineering problems (not disclosed) but Charlie Whiting offered an extension on time last night and the cars ran in first practice. The team still needs to pass final scrut tonight in order to run tomorrow. Webber posted a credible 5th fastest in the first session.

Coulthard's engine went up in smoke...car looking sad and sorry in its garage.

Results of 1st free practice.

Interesting to say the least, especially the STR boys I was expecting the opposite.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1205455831.jpg

the "scrutineering problem" was that that the rb4 frontal impact crash tests weren't approved until this morning!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65688

Well I see that the "great" Sebastion Bourdais, winner of 4 CART titles, comes in over 3 seconds slower then Kimi. Yea, he's a winner all right, against nobody's and such. I cant wait to see him get his a** handed to him up front and then say he didn't know the competition was going to be this strong. DA:confused:

Looks very interesting! Only 22 minutes to go until its on the tube here!