Oh FFS....Formula 1 is at it again....

JRS

JRS

JRS

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*sigh*

Ferrari wheel rims spark debate

With Renault still reeling from the saga over mass dampers, title rival Ferrari has triggered a technical controversy of its own at the Turkish Grand Prix.

The Italian team is running the distinctive rear wheel fairings that previously appeared on its 248 F1 at Imola in April (but with a wider 'lip' section reducing the size of the central air vent).

Although their ostensible purpose is to improve brake cooling, rival teams have suggested that they are designed to give an aerodynamic benefit – and thus constitute a “moveable aerodynamic device”, prohibited by F1’s technical regulations.

However, the wheel rim shields have been cleared by governing body the FIA and Ferrari maintains that they give no more of an aerodynamic pay-off than conventional brake ducts.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis took a different tack on Saturday afternoon, suggesting that their use may have contravened the parc ferme rules, which state that teams may not change car parts after the start of qualifying.

“It is not for us to judge,” Dennis told reporters.

“Up and down the pit lane there is some confusion over the fact, and I was told second-hand that their primary purpose is to play an active role in the cooling of the brakes.

“But there is a regulation that says you are not allowed to change any aspect of the car during qualifying.

“Clearly when you are changing wheels you are changing an element of which is relevant to the brakes.”

Despite his misgivings about the fairings, Dennis said McLaren would not be lodging a protest.

“It is not for us to challenge the legality,” he said.

“There is a mechanism, but we have no intention of protesting the Ferrari ‘dustbin lids’.”
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For the love of God....

I was under the impression, apparently mistaken, that F1 was supposed to be the pinnacle of single-seater open wheel motorsport. So why the hell has an argument started over SODDING WHEEL FAIRINGS?!?!

Boys and girls at the FIA - I know you mean well, and I know you don't really want to kill the sport. But that is what you're doing - if you want a closed rulebook, then make the damn thing watertight. If you want innovation, then re-write the rules until you have a setup going that will allow the teams the freedom to come up with some cool stuff.

I swear to God, if the championship gets decided this year over something that asinine then F1 will lose the remaing shreds of tattered credibility it has left....
 
James_N said:
Watch British Touring Cars instead, its not what it once was, but its 1000% better than F1 :cool:
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Thanks, but I reckon I'll stick with NASCAR to be honest. The Busch race at Bristol this weekend was great, Matt Kenseth making an incredible pass on the outside around Kevin Harvick to grab the win. The British Touring Cars is such a pale shadow of its former self that I really can't watch it. NASCAR is a shadow as well.....but at least it admits it.

I would be looking forward to the Cup race, but Kurt Busch is on pole and I hate the jumped-up little git :)
 
I'd much prefer it if they allowed any kind of innovations. The ideas like the lotus's which sucked the cars to the roads were the good old days where you never knew what fantastic invention would be next.

I know they do it all in the mind of safety, but stuff it. The drivers are no longer men of legends. Jees, now we've got people racing in airplanes. Now they've got balls of steel!
 
JRS said:
Thanks, but I reckon I'll stick with NASCAR to be honest. The Busch race at Bristol this weekend was great, Matt Kenseth making an incredible pass on the outside around Kevin Harvick to grab the win. The British Touring Cars is such a pale shadow of its former self that I really can't watch it. NASCAR is a shadow as well.....but at least it admits it.
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where do you watch nascar? always enjoy it but the coverage is this country is dire imho
 
Sone said:
where do you watch nascar? always enjoy it but the coverage is this country is dire imho
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I get most of it from not desperately legal sources.....:)

Managed to catch the last couple of races live on one of the digital channels thanks to a mate spending a huge amount of money just to watch North American sport. NASN covers most races, Motors TV do a lot of the Busch races, Five show heavily edited highlights of the Busch races when they can tear themselves away from showing crap like Argentinian football.

Every Easter I go to Canada to see my grandparents, so I'm pretty much always assured of seeing one live race on TV at a sensible time every year....

***edit***

See, when did we last get a finish in F1 like this?

finishzl6.jpg


0.002sec ( :eek: ) between those two....they were beating and banging on each other through the last few laps, I thought ol' DW in the commentary box was about to have a heart attack....
 
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JRS said:
The British Touring Cars is such a pale shadow of its former self that I really can't watch it.
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Whilst i agree its not as good as it used to be, F1 is hardly amazing either. BTCC > F1 but then again Any motorsport > F1
 
those things have been in use since april by ferrari, honda, and toyota and only NOW renault bring it up? :rolleyes:

sour grapes.... :rolleyes:
 
JRS said:
IManaged to catch the last couple of races live on one of the digital channels thanks to a mate spending a huge amount of money just to watch North American sport. NASN covers most races,
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Was going to get NASN untill i saw the price :(
 
Sone said:
Was going to get NASN untill i saw the price :(
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I could almost justify it for NASCAR and NHL games. Almost. Maybe if/when I get a raise I'll treat myself :)
 
F1 is rather political, its an unfortunate downside to the sport and its always going to be there, the stakes (money) are far too high.

James_N said:
Watch British Touring Cars instead, its not what it once was, but its 1000% better than F1 :cool:
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I lost all respect for BTCC when they allowed the DC5's to race. Come on, the car isnt even sold in this country, how can it be called a "British Touring Car Championship" when the only way to get one on a British road is to import it.
 
Arc said:
I lost all respect for BTCC when they allowed the DC5's to race. Come on, the car isnt even sold in this country, how can it be called a "British Touring Car Championship" when the only way to get one on a British road is to import it.
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I thought it was good, it might get Honda to release it overhere. Like most people i talk to i stopped watching it around 2000 when the got rid of the mondeo sized cars :(
 
Sone said:
I thought it was good, it might get Honda to release it overhere. Like most people i talk to i stopped watching it around 2000 when the got rid of the mondeo sized cars :(
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There was talk of Vauxhall going back to the Vectra for next season to try to boost sales of the Vectra VXR.
 
JRS said:
See, when did we last get a finish in F1 like this?

finishzl6.jpg


0.002sec ( :eek: ) between those two....they were beating and banging on each other through the last few laps, I thought ol' DW in the commentary box was about to have a heart attack....
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lol - you say that and then today alonso beat schumy by one cars length :}
excellent race today.... gripping to the end :D
 
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