Ferrari Mailing List: [SPOILER] More comments, Melbourne Practice On SpeedTV

[Rick Lindsay (rolindsay]

Comments on Ken's comments...

--- Ken Rentiers <rentiers [at] mac.com> wrote:

> Random impressions of F1 Practice on TV.
> 
> 1. Allsame tires: The 90 minute afternoon practice 
> session looked like a demolition derby. As reported 
> by Hobbs et al, now that there is only one tire, 
> Bridgestone is not under any pressure to make a  
> super-sticky compound and can supply something more
> "durable". If there was a single car/driver that did

> not leave the track spinning wildly I missed it.

We call this 'sport' but we must remember that it is
really just entertainment.  I'm sure the folks who
made the 'one tire' decision know that mechanical grip
is a massively big competitive factor.  Leveling the
field is the goal because it creates an entertainment
that goes on potentially until the last race.  And
yes, I just hate it.  F1 should be about technological
advancement, not sinking everyone to the mean.
 
> 2. Customer cars: Formula one has ALWAYS been a
> development formula. Each team built their own 
> chassis etc. Now in 2008 we will have 'customer 
> cars' 

...and teams 'branded' by road car manufacturer's
names.  Witness Toyota, Honda, etc..  Kinda like 
Reliant Stadium, Minute Made Park, the Toyota Center,
etc...

> OK since engine development is now frozen, 
> and everyone is on the same tires and teams will 
> soon be able to buy in competitively precluding any 
> development work 

Remember the word 'circus'.  This is entertainment,
not sport.  The unfettered sport died a long time ago.
 Can anyone say, "Can-Am in the '60s and '70s"?!

> 3. I'm not sure what looks worse. American homeys
> running around in wearing wool ski caps in August or

> the OZ guys I saw last night who seem to favor clam 
> diggers cut off at mid-thigh.  Whassup with that?   
> They look like they stole some pants out  of their
> old lady's closet. Ouch! My eyes are bleeding!

Okay, that is just wrong.
 
Still, with all the negatives, I sat there last night
looking at Albert Park and wishing I was there working
again this year. Would have, could have, should
have... :-/

rick, re-submerging