IMOLA Countdown!

Imola is in : 12 days, 15 hrs, 2 min.. u guys excited ?

--> ne predictions as to whos gonna win.. i'd say the spainard ! :grinno:

--> ne predictions as to whos gonna win.. i'd say the spainard ! :grinno:

Why, is de la Rossa driving again? :D

I expect Ferrari and Bridgestone to be back in a big way. Pole a definite possibility, race pace who knows.

Bridgestone, Phil :) Or has Ferrari nicked a couple of sets of Michelins from Renault while Schumi was keeping them looking at the monitors during the first dozen of laps in Bahrain? :hehe:

I'm quite excited, although last weekend was very busy motorsports-wise: BTCC and all the support races, CART, MotoGP. Such a shame I was busy and couldn't watch everything they were showing!

Umm... yeah... Bridgestone! :icon16:
Although hopefully Michelin make a big performace jump to match!

Judging by early form, you would have to say that Renault are deemed 'favourites' for the race. They are looking fairly unstoppable at the moment. But being a Ferrari fan first and foremost, I want Schumacher or Barrichello win, but they will need to bring their 'A-game' with them.

Q1 and Ferrari are back but far more importantly Mac are back too! Kimi takes provisional pole by a whisker from Alonso. Looks like Michelin have given McLaren what they needed for qual pace. Question is can they maintain their excellent race pace as well? Fingers crossed. MS took third and Webber an excellent fourth.

Wurz is driving instead of delarosa. It sucks that in the US this race is on tape delay because a network picked it up instead of live on speed channel like it usually is.

Well technically Alex is driving instead of Montoya. :) He deserves a run after being McLaren test driver for so many years.

Kimi keeps pole. :) Helped by a spinning Michael Schumacher who may have slowed Alonso down in his final sector. Hopefully the race will be an interesting fight between Raikkonen, Alonso, Button and maybe even Mark Webber.

Good couple of laps by Kimi. Renault are confident that Alonso's running more fuel though. He's my tip for this afternoon.

I'd be surprised if Kimi is much lighter. Given the superior launch control of the Renault, Alonso will probably jump Kimi anyway. McLaren know that as well an anybody and will have probably been happy with a front row slot. And remember Kimi was only really faster in the last sector, or more to the pont Alonso was slow, sectors one and two were fairly even. Enough guesswork, not much longer to wait to see how it pans out.

Great opening lap by Kimi. He's either very light or really on it :thumbsup:

Well... Kimi blitzed the start and is walking away from Alonso. Perhaps he is light afterall? Either that or blindingly quick.

Alonso has picked up the pace now but is 3 seconds back from Raikkonen. The two leaders are dropping Button and the rest by seconds a lap!

Fisichella is out! :eek:
Only guy making any headway is Massa who started from 18th due to an engine change on Friday.

Bugger! Kimi slows. :(

Kimi's in already...

And retires :mad:

Disappointing. I don't see how anyone will challenge Alonso now...

Trulli is doing the mobile chicane thing again. Only good that can come of this race now is if Webber finds a way past and can make it to the podium. Alonso just has to stay on track.

Although Button has a new engine for this race, whereas Alonso's is secondhand from Barhain. What chance Honda will turn the revs up and damn the consequences?

Barrichello pits for the first of the fuel stops. Wow, dog slow and light...

Doesn't look like anybody will be three stopping.

What chance Honda will turn the revs up and damn the consequences?
Slim I'd say. They need to get some points on the board.

BAR have stated they're going for wins this year, so will they be concerned with a 10 spot grid penalty next race? I think not. Will be two fingers up to the stupidity of the two race engine rule as well. I hope they do it, with Button's engine grenading on the parade lap. :)

M Schumacher sets fastest lap! Thanks to Trulli holding everybody up he is in with a shot of some serious points.

Schumacher sets the quickest lap of the race out of nowhere. How much longer can he stay out?

Schumacher pits and make it out in front of Wurz, to take third. The guys luck is legendary.

Why is it luck? He's on it

Because he made a huge mistake in qualifying but retirements and Truli are giving it back to him.

Not to mention blistering pace.

Yup, he is 2 seconds a lap faster that Button and Alonso right now.

Less than 3 seconds away from Jenson now...

11 seconds from Alonso with 21 laps to go. Engineers are still feeding Jenson with the gap to Alonso, and not Schumacher :screwy:

It's costing Schumi 2 seconds a lap to be behind Button at this stage. Hopefully JB's pitting soon.

Schumacher will probably have to wait until Button pits (if MS doesn't first). So Alonso can take it easy for a bit longer. I wonder if Renault are managing their engine? Alonso was much faster earlier on.

Schumacher overtakes Button through traffic! Ferrari mechanics go back into their garage. Schumi can get back on it.

Didn't wait for the stops - passed Button and into the lead. (for now)

1.21.8! :eek:

Schumacher 2.5 seconds quicker than Alonso on the last lap

AGGHH!!! F%^ING AD BREAK :mad:

Schumacher pits. About 12 laps left, can Alonso hold on?

Damn. He came out behind Alonso. 12 laps to try to overtake, not easy at Imola..

Schumacher's all over Alonso. Can Fernando take the pressure?!?

Nail biting stuff!

If Schumacher and Alonso take each other out Button could win this... :p

Backmarkers coming up. This could be interesting....

That's if the backmarkers come into this :confused:

Another ad break with 3 laps to go. The timing of these things is shocking.

Last lap.

Alonso holds on...
Tight and interesting finish but for the wrong reasons.

Fourth for Wurz, one better than de la Rossa. And Villeneuve scores points for Sauber. :eek: Mark Webber faded once again, lucky not to be lapped.

:rolleyes:

Japan 2000?


Great race, Ferrari are back on the pace. Roll on Barcelona :)

:rolleyes:
Japan 2000?


Huh?

Responding to an edited post...

You were quick I thought better straight away. At any rate an argument over Suzuka 2000 is not something we'd like to get into at this point. Alonso is the man today not Schumacher.

I didn't say he wasn't. Just replying to a rather pathetic post.

I didn't say he wasn't. Just replying to a rather pathetic post.

:rolleyes: Nup, you'll have to find somebody else to play nasty with today. :p

Alonso is no Schumacher. :lol:

You're right he's no 7x world champion :p

There are many levels... :D

Hopefully he never will be a 7 x WDC. F1 couldn't stand the teduim again.

And with that it's good night from me...

i can only say 2 words bout this race HOLY SHIT. That race was crazy but so good. We need more races like this alot more like this. GO RENAULT 4/4

Also rally raider love the 307 sig pic.