Bahrain GP 2004

[ales]

Ladies and Ferrari fans,

The Bahrain GP weekend is under way, Friday practice 1 over (times), and the second one is running as I type. Both Ferraris in front in the first session (not by too much, though), and as I understand Kimi had to stop on the track in the first session and now in the openning minutes of the second one (have no idea what's going on, I'm following the sessions on timing screens on www.f1.com).

[ales]

Kimi's car had a fire in the engine bay and the engine had to be changed, so he'll start 10 places down the grid from his qualifying position. Also there were at least 3 tyre failures, all Michelin, including Alonso and DC.

[zebrathree]

Now I'm all broken up over their tyre failures

Rubens first in practise.

[Veyron]

Tyre puncture explaination, but no B'stones punctured???

"Michelin has collaborated with the FIA's technical department and an inspection of the track revealed two drainage hatches have become detached from their concrete bases," Michelin said in a statement. "This created sharp ridges which will damage any tyre that crosses them. A temporary cure has been set up already and a permanent solution will be in place before Formula One practice resumes Saturday."

[crayzayjay]

Final qualifying

1 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:30.139
2 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 1:30.530
3 Juan Pablo Montoya Williams-BMW 1:30.581
4 Ralf Schumacher Williams-BMW 1:30.633
5 Takuma Sato BAR-Honda 1:30.827
6 Jenson Button BAR-Honda 1:30.856
7 Jarno Trulli Renault 1:30.971
8 Olivier Panis Toyota 1:31.686
9 Cristiano da Matta Toyota 1:31.717
10 David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.719
11 Giancarlo Fisichella Sauber-Petronas 1:31.731
12 Christian Klien Jaguar-Cosworth 1:32.332
13 Felipe Massa Sauber-Petronas 1:32.536
14 Mark Webber Jaguar-Cosworth 1:32.625
15 Nick Heidfeld Jordan-Ford 1:33.506
16 Giorgio Pantano Jordan-Ford 1:34.105
17 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:34.130
18 Gianmaria Bruni Minardi-Cosworth 1:34.584
19 Zsolt Baumgartner Minardi-Cosworth 1:35.787
20 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes ----

[Veyron]

What do you guys think about the track layout?

[crayzayjay]

Im still amazed how Michael still pulled off pole, by 4 tenths, despite locking up and driving rally-style Rubens wasnt lying when he called his team-mate's last sector phenomenal
Apart from that the session was pretty boring, and what are McLaren thinking not sending Kimi out at all? I can't get my head around it

[crayzayjay]

Originally Posted by Veyron

What do you guys think about the track layout?

Very unspectacular and too many slow corners, though there are supposed to be good overtaking spots. We'll see tomorrow.

[Veyron]

Originally Posted by crayzayjay

Very unspectacular and too many slow corners, though there are supposed to be good overtaking spots. We'll see tomorrow.

Agreed, although they seemed to keep a pretty fair pace even through the hairpin, but too few overtaken zones for sure.

[crayzayjay]

Too few overtaking zones? There are supposed to be at least 3, which isnt too bad...

[Veyron]

We'll see, being there has been no races there, it is an unknown.

[crayzayjay]

Many drivers have maintained that the track layout offers several overtaking possibilities, and in the press conference Michael also said the track looks to be one where the whole field will be more bunched together than your average track. If they're right, that should liven up the fairly dull backdrop.

[RallyRaider]

Typical hype before using a track for the first time. Sepang was supposed to have multiple overtaking zones because the track is so wide - turned out there was still only one narrow racing line. Albert Park was supposed to have half a dozen overtaking zones as well, turns out it has maybe one and half.

Dunno what Kimi and McLaren are up to, perhaps they planned to change the engine again so would have been last anyway? In any event I hope they have something up their collective sleeves.

[ales]

I think it could turn out to be a good decision for Kimi. He was going to be way back anyway, but with the rain this morning and a sandstorm, and a generally cooler weather they will be able to set his car up perfectly for the conditions. All he needs is speed and reliability. And also he needs the aforementioned hype tp be true

[ales]

Ralf collides with Takuma (totally Ralf's fault), Kimi's engine gone again and Schumi running away before pitting already after 8 laps :o