San Marino GP '06

[rapstagangsta]

What are everyone's predictions for this years San Marino GP? I think Renault are going to be hard to beat, but Schumi could mount a serious challenge, given his record there. Might also see the McLarens up the pointy end of the field.
My top 5 are:

1. Fernando Alonso (or Micheal Schumacher)
2. Michael Schumacher (or Fernando Alonso)
3. Kimi Raikkonen
4. Jenson Button
5. Giancarlo Fisichella

[RallyRaider]

If the Bridgestones are going to work anywhere it will be Imola. First practice times seem to indicate that will indeed be the case.

[DinanM3_S2]

Yea, last year that was probably Schumacher's best race (other then Indy of course). That was a great jump from 14th or so to 2nd followed by an awesome dogfight between him and Alonso. Hopefully this year will be as good.

[drunken monkey]

any chance of honda having sorted out their tyre warming issue?
it's such a shame to see what is without a doubt a potentially super-fast car (as the qualifiying shows) lose out due to not being to work the tyres properly.

[DinanM3_S2]

Top 10 Qualifying Results- Third round (second round) {first round}

1. Michael Schumacher Ferrari- 1.22.795 (1:22.579) {1:24.598}
2. Jenson Button Honda- 1:22.988 (1:23.749) {1:24.480}
3. Reubens Barrichello Honda- 1:23.242 (1:23.760) {1:24.727}
4. Felipe Massa Ferrari- 1:23.702 (1:23.595) {1:24.884}
5. Fernando Alonso Renault- 1:23.709 (1:23.743) {1:23.536}
6. Ralf Schumacher Toyota- 1:23.772 (1:23.565) {1:24.370}
7. Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes- 1:24.021 (1:23.760) {1:24.960}
8. Kimi Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes- 1:24.158 (1:23.190) {1:24.259}
9. Jarno Trulli Toyota- 1:24.172 (1:23.727) {1:24.446}
10. Mark Webber- 1:24.795 (1:23.718) {1:24.992}

This is Michael Schumacher's 66th Pole Position, breaking Aryton Senna and his own record.

[willimo]

Button does so well in qualifying but can't race worth a damn. Someone teach that man how to pass.

[Jimster]

I'm picking a Schumacher, Barichello, Massa, Alonso, Button, Raikkonen, Webber, Trulli finishing order for the points.

[Neutrino]

Wow finally a race i could watch on TV. Go CBS!!!


And what a race, beautiful fight between Alonso and Schumi. I just loved how Schumacher held Alonso off and forced him into an early pit stop, good strategy and excellent driving from Schumacher.


At the end even with Alonso pushing hard it was clear IMO that Schumacher had the upper hand, he was far more composed than the spaniard. Alonso was clearly going 10/10 and pushing very hard in the corners which caused him to understeer over and over.

i felt quite bad for Button though, that was a very bad blunder from his pit crew not to mention dangerous.

[TRUBO_89]

meh CBS loads it with to many comercials and people trying to sound like they know everything about f1. f1 should stay on speed...

Aside from that that race was spectacular!!!!!!! The battle was almost identcal to the race last year at imola (only the positions were switched around.) Alsonso looked like he had a chance until lap 59 or so when he went wide on a corner. that sealed the deal. finally a true win for shumi! like shumi said "euope is when the competition really begins.."

[DinanM3_S2]

FORZA SCHUMACHER! FORZA FERRARI!

Now that thats out, it was great to finally watch an F1 race this year. Beautiful driving from the Ferraris and Alonso. Just like the announcer said, it was kinda like last year, just with the positions reversed. This just goes to show how important qualifying is at Imola. Today was a great day for Ferrari.

Things I learned today-
1) Super Aguri really is completely worthless
2) Ide should be banned from F1
3) Button needs to take Alonso's spot at Renault next year because Honda just can't seem to race well
4) CBS announcers arn't very good

[Neutrino]

True the CBS comentators suck quite badly and there were a lot of comercials, but for me since i live in student dorms and we do not get speed, this is a major blessing since i can finally watch F1 races. This is my first race that i have watched in years that i did not know the result (the torrents come in too slow to avoid the results). So hopefully you guys will pardon my excitement and allow me another Go CBS!!!

Oh and btw dinan you are quite right Button is pissed here is a link about that:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/moto...ne/4936910.stm

[Jimster]

Button is useless, if the British press didn't constantly rave about him, he'd be about as invisible as Albers or one of the test drivers. Frankly it's sad when people like Button get given great cars but do nothing with them, yet there are fantastic drivers like Nick Heidfeld and Mark Webber (Or even poor old Ant Davidson and Alex Wurz who don't even have a full drive) who are not only fantastic drivers but have thier heads about as far detatched from thier asses as humanly possible, yet are always put in rubbish cars.


I'm actually quite pleasently surprised with Super Aguri this year, they are in F1 for what seems the love of it (Hence thier want to get in as soon as possible) and Sato has done well with the car, just get rid of Ide. PLEASE


PS FORZA FERRARI! TIFOSI FO LIFE

[ales]

As a race it a wasn't particularly good one, no overtaking at all, but for me it was so nerve racking that I, honestly, almost didn't watch it from about mid point. I don't think my heart could have taken it. Ultimately, I'm very happy with the result, although it seems that there are now more questions regarding the teams' performances and potential than answers.

I didn't think Honda had any chance of a good result in the race (despite what Button said afterwards), there was no reason for the "fast in qualifying - fading in the race" pattern to end and it didn't. Of course, all the problems they had during pitstops did not help.

[RallyRaider]

Well that wasn't quite as bad as I was expecting. Thought Ferrari would be loads faster than they were. Is it just me or is it scary how closely this year is mirroring last tyre wise, even with the new (err... old) regs. Hopefully that will be the last Bridgestone hurrah for a couple of months.

Originally Posted by Neutrino

I just loved how Schumacher held Alonso off and forced him into an early pit stop, good strategy and excellent driving from Schumacher.

I didn't see it that way. Alonso short fuelled at his first stop to leapfrog past Massa and Button. That accomplished, the speed with which he reeled Schumacher in the middle stint was just gravy. Unfortunately that meant he had no choice but to stop earlier the second time. Ferrari cleverly followed him into the pits next lap and managed to minimise Renault's only chance. Well done to Michael to be quick on the one lap he had to.

Bad luck Kimi was passed by Webber early on (good job by Mark though). Made for a frustrating race for the McLarens.

[RallyRaider]

Why the intense criticism of Button? BAR/Honda have always faded badly in the races for years now. I doubt it is a driver motivation/effort/talent issue, look at the nightmare Barrichello is having in the same car. I had hoped Rubens good showing in qualifying indicated he had turned the corner. But the three stop strategy deceived on Saturday and was disastrous on Sunday. Then of course there were the team blunders...