Propsed new rules for 2008. If you weren't already aware, read all about it here. Personally, I think if they want to stifle technological development, this is the best way to do it. I hat e to say it, but if we adopted CART rules for F1 it wouldn't be a bad thing.

I can understand the teams' point that putting more restrictions on what they can do will limit the potential of the cars, and this is the pinnacle of automotive design, blah blah blah...

If you ask me putting the emphasis back on the drivers and less on the cars (or rather the amount of money at the disposal of the teams) can only improve the sport and make it more interesting to watch.

I was watching the touring cars from Silverstone the other day and the racing was so much more exciting I couldn't believe it. No wonder F1 attendance is down this year... Having said that, the race at Monaco the other day was brilliant, partly due to all the smashes (let's face it, everyone enjoys a good pile-up!), but mostly because of the brilliant chase between Button and Trulli for the finish. If every F1 race was like that then I'd be happy but sadly more often than not they soon settle into a precession of cars all following a certain German in a red car!

Pete

They followed Schuey for 2 laps singing his praises and he was in 5th place, the commentators were saying stuff like "He's driving the wheels off this car", as if the rest of them aren't really trying. I muted it till they went back to the real race. I like the new regs, they're bringing the cars back into the real world. They ought to limit them to £10 worth of unleaded and run on old michelin zx's and get their heads from up Bernie Ecclestones arse while they are at it. It was embarassing to watch them the other week creeping round him.

[Edited on 25/5/04 by Peteff]

dont underestimate cart (or irl) some of their rules are better, and the racing is a lot closer, with bags of overtaking - espeically on ovals.

If you stop thinking of oval racing as a tomas the tank engine set, with lots of left bends, and watch the action, its a great sport.

I had a car go into the wall at 100+ about 10ft from me at the Milwakee mile in 1998. robbie gordon just walked away from it


atb

steve

Most people would agree that closer racing and more overtaking would be good. Making the drivers actually 'drive' the cars rather than rely on electronics will be interesting!

I do wonder if the new rules would really shake things up? The big teams have got plenty of money and brains to throw at this. Despite the changes so far they seem to keep going faster.....

Andy

quote:

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Originally posted by stephen_gusterson
dont underestimate cart (or irl) some of their rules are better, and the racing is a lot closer, with bags of overtaking - espeically on ovals.

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I had to smile at the BBC's motorsport website today - half the drivers are whining and whingeing about other drivers, the track, or anything else they can think of (apart from their own driving skills). I think that they've all been to the Nigel Mansell School of Good Sportsmanship!

And I feel so sorry for them, working so hard for a mere pittance... why, some of those men are driving for only a few hundred thousand Pounds per race!<sarcasm mode off>

David

yep - its a little strip that goes on the top of the wing - think the yank commentators call it a 'wicker bill' whatever that is


atb

steve

quote:

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Originally posted by David Jenkins

quote:

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Originally posted by stephen_gusterson
dont underestimate cart (or irl) some of their rules are better, and the racing is a lot closer, with bags of overtaking - espeically on ovals.

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I believe that they have some gizmo fitted to the rear wing that gives the car behind a really good tow. Of course, when the car behind has overtaken the leader, he's now giving a tow to the car he's just passed...

David

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A professional footballer playing in all 38 premiership matches works 57 hrs!!!!!!!!!!!!!


for 20 - 100k a week. how do they manage.

lots of time left over for part time work tho...

quote:

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Originally posted by David Jenkins
I had to smile at the BBC's motorsport website today - half the drivers are whining and whingeing about other drivers, the track, or anything else they can think of (apart from their own driving skills). I think that they've all been to the Nigel Mansell School of Good Sportsmanship!

And I feel so sorry for them, working so hard for a mere pittance... why, some of those men are driving for only a few hundred thousand Pounds per race!<sarcasm mode off>

David

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And have you noticed its the always the drivers that are being payed to race that are the ones that complain. The ones who are paying the teams to give them a drive usually keep quiet (probably because they are too busy being overtaken!)

Also a premiership footballer would train everyday, not just play on the saturday! Im not trying to justify the stupid amounts of money they make, or say they work hard for it.

[Edited on 25/5/04 by greggors84]

I know

but it sounds better the way I put it


atb

steve

quote:

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Originally posted by greggors84
And have you noticed its the always the drivers that are being payed to race that are the ones that complain. The ones who are paying the teams to give them a drive usually keep quiet (probably because they are too busy being overtaken!)

Also a premiership footballer would train everyday, not just play on the saturday! Im not trying to justify the stupid amounts of money they make, or say they work hard for it.

[Edited on 25/5/04 by greggors84]

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Back to the topic - the new rules look OK but they still allow the one thing which I think banning now would massively improve the show - refuelling.

If all the cars had to start on a full tank and run throughout the race some cars would handle better at the start and others at the end which would at least mean some overataking Addt this the new rule proposal about no tyre changes and we would instantly get better races. And Schumacher may have to overtake on the track by driving the wheels off rather than getting by when stopped in the pits.

wasnt refulling introduced to make things more interesting......

also borrowed from cart.........

quote:

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Originally posted by andyps
Back to the topic - the new rules look OK but they still allow the one thing which I think banning now would massively improve the show - refuelling.

If all the cars had to start on a full tank and run throughout the race some cars would handle better at the start and others at the end which would at least mean some overataking Addt this the new rule proposal about no tyre changes and we would instantly get better races. And Schumacher may have to overtake on the track by driving the wheels off rather than getting by when stopped in the pits.

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Frankly I'd rather they burn the whole rulebook, save for the safety rules, and tell the teams they have two years until it's implemented.

The cars are all too much the same at the moment, no one has done anything shockingly innovative in years.

New aerodynamics, six wheels, active suspension, steam power (don't laugh, there was a steam powered Indy car project in the 60's, didn't fly, but...) gas turbines, etc would just be the beginning of banned items they could play with.

That, and they should go back to national colours for the curmudgeon in me

Cheers, Ted

How about requiring escort / sierra uprights as part of the front suspension. Just think of the trickledown of technology.
The big league racing scene really has not see much inovation in the last 20 years. So why not build an F1 engined locost. At least the driver would have to DRIVE the car.

[Edited on 28/5/04 by drmike54]