****SPOILER****2004 Grand Prix of Europe

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Originally Posted by Alex Baumann

No, the middle is reserved for red cars only

Yes, it certainly seems that way. Congrats.

Originally Posted by berford

Yes, it certainly seems that way. Congrats.

No.


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Originally Posted by Patrick 520iAT

No.


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OK, beautiful weather outside and I'm invited to a BBQ party.

See ya later

Buh Bye !!

No.


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Originally Posted by Patrick 520iAT

No.


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Make 'em piss in the yard.

Originally Posted by berford

Not quite yet; but what is there to cheer about in that, anyway?

sarcasm

Originally Posted by Alex Baumann

LOL! I just peed my pants, as Michael was lapping Montoya

Well, I re-itterate what I said before...I hope Michael catches a cold or the flu on the way to Canada. Remove him from the mix today and it would have been a pretty eventful race. I'm paying a fortune for my hotel this year and I don't want to see another Michael Sunday drive. What's the chance that Mercedes can get their act together in 2 weeks?

Speed Channel is missing a big opportunity. They need to change the Enzyte commercials for F1 to SMILING MICHAEL.

Originally Posted by richard

Well, I re-itterate what I said before...I hope Michael catches a cold or the flu on the way to Canada. Remove him from the mix today and it would have been a pretty eventful race. I'm paying a fortune for my hotel this year and I don't want to see another Michael Sunday drive. What's the chance that Mercedes can get their act together in 2 weeks?

MP-19 B being tested for three days at Silverstone starting Tuesday.



I miss Häkä more than ever right now. Today's race was just another boring race in a series of boring FIAT dominated races.




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Originally Posted by SteveT

Speed Channel is missing a big opportunity. They need to change the Enzyte commercials for F1 to SMILING MICHAEL.

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Strange that are no threads in this forum about the newly adopted engine displacement rules for 2006.

Anyone?

2.4 liter V8 engines.

Comments?


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Originally Posted by Patrick 520iAT

Strange that are no threads in this forum about the newly adopted engine displacement rules for 2006.

Anyone?

2.4 liter V8 engines.

Comments?


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http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61979

Once again proving WHY I do not start threads about anything other than the weather or pie.


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This year is just dumbfounding in respect to the performance of McLaren and Williams. After last year they both had extremely competitive cars with the BMW-Williams package being arguably the quickest one on the grid at the end of the year. Why did they each try to overreach so far with the engineering in the offseason after that? I just don't understand it. Ferrari stayed the course and continued to develop their package and they are reaping the rewards of, I guess, common sense.

Originally Posted by Patrick 520iAT

Strange that are no threads in this forum about the newly adopted engine displacement rules for 2006.

Anyone?

2.4 liter V8 engines.

Comments?


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If this happens I think BMW will be gone. Mario Theissen has said that this won't save any money and BMW is interested in promoting the V-10. Converting to a new engine formula would cost the engine manufacturers a large sum of money. I don't see the point. Take the carbon brakes away, make them brake sooner and don't let the tire manufacturers bring as many compounds so they are forced to use harder tires. They could also increase the number of races to remove the open time for testing.

Originally Posted by SteveT

They could also increase the number of races to remove the open time for testing.

A 20+ race season is coming next.


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How about a new turbo era. 1000hp out of a 4 banger. Now that's technology. Of course BMW's rocket fuel didn't hurt.

Originally Posted by WILLIA///M

This year is just dumbfounding in respect to the performance of McLaren and Williams. After last year they both had extremely competitive cars with the BMW-Williams package being arguably the quickest one on the grid at the end of the year. Why did they each try to overreach so far with the engineering in the offseason after that? I just don't understand it. Ferrari stayed the course and continued to develop their package and they are reaping the rewards of, I guess, common sense.

This should be a thread by itself. Pick up the May issue of F1 Racing and take a look at Steve Matchett's article "A Wolf in Wolf's Clothing". Ferrari has had a successful platform since the F2001 that hasn't changed too much. It's undergone significant development, but retains it's basic concept. That's a lot of engineering over 4 or 5 years. Both Williams and McLaren are looking for the innovation that gets them closer to Ferrari. You could argue that the FW25 wasn't so far away or the MP4-17D for that matter, but they both took new directions in the attempt to leap over the F2004. Williams is developing the FW26 and making progress. Their luck has been pretty poor for the last few races so it's hard to tell where they might be. Look at BAR and Renault, they are both working with existing platforms. The BAR is Geoff Willis's development of the FW24 with an improved Honda motor and Michelin tires. The FW24 goes back a few years too. It all comes down to manhours with innovation mixed in.

Originally Posted by Patrick 520iAT

No.


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Don't get the idea I like the idea of the F-team being on the podium at all. But they do deserve congratulations, I think, especially for this race. Different strategies resulting in another 1-2 finish is an amazing feat, IMO. You gotta respect that.

Originally Posted by richard

What's the chance that Mercedes can get their act together in 2 weeks?

That would be about ZERO.

Originally Posted by SteveT

This should be a thread by itself. Pick up the May issue of F1 Racing and take a look at Steve Matchett's article "A Wolf in Wolf's Clothing". Ferrari has had a successful platform since the F2001 that hasn't changed too much. It's undergone significant development, but retains it's basic concept. That's a lot of engineering over 4 or 5 years. Both Williams and McLaren are looking for the innovation that gets them closer to Ferrari. You could argue that the FW25 wasn't so far away or the MP4-17D for that matter, but they both took new directions in the attempt to leap over the F2004. Williams is developing the FW26 and making progress. Their luck has been pretty poor for the last few races so it's hard to tell where they might be. Look at BAR and Renault, they are both working with existing platforms. The BAR is Geoff Willis's development of the FW24 with an improved Honda motor and Michelin tires. The FW24 goes back a few years too. It all comes down to manhours with innovation mixed in.

I've been thinking much the same. I think the FW25 would be more competitive than the 26. Talk about luck...with just a little, they would have had the constructor's win last year. But then, the lame duck team thing may be a significant contribution to this year's lack luster performance, too. I do think, though, that having no poles is indicative of the car and not so much driver attitudes.

Originally Posted by berford

Don't get the idea I like the idea of the F-team being on the podium at all. But they do deserve congratulations, I think, especially for this race. Different strategies resulting in another 1-2 finish is an amazing feat, IMO. You gotta respect that.

No.


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Originally Posted by berford

I've been thinking much the same. I think the FW25 would be more competitive than the 26. Talk about luck...with just a little, they would have had the constructor's win last year. But then, the lame duck team thing may be a significant contribution to this year's lack luster performance, too. I do think, though, that having no poles is indicative of the car and not so much driver attitudes.

As I posted in the other thread they are testing a 3/4 scale single keel front in the new wind tunnel now. I think that's pretty much an admission that this experiment with the twin keel and the tusks has been a flop. I'm starting to think that BMW would be better off having a go at doing it all themselves like Renault.