Where is the Pick the Top Six or Eight Drivers . . .

[Maxmil]

competition or whatever you are going to call it? Friday practice starts in seven or eight days. Were the rules ever settled? R????

[Logrence]

Holy cajones! A week to go!!

[R]

Yep, the competition will be announced either tonight, or tomorrow at the latest. The rules will be similar to last year, with the exception that this year, you will predict the top 8 drivers. In addition to that, we will have another competition this year, which will have an entirely different focus, so stay tuned!

[Bononi]

Friday night...

That's really close.

[Valve Bounce]

Hey!! don't forget we get to pick the pole getter also.

[Bononi]

Don't worry Valve, it will be there

[Speed]

Originally posted by Valve Bounce
Hey!! don't forget we get to pick the pole getter also.

Yeah, the lucky-low fuel driver !

[senna12]

The new qualifying format is going to make this years competition much more interesting....can't wait! Perhaps a quick rundown of the new format can be given, at startup, for those who have had the good sense not to try to read the FIA website ! (or who don't have Acrobat Reader).

[Mr V]

Originally posted by Speed
Yeah, the lucky-low fuel driver !

Don't think a low fuelled Minardi is going to beat a topped up ferrari

[Speed]

Originally posted by mr v
Don't think a low fuelled Minardi is going to beat a topped up ferrari

Why not ?, it's only one lap (and sometimes Michael/Rubens have lost some Quals laps). I don't like those changes, anyway.

Besides that, Forza Minardi !

[golem]

You damn well know it's going to be tried once. Oh hell, If I was stoddart I damn well would.

"We didn't win you the race Gazprom, but you were on the front page of sunday news."

[Mr V]

Originally posted by Speed
Why not ?, it's only one lap

A Ferrari in race trim on full laps is faster than a Minardi in qualifying trim on low tanks!!

[Don K]

Originally posted by mr v
A Ferrari in race trim on full laps is faster than a Minardi in qualifying trim on low tanks!!

Are you sure?
I've tried comparing Webber's qualifying times with Michael's lap times in the race for a couple of GP's last year, but it looks to me as if it takes at least 15 race laps before the Ferrari can match Minardi's qualifying time.

[senna12]

Originally posted by Don K
Are you sure?
I've tried comparing Webber's qualifying times with Michael's lap times in the race for a couple of GP's last year, but it looks to me as if it takes at least 15 race laps before the Ferrari can match Minardi's qualifying time.

And if you have taken the time to do this Don K, you can be sure Minardi has done it. Since they are likely back of the grid anyway, it seems a good method to gain track position with the least risk. Imagine the possible finish for Webbie last year had he started near the front. Anything could happen, in the exuberance of the first race.....look at the CART race last week.

I'm really hoping for some "cat amongst the pigeons" stuff.

[Adam43]

Originally posted by senna12
Imagine the possible finish for Webbie last year had he started near the front.

But he won't finish high up if he has to have a pitstop 2 laps into the race. That will drop him to the back anyway.

Originally posted by Don K
I've tried comparing Webber's qualifying times with Michael's lap times in the race for a couple of GP's last year, but it looks to me as if it takes at least 15 race laps before the Ferrari can match Minardi's qualifying time.

In Suzuka last year Michael's fastest lap was 0.2s slower than Webber's qualifying time.

In Melbourne last year Kimi's fastest lap was 1.6s quicker than Webber's qualifying time.

However, I wonder how valid that comparison is, because other changes where made to the cars between Minardi and Ferrari. You need to compare a race Minardi (not qual.) with a race Ferrari. Having said that I don't think Minardi changed there car much between race and qualifying.

And there is also the effect of new/old tyres.