What Will be Mclaren's Strategy?

[ralf fan]

Well Mac clearly don't have the fastest car, they are slower than Ferrari and Williams. Kimi still has a chance to win the WDC so how do you think they will play it at INDY?

My opinion is that they should short fuel him for the first stint and stick him on pole, hence he can build a good lead going into the 2nd stint. I think most teams will be on 3 stoppers though i could be wrong.

[Wrex]

Short fill him so when he comes in 5 laps early Michael, Juan and co can stretch the lead on warm tyres and low fuel? I dont think so.

McLaren have to play it safe. Pick the fastest race strategy and hope for retirements.

[Glen]

From the analysis I've read two stops are far more likely - also McLaren tend to favour a longer strategy. Kimi's best chance (only chance?) of the WDC is if Juan and Michael cause themselves problems, which less face it is not that unlikely - they have done so before. I reckon Kimi will go for optimum fuel for the race, ie three even stints with possibly a long first session; that will mean qualifying second row at best and staying out oof trouble to see what happens.

[Adam43]

Chose the strategy that is best for the race. Forget qualifying. This has been the best policy all year.

He'd have to be very light to beat the Williams (although you never know!). As Wrex says if he is so light he comes in early them the other two will get some nice light running while he is full of fuel and they'll cruise past at the stops.

[shiny side up!]

I think that if Kimi can qualify on the second row or even P5, he will have a fighting chance. TGF and JPM should have a close duel going, and contact between them is definitely a possibility, and should that happen, hopefully Kimi can take advantage of it...

[BootsOntheSide]

I think running heavy for a 2 stop strategy is a real option. They're unlikely to qualify near teh front on equal fuel loads - Renault and Jaguar could be big threats to them even taking row 3 - and it will allow them to run longer and hope that rain, safety car or soemthing simialr plays into tehir hands. Rememebr that third place isn't enough to stay in the chase, even mathematicall, if Michael wins

[neilap]

As far as strategy, I would run Kimmi on what most here have said, the optimal fuel load. However, I would run DC lighter and hope he can get the car to the front. He can then proceed to slow the field allowing Kimmi to possibly stay in touch at least for the first third of the race. After that they can hope for some kind of incident or failure to give Kimmi a win.

[Adam43]

DC on a spoiler is a good option, but can he get up there?

[ralf fan]

Yeah but DC has been lousy this year, can he get back up there and help his team mate??

[shiny side up!]

DC was pretty quick at Indy last year, I think if he's on top of his game he might be able to do it...

[Smokey 6 litre]

Mclaren need to take chances, let Kimmi let it loose and take a risky stratergy, e.g 2 stops when everyone else is on three

[ASCII Man]

I think, but i could be very wrong, that McLarens strategy is to go out and win the race.

A bit far fetched but it could work.

[Mr V]

Originally posted by Smokey 6 litre
Mclaren need to take chances, let Kimmi let it loose and take a risky stratergy, e.g 2 stops when everyone else is on three

Imo it will be the other way round, with Kimi on a 3 stopper and the others on a 2.

As for sending DC out on a light fuel load, he's been better in race conditions so i reckon he'll be heavier during qualifying with the hope that he can be in front of Michael and Juan Pablo when they exit the pit and he can possibly hold them up.

[Adam43]

Michelin are saying it'll be 2 stops:
http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?id=24703&s=5

[ralf fan]

So then will DC be on a 3 stopper? or maybe on a 2 stopper with a short 1st stint? DC has to somehow get at front and slow the pace so Kimi can play a par in the GP because if a Williams or Ferrari gets up top then its all over for Kimi

[Glen]

Not much use is relying on DC to qualify up front - he's been woeful all season in one lap quali. In any case the maximum you could get out of that situation would be few laps with DC in front before he has to come in for gas - normal speeds would then be restored and Kimi would still find it hard to get in front and stay there. I suppose if Kimi went for a longish first session then he might get a few clear laps to take advantage when the first guys come in, but who can predict how the race will be after so many laps, especially on a track with good overtaking prospects?

Also, the "full of gas" penalty is not so high for this circuit, so it will be doubly hard to gain an advantage with unusual tactics, both in qualifying and in the race. I think the drivers are much better off going for the theoretical best strategy from total race time point of view.