The truth - jensons helmet

JnrJnr · 25 Jul 2004, 14:08 (Ref:1046646)

So what do we believe?

Was it a loose strap - strange for a strap to come loose like that if it was.

Was it a ill fitting visor?

Was jenson trying to open the visor for more cooling?

All these excuses were put forward by itv commentary and interviews. Personally i think the original explanation was the correct whereby the new bell helmets visor housing was not clipped in.

Seemed like BAR back tracked that one a bit to save face for Bell. Any thoughts?

**Peter Mallett** · 25 Jul 2004, 14:11 (Ref:1046654)

Looked like a visor problem to me. It was popping up when he let go of it.

**Adam43** · 25 Jul 2004, 14:11 (Ref:1046656)

Easy. In the press conference Jenson said it was the strap and he was holding the helmet in place.

The team hadn't spoken to Jenson so didn't know. The commentators were trying to guess. Which is their job.

**Peter Mallett** · 25 Jul 2004, 14:14 (Ref:1046661)

Fair enough. But I hope it doesn't get the FIA into penalty mode.

Logrence · 25 Jul 2004, 14:22 (Ref:1046669)

I don't think it was as big a deal as people are going to make it on here - and I most certainly don't think Jacques had anything to do with it.

It happens that your strap comes loose occasionally.

Kicking-back · 25 Jul 2004, 14:52 (Ref:1046707)

I'd say the theories being put forward were "possible explanations" rather than "excuses" as some suggest.

deeks6 · 25 Jul 2004, 15:23 (Ref:1046742)

maybe his head has gotten too big??

**Adam43** · 25 Jul 2004, 15:29 (Ref:1046747)

If it was too big it would have stayed in place.

D_Marshall · 25 Jul 2004, 16:02 (Ref:1046793)

I think i have to agree with JnrJnr's comments on this one. Image is everything these days and a helmet supplier cannot afford to look that bad in F1.

Very strange for a stap to come undone during a race.

jetsetter · 25 Jul 2004, 16:02 (Ref:1046794)

The problem he had with his helmet just added extra merit to his performance as it can't be easy driving an F1 car one handed.

**Peter Mallett** · 25 Jul 2004, 18:32 (Ref:1046889)

Quote:

Originally posted by Logrence
It happens that your strap comes loose occasionally.

Er. I've done a few long distance races and it hasn't happened to me. So I think you may be a little off base there. I still think it was a visor problem (remember the brake dust thing?) and the camera cuts to the pits showed them thinking of taping the rip offs down.

But I have to repeat. What a complete star! One handed and still made every corner!

touringcarnut · 25 Jul 2004, 18:35 (Ref:1046893)

It looked as if he was on the mobile down the straights.

And who said that driving whilst on the phone is dangerous

**Peter Mallett** · 25 Jul 2004, 18:36 (Ref:1046894)

**Tim Falce** · 25 Jul 2004, 18:37 (Ref:1046895)

On my Bell helmet one of the securing bolts for the visor used to vibrate loose and fall out during a race, in the end I had to loctite it in. Not saying this was the problem but if it is a new design it may have some sort of fault.

**Peter Mallett** · 25 Jul 2004, 18:39 (Ref:1046899)

I use an Italian helmet.

But you appear to agree with me that it was a visor problem, not a strap thingy.

**Tim Falce** · 25 Jul 2004, 18:51 (Ref:1046911)

Quote:

Originally posted by Peter Mallett
I use an Italian helmet.

But you appear to agree with me that it was a visor problem, not a strap thingy.

Yes, I can't see how a strap can work loose and the position of his hand points more to a visor problem. But whatever it was, my hat goes off to him for his performance today and maybe it just shows that he is an excellent driver and a future champion.

edited, too much wine and bad spelling

Logrence · 25 Jul 2004, 18:51 (Ref:1046912)

Quote:

Originally posted by Peter Mallett
I use an Italian helmet.

But you appear to agree with me that it was a visor problem, not a strap thingy.

Which is funny given that Jenson said in the post-race press conference that he'd had problems because his helmet strap had come loose.

The team were playing around with the tape because they thought he had a visor problem but they didn't speak to Jenson on the radio about it. As told by David Richards in a post-race interview.

I've had problems on my motorbike before - when it's very windy and you've not done the strap up as tightly as it should be your moving around and the wind-lift conspire to loosen your strap even more. Not a problem when you're going at 60 though.

Kicking-back · 25 Jul 2004, 18:53 (Ref:1046915)

If he had a problem with the strap, he really should have stopped. The consequences if he'd had a Kimi style incident could have been terrible.

Logrence · 25 Jul 2004, 18:53 (Ref:1046917)

Quote:

Q: We saw you on the camera playing with your helmet quite a lot on the side there. What was the problem?

JB: The team initially thought it was a visor but it wasn’t, it was the strap under the helmet was a little bit loose and the problem is then that when the helmet is loose it lifts up slightly and it was really catching on my throat and it made it really very difficult to breathe so I had to hold it on every straight to keep it down so that I could get some air in.

From FIA website.

http://www.formula1.com/race/news/1971/725.html

Kicking-back · 25 Jul 2004, 18:55 (Ref:1046919)

Ok, it was a little bit loose. Hopefully there was no danger of it coming off.

**Peter Mallett** · 25 Jul 2004, 18:57 (Ref:1046921)

Quote:

Originally posted by falcemob
my hat goes off to him for his performance today and maybe it just shows that he is an excellent driver and a future champion.

Ditto.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Success goes to Jensons head!! thinks he is better than MS!!!!	ralf fan	Formula One	38	13 Jun 2004 09:33
The Truth	Straightup	ChampCar World Series	1	16 Mar 2004 01:44
Does anyone know the truth	Ellie	National & International Single Seaters	5	21 Jun 2002 20:16
This isn't far from the truth .....	Mark F1	Formula One	7	14 May 2002 19:50