Spa qualifying thread

[Lee Janotta]

Just a few thoughts as Kimi makes his first run...

1. Absolutely incredible track. If Bernie takes it away, he's a dead man. Not saying anything, just a funny feeling.... Capiche, paison? I mean, you're around a lot of heavy equipment and fast cars... Accidents happen.

2. Kimi Raikonnen is absolutely fantastic to watch!!! I love this kid!

[Lee Janotta]

Oh, and an addition to my Kimi thought... He's gonna die in a race car. Hopefully not for a good long time, but the way he drives, he's not going to live to retire.

[Wrex]

P. No Pilote Team - Moteur Pneus Temps Moyenne Tours
1. 1 M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari B 1'43"726 241.837 Km/h 9
2. 4 RAIKKONEN McLaren Mercedes M 1'44"150 + 0'00"424 12
3. 2 BARRICHELLO Ferrari B 1'44"335 + 0'00"609 12
4. 5 R.SCHUMACHER Williams BMW M 1'44"348 + 0'00"622 12
5. 6 MONTOYA Williams BMW M 1'44"634 + 0'00"908 12
6. 3 COULTHARD McLaren Mercedes M 1'44"759 + 0'01"033 12
7. 14 TRULLI Renault M 1'45"386 + 0'01"660 11
8. 16 IRVINE Jaguar Cosworth M 1'45"865 + 0'02"139 12
9. 24 SALO Toyota M 1'45"880 + 0'02"154 12
10. 15 BUTTON Renault M 1'45"972 + 0'02"246 12
11. 17 DE LA ROSA Jaguar Cosworth M 1'46"056 + 0'02"330 10
12. 11 VILLENEUVE BAR Honda B 1'46"403 + 0'02"677 11
13. 25 MCNISH Toyota M 1'46"485 + 0'02"759 12
14. 9 FISICHELLA Jordan Honda B 1'46"508 + 0'02"782 11
15. 12 PANIS BAR Honda B 1'46"553 + 0'02"827 10
16. 10 SATO Jordan Honda B 1'46"875 + 0'03"149 12
17. 8 MASSA Sauber Petronas B 1'46"896 + 0'03"170 12
18. 7 HEIDFELD Sauber Petronas B 1'47"272 + 0'03"546 10
19. 23 WEBBER Minardi Asiatech M 1'47"562 + 0'03"836 12
20. 22 DAVIDSON Minardi Asiatech M 1'48"170 + 0'04"444 11


107% time : 1'50"986

[z2252314]

Seems youve switched camps Lee? What happened to your beloved Montoya? Last race you said that Ralf was only beating JPM because the last few tracks were Mickey mouse circuits. Is Spa a Mickey Mouse circuit?

[Valve Bounce]

Originally posted by Lee Janotta
Oh, and an addition to my Kimi thought... He's gonna die in a race car. Hopefully not for a good long time, but the way he drives, he's not going to live to retire.

I don't appreciate this, and I hope you go in an accident before Kimi does.

Valve

[Mal]

Michelin are clearly on form here. The lower order is virtually reversed which must be due to the tyres.

Kimi looked awesome and very brave. He is clearly now showing DC the way.

And like him or not M Schumachers lap was stunning.

[z2252314]

Kimi and Michael 6 tenths up on their respective teammates.

Move over JPM, let the Kimi Vs Michael show begin!!1

[Valve Bounce]

Originally posted by Valve Bounce

I don't appreciate this, and I hope you go in an accident before Kimi does.

Valve

I take this back. Never wish anything like that on anyone. Sorry!!

Valve

[Lee Janotta]

Originally posted by z2252314
Seems youve switched camps Lee? What happened to your beloved Montoya? Last race you said that Ralf was only beating JPM because the last few tracks were Mickey mouse circuits. Is Spa a Mickey Mouse circuit?

Switched camps? Nah... I've just widened it to make room for Kimi alongside Juan... I think I used a little bit of the room I had in my heart for Jacques for Kimi's spot, though JV still has a place.

Juan got held up badly by the McLarens, and the car clearly isn't working today. Seems Michelin brought their "McLaren" tires this weekend. Besides, he's less than 3/10ths behind Ralf, and on a lap this long, that's nearly dead even.

Originally posted by Valve Bounce

I don't appreciate this, and I hope you go in an accident before Kimi does.

Valve

Hey, you! It's my honest assessment... Think I'm happy about that possibility? Hell no! But this is an open forum for discussion!

[Don K]

Coulthard, Button, McNish and Davidson are 6 tenths slower than their respective team mates.

Looks as if this circuit doesn't suit British drivers (during qualification) ...

[Valve Bounce]

Lee, I've already taken it back. But if you wish death on an F1 driver, then you will have to live with the curse. I don't wish that on you. I already took it back and apologised.

Valve

[Raven]

Kimi was brilliant today, he's been on it all weekend.

Should be a good race, I kind of hope it stays dry and Kimi can give TGF a run in the race. McLarens have been getting off the line really well lately, maybe he could get ahead at the start.

Monty struggling again, not having a great weekend, trying to blame Kimi for mucking up a run. Swearing on live TV Ralf put in a good one at the end to go nearly 3 tenths quicker than JPM, but JP did at least manage to edge out DC. Maybe JPM is saving himself for a good race performance.

And what about Irvine, 8th in the Jaguar! No fluke for them either with PdlR only a couple of tenths behind in 11th.

[Morris 1100]

I don't think that he wished death on anyone.
He did say that he thought that somebody was going to die in a race car and the two things are very different.

[neilap]

Tires! Thats all! This is the only thing I hate about the "Tire war". The Bridgestone Ferrari was as usual superb with the rest of the similarly shod cars falling behind. The 3rd fastest Bridgestone was in 12th. I can only hope now that the Michelins do what they have been doing all season; lose consistnecy in the race!
Yes KR is a champ. I did not think he was that special last year. I think he has found a setup that favors his driving style.
I hope this does not turn into another reason to bash JPM, thread, those are getting old. I think the race should show who has the "largest attactcments" (as per David Hobbs).

[paul-collins]

Best of the Bridgestone non-Ferraris?

[Mark F1]

God, I thought that Kimi was awesome before today but he has really got my utmost respect now. As Martin Brundle and James Allen pointed out on ITV1's commentary, there could have been a car in the middle of the track when Kimi went through all that smoke just after Eau Rouge, but Kimi kept his foot on the accelerator and set his fastest first sector time !!!

Such bravery and commitment from a Future World Champion !

[rdjones]

It was the same all story I think TGP was taking the **** out of the rest of the grid.

[Tristan]

If ANYONE says Michael Schumacher isn't the greatest driver of the modern era, they're lying. Or they don't watch F1 enough. Today was just... ridiculous.

...but not AS ridiculous as Kimi. Jesus Christ!! He is. Driving like that he's going to kill himself. Great to watch, mind!!

[neilap]

Unfortunately the greatness of the Bridgestone-Ferrari makes it easy to look past MS's skills. It was plainly obvious that the tires brought here only suited the Ferrari. At least Michelin spreads the wealth as evenly as they can afford.

[Lee Janotta]

Originally posted by Valve Bounce
Lee, I've already taken it back. But if you wish death on an F1 driver, then you will have to live with the curse. I don't wish that on you. I already took it back and apologised.

Valve

Didn't I express my admiration of Kimi in the first post on this thread? I never wished anything bad on him, and I truly hope I'm wrong! But as others have agreed in this thread, he's prone to taking huge risks behind the wheel. It's spectacular to watch, but his luck might not last forever. That's _all_ I'm saying.

[Mr V]

Originally posted by Mark F1
but Kimi kept his foot on the accelerator and set his fastest first sector time !!!

Under yellows because of a striken car? But it was fantastic to watch! Definatly the qualifying position of the day, along with Eddie putting the Jag in 8th!

[Sato san]

The way Kimi went through the Smoke from the BAR blow up flat was just mind blowing !.

fairplay Kimi .

[Rennen]

Originally posted by Don K
Coulthard, Button, McNish and Davidson are 6 tenths slower than their respective team mates.

Looks as if this circuit doesn't suit British drivers (during qualification) ...

Yeah but we liberated you in the war!

[Rennen]

Jokes...and hard truths aside (Ant's Grandad was blinded by facist machine gun fire liberating the Netherlands)

Ant sent me a sms text message "****" ...I thought he was referring to being 6ths off his teammate!...No...seems Panis held him up on his quickest lap... costing him 2 tenths, having to lift off in a flat out bend!

So 4ths over 4.3 miles (7 kms) ain't too shabby...is it!

Wattie commenting at Ant being all tweeked up exiting Eau Rouge "I tell you what he's a brave little fellow"

[Sato san]

i heard that on sky too !.....

To be honest Rennen , i think 6/10ths is still pretty respectable for his 2nd race against a bloke who been a test driver for Benneton for 2 years and had nearly 1 year in a F1 race seat .

Ants doing a top job i think , i just hope these 2 races are enough for someone to give him a race seat next year