What happened to Button?

[Blue]

why did he slow down on final lap? The speed channel didn't say. mechanical, fuel, or driver's mistake? Damn, Bar must be cursed.

[x_dt]

Button must be cursed in Malaysia. Last year 3rd -> 4th on the last lap. This year 5th -> 7th.

[esorniloc]

Well perhapps Villeneuve is right and he just isn't that good?

[Blue]

But, Jack even couldn't start. He was running back to the pit to get a spare car, and the official said NO! he was like what??? this new rule is even confusing a driver. anyway two points for bar.

[BootsOntheSide]

ITV carried a post-race interview with Jenson, and he explained that the car had soem bad oversteer, and that when Trulli spun away he treid to speed up, wore out the tyres and fell back into their clutches.

Whether he finally lost the places through simply being overtook, or through a spin, he didn't say. If the car was as hard to drive as he implied, considering that he lost the water-bottle after 12 laps, I think it was excusable. He did well.

[Adam43]

Why could they have asked him what actually happened rather than asking him a question that he hasd already answered?

Any idea's anyone. Which corner, who made the move. My guess would be Trulli on Button, who was then compromised and Michael got through too? Last corner? I think it probably started in the penultimate one. Guess.

[Blue]

After trulli spinned, there was enough gap between jenson and trulli, so Jenson might be spinned to be overtaken by both trulli and shumi. it was disappointing as he was holding trulli for almost half of the race. The so called 'war of mouth' between JV and JB is cursing whole team.

[Adam43]

In the interview he said he was going about 2s a lap slower than Trulli for the last few laps (as Boots said, because he destroyed his rears). That could have been enough to allow him to fall back to Trulli and Michael.

[Mania]

He basically lost it on the final lap and went off..losing 2 places. He finished in the points which for Button is probably the best he can do, anyway.

[M Coupe]

Originally posted by AdamAshmore
In the interview he said he was going about 2s a lap slower than Trulli for the last few laps (as Boots said, because he destroyed his rears). That could have been enough to allow him to fall back to Trulli and Michael.

He was a lot slower than Trulli for a lot longer than the last few laps. When Kimi caught them up, Trulli dropped back a bit, when Kimi was between them, and then he immediatly caught him up again when Kimi passed button.

I also couldn't understand Buttons comment that when Trulli span he went faster and trashed his tyres. Why did he wait until Trulli span, i.e. he suddenly had a cushion he hasn't had for a lot of laps, and why wasn't he going faster when Trulli was behind him, why wait?

Sorry, sounds like JV is right.

[Wrex]

That does'nt make sense does it?

Whatever the reason, up until that point he was doing well. The Renault had the legs on him and he still managed to keep him behind.

Also, why did'nt Michael get past Trulli? He was ctaching him at an alarming rate, but did'nt pass him. Guilt maybe?

[TeddyG]

Button just screwed the pooch in corner 3 and then again at the last corner to let first Trulli and then Schumacher by. I didn't see any visible problems with his cars handling, though it was clear that he had the legs on Trulli on the straights and Trulli made big gains under braking.

[GTRMagic]

How many points does JV have this year again?

[TeddyG]

Originally posted by GTRMagic
How many points does JV have this year again?

a stunning contribution to this thread about Button's problems in the race. Keep up the good work.

[golem]

Generally, when you race defensive lines you're not lapping quite so fast. I can see why when Trulli is behind Button, Button was going slower. Simply, he was making sure he didn't make a mistake and took defendable positions on the track. As soon as he had any form of break, he puts the hammer down and tries to extend that margin so Trulli can't possibly catch.

I think button did a pretty good job, though I think the Honda powerplant V the Renault in terms of power saved him a little. Watching it, Trulli did seem to out brake him by big margins at points.

Also, congrats to Firman! He did a damn fine job even if light, holding off Trulli when he had to, to the extent he lost and then regained his spot in the one corner, quickly realising that Trulli was going to go a little deep. Then after his problem in pits he got out, climbed in front of Frentzen and held him even running lean until he started getting fuel pressure spikes as he ran out of gas. Commendable effort I say.

[Glen]

He drove a good race, and was unfortunate that the time to be overhauled by the Ferrari and the Renault (two of the best cars in the race) was so close to the end. If he'd lost out several laps earlier nobody would have been surprised. He did brilliantly to hold Trulli back and force a spin from him. The Bridgestones were really tricky once worn - even Ferrari suffered.

How anyone could rate that as a poor performance is beyond me. It is a great shame that we didn't see JV out there - more waiting for a decent showdown...

[Mr V]

Originally posted by esorniloc
Well perhapps Villeneuve is right and he just isn't that good?

prehaps Villeneuve talks out of his a$$?

[Hugh Jarce]

Perhaps?

[Hugh Jarce]

Originally posted by Wrex
Why did'nt Michael get past Trulli? He was ctaching him at an alarming rate, but did'nt pass him. Guilt maybe?

I may have missed it with a 3 year old on my lap and toast in one hand and tea in the other but didn't MS get right on Trulli's spoiler and then have to pit late thus losing ground.

[Adam43]

Hugh, that did happen, but after that Michael was back up with Trulli afetr Trulli spun and while they both caught Button in the last few laps.

So TeddyG, Trulli got Button at the second corner and Michael got him at hte last corner. Shame we didn't see it.

[Stephen Green]

Maybe Trulli caught Jenson under braking because, as he said, his tyres were shot and the car was a real handful. I thought Jenson drove a good race and was bloody unlucky to lose those two places on the last lap. It was good to see that he out qualified JV as well. Now who was it said lets do the talking on the tyrack I wonder?

[Smokey 6 litre]

I really dont think it was a spin, as i recall, although this may be wrong (i was very angry at seeing Trulli and TGF ahead) they all came around the final corner very close, Button was close behind MS which implies an overtaking move at the last corner by TGF rather than a spin or large mistake by Button.

[Stephen Green]

Ahhh Smokey, your signature comes from the old Lemon Pipers tune!

[TeddyG]

Originally posted by Glen
He drove a good race, and was unfortunate that the time to be overhauled by the Ferrari and the Renault (two of the best cars in the race) was so close to the end. If he'd lost out several laps earlier nobody would have been surprised. He did brilliantly to hold Trulli back and force a spin from him. The Bridgestones were really tricky once worn - even Ferrari suffered.

How anyone could rate that as a poor performance is beyond me. It is a great shame that we didn't see JV out there - more waiting for a decent showdown...

Yes I'm sure the BAR team were delighted that starting his final lap with several seconds advantage over Trulli Button managed to lose two positions through mistakes. Lots of backslapping and general merriment after a 'good race' performance I'm sure. To say they wouldn't be somewhat disappointed with Button's last lap is to evade logic entirely. In a race where almost all the major players including Trulli were handicapped by tires, bad performances, mistakes by others Jenson managed a paltry 7th place. This was not a 'good race' for Jenson or BAR.

[Lee Janotta]

They guy was obviously completely beat at the end of the race, completely exhausted from the heat... It's so embarrassing that he'd never admit it, but maybe he mistook Schumi and Trulli for Rubens and Alonso, thinking he was being lapped again?