Tyre markings

[Marbot]

Bridgestone (in conjunction with the teams) have announced that they will now be marking the 'extreme' wet weather tyre in the same way that the 'softer' dry tyre is marked.This is designed to help (or further confuse) us race fans.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65520

[Ralf's Girl]

Oh good, something else for James Allen to remind us of repeatedly...

[Marbot]

OH NO! I forgot about that!

[Knowlesy]

For the love of god, why?!?

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

For the love of god, why?!?

Well,there was often confusion (mostly in the commentary box) when it was raining and drivers were changing tyres.

[Knowlesy]

That is what happens when you have contrived rules.

[Last2LiftOff]

We hope this change will enable spectators of the sport to have a clearer understanding of the strategies used by all 11 Formula One teams when racing in the wet.

Brilliant. Like we need a clue when they're on the extreme wets, or not. Poor Bridgestone, feeling a bit left out.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Last2LiftOff

Brilliant. Like we need a clue when they're on the extreme wets, or not.

There you go again! Thinking that we're the only ones that watch it.

[Knowlesy]

We should be.

Go away casual fans, you are destroying the sport.

[Marbot]

Unfortunately F1 isn't going to last too long if it only panders to the whims of a couple of thousand 'certified petrol heads'.

I wonder how they'll mark the tyres next season?

[Marbot]

Maybe we'll see them fairly soon.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2008/...in-down-under/

[Ralf's Girl]

Has there ever been a wet race in Melbourne? I can't recall any, although it would be interesting if it rained at the first post-TC race.

[Stefvh]

Rain on Saturday in 2005. But for the race, can't remember.

[Knowlesy]

The race has never been properly wet according to this note attached to the inside of my anorak. Although it was a damp start in 2003.

Plenty of the other sessions have been damp.

[Spritle]

Did you see this one:

"In its efforts to keep the casual F1 fan aware of all choices made by teams during the course of a race; the FIA announced today another rules change for 2008. All cars will be fitted with a small blue light on the rear of the bodywork which when lit will indicate the driver needs to relieve himself. Adjacent to the blue lamp with be a small yellow light which when lit will indicate that he did."

Anything else we need to know from the grandstands or telly?

[Pro Racer]

i think we know (doubt if Martin and James do) that when it's a light drizzle it's inter's and when it's ****ing down it's extreme's, not that bloody hard, the soft/hard compound marker is good but as far as the exteme's not needed.

[ralf fan]

Originally Posted by Pro Racer

i think we know (doubt if Martin and James do)

Martin does. James i am not so sure about. Although he is now gradually understanding what an in-lap is.

[duke_toaster]

If they are doing this, maybe they could show it on the TV overlays (as well as who is on hards and who is on softs) ...

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Why not go the whole hog and have the entire tyres different colours.
Red Yellow Blue Green for the Four compounds,
white for inters
Black for Wet since they most resemble something the "casual fan" can identify with, namely having a proper tread pattern just like a road car tyre.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by Pro Racer

i think we know (doubt if Martin and James do) that when it's a light drizzle it's inter's and when it's ****ing down it's extreme's, not that bloody hard, the soft/hard compound marker is good but as far as the exteme's not needed.

Yes, because theres only ever 2 degrees of rain. Hungary '06 half the grid started on wets whilst the rest were on extremes. Nurburgring last year there was Markus Winkelhock starting on extremes whilst everyone else was on dry tyres! And of course Fuji last year Ferrari tried to start the race on wets when the rest of the grid had started on extremes as instructed. Clearly nothing is certain as to what tyres the cars will be using.

Most casual fans wont be able to recognise wets has having the central groove, and its clear Bernie is interested in money rather than heritage so its these casual fans he'll be catering towards.

[Rockmunky]

JA: "I'm not sure whether he's using the soft or the extreme wets Martin!"
MB: "Well James, it's ****ing it down with rain, so i'd imagine it's the extreme wets."

Future James Allen cock up there.

[Knowlesy]

Makes me think of that horrible Brazilian GP where each stop brought the debate of "time to change to slicks Martin?" as the rain continued to chuck it down, a river consuming turn three.

[Marbot]

JA: 'Do you *splutter* think it's *cough* time to *gasp* change to *splutter* slicks Martin?'

MB: 'BANG!'

[Dutton]

I have always found looking at the tyres at slow(er) points made it clear which tyres people were on: plus car behaviour and laptimes (especially for figuring how worn they may be).

I also don't think we need the white lines for compound distinction: it can be worked out without overly much effort. If the casual fan is unwilling to make the effort to learn how to read things, then that is there problem. Whenever I've started getting into a new series, or what have you, I've never expected stuff to be done to make my life easier: I have just made the effort to learn things in order to understand.

Oh, well: it is what it is, I guess.

[Marbot]

TBH I don't mind the white lines at all.If the so called 'experts' can be confused then so can I.

Sometimes the director will fail to spot someone pitting or simply ignore that they have pitted because they aren't figuring in the lead battle.But as we all know with wet races it's often the cars further down the field that can benefit from a well timed (read lucky) pit stop.

Sometimes I wonder exactly what it is that James and Martin are watching.What they need is a bigger screen a couple of 'comfy' armchairs with maybe a couple of cans of beer each and a 'sarny'.