Why exactly did Coulthard hit the pit wall at Adelaide 95

Yoong Montoya · 17 May 2002, 20:09 (Ref:289123)

This must go down as the funniest moment in F1 history. But why exactly did Coulthard crash in the pit lane in Adelaide 95. The only two causes I can think of is brake failure or driver error. I think it was driver error, but is this right?:confused:

Sato san · 17 May 2002, 20:23 (Ref:289129)

ooooo. that was embarressing for him . Yer , he just came in too fast , pit lane was a bit dusty , and into the wall he went . ...oooooops

racing_guru · 17 May 2002, 20:48 (Ref:289145)

I believe his story was that the throttle stuck open or the engine didn't downshift, one of those two reasons. I agree very funny, almost as funny as when he spun off on the formation lap while on pole.

Mr V · 17 May 2002, 20:53 (Ref:289146)

i heard that he'd had some sort of throttle problem, but i believe that there was also something slippery at the entrance to the pits...............but yes, very funny!!!

Guy Goddard2 · 17 May 2002, 20:56 (Ref:289147)

The press report handed out after the race by Williams called it driver error or "brain fade" in Mclaren terms.
His career should have been dead and buried there after but some how there always appeared a sucker to hire him on again...
Should have hired Mansell in 95 Frank.

Regards

Guy

f1manoz · 18 May 2002, 01:10 (Ref:289215)

It was complete brain fade on his part. The pitlane was very dirty, but he went in way too fast to even get round the corner anyway, braked but slid on the dust and that was that.

Funniest thing I had seen up to that time.

calais · 18 May 2002, 02:24 (Ref:289238)

the story i heard was that the renault had a very high idle, causing him not to slow down enough plus the fact that the pitlane entry was a bit dirty {plus DC being over enthusiastic}
as for someone saying williams should have hired mansell instead, are you kidding???

RWC · 18 May 2002, 02:39 (Ref:289246)

It sure would be embarrasing!!
But then again,he was in his early career and in a top team,so there was lots of pressure.I easily forgive him for that mistake.What has bugged me about him is the way he keeps telling everyone he is a champion & DESERVES the Maclaren.

Mr V · 18 May 2002, 04:51 (Ref:289289)

Quote:

Originally posted by calais
as for someone saying williams should have hired mansell instead, are you kidding???

Frank should have hired Nigel imo also. he won the last race of '94 and would have carried that confidence into the '95 season. i realise that it could be argued that what happened at McLaren was a waste of time, and yes, it was, but given a potential championship winning car, Nigel could have done more with it than Coulthard! the only thing is, had Nigel been signed, it would have effectivly ruined Damon's career imo, as after spending the majority of '94 (following Senna's death) as team leader, he would have been put back to the second driver spot in the eyes of many in the williams camp due to Nigels experience!

Sato san · 18 May 2002, 07:56 (Ref:289336)

Mansell deserved a 1 year contract for 1995 without a doubt . Frank made a bad choice that year IMO , and this may make somepeople chuckle , but ive always firmly beleived that Mansell would have had a damm good shot at the title in 1995 , even though the williams wasnt as good as the Benneton that year , he wouldnt have been intimidated by TGF one little bit and there would have been big fireworks for sure .

Jordi · 18 May 2002, 11:33 (Ref:289395)

I think Frank made the right decision. Yes, he lost both championships in 1995, but I don't think Mansell would have made a difference. Plus, the Williams broke down more than usual that year, remember the problems for Hill at Brasil, Spain and Canada, or DC at a lot more places...

Mr V · 18 May 2002, 12:51 (Ref:289430)

the difference is Jordi, in my opinion, Mansell has a stronger personality than both Hill and Coulthard and would have given Williams and Renault so much s*** that they would proberbly not have had so many failures!

Coulthards throttle problem (as was rumoured) at Australia was something that he had moaned about previously, but apparently said "when you've got time to look at it" Mansell would have been screaming his head off, the mechanics may not have liked it but they would have got it sorted out! has anyone seen the 1991 review video where Mansell has a glitch at the start (can't remember what race) and gives David Brown an absolute b****cking!

calais · 18 May 2002, 13:23 (Ref:289449)

that why a lot of williams personell never liked him!!!!

Mr V · 18 May 2002, 13:29 (Ref:289452)

Quote:

Originally posted by calais
that why a lot of williams personell never liked him!!!!

agreed, but, thats why Mansell became wdc and won 34? races and why Coulthard will never be wdc and when he's "outed" by Ron at the end of this season, will not win another race! it's all well and good DC being a nice bloke, but it's not done him any good! (not saying that Nigel isn't a nice person, but he can be a b**tard when he needs to be!)

**Spudgun** · 18 May 2002, 13:33 (Ref:289453)

The thing with DC is I don't think he's ever admitted driver error when he's gone off. Even if it was his fault he wouldn't admit it.

I remember when he went off in practice for Monaco a few years ago in the McLaren. He blamed the shunt on a set-up change and he 'didn't know how the car was going to behave'..

Damon Hill has a similar sort of shunt a little later on and said he wasn't going fast enough, he tried to go faster and he crashed. That's one of the reasons why I liked Damon over DC. He could admit driver error (too many times unfortunately

).

I don't think I've ever heard DC admit a driver error (though correct if I'm wrong) so I don't think anyone will get to the bottom of it.. apart from him anyway!

OVERSTEER · 18 May 2002, 16:54 (Ref:289536)

I heard the Patrick head had said that they (Williams) were happy to sign him (Nigel Mansell) for 1995, but he couldn't make a test session at Jerez and Patrick Head apperently said we we won't bother if he won't show the commitment.

BootsOntheSide · 18 May 2002, 19:37 (Ref:289585)

Murray Walker's commentary on this was the funniest thing of all (I think you can still get the soundclip on www.F1rejects.com)

LucaBadoer · 18 May 2002, 19:47 (Ref:289608)

DC: "I changed down a gear, I was in third and pulled down for second at the beginning of the pit lane, then there was a push from the engine and I had my foot on the brake. As I turned the corner with my foot on the brake the engine drove and pushed me forward, I locked up the front wheels and drove into the wall. The only way I could have avoided it would be to change down the gear sooner, but I didn’t know this until was too late. I am very disappointed as I started the race well."

Eric Faron (Renault engineer): "It would be wrong to say it was completely his fault. It was a combination of circumstances."

f1truestory · 19 May 2002, 01:04 (Ref:289839)

wowowo.....u r all wrong.
There was oil on track, can't u see the oil mark in the clips/video?
There was an engine problem on some guy just b4 DC went to pit(cant remember who it was) he was pouring liquid all the way down the pitlane.

plus he got a throttle problem.

f1manoz · 19 May 2002, 02:03 (Ref:289858)

There's no excuse at all for running into the pitwall. That was his own mistake, but remember, DC doesn't make mistakes...

Speed · 19 May 2002, 02:16 (Ref:289861)

Any video ?

Muzza · 19 May 2002, 03:25 (Ref:289870)

Coulthard words then were memorable. He said that he had a problem with the "idle strategy" of the engine.

Undoubtedly a fantastic neologism.

Perfect soundtrack for this crash: "Full On Idle", by The Amps (side-project of Kim Deal, ex-Pixies and now The Breeders)

ozrevhead · 19 May 2002, 04:04 (Ref:289880)

Quote:

Originally posted by f1truestory
wowowo.....u r all wrong.
There was oil on track, can't u see the oil mark in the clips/video?
There was an engine problem on some guy just b4 DC went to pit(cant remember who it was) he was pouring liquid all the way down the pitlane.

plus he got a throttle problem.

I was there in 1995 & it was sand not oil and YES it was a throttle problem!

f1manoz · 19 May 2002, 06:06 (Ref:289910)

Quote:

Originally posted by ozrevhead
I was there in 1995 & it was sand not oil and YES it was a throttle problem!

Yeah, DC forgot to take his foot OFF IT!!

f1truestory · 19 May 2002, 15:32 (Ref:289995)

Here is the video
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http://video.f1gp.ru/95/adelaide/coult_adel_95.mpg
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