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Alonso fears rain "nightmare"
Topic Started: May 22 2008, 08:22 AM (798 Views)
Rams
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Quote:
 
Rain is often a great performance leveller in Formula One, but double champion Fernando Alonso is not hoping for a slippery Monaco Grand Prix.

Many race fans are crossing their fingers that wet weather forecasts for the Monte Carlo weekend are right, but already several drivers have expressed nervousness about the prospective combination of water, the tight and oily street circuit, and the absence of electronic aids.

Alonso was asked by the Spanish press on Wednesday if he sees the adverse weather forecast as an opportunity to race and beat the usual 2008 pacesetters this weekend.

"Last year we did a practice session in the wet (here) and it was virtually impossible to drive the car, even with all the driver aids.


"This year it would be a nightmare, although I suppose a good result is possible because many cars might crash.

"But I don't have a good feeling about it, so I hope it stays dry," he admitted.

Williams driver Nico Rosberg agreed: "Last year the wet tyres didn't work.

"If the same thing happens, now that we don't have traction control, it will be ... interesting," he added.

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news...522092233.shtml

Could Bridgestone come under fire for their wet tyre if it rains? Or should Alonso stop being a big jessie and get on with it!!
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Norbert
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Everyone has the same equipment, but the vast number of white lines, manhole covers and strips of overbanding would make it very interesting. And as for the tunnel being dry when the track is wet, that'll make life hard on the wet tyres....

The only wet Monaco races I can remember were 1982 when Patrese won after lots of people ran out of fuel and it started raining for the last few laps of the race, and a year or two later (maybe 1984?) when the race was stopped due to the rain when Mansell spun out of the lead, Senna was catching Prost at four seconds a lap, and Bellof was catching up to Senna. The race was stopped one lap before Senna would have caught Prost, by his mate Jacky Iycx who hadn't consulted race control before throwing the red flag out. As a result, he lost his stewardship of the course, and Senna went into apoplexy....
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Lord Tau
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Norbert,May 22 2008
09:36 AM
Everyone has the same equipment, but the vast number of white lines, manhole covers and strips of overbanding would make it very interesting. And as for the tunnel being dry when the track is wet, that'll make life hard on the wet tyres....

The only wet Monaco races I can remember were 1982 when Patrese won after lots of people ran out of fuel and it started raining for the last few laps of the race, and a year or two later (maybe 1984?) when the race was stopped due to the rain when Mansell spun out of the lead, Senna was catching Prost at four seconds a lap, and Bellof was catching up to Senna. The race was stopped one lap before Senna would have caught Prost, by his mate Jacky Iycx who hadn't consulted race control before throwing the red flag out. As a result, he lost his stewardship of the course, and Senna went into apoplexy....

What about 1996 when Panis won in the Ligier? That was a wet one, IIRC.
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Norbert
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Lord Tau,May 22 2008
09:38 AM
What about 1996 when Panis won in the Ligier? That was a wet one, IIRC.

Ah yes, forgot that one. Only five runners left if I remember......
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Red Andy
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1997 was wet too IIRC. Barrichello finished second for Stewart, the only points the team scored all year.
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ELUSIVEJIM
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http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=42710

Massa is complaining as well <no>

What the hell are they going on about.

These are ment to be the best drivers in the World and we are getting them complaining about NO TRACTION control and RAIN. <wtf>

Try a 1500- 2000bhp Turbo Charged F1 cars in the rain you bunch of puss**

I really wish these modern F1 drivers would just shup up and get on with what they are doing as they sure get paid enough.

What will it be next???

No F1 races in the rain <doh>
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Rams
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I can see half the race behind the safety car if it does rain. Heard an interview with DC saying the last time it rained (I presume he meant the free practise last year) they were never able to use full throttle around the circuit.
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FlutterBy
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Is it possible to use full throttle in Monaco anywhere, wet or dry?
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ELUSIVEJIM
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FlutterBy,May 22 2008
09:55 AM
Is it possible to use full throttle in Monaco anywhere, wet or dry?

Start finish straight and the Monaco tunnel.

Well at least you get some speed in these areas.

Still love the place tho <thumbsup>
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Norbert
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Rams,May 22 2008
10:41 AM
I can see half the race behind the safety car if it does rain. Heard an interview with DC saying the last time it rained (I presume he meant the free practise last year) they were never able to use full throttle around the circuit.

Here's an idea - use a higher gear!

<doh> <doh> <doh> <doh>
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AndyW76
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The drivers comment now but if it does rain, they will still race. The problem is that it is a step into the unknown and they are bound to be worried. May be they should watch a video of the 84 race, the cars had near 900BHP and no where near the same levels of downforce in them days, not to mention the on-off power delivery of the turbo engines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7uKw5ZWgBo

Note the presence of overtaking. <roflmao>
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stradlin24
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Norbert,May 22 2008
10:15 AM
Lord Tau,May 22 2008
09:38 AM
What about 1996 when Panis won in the Ligier? That was a wet one, IIRC.

Ah yes, forgot that one. Only five runners left if I remember......

it was actually only 3 cars left at the end

Frentzen parked his car in the pits before the start of the last lap, he was credited with 4th

Salo and Hakkinen got 5th and 6th but they didn't finish

i think behind Panis was Coulthard and Herbert

only those 3 drivers completed the race distance

perhaps it could happen again this season
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u4coffee
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stradlin23,May 22 2008
11:13 AM
Norbert,May 22 2008
10:15 AM
Lord Tau,May 22 2008
09:38 AM
What about 1996 when Panis won in the Ligier? That was a wet one, IIRC.

Ah yes, forgot that one. Only five runners left if I remember......

it was actually only 3 cars left at the end

Frentzen parked his car in the pits before the start of the last lap, he was credited with 4th

Salo and Hakkinen got 5th and 6th but they didn't finish

i think behind Panis was Coulthard and Herbert

only those 3 drivers completed the race distance

perhaps it could happen again this season

Maybe Jenson will get his 2nd win then <peek>
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Norbert
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AndyW76,May 22 2008
11:07 AM
The drivers comment now but if it does rain, they will still race. The problem is that it is a step into the unknown and they are bound to be worried. May be they should watch a video of the 84 race, the cars had near 900BHP and no where near the same levels of downforce in them days, not to mention the on-off power delivery of the turbo engines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7uKw5ZWgBo

Note the presence of overtaking. <roflmao>

Erm, downforce in 1984? There was astonishing d/f in 1984 due to the massive power of the turbo engines being able to haul the drag created by the wings down the straights with unrestrained might. That year, they were nicknamed 'tea trays' because the top elements were so deep. Not to mention the extensions on either side that came forward to somewhere near the engine cover. I'd suggest that they probably had similar amounts, if not more, than the current cars, but the current cars are quicker because the power delivery is spread wider, and the drag coefficient is light years ahead of those cars.

Notwithstanding, the tyres would be the equivalent of oiled oak, the wet tread technology probably inferior to the road tyres you get on your average hatchback, and the power delivery would have been a nightmare. They'd probably have gone quicker around a wet Monaco if they'd removed the turbo and rejigged the engine to run naturally aspirated.....
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AndyW76
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I'm willing to bet that downforce levels in 84 were a fraction of what they are now. The main component of the downforce came from wings, and lets not forget that ground effects had only been banned 18 months previous, so no skirts etc. Also, no sculptured sidepods, no high noses, no winglets, no "bridge" wings, no "funnell" exhuasts, no aerodynamic "slots" in the top of the noses, no "chickens" (or what eve they call them), no barge boards.

Just look at the comparative lap times

1984 pole - 1'22.661

fastest in 1st practice today - 1:15.948 26

And current cars have at least 150-200 BHP less, not discounting qualifying engines and slick tyres.
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