Australian GP and start of 2008 season!

[wyo550]

How exciting!
Qualifying happened today! And tomorrow's the first race of the season!

Hotter weather than usual in Melbourne, a dirty track, new tire compounds from Bridgestone, standard ECUs and no Traction Control!

And then, a little little thing like fuel pressure knocks Kimi back to 16th on the grid (after his F2008 stalled on the course during Q2 today! if he'd coasted a few more meters into the pits, he'd have been allowed to continue qualifying. But's it's Kimi, the target of anvils from heaven.

I'm happy to see the top four, pole positions as they're in place. We'll see how Ferrari and Massa (P4) do against the top guys (Hamilton, Kubica and Kovaleinen)

I'm really happy for Kovaleinen. Because he's a great person (and driver) and SO much better for McLaren than "Mr. Look at my web site, it's on my helmet" Alonzo (who is getting $40 million for this year with a drop-out clause that let's him jump ship- he hopes to Ferrari)- if the Renault car doesn't perform to some standard he's negotiated with the team for coming back).

FORMULA-ONE - F1 Racing, Formula One Drivers, Formula 1 Results - SPEEDtv.com

[wyo550]

I'm one of those sports fans who may have a favorite tem, but I really don't care who wins as long as it's a great game or race (I used to always come in 2nd or 3rd in ski racing as a kid and used to say I "gave real meaning to the guy who won the race"!

So, the Australian GP was a hoot! People making all kinds of off-season mistakes, equipment failures, amazing crashes on the course (I hope Glock's back is OK after he hit the DITCH that was on that corner he went wide on! ^&#$^$^$^ what kind of course is THAT!!!!!)

It'll be interesting to see if Melbourne continues as a venue for F1, as Bernie the Billionaire was quoted on SpeedTV as saying Melbourne (which lost tens of millions on last year's event and was bailed out by the Victoria state government) will have to LIGHT the course for night racing!

Anyway, Kimi's brilliant start, from 15th to 8th in one lap with a FULL fuel load was incredible! But I'm nore happy that- unlike last year- these incredible drivers (who all have reflex times 50 milliseconds faster than normal people...or five car lengths at 200mph) can show their mastery of braking, acceleration and steering- without Traction Control! Watching Alonzo jink around the course in that squirrel-bate Renault chassis from last year was real fun!

Later!