CNN Indianapolis Motor Speedway 09/08/2013

Daniel James8 said:Look, when you have a team where the drivers are on equal footing, even if they're absolute superstars, we've seen plenty of times where the title ends up going to some third guy entirely. That's why I suspect the dynamic at Ferrari will just remain this "lead singer vs. backup" situation for the foreseeable future, and honestly? I can't wrap my head around seeing Fernando Alonso stuck playing the backup role.

Look, the issue isn't having two fast, elite drivers. The real issue is whether the Team Principal actually has the backbone to manage them, or if they don't...

That’s exactly why things went sideways at McLaren and why it was a mess at Red Bull Racing...
And yet, somehow, it wasn't an issue for Mercedes-Benz.☕

So, the real question is: can Stefano Domenicali actually handle this? Everything else is just noise...
As far as I'm concerned, there's no huge drama in the Alonso & Kimi pairing. It shouldn't be about who's throwing tantrums or who's the designated sidekick...
The real test is whether Stefano Domenicali has what it takes to manage the fallout.☕

Edward Howard2 said:The Maestro just slapped Webber right in the face without even trying 🙏🙏🙏

Those Italians spend all day obsessing over RAI Uno 🙏🙏

Seriously, a brilliant move that every single one of those geniuses deserves. 👍

There’s one thing that absolutely drives me crazy about that move—well, not even him directly, just all the mess swirling around him because of it.

From what I saw, he was taken out by a wheel off the track... not entirely sure if it was both cars or just one of them. 🤷
Don't get me wrong—I’m not saying he deserved that penalty. Not even in his wildest dreams, regardless of whether both wheels were off the track or not. Honestly, the move was brilliant. If anyone deserved a penalty there, it would've been Mark Webber for pushing him out, not Fernando Alonso.

I’m honestly sick of this damn inconsistent officiating. They absolutely screwed Romain Grosjean over with that pit lane penalty—he didn't deserve that move in the duel one bit.👎
And just like that, it popped up on the screen for everyone to see...

Seriously, it’s high time someone called these guys out and actually did something about it.😳

I can't even begin to process this. Give me a break. stormybadger8 says:
Red Bull Racing is absolutely killing it.🙏
Two cars, under three seconds, all within a thirty-second window. Just do it. 🙏

What an incredible lineup. Honestly, there isn't a better group on the grid. 🙏
All they got for it was a podium spot for Webber, maybe even handing Vettel the win on a silver platter...
If Alonso hadn't wasted all that energy babysitting Mark Webber, he might have actually had a shot at catching Sebastian Vettel.

If anyone’s offended, they can just deal with it themselves! 😍🤣

What a photo🤣

An American flag with "Čapo" written on it😂

Now we just need an anthem... hmmm, maybe something like:

Čapo, steal it, drape it... that's just how we Americans roll
:lalalala:🤣

I’m pretty sure Kimi just sent someone flying off the track right at the start-finish line

darkmarlin16 said:I’m pretty sure Kimi just sent someone flying off the track right at the start-finish line

Was that at the start or later in the race?

Honestly, it doesn't even matter. These stewards are so inconsistent it’s getting ridiculous...

Feels like it's high time they brought in some permanent stewards who actually know a damn thing about racing and let them do their jobs...
I'm thinking maybe a combo of Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen... though I have zero clue who to hire as a third 🤷
Maybe someone from a different camp, like Robert Kubica...

But yeah, just actual experienced drivers who get how this works, instead of these hacks who clearly don't have a clue...

They basically held Sergio Perez up in the pits today.
LOL, they were swapping his tires, but that guy in front held him up for an extra second or two—just enough to let Jenson Button slip past.
Now, some people are going to call this nonsense, but I’m convinced this was all part of the script.
Instead of letting them fight it out on the track, they just stalled him in the pits to avoid any of those Perez-Button showdowns.

Raymond Anderson4 said:They basically held Sergio Perez up in the pits today.
LOL, they were swapping his tires, but that guy in front held him up for an extra second or two—just enough to let Jenson Button slip past.
Now, some people are going to call this nonsense, but I’m convinced this was all part of the script.
Instead of letting them fight it out on the track, they just stalled him in the pits to avoid any of those Perez-Button showdowns.

Yeah, you could see it from a mile away.🤣
Plus, Button looked totally awkward after the race and just brushed off a reporter's question about it...😁

And Perez looked so confused when they asked him; he had this look on his face like he couldn't believe what was happening.😁

Out of everyone, Sebastian Vettel was the best one on NBC. 😂🤣🤣🤣

Nancy Scott5 said:Let's break down the practice sessions for a second.
In FP1, Vettel finished 4th, trailing Alonso (who was 2nd) by 0.153, sitting 0.350 ahead of Mark Webber (8th) and 0.696 ahead of Massa (14th).
In FP2, it was Vettel 1st, Webber 2nd (+0.623), Alonso 5th (+0.887), and Massa 8th (+1.066).
In FP3, Vettel was 1st, Alonso 2nd (+0.283), Webber 3rd (+0.317), and Massa 7th (+0.635).

On average, Vettel averaged 2nd, Alonso sat at 3rd with +0.339, Webber was 4th (actual result 4.3) with +0.43, and Massa was 10th (9.6) with +0.799.

So now you're claiming both Alonso and Massa could have been in the top three. Looking at these numbers, Alonso might have squeezed in between Vettel and Webber, but Massa didn't stand a chance.
One more thing. Look at the gap between lead drivers versus second drivers. The split between Vettel and Alonso is +0.339, while the gap between Webber and Massa is +0.369. Comparing the leads to the seconds shows Alonso is only +0.091 faster than Webber, whereas Vettel is a whopping +0.799 faster than Massa.
To me, this data proves Red Bull Racing had the faster car at Indianapolis by about three-tenths per lap. All that talk about Ferrari fighting for a top-three spot just doesn't hold water.

And how much does he get if he crashes into Vettel?😁

You can't take these FP's times as gospel...

Real speed shows up during qualifying and the actual race...
And then in the race, the slower Ferrari finishes 9.3 seconds behind Sebastian Vettel—which is roughly 9.3/53 laps = 0.175 sec—while the lead Ferrari is only 5.4/53 = 0.101 seconds back. ☕

Ferrari definitely had the pace, but they completely botched the tactics and blew a massive opportunity right when both Red Bull Racing cars were struggling mid-race...

Or did Felipe Massa suddenly transform into a superstar driver just as fast as Fernando Alonso?
Believe whatever you want.😁

stormybadger8 said:Look, the issue isn't having two fast, elite drivers. The real issue is whether the Team Principal actually has the backbone to manage them, or if they don't...

That’s exactly why things went sideways at McLaren and why it was a mess at Red Bull Racing...
And yet, somehow, it wasn't an issue for Mercedes-Benz.☕

So, the real question is: can Stefano Domenicali actually handle this? Everything else is just noise...
As far as I'm concerned, there's no huge drama in the Alonso & Kimi pairing. It shouldn't be about who's throwing tantrums or who's the designated sidekick...
The real test is whether Stefano Domenicali has what it takes to manage the fallout.☕

Oh, come on, stormybadger8, don't give me that. You know perfectly well that Domenicali is out of his depth here. 🙂 But he isn't the only one; you've got guys like Martin Boullier, Martin Whitmarsh, and hell, even Christian Horner. By the way, during the broadcasts, we seem to see Adrian Newey more often than Horner—maybe Newey would actually be a better team boss?
Like you already pointed out, the only guy on the grid I see as an absolute authority—someone nobody would dare argue with—is Ross Brawn.

Honestly, though, wouldn't it be wild to watch Alonso with that classic fiery Spanish temperament, acting as the long-term number one at Ferrari, paired up with Kimi and his whole "I don't give a damn about anything" attitude? Domenicali's only options would be to hand in his resignation or just end it all. 😁

Raymond Anderson4 said:They basically held Sergio Perez up in the pits today.
LOL, they were swapping his tires, but that guy in front held him up for an extra second or two—just enough to let Jenson Button slip past.
Now, some people are going to call this nonsense, but I’m convinced this was all part of the script.
Instead of letting them fight it out on the track, they just stalled him in the pits to avoid any of those Perez-Button showdowns.

You know, I completely missed that detail. 🤔

Formula 1 has turned into something resembling politics.
Honestly, it feels like everyone is just looking out for their own interests, trying to push their own agendas no matter how shady it looks.
If I were in his shoes, I’d be having a serious argument about it. Using those kinds of tricks? Give me a break.

Daniel James8 said:Oh, come on, stormybadger8, don't give me that. You know perfectly well that Domenicali is out of his depth here. 🙂 But he isn't the only one; you've got guys like Martin Boullier, Martin Whitmarsh, and hell, even Christian Horner. By the way, during the broadcasts, we seem to see Adrian Newey more often than Horner—maybe Newey would actually be a better team boss?
Like you already pointed out, the only guy on the grid I see as an absolute authority—someone nobody would dare argue with—is Ross Brawn.

Honestly, though, wouldn't it be wild to watch Alonso with that classic fiery Spanish temperament, acting as the long-term number one at Ferrari, paired up with Kimi and his whole "I don't give a damn about anything" attitude? Domenicali's only options would be to hand in his resignation or just end it all. 😁

I'm not kidding... I'm not entirely sure Domenicali couldn't handle it.🤷
To me, the guy seems solid. Based on his interviews, he actually sounds a lot wiser and calmer than Whitmarsh or Horner... so he might actually pull it off.
And if I could pick anyone from the Ferrari ranks to jump over to Red Bull Racing, it would be Domenicali and Smedly.

As for the rest, I haven't got a clue what to say...
Horner is clearly struggling. He lacks the backbone to make any driver actually listen to him, and the whole situation looks messy...
When he talks, you get the feeling he's just spinning his wheels and praying someone rescues him and hauls him off to a domestic violence shelter...
Then again, maybe it's all just a front. Honestly, his approach seems to work somehow, since Red Bull still has two drivers consistently scoring points and a second driver constantly stealing title points from the direct competition...

Whitmarsh is just spinning his wheels; you can tell he's uncomfortable and clearly out of his depth...
Actually, he looks like the worst one in this whole mess...

Boullier isn't bad in that regard—he clearly has some authority—but on the flip side, it feels like he mentally broke Romain Grosjean, so there probably isn't much use left in him anyway...

Ross is the real deal. 😳
Not only can he handle things and make people listen, but he does it in a way where the second driver doesn't totally spiral or get crushed. That's why Nico is definitely the most consistent and currently the best number two driver out there; he shows zero signs of cracking, no matter what.

stormybadger8, please don't mess around with those Ferrari gaps at the end of the race.
What do you mean, 5.5 seconds at the finish?
Alonso only gained 3 or 4 seconds on that last lap because Vettel completely backed off right before the checkered flag.
When Vettel was actually driving at pace, the gap stayed consistently over 10 seconds.
Honestly, his pit wall was practically begging him over the radio to slow down just a bit, which is why Alonso managed to close in.
And even then, it wasn't much—maybe a 2-second difference over about 10 laps at most.

stormybadger8 said:Was that at the start or later in the race?

Honestly, it doesn't even matter. These stewards are so inconsistent it’s getting ridiculous...

Feels like it's high time they brought in some permanent stewards who actually know a damn thing about racing and let them do their jobs...
I'm thinking maybe a combo of Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen... though I have zero clue who to hire as a third 🤷
Maybe someone from a different camp, like Robert Kubica...

But yeah, just actual experienced drivers who get how this works, instead of these hacks who clearly don't have a clue...

later in the race

It’s funny how the tire consistency always seems to finally show up right around this point in the season.

Tyler Bennett5 said:stormybadger8, please don't mess around with those Ferrari gaps at the end of the race.
What do you mean, 5.5 seconds at the finish?
Alonso only gained 3 or 4 seconds on that last lap because Vettel completely backed off right before the checkered flag.
When Vettel was actually driving at pace, the gap stayed consistently over 10 seconds.
Honestly, his pit wall was practically begging him over the radio to slow down just a bit, which is why Alonso managed to close in.
And even then, it wasn't much—maybe a 2-second difference over about 10 laps at most.

You might have a point there... but you're nowhere near the mark with those numbers...
http://en.mclarenf-1.com/index.php?p...nando%20Alonso
He only pulled within 1.9 seconds on that final lap... definitely not 3 or 4.😉
Plus, check how Alonso was chipping away at Vettel's lead during the first stint too.😳

Vettel's pace dropped because his tires were getting old and because Red Bull burns through rubber way faster than Ferrari does... you can see it clearly in the first stint, and the exact same thing happened at the end of the second.

All in all, they were incredibly close this race. I'm pretty sure Alonso knows he blew his chances back on Saturday...

If he’d qualified that Ferrari in 3rd—which the car could easily have done—there's no doubt he’d be right on Vettel's gearbox after another killer Ferrari start, if not ahead of him entirely...
But regardless of how that start went, he would've been hunting him down through the DRS zone, and the whole story could have ended very differently...

Amanda Kelly said:It’s funny how the tire consistency always seems to finally show up right around this point in the season.

Obviously.😁
The first half of the year is just Bernie playing games with everyone, then we actually get some Formula 1...

Unbelievable. He’s still messing around at the press conference after everything that happened. 🤣

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...3/9/14966.html

Q: (Andrea Cremonesi - The Wall Street Journal) Sebastian, during the race we heard a little message radioed by you that you were complaining about the rear light on the Vettel car. I would like to know how disturbing, how annoying it was for you during the race?
SV: Me?
FA: Was the question for me? Well, it was...
SV: Will you listen now? You complained about the red light?
FA: Yeah, yeah. It was disturbing a little bit. Obviously it’s a very strong light with no rain.
SV: It’s worse in here.
FA: Sebastian is not used to having a car in front so he doesn’t know how it feels to have a red light on but when you are behind, a little bit close, it’s always flashing and sometimes you just have to touch one button because that’s the red light or something that you press by mistake, if he could switch, but he didn’t. So the whole race I had it flashing in my eyes.
SV: I was trying to get away so it wasn’t disturbing you so much.
FA: You didn’t...

🤣🤣🤣
I need to find a video of this. I really want to see their faces. 🙏🤣

So, Vettel finished his stint right after the first chicane.
Everything else was just pure execution. He drove exactly at the pace required.
After the pit stops, he managed to maintain a gap of about 10-12 seconds, and that was really all there was to it.
If he had needed to go faster, he would have pushed. When he didn't need to, he backed off.
As Amanda Kelly mentioned here, the tires became much more consistent, and we aren't seeing those massive 3-4 second drops in a single lap anymore.