2006 Suzuka GP

[BoyFerrari]

Schumi was very gracious in accepting his loss. You know he must have been screaming inside, but he was smiling ang hugging his pit crew and people.

It was a blown engine. There was nothing he can do.

But i think the perfect example this season which shows Schumacher's maturity was the way he handled the Monaco stalled car controversy. He didn't trade barbs with his detractors in the media. He simply started at the back of the grid and stormed his way to the front using superb driving.

Compare that with Alonso who said earlier that he contemplated of not driving at all as a sign of protest when the stewards penalized him for blocking Massa at the Italian GP.

[mazdamazda]

Yup... this might be the last year that Alonso will be competitive for a long time.

With the emergence of Honda, BMW and even Williams during the later part of the year as potential contenders - McLaren would have a difficult time next year. Not to mention that Michelin would be pulling out also next year.

Though even will all this - you can't take the fact away that Alonso is one heckuva good driver.

[CVT]

Bad day (and year) for Ferrari.

MS's actions after the incident,- waving to the fans, and shaking hands/hugging the Ferrari TEAM, et al, were indeed noteworthy!



:starwars:

[CVT]

Actually the Suzuka circuit is owned by Honda. Next year's Japanese GP will be held at Fuji, which is Toyota owned.

Yes,- I meant Japan for the homecourt advantage.

:starwars:

[valskie01]

After overtaking Ralf schumacher at lap 14 and an amazing first pitstop that puts him ahead of Massa i would say its a combination of luck, superb driving and strategy that made FA and the renault team win the race.

[jeff1101]

Ehem... Ehem... where to begin? First off no matter how hard I wish to defend my pro-Alonso brethren
on the previuos thread (Chinese GP) I could not since I was not able to watch that race (no thanks to
Milenyo) and giving an opinion based on facts I read of the event would be unjustified.

However pro-Ferrari fans seems to have come out of the woodwork on that thread with opinions ranging
from objective criticism of Alonso and Renault to downright speculation based not on facts but pure wishful thinking.
This particular gem from the previous thread I wish to quote here:

Alonso only wasted his engine in the final laps, that's the only thing he accomplished. But I can understand why he did that --
he wanted to be as close to Schumacher as possible in the hope that he can induce Schumi to panic and make a driving error.

But he was simply too far to make any difference. And in fact, evenif Alonso caught up with Schumi, I am sure Michael can block him
for 3 more laps and still win the GP (remember, they are driving on the dry racing line to avoid a spin, so Alonso doesn't have much room to overtake anyway).

So tactically speaking, ALonso's "driving-like-hell" effort was foolish.

So I guess in retrospect, Alonso did a better job of managing his engine than Schumacher did eh???? The problem
with mouthing things like this before the fat lady sings is that you kind of look funny if things go the other way.

So basically with no opinion on offer I just let the Ferrari fans talk and spin they're yarn. Soon enough I thought they'll
make enough rope... to hang themselves. And none to soon.

The Japanese Grand Prix is the proverbial Alonso race as it where. His skill and finesse under pressure showed through
in this race with flying colors. He showed who was the boss in this race and even though he was under immense
media flak he not only nailed the final lid on Schumacher's coffin, he put a 10 ton pile of bricks on top
of it to ensure the "legend" does not rise again from the grave.

His drive was both masterful and intense , the same drive he did to Raikkonen in 2005 that made the Finn DNF
on the penultimate lap, but this time he did it to Schumacher, proving once and for all that his 2005 win was not a one off.

Also notable was the absence of the pit crew who put on Alonso's right rear tire on this race. And guess what? No
more wheel nut problems !!! Renault may be naive, but they are not stupid. You foul up once in Hungary fastening the
wheel nut, maybe but doing it again in China that cost them 10 seconds in the pits was I think rightly suspicious so
I am more in favor of kicking this sucker out of the pits. Makes you wonder who really was giving this guy's payroll....

Anyway, Schumacher was due for a DNF anyway, it was just a matter of time, soon your luck just runs out...
Which emphasized what I have been saying in the past again and again. Schumacher blundered mightily in Hungary.
He threw away the only oppurtunity he had to regain the 2006 title. He paid for it then and he is still paying for it
now. If he played it safe in Hungary and did not play tag with Heidfeld back then, he wouldnt be looking at the
10 points gap he has now.

So Alonso is in cruise mode now. They will all have (Ferrari and Renault) new engines in Interlagos, and all he has
to do is to be among the top 5 when the chequered flag is raised and he will have this season in the bag. I think
even Schumacher can do the math here as seen in his face when he came out of his smoking car.

Ferrari and the FIA can do all they want for they're "hero" to give him a sendoff they think he deserves. Heck they've
been fudging with the numbers ever since Monza to even the score but I think its pretty hard to pull a rabbit out of
the hat this time. Schumacher's DNF made sure of that. Oh how the mighty have fallen. Har har ...

BTW. I saw Alonso hug and congratulate his team and pit crew before he
went to the podium. I am all for Schumacher's graciousness here but
c'mon folks nobody seem to have seen that. Where was the pit crew/FA
tension and schism evrybody here was talking about? I never saw that.


Whose whining now??? I think Ferrari/MS fans are just sour-graping. tsk tsk tsk

[mikmik316]

Yeah your correct with the Hungary fiasco...

If he has pitted right away to change tires... even if he goes down 2-3 places... he still should had points... or in a Schumi's competitive mind, he can even out manuever those inexperienced drivers to regain the top 2 of the race... Anyway, 8-all sila parehas so I will just pray that Schumi wins the Brasilian GP and Alonso either has a blown engine, an out of the Top 10 finish... or some gracious driver to bump him out of contention... I would prefer the last one to happen so that I can see FA whining again!

[jim]

jeff1101, I think you are the one who is whining and how can you tell that MS fans are sour-graping?

as for me I'm an F1 fan regardless of who the driver is. but alonso really sucks! his attitude is truly of spanish origins tsk tsk tsk. LUCKY for him MS's ferrari engine blew or else we will hear a lot of alonso's whining on the news. i would have loved to hear his excuses blah blah blah

[jeff1101]

I would prefer the last one to happen so that I can see FA whining again!

jeff1101, I think you are the one who is whining and how can you tell that MS fans are sour-graping?

Oh many will be whining after the Brazil race I assure you.
But it wont be Schumacher and it wont be Alonso... :naughty2:

[valskie01]

actually im the one to blame why MS DNF the race bec. right from the very start i've been hoping and praying earnestly for MS engine to blow up and to my surprise it did.

Hay!!!! maybe those schumi fans can do the same starting today

good luck

[1D4LV]

nye. nahuli ako sa balita ah. schumi lost? so wala na sa kanya yung overall championship?

[jeff1101]

nye. nahuli ako sa balita ah. schumi lost? so wala na sa kanya yung overall championship?

He he, Alonso is such a party-pooper dont you think?

Seriously I think his "putting the pressure on" tactic works. It worked
for Raikkonen last year and it certainly contributed to MS's DNF this
race in Suzuka. I even think his "pressure" on the last GP (Chinese GP)
made a small contribution which finally took its toll on Schumi's car
on Lap 17.

Certainly MS can feel the pressure from Alonso. FA was only 5 seconds
off pace from Schumacher's car with 6 seconds at the most on some turns.
Also Schumi had just come off the pits freshly fuelled and with new tires.
I would imagine (again this is only speculation) that he may have revved
his engine a bit much on the laps in the hope of more quickly heating his
tires to the correct operating temperature for that spec.

Unfortunately for him that may have been 1 rev to many and total engine
failure ensued. I guess playing this tactic is a two edged sword for
Alonso could have DNF'd as well. However he was attacking, Schumi was not
so he has the advantage to pick the battle of his own choosing. Accelarating
in one turn (or pretending to accelerate) to panic Schumacher to make a
mistake.

Again this is purely speculation on my part.

[niky]

It was pure chance when Michael's engine blew, and it could have been either of them, as they were both pushing very hard... but they recognized that this was an all-or-nothing deal... whoever wins, wins.

RE: I know there was nothing Michael could have done about his blown engine... but in similar situations, other drivers would be stalking sullenly to the back of the pits without a word to anyone, throwing their helmet out into the grass in rage and disgust, complaining (Alonso) or just leaving the track altogether to find a dark place with cold beer (Kimi? )... Michael stayed for the end of the race, to motivate and support his team.

Sure, Fernando did thank his pit crew (you'd have to be a total oaf not to), but he was the winner. Personally, I don't put much stock in his supposed "whining"... he's at a very stressful period, he's young, emotional and very driven, and he may say things that are unwise at times, but that's just the heat of emotion speaking... let's just pray he doesn't turn into another Pablo Montoya.

AND: He really did have a point about "some people" in Renault not helping... but maybe he should have just said: "That nut guy over there..." :lol:

He can still lose it... but all he has to do next race is cruise... and if there's one thing Fernando does very well... it's cruise... he's a masterful slow driver and blocker, and he's very calm under pressure from an opponent sitting in his slipstream.

[IPSG_SlimShady]

Ferrari and the FIA can do all they want for they're "hero" to give him a sendoff they think he deserves. Heck they've
been fudging with the numbers ever since Monza to even the score but I think its pretty hard to pull a rabbit out of
the hat this time. Schumacher's DNF made sure of that. Oh how the mighty have fallen. Har har ...

A Renault fanboy takes centerstage.

BTW. I saw Alonso hug and congratulate his team and pit crew before he
went to the podium. I am all for Schumacher's graciousness here but
c'mon folks nobody seem to have seen that. Where was the pit crew/FA
tension and schism evrybody here was talking about? I never saw that.

Yeah, Alonso hugging his team when he's winning. Then lambasting his team in the media when he's losing. What a piece of plastic!

Whose whining now??? I think Ferrari/MS fans are just sour-graping. tsk tsk tsk

Renault fanboy takes the centerstage again. And come to think you're projecting an image of a serious racing commentator before. But succumbs to being a fanboy in the end as well.

[jeff1101]

Renault fanboy takes the centerstage again. And come to think you're projecting an image of a serious racing commentator before. But succumbs to being a fanboy in the end as well.

Hey guys peace !!! I was just balancing out the sort of one sided
criticisms that was thrown at Alonso on the previous thread. I for one did not
participate on that since I didnt saw it on TV, however c'mon some of
the barbs that were thrown was bordering on "character assasination".
Sorry again and peace...

Here is a take from the other "journalists" in response to what many may
wrongly perceive as MS's "popularity" with the media now that he is retiring.

(And to quote from the article. "Perhaps that the reaction in the Media Centre was a cry of freedom. A realization that there was some mystical powers greater than anyone in the sport. A great steward in the sky, if you like."
God I love it... )

Editorial at grandprix.com
http://www.grandprix.com/race/r767racereport.html

[sirmykel]

wahahaha ayos ah pro alonso naman meron dito

[jeff1101]

wahahaha ayos ah pro alonso naman meron dito

He he I think the Ferrari/MS fans are still dumbfounded from picking their
jaw from the floor.

As in:
Question: What happens when you shoot your mouth off???

Answer: You pick your jaw from the floor.

J/k only....

[sirmykel]

ako ms/ferrari fan, pero nung nakita ko umusok na engine nya.
sabi ko na lang sa isip ko: "taena alonso ipanalo mo yan kungdi ang malas mo!"
wahahaha at least eto na ang isa sa mga pinakamagandang f1 season para saken.

[mazdamazda]

Err... what's with the pro-Ferrari/Schumi, pro-Alonso, pro-whatever ranting?

As for me - am the same with jim - am an F1 fan - I like it when Fisi is driving brilliantly, the emergence of Kubica, the comeback of Honda, the wheel-to-wheel battles of Schumi/Kimi/Alonso, etc.

[mazdamazda]

A Schumi quote:

Michael Schumacher added, "We are a great team. Our guys are the best and I have a great affection for everyone at Ferrari and am always more than satisfied in the way we work. Incidents like today's can happen and they are part of racing. You win together but you also lose together. Today we did our best, I was leading the race and then my engine broke. That's the simplest way to sum it up. That is Formula 1. We can be proud of what we have achieved since Canada: we were twenty five points behind and no one could have thought we would be back in the fight for the championship, but we did it. Now we are nine points behind in the Constructors' classification and we will do all we can to win this title in Brazil. As for the Drivers,' it is lost. I don't want to head off for a race, hoping that my rival has to retire. That is not the way in which I want to win the title."