Monaco GP - Official Thread [SPOILERZ]

[DooberRoni]

FIA Formula One Grand Prix de Monaco
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk279/DooberRoni/MonacoPhoto.jpg
photo credit: © Marco's F1 Blog (http://formula1.wordpress.com/2007/06/06/more-wallpapers-grand-prix-of-monaco-2007/)
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g223/EKron/STVlogo.jpg (http://www.speedtv.com/)

EASTERN TIME ZONE
THU - May 22:
8:00 am - 9:30 am - Practice 2 (LIVE)

FRI - May 23:
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm - Inside Grand Prix (only showing)
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm - Practice 2 (2nd/final broadcast)

SAT - May 24:
12:00 am - 1:00 am - F1 Debrief / Turkey (only showing)
8:00 am - 9:30 am - Qualifying (LIVE) (Time-delayed) (only showing)

SUN - May 25:
7:30 am - 8:00 am - Race Preview (LIVE)
8:00 am - 10:00 am - Race (LIVE)
5:00 pm - 7:30 pm - Race Preview/Race (2nd/final airing)

PACIFIC TIME ZONE
THU - May 22:
5:00 am - 6:30 am - Practice 2 (LIVE)

FRI - May 23:
9:00 am - 9:30 am - Inside Grand Prix (only showing)
9:30 am - 11:00 am - Practice 2 (2nd/final showing)
9:00 pm - 10:00 pm - F1 Debrief / Turkey (only showing)

SAT - May 24:
5:00 am - 6:30 am - Qualifying (LIVE) (Time-delay) (only showing)

SUN - May 25:
4:30 am - 5:00 am - Race Preview (LIVE)
5:00 am - 7:00 am - Race (LIVE)
2:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Race Preview/Race (2nd/final showing)

Schedule info courtesy of (clicks)
http://www.dooberville.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=6&pictureid=52 (http://www.racefantv.com/USTV.htm)
Because the one at Speed Bites!

For the fans of Formula One, what more can be said other than Monaco!

Monte Carlo Previous Results
Year Winner Team
2007 Fernando Alonso McLaren
2006 Fernando Alonso Renault
2005 Kimi Raikkonen McLaren
2004 Jarno Trulli Renault
2003 Juan Pablo Montoya Williams
2002 David Coulthard McLaren
2001 Michael Schumacher Ferrari
2000 David Coulthard McLaren
1999 Michael Schumacher Ferrari
1998 Mika Hakkinen McLaren
1997 Michael Schumacher Ferrari
1996 Olivier Panis Ligier
1995 Michael Schumacher Benetton
1994 Michael Schumacher Benetton
1993 Ayrton Senna da Silva McLaren
1992 Ayrton Senna da Silva McLaren
1991 Ayrton Senna da Silva McLaren
1990 Ayrton Senna da Silva McLaren

[ÜberDoober]

Oh boy!

I just now snagged this from Autosport.com (http://www.autosport.com/f1/)
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g223/EKron/monacoWeather.jpg

And I just read this at crash.net (http://www.crash.net/motorsport/f1/news/163654-0/haug_warns_monaco_08_could_be_crashfest.html)
Haug warns: Monaco '08 could be crashfest.
Wednesday, 21st May 2008

Norbert Haug says he fears there could be more crashes than ever before during this year's Monaco Grand Prix weekend – with the absence of traction control for the first time in almost a decade and the threat of rain spelling potential havoc as 20 Formula 1 drivers do battle around the narrow, tortuous streets of the Principality.

The Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Vice-President told German newspaper Bild that he was concerned about safety during the event, with cars running mere millimetres away from the circuit's unforgiving barriers and the tight confines traditionally catching out the unwary or those who allow their concentration to slip for even the briefest moment – testing drivers and teams alike to the absolute limit.

“I hope no one gets injured,” Haug underlined, “but we do have to count on numerous safety car phases.

[DooberRoni]

1st practice was led by Raikkonen with Hamilton topping the charts in P2. Looks like I forgot to post a poll on this one, my bad.

I think STR is using their new cars this weekend? I thought with Bourdais' street circuit experience in Champ Car, he might have a little something extra this race but not.

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:15.140 40
2. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:15.533 + 0.393 39
3. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:15.572 + 0.432 42
4. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:15.869 + 0.729 37
5. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:15.881 + 0.741 39
6. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:16.296 + 1.156 34
7. Alonso Renault (B) 1:16.310 + 1.170 27
8. Button Honda (B) 1:16.351 + 1.211 45
9. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:16.372 + 1.232 40
10. Barrichello Honda (B) 1:16.418 + 1.278 32
11. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:16.426 + 1.286 44
12. Glock Toyota (B) 1:16.688 + 1.548 46
13. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:17.094 + 1.954 39
14. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:17.131 + 1.991 39
15. Piquet Renault (B) 1:17.246 + 2.106 35
16. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:17.251 + 2.111 33
17. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:17.379 + 2.239 28
18. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:17.581 + 2.441 38
19. Sutil Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:18.176 + 3.036 31
20. Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:18.225 + 3.085 38

[ÜberDoober]

Up at 5:00, coffee pot on the boil and first qualifying session with 9:00 minutes to go...sun is shining and Monaco looks spectacular. LuHam goes to the top of the charts with a 1:15:582.

Know what, this looks a lot like Champ Car on steroids. Not an inch to make a mistake anywhere but the off circuit density of people, yachts and buildings provide a lot for the eye to take in.

3:45 left and Kovalainen does a 1:15:295 and goes to the top.

Man, I'm starving! I smell the coffee from the kitchen but am waiting for the end of the session. Just under two to go. Wo0T! :)

[DooberRoni]

Felipe Massa ends up at the top with a 1:15:1!

Failed to transfer:
Bourdais
Piquet
Vettel
Sutil
Fisichella

[DooberRoni]

Wow! 1 minute left and Rosberg hops to P2!

[ÜberDoober]

Checkers out!

Who's wheel did they just show and where is the car? Oh shit! Big shunt by DC. Damn! Into the runoff at the swimming pool going fast. Frakking commercial without giving the order first. GRrrrr!

Order
Massa
Rosberg
Hamilton
Kovalainen
Raikkonen
Kubica
Truli
Weber

Out!
Glock
Button
Heidfeld * why Nick?
Nakajima
Barrichello

[ÜberDoober]

The boys just told the story of Grand-Am's Wayne Taylor and how their transporter caught fire and they lost everything and how other teams, especially Ganassi have helped out with equipment and cars and everything. Maybe I'll lighten up on the old Chipster a little. That was decent.

Four minutes left and the clouds are moving lower. Time to get serious.

[DooberRoni]

Ferrari front row (again)! Massa on Pole followed by Kimi, Hamilton, Kovalainen, Kubica, Rosberg, Alonso, Truli and Weber.

I think they just said 45 out of 54 races at Monaco have been won from the pole but I'm always amazed that they don't all crash in the first corner.

Forecast is still for rain tomorrow and the question is who is trimmed out to perform in the wet? It's going to be a good one! :)

[ÜberDoober]

Watching the interviews, Felipe very happy and surprised he is on pole. I think the rumors that Ferrari might be looking to replace him have been quelled by his recent performances.

No traction control this year is one of the best things F1 has done lately. It is so exciting to see the cars struggle for grip and there's many more slides and you can see the drivers actually working for their times. If it does rain tomorrow, they will be earning their money for sure.

So, it's 6:30am and cloudy and rainy here today. Think I'll go find some trouble to get into! :ack2:

See y'all back at it tomorrow. Thanks 'Roni for getting up with me!

[ÜberDoober]

Results of qualifying.

Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3
1. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:15.190 1:15.110 1:15.787
2. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:15.717 1:15.404 1:15.815
3. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:15.582 1:15.322 1:15.839
4. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:15.295 1:15.389 1:16.165
5. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:15.977 1:15.483 1:16.171
6. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:15.935 1:15.287 1:16.548
7. Alonso Renault (B) 1:16.646 1:15.827 1:16.852
8. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:16.306 1:15.598 1:17.203
9. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:16.074 1:15.745 1:17.343
10. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:16.086 1:15.839 No time
11. Glock Toyota (B) 1:16.285 1:15.907
12. Button Honda (B) 1:16.259 1:16.101
13. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:16.650 1:16.455
14. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:16.756 1:16.479
15. Barrichello Honda (B) 1:16.208 1:16.537
16. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:16.806
17. Piquet Renault (B) 1:16.933
18. Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:16.955
19. Sutil Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:17.225
20. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:17.823

[LittleAlguy]

Damp track. Looks pretty intriguing.

[ÜberDoober]

Bah! I missed half of the pre-race show! Slept like crap last night and I guess 4:30 was just a little early?

This may just be crazy!

[LittleAlguy]

Oh boy, Kovalainen stalled before the getaway from the dummy grid.

[ÜberDoober]

I think Alonso must have a target on the back of his Renault? Massa is looking good early. Good of LuHam to split the Ferrari's.

[LittleAlguy]

It's really coming down now.

Button came in to change the front wing. Glock lost his front wing.

[ÜberDoober]

Hamilton with a tricycle. Dang!

[LittleAlguy]

Hamilton hit the rear. I'm surprised they didn't go to the full wets.

[ÜberDoober]

Carnage! :ack2:

[LittleAlguy]

Aww, Bourdais.

Alonso with a tire down as well.

[LittleAlguy]

Kimi will have to come in for a drive-thru penalty for improper installation of tires before the start.

Kubica is looking great. Massa is just on a tear right now.

[ÜberDoober]

Bummer drive-thru for Kimi on a technical infraction. Kubica looking good. Alonso is an idiot.

Holy Jeebus! It's a parking lot! :ack2:

[LittleAlguy]

I can't believe Alonso did that. He had no chance of making it stick.

[LittleAlguy]

Kubica to the lead!

[LittleAlguy]

Rosberg with his 2nd wing lost.

[ÜberDoober]

Oh No for Massa! It is starting look drier already.

Heidfeld has had a terrible weekend.

[LittleAlguy]

Massa and Kubica are in another zip code here.

Heh, Windsor could be right about the incident helping out Hamilton.

[ÜberDoober]

Kubica in. Back out on intermediates.

Kimi makes a mistake and needs to pit. If Hamilton does indeed have a full load of fuel and can hold off stopping, he may be able to switch to dry tires?

[LittleAlguy]

Wow, talk about getting the media on your side.

[LittleAlguy]

Massa is in a tough situation now: pit now while Hamilton, and more importantly, Kubica are gaining time or hold off and try to make it on just one stop.

edit: Massa just pitted and is just ahead of Kubica now.

[ÜberDoober]

Massa is in a tough situation now: pit now while Hamilton, and more importantly, Kubica are gaining time or hold off and try to make it on just one stop.

For sure. It's starting to get racier but they were running 1:15's in qualifying so there's still a ways to go.

[ÜberDoober]

Oh man! Glock almost got clocked!

Fisi out! So much for hoping for dry conditions or seeing somebody switch to dry tires. Rain is on the way again. :ack2:

[LittleAlguy]

Sutil had fastest lap for a few laps. How about the run he has had.

10-15 minutes until more rain.

[ÜberDoober]

Alonso on drys and rain in 6 minutes. If it rains he is so screwed.

[LittleAlguy]

To Windsor, the rain isn't really coming.

[LittleAlguy]

Alonso down to 1:28. Might be time for those leaders to switch to dry tires.

[ÜberDoober]

If it stays dry and Hamilton switches, having to make that early stop really worked out to his advantage.

[LittleAlguy]

He can't stay out too long. Remember the last time he stayed out too long on inters?

[LittleAlguy]

Hamilton out of the pits on dries.

Massa about to come in. Should be close between him and Kubica (26 s).

[LittleAlguy]

Safety car is out.

[ÜberDoober]

Whoa! Big shunt by Rosberg. Safety car out!

[ÜberDoober]

Aw come on already!

This could be very interesting! :)

[ÜberDoober]

OH KIMI!

Shame for Sutil. :mad:

[LittleAlguy]

Aw man, Sutil is out. Raikkonen really got it out of control.

[ÜberDoober]

Amazing race today with a lot of everything!

[LittleAlguy]

Hamilton wins! Great drives by Kubica, Massa, Webber, and Vettel. Kovi gets the final point.

[LittleAlguy]

Very disappointing for Sutil.

[ÜberDoober]

Thanks for keeping me company and for not having to talk to myself! :rolleyes:

Gotta grab a shower, run to the store and get back for the pre-race shows for Indy!

Splendid event today! Most entertaining.

Catch you later! :seeya: