The fun this year will be seeing lots of 
different colors on the podium

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I waited to read and respond to you until I had sent in my comments to the "Have Your Say" column. If you look, you'll see that either you and I are geniuses together -- or we're both lost in the woods! 
We both agree that Kimi is the driver to beat. And I think you may be right about Ferrari, but I have to bet against them because no one can sustain the kind of luck they've had for the past several seasons! So I'm going with Mac -- largely because of Kimi (and I'm not as unimpressed with D.C. as you are) whereas you prefer Williams. And you could be right, but ... I just think the friction between BMW and Sir Frank is too hard to turn into hunger. The Merc people, on the other hand, don't really have their engines and engineers in the mix, being smart enough to buy engines and badge them. That much less corporate meddling gives McLaren an edge in my book. 
I hope BAR can make it this year and I expect them to push Sauber hard and maybe even steal a march on Renault. 
I am so thoroughly disgusted with Ford that it's better not to say anything at all about the Jag folks. 
Maybe Toyota will come up with something this year, but I doubt it. If Renault's having trouble breaking in, I don't see the Toyota guys making it. 
Eddie J. didn't get the horsepower he wanted so I don't see a repeat this year of the Interlagos miracle. Even if there were a big wreck that took out seven or eight leaders, I think the yellow cars will be struggling to keep up with the black ones. 
The fun this year will be seeing lots of different colors on the podium. 
Notice I haven't said anything about JPM. There's a reason, Jim W - USA (Reference Heretic 6-1 - Another Year for the Prancing Horse ?)

The Heretic replies:

Hi Jim,

Nice to hear from you again.

I read your comments in “Have your say”.

I agree that it is very unlikely that Ferrari will dominate this year. Even if they get the car to do it with (and the competition is tough) they still have to get the tyres to do it with. That is a lot of progress in three months.

I also agree that Ferrari will bring out the smoke and mirrors.

I tend to discount Barrichello. Michael has all of Ferrari behind him; Barrichello merely gets a Ferrari under him, hoping that the team had enough non-Michael time to tighten the wheel nuts.

I suspect that Michael can only win the championship if a lot of the races are wet. We know that Bridgestone had a far better selection of wet tyres last year and it is unlikely that Michelin caught up. So there may be an American or two joining the Ferrari team – possibly Sioux, I believe they have the rain dance down pat.

Yes Kimi has my money. JPM is not a good underdog so do not be surprised if he often takes both of them out in a desperate overtaking bid. Although I must admit that he has mellowed some. Somehow in this mellowing process he seemed to lose a little of his edge.

Eddie Jordan has lost most of the people that know how to build a fast car. Even if he survives his financial problems I do not see him shaping.

Your comments about the single engines are valid. I wonder how this is going to be policed other than the parc ferme periods. A bit like the George Washington axe that has had several new handles and many new blades – but it is still the same axe. How will they define the engine? Is the fuel pump part of the engine? If not is the oil pump part of the engine? Does it depend on where these items are situated? Surely, if the oil pump (as an example) is an integral part of the crankcase it must be. Does that mean that if, say, Minardi are using motors where it is an integral part of the engine but Ferrari have developed an electric pump that is an integral part of the oil reservoir, Minardi will be allowed to take their entire engine apart to change the oil pump and who knows how many parts are replaced on reassembly. Or will Ferrari be allowed to change their oil pumps but Minardi can’t?

It is going to be a can of worms that will become as hard to police as the traction control debacle.

Yes, we both are going to be very right or totally wrong in our predictions.

I am not sure that Ferrari have a chance but logically the statistics of recent seasons cannot be ignored. I tried to stay as objective as possible in my assessment. My gut feeling is that Ferrari does not have a chance because I do not believe that Bridgestone will provide the tyres they need. Their struggle with rubber is not over yet.

Last year was the first time that I can recollect that Williams had a problem with their chassis. As it turned out, and we can only guess, it seems that the chassis was fine but so radical that it took them most of the season to tune it or possibly even get to understand it. I think this had a lot to do with the friction between them and BMW and if they come up with a competitive chassis from the start, most of the acrimony may go away. If I had more confidence in their drivers I would rank them higher.

Again, statistically I cannot remember when last McLaren had a competitive car from the start of the season (maybe back in the Senna/Prost times). Applying only logic concludes that they will have a poor start again and their chances for the season will depend on how points are scored while they are getting it right.

It would be nice if BAR could stay in the race. Again, statistically their chances do not look good.

I am intrigued by your comment (or lack thereof) on JPM.

Well, now we only have to wait a week and a bit before we know how brilliant we were, or not.

The Heretic

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