Dear Heretic: Amen. Not only is she singing; she's singing in Italian. I
expect Jean Todt (and his #1 driver!) to do everything in his power to get
Rubens the pole and the race.
I hope that McLaren is hungry enough to challenge with Kimi (I expect, alas,
nothing inspired from D.C.).
BAR may well get caught out, by a Merc actually going race distance. And this
is the kind of course Kimi (like Michael) can OWN.
As you point out, not only does the car have to try to compromise its set up
because of the slow fast nature of a lap, but the driver is the only element
that can adjust on both ends of the spectrum and make better cars look leaden
in comparison.
I don't see Takuma doing well here, but Jenson should. You worried me when you
suggested that Renault has lost interest in this year's car, because I had
thought the recent performance of the Spaniard to be owing more to fatigue and
frustration than to engineering. Anyway, I picked Fernando to finish fifth
again. I expect little brother Ralph to be in the points, but only barely.
Indeed, he could be following Takuma and D.C.
I'm sad that Villeneuve has been disappointing; it would have made for a great
story had he come storming back. But, when you think about it, D.C.'s
struggles with Kimi and Jenson and Fernando's and even Takuma's performances
show that the new crop is VERY FAST and only a phenomenon like Michael seems
really able to withstand them. Maybe J.V. is wondering what happened while
he's been enjoying his millions.
I find writing a final note to you a sad moment; the season turned out so
different from what we all expected. Of course, as an old Tifosi, I am happy
to see the red cars on top. But I wish we were struggling in it up to the
final chequered flag. Oh well, maybe next year. Ciao for now. Have a good
winter!
P.S. you're right about Silverstone. Losing this kind of circuit is like
losing Spa or Monza - Jim W (Reference Heretic
6-15 - The fat lady is singing)
The Heretic replies:
Well, Jim,
The season is over. It was not that inspiring and although we did not
want Ferrari to lose it would have been nice if one of the other teams had a
package that could consistently win too.
But that is racing.
Next year the rules may level the playing field a little; let’s hope
it does.
It is really hard to work out which drivers are fastest. Within a team
one can make some judgement calls but that is as far as we can go. Everybody
says that as the oldest driver, it is amazing that Michael still has not
slowed down. How do we know that? Maybe he has and it is Ferrari that makes
the difference. We only know that he is consistently faster than Barrichello.
As far as the new crop, as you call them, is concerned, I think that
youth is a huge factor. Adaptability, no history, stamina and a lack of fear
give them an edge. Sure they do not have the experience but it may be the
experience that is handicapping older drivers.
Have a great winter. I will be looking at the rules sometime in the
off-season and would love to read your comments on these
