british grand prix axed for 2005

[sherer]

Originally Posted by gary_580

I was suggesting that when the Rockingham circuit was built, they could have done what Indianpolis did to included a GP circuit with the oval circuit complex

there is an in field circuit but i think it is only used for bikes. Don't forget that Rockinham is a 1 mile circuit and Indy is a 2.5 mile circuit so there is more space in the middle at Indy. The mistake they made at Indy is too many slow corners before the banked section. it meant cars had to use high downforce settings and made them too slow down the straight.

I've been ro Rockinham twice to watch the CAT series and it could have been built better. You get a great view but there is only really one line on the track so not much overtaking.. the US has far better one mile tracks that do produce overtaking.

[sherer]

Originally Posted by Graham

Yes, but these are endurance races, not F1. In those overtaking isn't such an important part.

you were stating that it would be difficult to televise an 8 mile circuit.. i was pointing out that it has already been done.

One of the main problems I think we have today with overtaking is shown by the ITV coverage. When they talk to the teams during a race or before and the drivers they all say we are racing this person and are looking into what we can do with the strategy to overtake. Or the other phrase they use is you can't pass here so i waited for the stops.

Next year tyres have to last the whole race.. why not take out refueling as well then the action has to happen on the track they can't wait for a pit stop.

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by sherer

there is an in field circuit but i think it is only used for bikes. Don't forget that Rockinham is a 1 mile circuit and Indy is a 2.5 mile circuit so there is more space in the middle at Indy. The mistake they made at Indy is too many slow corners before the banked section. it meant cars had to use high downforce settings and made them too slow down the straight.

I've been ro Rockinham twice to watch the CAT series and it could have been built better. You get a great view but there is only really one line on the track so not much overtaking.. the US has far better one mile tracks that do produce overtaking.

they race at least touring cars there , not sure what else though

Originally Posted by sherer

you were stating that it would be difficult to televise an 8 mile circuit.. i was pointing out that it has already been done.

Yes, but the point is that the strategies and tactics of an endurance race are not the same as those of an F1 race.

Imagine you're the director of an F1 camera team on an 8 mile circuit and you're trying to keep tabs on all the cameras needed to cover that length to ensure you don't miss showing some of the action!

One of the main problems I think we have today with overtaking is shown by the ITV coverage. When they talk to the teams during a race or before and the drivers they all say we are racing this person and are looking into what we can do with the strategy to overtake. Or the other phrase they use is you can't pass here so i waited for the stops.

Which is why I'm saying the new tracks are good because you *can* pass!

Next year tyres have to last the whole race.. why not take out refueling as well then the action has to happen on the track they can't wait for a pit stop.

Personally I think that the pit-stops should change, but by using a US style system where you can only have 5 people on the other side of the pit wall instead of the 20+ you have in F1.

Currently it is the refuelling that takes up most of the time, unless there's a problem the tyres are finished long before the fuel. If, OTOH, you could only have five people working on the car, tyre changes would be much longer and it would get back to being a *team* sport because the mechanics would have to make sure they got it right.

[sherer]

Originally Posted by Graham

Yes, but the point is that the strategies and tactics of an endurance race are not the same as those of an F1 race.

Imagine you're the director of an F1 camera team on an 8 mile circuit and you're trying to keep tabs on all the cameras needed to cover that length to ensure you don't miss showing some of the action!

i'd rather have a race where there was too much action than just one pass all race

Originally Posted by Graham

Which is why I'm saying the new tracks are good because you *can* pass!

yes but only usually at one point on the track i.e into the hairpin after a long straight

Originally Posted by Graham

Personally I think that the pit-stops should change, but by using a US style system where you can only have 5 people on the other side of the pit wall instead of the 20+ you have in F1.

Currently it is the refuelling that takes up most of the time, unless there's a problem the tyres are finished long before the fuel. If, OTOH, you could only have five people working on the car, tyre changes would be much longer and it would get back to being a *team* sport because the mechanics would have to make sure they got it right.

i'd get rid of the stops altogether.. there aren't any tyre stops next year they have to last the whole race which is why it's strange that refuleing is left in. I just think the FIA is trying to find ways to make the racing artificial as they can't get much action on the track. That's what refueling is meant to do but i don't want my racing done on a spreadsheet and computer simulation that says doing this will mean we can pass in the pits.

That's what the one lap qualifying and one engine per weekend were also mant to do.. it was meant to make the front runners have a mistake on their run or loose an engine and have to start near the back and overtake.

What i'd like to get rid of on cost grounds is all the sensors and computers.. why not just let the driver feel and work out what the car is doing rather than a computer.. it puts things back into the drivers hands and means they can make more of a difference..

Originally Posted by sherer

yes but only usually at one point on the track i.e into the hairpin after a long straight

Did you *watch* the F1 GPs in Bahrain and Shanghai? There was a *lot* of passing going on and *not* just "into the hairpin" which is frankly a better description of older F1 tracks (Monaco being the perfect example!)

Originally Posted by sherer

there is an in field circuit but i think it is only used for bikes. Don't forget that Rockinham is a 1 mile circuit and Indy is a 2.5 mile circuit so there is more space in the middle at Indy. The mistake they made at Indy is too many slow corners before the banked section. it meant cars had to use high downforce settings and made them too slow down the straight.

I've been ro Rockinham twice to watch the CAT series and it could have been built better. You get a great view but there is only really one line on the track so not much overtaking.. the US has far better one mile tracks that do produce overtaking.

lol, before rockingham was built there was nothing there. What i was saying is that with a bit of forward planning and confidence in what they were building this circuit COULD have included a grand prix standard circuit as well as an oval in the same way as Indianapolis.

There are many ovals in the USA that also include a road circuit.

Infact i cant really see why it wouldnt be entertaining to include on oval race in the GP season