F1 driver Kimi Räikkönen to the NASCAR

[icepac]

Once a car has turned further than it's maximum steering angle, it's not skill that straightens it back out.

[Mus51]

China.

Webber.

Started 18th.

Finished 3rd.

No KERS.

Sebastian who?

 

(Image removed from quote.)

Excuse me for reacting so late to this.

KERS doesn't get him much faster, it decreases the stability under braking. But i have to say im impressed.

[Kazaa]

I will once again state that I do *not* like the new tires.  FIA wants increased degradation... fine... but the marbles ("Klag" in Euro-speak) are/(is) downright dangerous.

I would not be surprised, assuming the tire formula is not changed, if the teams banded together and sent a boycott message ala the US GP at Indy way back when over that tire safety issue.

You simply cannot be driving over 'rubber gravel' at 200MPH.

Did you see the slow-motion replay of that massive, 1x1 inch piece of tire that was bouncing along the track at China?  I don't want to think about what would happen if a piece like that impacted a driver's visor at those speeds... again with a reference to Massa...

Very, VERY displeased with Pirelli.  They know better...

I also love the rate of degradation but hate the massive marble effect this causes. It's unsightly to say the least.

[Saurdaukar]

I also love the rate of degradation but hate the massive marble effect this causes. It's unsightly to say the least.

If anything; it makes passing *harder* not easier...  

Since more "action" appears to be the aim of the FIA, you'd figure someone would have raised their hand and coughed after the first race of the season when the track, off-line, looked like a whoopee junkyard of rubber.

There was a race at VIR (Virginia International Raceway) last year... if memory serves, it was an MX-5 Cup race... and the marbles got so bad towards the end of the race that they actually threw a full course caution to sweep some of the corners.

That, to me, is inexcusable.

[Saurdaukar]

Excuse me for reacting so late to this.

KERS doesn't get him much faster, it decreases the stability under braking. But i have to say im impressed.

Depends on the circuit, IMO.  DRS and KERS, in concert, at circuits with very long straights (Oz was not a good example) I'd say that there is a profound impact on passing ability.

If nothing else, KERS malfunctions have resulted in 3, 4 or even more positions being lost right off the starting grid.

I'm curious, though - how does KERS affect braking stability?  Perhaps I don't fully understand the system. 

[morfiend]

 Mazz,


   When the KERS is working it puts a load on the rear axle and assists in breaking somewhat.  When it's not working it's sort of like downshifting and having no engine braking. Atleast thats how it was explained.

  It seems the problems Redbull is having are cooling of the KERS,they have a cooling system of their own,since they are located directly under the fuel cell I guess there's good reason to not overheat the system.


 I was watching some practice for the Turkish GP,you could see the unloaded front tire picking up the marbles. I like the tire wear in theory but it has to be made more granular and smaller,these big chunks are down right dangerous.



     

[icepac]

F1 needs to reel in the aero traction and increase mechanical traction or boredom will doom the series.

[morfiend]

 the Mdonut was supposed to be a reference to you Saurdaukar but I guess the censor didnt like it...



   I'm still not sold on this DRS,the KERS I understand,hybred cars and all but if your going to give them movable wings why limit where and when a driver can take advantage of that? F1 needs to take the kid gloves off and let the Techno guys have their way,they can limit the teams with fuel and tires so why not let tecnology lead the way.

  This stuff is transfered over to domestic cars,antilock brakes,traction control,the list goes on. Until Bernie gives up control I dont think any of this will happen.


     

[saggs]

F1 needs to reel in the aero traction and increase mechanical traction or boredom will doom the series.

You know not what you speak of.   People have been proclaiming the doom of F1 since at least the mid 90's (as long as I've followed the sport) when they did away with the V10 1,000+ horsepower, turbocharged monsters (which had very little aero-grip).   Guess what, since then not only is the sport much safer then ever, it also has more fans then ever.   For every old fogey  that whines and is no longer a fan because "It's not like the good old days" there are 2 young kids who discover the sport and become fans.

I laugh at the people who don't like KERS, because they say it's not "pure" racing.  Obviously they either weren't around or have forgotten the 80's and 90's when the drivers had a little red button labeled "BOOST" they could push for an extra 100hp.  How is that different from a little red button (or paddle as the case may be) labeled KERS that gives them an extra 80hp.

As for the tires, I like the strategic racing that the new Pirellis give us.  Don't think that Webber could have pulled off 18th to 3rd without it.  The large marbles are a little disconcerting, but I'm sure Pirelli is still working on perfecting the compound.  I can't think of a way to have degradation without some kind of marbles (fine marbles seem like they'd be worse then big ones) but I'm not a materials engineer.

[Kazaa]

You know not what you speak of.   People have been proclaiming the doom of F1 since at least the mid 90's (as long as I've followed the sport) when they did away with the V10 1,000+ horsepower, turbocharged monsters (which had very little aero-grip).   Guess what, since then not only is the sport much safer then ever, it also has more fans then ever.   For every old fogey  that whines and is no longer a fan because "It's not like the good old days" there are 2 young kids who discover the sport and become fans.

I laugh at the people who don't like KERS, because they say it's not "pure" racing.  Obviously they either weren't around or have forgotten the 80's and 90's when the drivers had a little red button labeled "BOOST" they could push for an extra 100hp.  How is that different from a little red button (or paddle as the case may be) labeled KERS that gives them an extra 80hp.

As for the tires, I like the strategic racing that the new Pirellis give us.  Don't think that Webber could have pulled off 18th to 3rd without it.  The large marbles are a little disconcerting, but I'm sure Pirelli is still working on perfecting the compound.  I can't think of a way to have degradation without some kind of marbles (fine marbles seem like they'd be worse then big ones) but I'm not a materials engineer.

Great post.

[icepac]

My stating the need for less aero traction and more mechanical grip is the fact that it is rare to see someone pull right up on another and make a "maneuver pass".

Most passes in the last decade are long thrusts done at the end of very long straights and very slow speed bulling where the speeds are low enough that aero issues actually give a glimpse of the kind of racing that used to occur all over the track in higher speeds sections.

Giving up a bit of aero traction and enhancing mechanical traction gives rise to cars that don't lose a significant amount of traction when behind or beside another as well as maintaining a much higher percentage of driver controllability when off-line or off axis from perfect aero stance.

Not sure about saggs but I have been involved in high level racing for a very long time and this allows me to make a remark based on experience and observation of change.


People largely take whatever racing is given to them so there will always be new fans but that does not mean the decisions of Max Mosely and Bernie were correct.

[saggs]

People largely take whatever racing is given to them so there will always be new fans but that does not mean the decisions of Max Mosely and Bernie were correct.

What's "correct" is a matter of opinion, and just because yours is different from the current formula does not mean the series is "doomed".  You may think it's boring, so what, millions of other fans don't = not doomed.   Back to the topic of this thread, I find NASCAR to be EXTREMELY boring.  Does that mean the series is "doomed", even though it has millions of devoted fans???

FWIW, I think the DRS and new Pirellis will help a lot with what you're talking about, I wished they'd let them keep the driver adjustable front wing as well.  That way you can have the downforce in the corners and the straight line speed as well.

[Ex-jazz]

Hi

Kimi's race car paint scheme is published:
http://www.perkyjerky.com/kimi-release

[rpm]

Qualified 22nd, finished 27th (4 laps down).

[Ex-jazz]

OFFICIAL: Kimi Raikkonen signs with Red Bull Racing for 2012 by PitRoadBox

MAY 29, 2011 at 05:18 AM | COMMENTS (1) | LIKES (0)
After all public rumors, Kimi Raikkonen has finally made his point by coming to NASCAR. He is signed with Red Bull Racing to replace Kasey Kahne for 2012.

Raikkonen, who is currently competing in the WRC, said he wanted to do this because "NASCAR is totally interesting in my opinion because I remember Juan Pablo Montoya's move to NASCAR and I have been following him a lot."

Kasey Kahne expressed his opinion on Raikkonen coming to NASCAR: "Obviously, Kimi is from Finland and since the Finns don't know much about NASCAR, he will introduce NASCAR to the entire country of Finland. He is an amazing World Champion who can do anything he wants to win and become good at."

Brian Vickers and Scott Speed have different opinions, however. "I am very comfortable about Kimi Raikkonen coming to NASCAR because he is such a great advisor to any driver out there", said Vickers. Scott Speed said, "I can't wait for Kimi to come over because he is such a great World Champion and a perfect teammate."

After all, Kimi said that in 2009 when he was going to leave F1, he said that he could race in NASCAR if he wanted to. But this is about to change in 2012.