Dear Heretic: It's good to have you back! I enjoy thinking through things
in your company.
On the Concorde Agreement, of course you're correct. The understanding, then,
was that licensing and management were key to an enhanced revenue stream. And
Bernie's living proof that they were, indeed! The problem is that maximizing
the bottom line inevitably reduces competition (since competition is
expensive, unpredictable, and hard to manage.
People who thrive under these conditions create corporations; they don't
manage them.
As to speed and overtaking; of course, you're correct on both points
(aerodynamics and marbles make overtaking noticeably less likely --especially
when the "points system" rewards consistency over winning. One way
to increase overtaking, without making any other change, would be to award 50
points for a first place; 15 for second, 10 for third, 6 for fourth, 4 for
fifth, 3 for sixth, 2 for seventh and 1 for eighth. It would be worth it for
everyone, then, to drive like Juan Pablo because it would cost you far less to
risk passing than it does under the current point system.
Changing the tyre rules will help, too, as you point out. And I also agree
that George W. Bush must have been the technical advisor on the aero rule
changes! They are silly and confusing.
So are you correct, as have been most knowledgeable people I've read on the
engine "rules." But I don't think going to V-8's will be the
Gotterdamerung you do; we had some pretty great racing back in the 60's with
V-8's. Where I agree is that the proposed rules are "bullshit." I
think it was Norbert Haug I saw the other day saying it doesn't make any
difference to the manufacturers's spending whether they're developing a V-10
or a V-8 and whether it runs for one race distance or five. So if the proposed
rule changes don't reduce spending and are a silly way to reduce speed, why
have them? The only think I can think of is that somebody's [I wouldn't name
any names but his initials are M.&M.] ego is involved here.
So, too, the nonsense about a third, non-point scoring car. Why not a random
roving safety car? Each team draws a number (which they keep secret). Just
before the flag drops, three numbers are posted. The holders of those numbers
can send out the safety car whenever they decide. Sorry, but I think they make
up these proposals after one too many Guinesses!
I have to disagree with you about the notion that "slowing the F1
machines would lead to less interest in the sport. When they realized, over at
the Brickyard (the 500) that Luyendyk's 236 (almost 237) qualifying average
was a prescription for disaster, they killed the trend with drastic new rules.
No more does the track announcer dramatically intone, "It's a New Track
Record"; in fact, no one's heard these words at Indy since 1996. And the
racing's better (and closer) than ever! But in no way is either the IRL or the
(slightly faster) Championship Group (or whatever they call themselves these
days), the "premier motor sport."
In the first place, both of them are limited to two or three chassis, two or
three engine packages (mostly built in the dear old U.K.); whatever
"edge" a team has it's strictly managerial and skills related
--engineering and innovation are strictly proscribed. And so, for my money,
it's an entertaining and exciting kind of motor racing; but it isn't the
"premier."
On to Shanghai (where maybe someone will take Bernie and Max
"hostage" and we can forget about them and get on with racing). Like
you, I was disappointed by Renault at Monza; I had picked both drivers to
finish in the points (F.A. 6th; J.T. 8th). But I also picked Kimi to win (I'm
incurably optimistic).
The story of the year (besides Michael's incredible seventh) is J.P.M.'s
carrying sir Frank on his back! Once again, he's making enough points to keep
BMW Williams alive, if not competitive enough to take out BAR or Renault.
Would anyone have believed that last March?! That MacLaren would fall off the
charts and Williams slide out of contention?! But Juan's DRIVING alone has
kept them in the points. It's for this reason alone that I'm picking him to
take the pole and win the inaugural Chinese G.P. No one knows the course, so
the one who "hangs it out the farthest with out losing it "should
take it. And I don't see Michael willing to risk injury at this stage; I don't
see Jenson or Rubens capable of a real stand off with JPM into a corner. Only
Kimi has a chance and the skills to take it from Juan --and Kimi's luck, like
his machinery, this year has been rotten. Ciao and good racing! - Jim W (Reference
Heretic 6-13 - This Concorde like the
supersonic Concorde is dated)
The Heretic replies:
Hi Jim,
Like always, I enjoyed hearing from you but as we are in accord there is
little that I can add to your comments.
I was opposed when they changed the points scoring because I felt that
it encourages �safe� driving as, in a normal season when one team is not
this dominant, consistently coming second will almost guarantee the
championship. Changing the points structure to reward overtaking substantially
(not just by one point) is a good idea.
I do not have a problem with V8s. I agree that they could still give
everything that the current V10 gives but I was already opposed to the
limitation to 10 pots because I firmly feel that F1 should be allowed to be on
the forefront of motor racing technology � not technically hobbled by stupid
rules.
I also cannot see how the FIA thinks that they can make the sport
cheaper for teams without damaging it. Even if they restricted it to one
cylinder that has to last for a year the fastest team will always be the one
that throws money at the problem. My nine-year-old daughter understands that,
so you may be right, MM may be using Bush as his intellect consultant.
My concern with slowing the sport by restricting of power is purely a
fear that they will fall foul of the slower formulas, which I believe can
happen if politics and stupid ruling prevails. Ruling so that the focus moves
from technology to management could also, certainly in the initial stages,
make it a poor shadow of CART and if they lose following as a result they may
never get back to being the premier sport.
Well, Williams were not fast enough to get JPM there. Maybe in Japan.
