February 28, 2002

4:46 PM

F1 2002is go! The Formula 1 circus hit the track a couple of minutes back and officially kicked off the 2002 season.
posted by riffola (14 comments total)

if I may interject? the beatles are awesome. any musician that doesn't listen to them is doing themselves a great disservice!
posted by mcsweetie at 5:08 PM on February 28, 2002

What constantly bugs me is that Japan (Suzuka) is always the last race (or seems to be). It never decides anybody's fate. It's like an afterthought. I wish they would hold it in April or May.

Not that anybody cares, but...
posted by Bixby23 at 5:52 PM on February 28, 2002

I think Ferrari's choice to run last year's car instead of the 2002 version at the first race is pretty smart. I imagine that Williams and McLaren will suffer from reliability problems. For those that get Speedvision, the practice will be broadcast at 11:00 est tonight. So many stories to witness. How will the Renault (formerly Benetton) team do? Will Toyota be as bad as everyone predicts? Can Kimi Raikkonen fill the shoes of Mika? Can Juan Pablo's ego actually get bigger than Schumi? Will Sauber continue to amaze as the team that does so much with so little? I can't wait. Oh, and I like The Beatles too.
posted by machaus at 6:01 PM on February 28, 2002

Schuey and Rubens topped the first free practice session.
posted by riffola at 6:02 PM on February 28, 2002

Actually Bixby23, apart from 2000 and 2001, almost all seasons in the last ten years have gone down to the wire.
posted by riffola at 6:05 PM on February 28, 2002

Australia Friday free practice: session one.
posted by riffola at 6:29 PM on February 28, 2002

Wow, the Ferrari's have the field covered... in last year's car! (I'm well aware it's heavily modified... but still...) The McLaren's are disappointing, BMW about where they should be, but disappointing they're not closer to the Ferrari's. Meanwhile, Salo sure is impressive in the Toyota.
posted by gyc at 7:07 PM on February 28, 2002

Amazing stuff, can't believe F1 2001C is topping the charts in both sessions. We'll find out the real truth tomorrow of course.
posted by riffola at 7:11 PM on February 28, 2002

...not enough f1 coverage here, at least where i am (without speedvision!!!!). F1 is almost as fun as wrc.
posted by tomplus2 at 7:44 PM on February 28, 2002

Of course, Friday practice means absolutely nothing, but it is the first race of the year, so no doubt people are still sorting out their cars. Look for Salo to slip back into mid-pack, BMW's to close the gap with the Ferrari's, and for the McLarens to show their true colors up front. It must be frustrating for Jacques that BAR is basically stuck where they were last year.
posted by gyc at 8:04 PM on February 28, 2002

I'm looking forward to this season (even though I can't usually watch past about lap 12 in a race because it just gets so boring). Two new teams - Renault (requires Flash, sorry) Toyota - arrive on the scene but Murray Walker (fantastic race commentator of many, many years) has departed. I'll miss his over-excited-to-the-point-of-gibberish style. Maybe I'll listen to the commentary on the radio and watch the race with the TV turned right down.

Does anyone see a potential boo-boo in that there is a constructor sponsoring the UK race televiser this year? (ITV-F1 sponsored by Toyota.)
posted by jackiemcghee at 12:53 AM on March 1, 2002

I don't mind racing, I just wish it wasn't labeled a "sport."
posted by Mach3avelli at 4:05 AM on March 1, 2002

This season they have two-way telemetry in the cars, meaning that the pit crew can make adjustments to things like fuel mixture while the car is out on the track. That's pretty cool.

I just wish I wasn't reduced to cheering sadly to myself when Jacques Villeneuve manages to finish a race...maybe this season will be different? (oh please please please)
posted by biscotti at 8:15 AM on March 1, 2002

Ferrari on front row, 2 2001 hybrid cars kick 20 other 2002 cars' butts. Of course the race will be very interesting because Michelin teams may opt for a one stop, while the Bridgestone runners most likely will opt for a two stop strategy.
posted by riffola at 7:28 PM on March 1, 2002