2012 US GP - Circuit of the Americas

[Ray]

I have my ideas, sure.

In any event, to me it's a no brainer that there's no grip because the track is brand new and hasn't been run in. But to blame it on Pirelli is dumb, IMO.

I blame them for a lot of things over the past two years, but not this. Besides more to the point this is the lesser of two evils. If Pirelli brought soft tires that ran hot, blistered, and failed... THEN the lot of internet engineers could go up in arms about them being dumb or foolish. The smart move is to err on the side of durability. Then what they learn this year they can creep up on a better solution next time around once the track has been run on a bit.

I'm not blaming them for anything. I just don't see how a track temp that isn't that far above freezing can make the soft tires come apart at the seams and damage their reputation. Their road tires are so wildly and ridiculously overpriced in the US market that I don't see the connection between road sales in a country that doesn't have a very deep Formula 1 fan base. Would having a tire that even degrades slightly in cold temps not benefit overall from having more rubber than slick track to adhere to? I don't see the soft tires lasting any less than the hard tires while adding overall grip from wearing in and depositing at least some rubber on the track. Even the Red Bulls with the most overall downforce were sliding around like it was icy out there, wouldn't at least some rubber stop that and still allow the softer compounds to last a sufficient distance?

[stefan_]

The word that comes into my mind when thinking about Massa's gearbox change is "low". If they had made a good car in the first place they wouldn't have to make this kind of dumb moves and chaotic "updates" towards at the end of the season. Alonso now better get the most of it.

Let's enjoy the race now.

[Jersey Tom]

I have my ideas, sure.

In any event, to me it's a no brainer that there's no grip because the track is brand new and hasn't been run in. But to blame it on Pirelli is dumb, IMO.

I blame them for a lot of things over the past two years, but not this. Besides more to the point this is the lesser of two evils. If Pirelli brought soft tires that ran hot, blistered, and failed... THEN the lot of internet engineers could go up in arms about them being dumb or foolish. The smart move is to err on the side of durability. Then what they learn this year they can creep up on a better solution next time around once the track has been run on a bit.

I'm not blaming them for anything. I just don't see how a track temp that isn't that far above freezing can make the soft tires come apart at the seams and damage their reputation. Their road tires are so wildly and ridiculously overpriced in the US market that I don't see the connection between road sales in a country that doesn't have a very deep Formula 1 fan base. Would having a tire that even degrades slightly in cold temps not benefit overall from having more rubber than slick track to adhere to? I don't see the soft tires lasting any less than the hard tires while adding overall grip from wearing in and depositing at least some rubber on the track. Even the Red Bulls with the most overall downforce were sliding around like it was icy out there, wouldn't at least some rubber stop that and still allow the softer compounds to last a sufficient distance?

Track temp just above freezing? I pulled up the forecast for Austin and it shows 73 and sunny.

In any event, I think soft tires would have even less grip here than they already are struggling with. That's my opinion.

And regardless of track temp if tires don't wear much with the track being so new and smooth, heat WILL becomes an issue.

[Ray]

Completely off-topic, but they just had the traditional flyover with old prop fighters. I think the world would be a better place if the worlds air forces went back to prop powered fighters and not jets. They sound better, look cooler, and just have that intangible awesomeness to them that jets will never have.

[Ray]

Track temp just above freezing? I pulled up the forecast for Austin and it shows 73 and sunny.

In any event, I think soft tires would have even less grip here than they already are struggling with. That's my opinion.

And regardless of track temp if tires don't wear much with the track being so new and smooth, heat WILL becomes an issue.

Ah, then my data was incorrect. In the case of tires, I thought heating just the surface of the tire versus the whole carcass wasn't so bad. If you can manage it then they should be okay. Either way, it's slick out there and it'll separate the men from the boys. Can't wait.

Anyone know of a good stream? I'm not paying $170 a month for cable and internet just to watch Formula 1 on the odd weekends.

[Sevach]

The only positive i can think from these tires is, the pit call might be interesting, given how long it takes to get these tires up to temperature undercutting might not work.

[clipsy1H]

i'm so nervous .... i hope Michael have a clean start and race. Damn he deserve a win

Gorsjean is so close to him hope Romain doesn't screw up.

[zgred]

[Ray]

SpeedTV has a good stream going on onboard with Alonso.

http://stream.speedtv.com/mercedes

[myurr]

Utterly right decision by Ferrari then now that they have Alonso up to 4th already.

[Morteza]

Utterly right decision by Ferrari then now that they have Alonso up to 4th already.

That was a hell of a start.

[clipsy1H]

what a start for fernando!!! damn Michael was flanked by 2 cars!

BTW: Michael car out of pace

[JimClarkFan]

thought that the starts dropping 2 rows was overstated, there was a difference but not a whole lot.

I was absolutely crapping myself at the start there in case Alonso didn't get past

[Joie de vivre]

LOVING THIS CIRCUIT!!!

[Morteza]

what a start for fernando!!! damn Michael was flanked by 2 cars!

BTW: Michael car out of pace

What's wrong with that Mercedes?! They can never get anything right