>Now, who cares right? Well, here's my idea: Instead of everybody
>***ing about this soap opera stuff, why don't you guys post your
>recent race results?
Not a bad idea. OK, here's a report from my last race in the F1SA GP2
series over on Compuserve. (note: as well as the standard Rookie to Ace
level opposition, we also have Ace+ settings to make it a little tougher
<g>)
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Boy was that tough!
I qualified against Ace+3 opps without bothering to check how fast they
were in races. Once I had checked, I realised that there was a good
chance I was going to get lapped :(
The start was going to be crucial so I dropped first gear a bit for
better acceleration. Villeneuve still got away better, but I was able to
stop him getting a whole car's length ahead and with the inside line at
the first corner was able to grab first. Phew!
Villeneuve and then Frentzen tried desperately to get past me but I had
the edge on straight line speed and was able to fend off their challenges
until Frentzen dived down the inside at the Pits Hairpin on lap 16. I get
a good exit from the corner though and am able to retake first under
braking for the last chicane.
I pit on lap 23 with Frentzen right behind and we exit in 4th and 5th
with Villeneuve, Berger and Hakkinen on one stop strategies.
Frentzen was again all over me and on lap 26 does the same move to pass
me as before. This time I can't catch him on the straight and that's just
about the last I see of him.
Lap 36 and I'm up to 3rd with the front three having stopped - Villeneuve
managed to keep ahead of me, only just mind you but that was enough as he
was able to pull out over a second a lap :( I had other things to worry
about though with Alesi all over me now.
Lap 46 and I make my second stop with Schumacher now having joined Alesi
on my tail. As I am trundling down the pit lane I catch my last glimpse
of Frentzen as he exits from his second stop. I exit in 10th.
Lap 50 and I'm up to 6th with Schumacher still to make his last stop, but
those 4 laps not following me enable him to exit just ahead of me and he
also shoots off into the distance - becoming a common theme this!
Lap 65 and I'm still in 6th but with Alesi, Panis, Schumacher jr & Nakano
lined up behind me. I ruin what has been a very steady race up to this
point by losing it under braking for the chicane between the two splits,
losing 12 seconds and 4 places.
Lap 67 and I regain 9th when Nakano retires.
Finishing lap 68 and the chequered flag is waving!! Have I been lapped
without realising it? Maybe when I had that spin? I don't thinks so and I
keep the throttle down - sure enough a couple of seconds later it flashes
up that Villeneuve has won. That was close! I thought it a bit
inconsiderate of the marshalls to be waving all those flags when I was
still racing though ;-)
All, in all that was one hell of an experience! I probably spent more
time looking in my mirrors than looking forwards <g> It would have been
nice to have been able to challenge the CCs for position but I have to
say that holding so many of them off when they were so much quicker than
me made this probably my most exciting race to date <vbg>
I'm absolutely shattered now though ;-))
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Cheers,
Richard