July 06, 2009

F1 on TV: Germany 2009!

*tap tap tap*  Is this thing on?  It is?  Okay, good.

*ahem*

FINALLY.  It's been three weeks since the last race (or at least it will be, on Sunday), and the layoff has been driving me bugnutty.  I even watched the entire NASCAR race on Saturday night, and I never do that (bring back the name "Firecracker 400", NASCAR... what's wrong with you guys?).  But, finally, we're back to the real stuff.

And, even better, we're returning to a good track in Germany.  The last time we were at the Nurburgring GP-Strecke, aka "Nurb Jr", it was the 2007 European Grand Prix.   There was a spot of rain and Markus Winklehock's Spyker (wow, a Spyker siting!) wound up leading by over 30 seconds after the first couple of laps.  (Trivia point: Winklehock is the only driver in F1 history to start both last and first in the same race, thanks to the red flag that came out while he was leading)

Ah, but that was then, and this is now.  Spyker is now Force India and Winklehock hasn't driven a F1 car again.  But we're back at the Nurb Jr, and all is right with the world.  Let's take a look at the track map:

It was the Dunlop Kehre that we had the most fun in 2007, as it sits at the bottom of a fairly steep downhill section and cars would be swimming completely out of control at that point. 

Alas, Nurb Jr isn't a patch on the infamous Nordschleife, aka "The Green Hell," but it's a helluva lot safer.  For those who might be interested, here's an onboard video from 2007 when Nick Heidfeld took a BMW F1.06 around the Nurb at about 2/3rds speed.  Here's a better video of the track at full speed, with other cars.

Oh, yeah, the race.  It's a fairly decent high-speed circuit, with the added bonus of not really having a "technical" section (though turns 1 thru 4 basically serve the same purpose).  However, the turns fairly scream for a car with good grip, so this would be a "low-medium" downforce track.  I'm guessing the FIA'll be using the supersoft/medium compounds again. 

We'll get to see Practice 2 LIVE on SPEED this Friday, from 7a to 840a.  Quals will be plausibly live on Saturday from 7a to 830a, also on SPEED.

But the race will be Sunday, from 2p to 4p, on FOX.  Check your local listings!

See ya then!

Posted by: Wonderduck at 05:31 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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1 Looks like a safe track. Lots and lots of big runoff areas. The one outside turn 2 is especially huge, as it should be.

Posted by: Steven Den Beste at July 06, 2009 05:53 PM (+rSRq)

2 There are two versions of 13/14. Which do they use?

Posted by: Steven Den Beste at July 06, 2009 05:55 PM (+rSRq)

3

Steven, they use the first, sharper and slower, version. 

Posted by: Wonderduck at July 06, 2009 06:02 PM (DcSb+)

4

I know what you mean about the Firecracker 400.  Now THAT was a name for an event!  The NASCAR race did have its moments, though.  Too bad it couldn't have ultimately ended in a cage match between Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart.

But I digress...loved your look at the course!  Can't wait for the weekend.

 

 

Posted by: Mallory at July 06, 2009 06:16 PM (WJ2qy)

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