[Alvin]

Originally Posted by keith k

Good Stuff.
I'll be setting my alarm for O-Dark-Hundred to watch the race!
Agree it's great to have Kimi back in the mix-

Cool Keith.

If you are going to watch it LIVE you may be interested in new for 2013 Live Timing http://www.formula1.com/live_timing/
Streams live data to teams.

[Alvin]

Link for videos and on-board laps http://www.formula1.com/video/

[MikeNoun]

One of the great moments of the 2012 F1 Season was at the Abu Dhabi race, where Kimi won for the first time after his return to F1. When the team principal told him on the radio that Alonso was behind him (Kimi was leading) and that he would keep him updated on the gap, Kimi replied, "Just leave me alone, I know what to do."

I never heard Bob Varsha and David Hobbs laugh so hard.

[Alvin]

Q1 was quite the challenge - to put it mildly.

[Alvin]

Here for latest update http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...3/3/14351.html

[Alvin]

Great race with some real surprises! Tire strategy and usage look to be a big factor in this seasons outcome.

[MikeNoun]

The Iceman Cometh.

Mark Weber will never make it in the NHRA. I've never seen an F1 driver so notoriously bad at getting off the line, and he did it again in Australia in front of his home crowd.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

The Iceman Cometh.

Mark Weber will never make it in the NHRA. I've never seen an F1 driver so notoriously bad at getting off the line, and he did it again in Australia in front of his home crowd.

Got to hand it to you Mike, you picked the winner!!!

And WHAT IS UP with Mark Weber's terrible starts?!!! I used to think that the car software was set to retard the engine RPM etc., but this guy seems to be overly afraid of "SMOKING THE TIRES" at a start, or something... In front of his home country crowd too. Weird at best.

[David Jones]

Amazing technology at work in those cars.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by David Jones

Amazing technology at work in those cars.

Yes indeed...and they hardly mentioned KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) that gives a momentary 80hp boost from stored brake energy anymore.

There are big tech changes in the works for next season, smaller engines w boost packages, etc...

Link http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/un...port/8763.html

What is KERS? The acronym KERS stands for Kinetic Energy Recovery System. The device recovers the kinetic energy that is present in the waste heat created by the car ...

[65WJ]

Round 2 starts this am from Maylasia.
I love the DVR for the early early am races.
Can Kimi make it 2 for 2 to start the season? I think so.

patrick

[Alvin]

Thanks for the heads up reminder! I forgot to set the DVR. Looking forward to round two of this nineteen race season.

Will be interesting to see how well MB Hamilton et al will adjust cars for better wear with the SuperSofts

[Alvin]

As per my OP, Reminder to all to go to NBC Sportsnet for F1 programing...by default I searched 1st on SPEED then remembered the move after 17 years on SPEED/FOX to NBC!

Old Habits Die Hard - Indeed!!!

[mrrat1]

I got up for it, and have my alarm set for quali at 4am. I haven't missed one live since they started televising.
This is gonna be a very interesting race. Teams might be out of tires before the end of this one! Kimi or one of the Ferraris I think will rule the race. I'm putting my money on Massa!

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by mrrat1

I got up for it, and have my alarm set for quali at 4am. I haven't missed one live since they started televising.
This is gonna be a very interesting race. Teams might be out of tires before the end of this one! Kimi or one of the Ferraris I think will rule the race. I'm putting my money on Massa!

Thanks for chiming in. Please post your Austin 2012 photo link here if you feel so inclined. You had a lot of great photos there...I'd like to view them again on iPad.

Here's a link to some Melbourne pics http://www1.skysports.com/formula1/g...-race-pictures

IIRC Force India Team was able to get over 30 laps on their first set of primes?

[65WJ]

any thoughts on an F1 grid girls thread?
just curious. I like the technical stuff alot........but..........

patrick

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by 65WJ

any thoughts on an F1 grid girls thread?
just curious. I like the technical stuff alot........but..........

patrick

Go for it! I'd say there'd be more than a few contributors. Feel free to pile it on here.

[Alvin]

Malasia race looks to be either a "klag fest" or a "frog swallower"

[65WJ]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Malasia race looks to be either a "klag fest" or a "frog swallower"

LOL agree, and with the changing conditions, makes driving more entertaining.
Red Bulls small rear wing is interesting.

patrick

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Welcome Mike. TY for the kind words.

So far, Bob Varsha, is the only commentator MIA from the previous SPEED FOX coverage of F1 that I can see. And if you listened carefully to his farewell comments (last SPEED broadcast @ 2012 Seasons end) about Bernie, that may be why Bob is NOT now on board with the NBC-Sportsnet Team. It was said that it was "due to contract issues" but based on the blasé "non-reaction" by his former fellow F1 crew I’d say Bob was too critical of F1 and Bernie during broadcast and paid the price...

Appears that all is well and back to the past 17yr norm w Bob Varsha back in the broadcast booth. Anyone with any links or info please feel free to chime in.

I wonder if the reinstatement of Varsha in F1 broadcasting was partly due to he being the only American? That was my impression. Seemed odd timing wise that F1 -as they expanded their presence and market to two races in the USA and three total in North America -would no longer have the seasoned US person in the booth. Potential turn off to their USA market.

Most here know that all of these same TV personalities broadcast from alternative networks following the race series no matter who broadcast any particular race.