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LeMans and World Cup
Jun. 18th, 2006 05:57 amAudi's passing out double helpings of humiliation at LeMans. It's not just that they're beating everyone, but that it's not even much of a contest. The Pescarolos are still on the same lap, but it's more because it's early and the Audi drivers are being very careful with their machines than because the Pescarolos could ever catch them. The R10s are a completely different class of car. It's like the Ford GT40s or the McLaren M8s used to be. Pugeot is apparently developing a diesel of their own to challenge them next year. I never really suspected that the day would come when diesels would be ascendant over gas engines.
*****
Lammers has a strange, eye-catching paint job again. This year it looks like a soccer ball.
*****
Audi disabled their traction control to improve reliability. You can actually see them working the throttle as they come off the turns. If they get on it even a fraction too hard, the car jumps sideways because it's got so much torque. It's fun to watch, but it must be tiring to drive. Still, that's how racing should be - the driver should control the car directly, not thorugh computers.
*****
One of the beautiful, retro-painted Gulf-Fords (sky blue with orange "Gulf balls" - the classic paint job since 1940 or so) literally explodes going down the Mulsanne straight. The tire apparently burst. Bodywork goes everywhere, and he sets the grass afire as he slides through it. There's very little left, but the driver's okay. As always, I'm astounded at what people get up and walk away from. My expectations were set in a different era.
*****
And I turn over to watch the soccer game, and find that Ghana gave the Czechs a decisive drubbing. I don't think anyone expected that. What a shitty referee we drew for our game against Italy. I'll give him credit in that he wasn't crooked - he was making bad calls against both sides. And, despite the announcers' outrage, I do think the red card against Mastroeni was correct - he was pretty obviously aiming at the Italian player rather than the ball, and he had his cleats up. He was trying to injure the man, not just knock him down. The calls against Pope and de Rossi were just retarded, though.
*****
Now it's much later, and while Audi no longer appears invincible, they're pretty obviously heading for a victory.
*****
Lammers has a strange, eye-catching paint job again. This year it looks like a soccer ball.
*****
Audi disabled their traction control to improve reliability. You can actually see them working the throttle as they come off the turns. If they get on it even a fraction too hard, the car jumps sideways because it's got so much torque. It's fun to watch, but it must be tiring to drive. Still, that's how racing should be - the driver should control the car directly, not thorugh computers.
*****
One of the beautiful, retro-painted Gulf-Fords (sky blue with orange "Gulf balls" - the classic paint job since 1940 or so) literally explodes going down the Mulsanne straight. The tire apparently burst. Bodywork goes everywhere, and he sets the grass afire as he slides through it. There's very little left, but the driver's okay. As always, I'm astounded at what people get up and walk away from. My expectations were set in a different era.
*****
And I turn over to watch the soccer game, and find that Ghana gave the Czechs a decisive drubbing. I don't think anyone expected that. What a shitty referee we drew for our game against Italy. I'll give him credit in that he wasn't crooked - he was making bad calls against both sides. And, despite the announcers' outrage, I do think the red card against Mastroeni was correct - he was pretty obviously aiming at the Italian player rather than the ball, and he had his cleats up. He was trying to injure the man, not just knock him down. The calls against Pope and de Rossi were just retarded, though.
*****
Now it's much later, and while Audi no longer appears invincible, they're pretty obviously heading for a victory.
