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So, Spa-Francorchamps earlier today was apparently the only Grand Prix ever to finish with zero green laps. It's also one of only eleven to finish with all starters running, although that looked doubtful for a while. It's at least one of a very, very few, if not the only one, to finish with no changes of position as well. I'm not sure, but I *think* the 2005 USGP, itself an absolute bit of historic weirdness, finished with no position changes.
I was sorry to see it end thusly. The fans were so brave, and so positive, sticking out the rain, and keeping themselves entertained for the several hours of waiting. I've been there myself, many times. A day at the track is never a total loss, of course. There's the anticipation of going, sitting at the track, schmoozing, and reliving past glories, and even a restaurant meal on the way home. Still, not really the same as getting to see a race.
They showed film of Michael Schumacher's 1991 Jordan, and of his driving the quarter lap or so that he made in his first start at Spa before the clutch exploded. It was striking to me how graceful the car looked, and how open the cockpit was. One of my complaints during that age was that the cockpits were closed up, and you couldn't see the driver at work like you could in the 70s. I've always been hard to plase, and tend to find more interest in the older cars, even as a child. "Graceful" does accord with my memories, though, especially after those horrible (and often undrivable) 'low polar moment' designs of the 80s. Such beautiful, uncomplicated livery too, with the 7-Up design. The car survives to this day, and they let Mick drive it at Silverstone.
This has been a very surreal season so far anyway.
Edit: And checking reveals that there were indeed two on-track passes for position at the USGP 2005.
I was sorry to see it end thusly. The fans were so brave, and so positive, sticking out the rain, and keeping themselves entertained for the several hours of waiting. I've been there myself, many times. A day at the track is never a total loss, of course. There's the anticipation of going, sitting at the track, schmoozing, and reliving past glories, and even a restaurant meal on the way home. Still, not really the same as getting to see a race.
They showed film of Michael Schumacher's 1991 Jordan, and of his driving the quarter lap or so that he made in his first start at Spa before the clutch exploded. It was striking to me how graceful the car looked, and how open the cockpit was. One of my complaints during that age was that the cockpits were closed up, and you couldn't see the driver at work like you could in the 70s. I've always been hard to plase, and tend to find more interest in the older cars, even as a child. "Graceful" does accord with my memories, though, especially after those horrible (and often undrivable) 'low polar moment' designs of the 80s. Such beautiful, uncomplicated livery too, with the 7-Up design. The car survives to this day, and they let Mick drive it at Silverstone.
This has been a very surreal season so far anyway.
Edit: And checking reveals that there were indeed two on-track passes for position at the USGP 2005.
