So what happened to Montoya? I'm looking around on several boards and haven't seen anything written. It went to a commercial and when it came back, Montoya was out with the car in the garage. I didn't catch what they said happened. Engine failure? He had such an awesome lead and was set to win. Maybe Ralf can come up from behind. He's up to 9th right now.

Is it just me or does it seem like Williams needs to get their pit crews to speed up. Seems like they're always slower than Ferrari.

some in car footage featured montoyas car not shifting, i assume gear box failure, but im so pissed im gonna cry myself to sleep in the fetal position

I absolutely can't believe this happened. I wouldn't want to be around him right now. He's got to be one pissed off Colombian. He had it made in the shade until that happened. I'm going to just turn the tv off. The race is no longer worth watching.

arghhhh.... i cant believe it.... montoya was in the lead, williams was in a good position to challenge for constructors... then jpm is out.... ralf gets fucked so williams has no chance for constructors now... and looks like schumi will win his 6th title.... :mad:

Well fuckin michael locked up his brakes trying to make a stupid move on the toyota and caused ralf to lock up his brakes and broke his nose on mic's rear end. And earlier mic got cocky too, and broke his own nose by running into the back of a Honda. Well anyways, Raikkonen is in 2nd. Damnitt, now it's only a few laps left. Old Shummi's got his 6th title now cuz RB is in 1st. And cuz MS is in 8th ...... fuck... well anyways, at least Raikkonen got 2nd in the drivers title

i dont really care so much who won the drivers title... but i really wanted to see williams win the constructors.... :(

ok when ralf was behind ms on the straight and was clearly faster and was about to pass michael, michael clearly moved over to block ralf from passing... isnt that a violation and michael should have been penalised? the rules state:
2 - OVERTAKING
a) during a race, a car alone on the track may use the full width of the said track. However, as soon as it is caught up on a straight by a car which is either temporarily or constantly faster, the driver shall give the other vehicle the right of way by pulling over to one side in order to allow for passing on the other side.

is this just another indication that the FIA = F(errari)IA or was michael within his rights to block ralf?

That blocking move by Schumacher did look a little fishy, however as they were very near the turn I think he got away with the blocking move. Sucks for JPM that his gearbox broke and got stuck in gear, but hey, shit happens. Congrats to Ferrari though, they really earned it. I can't wait until next season.

Montoya didnt give a shit about this race, his mind was still raging over last week.

Originally posted by Max///M3
Montoya didnt give a shit about this race, his mind was still raging over last week.

:eyes1 Well that's a dumb comment. Yeah, that's how he qualified 2nd and then pushed to the lead on the first lap and was walking everybody. He sure was driving like he wanted it. At the rate he was going, he would have definitely won had the car staying working properly. Oh well. What's done is done.

Business as usual:

Someone at Williams was bought off, hence Montoya's freak engine failure with almost no details given. Ferarri pockets run deep, so deep its subsidized by the Italian government! :mad:

M. Schumacher almost killing Ralf with that cutthroat brake block. :eek:

Best part of the race was the preview interviews when Montoya was asked what his favorite moment of 2003 F1, he replied.

"Passing Rubens at Indy" :biglaughb

Brian

Originally posted by Max///M3
Montoya didnt give a shit about this race, his mind was still raging over last week.

no way man, in fact he was probably the most clear headed guy out there... kimi performed really well considering the pressure, something you cant say about MS... but jpm was on the ball from qualifying and into the race where he stormed forward to a considerable lead... if anything the fact that he wasnt in the running for the drivers championship eased his nerves and helped him drive a great race (for how long he was there)

i honestly think that once he grows and matures as a driver, hell be a huge force (kimi as well)

There was a hydraulic problem that at first affected the steering assist, then disabled the gearbox and he was stuck in the same gear. That's why you saw him lugging it back to the pits. I guess you can't change to a spare car once the race has begun?

What a huge disappointment. He very likely would have won the race if the car had held together.

Did anyone else see the puff of smoke coming from Montoya's FW25 at the first turn? I started to get a sense something bad would happen at that point...

Originally posted by stjobs

Did anyone else see the puff of smoke coming from Montoya's FW25 at the first turn? I started to get a sense something bad would happen at that point...

Yep, but since it never happened again, I thought I was imagining it as having been from the engine. I thought it must have been from his tires after he kept going and no more smoke.

Did anyone else see the puff of smoke coming from Montoya's FW25 at the first turn? I started to get a sense something bad would happen at that point...Yeah, you had a sense that it was foreshadowing a larger problem later in the race. What a crappy result. MS braking off Ralf's wing/nose, JPM's hydraulic failure both made this an almost un-watchable race. Solid race by Rubino and Raikkonen, now next year can't get here quick enough.

Oh yeah, I'm not a Takuma Sato fan but you have to give it up to the guy, he did great considering he hasn't been in a Formula1 car in awhile.

JP is/was not slaggin at Suzuka, hes a racer and will race regardless.

CD did a fine job and he wasnt holding up M$....in fact he was pulling away on the straights and out of the twisty bits.

what i did find appaluing (but par for the Ma-FIA agenda) were the following:


1) M$ causing problems by attempting "optomistic moves" exampled as such by attempting to stuff it down the inside of Sato at the start of the race, subsequently damaging his own car pushing Sato off. what a hack.

2) the imfamous and wreckless "Schumacher Chop" reared its ugly head again with his brother Ralph in an effort to keep him from passing at the end of the straight even though Ralph was in a otherwise more powerful/faster car and would have passed him at the end. what a hack.

3) M$ almost causing a horrific accident by running up the arse of DaMatta, swerving into Ralph, damagine Ralphs car and subsequently punting him off course. what a hack.

funny, we saw a 10sec penality (wrongfully) levied on JP for a similar/less infaction(s) (see #1 & #3) involving the racing incident with RB at Indy. my, the bias is so bright we have to wear shades.

TEAM ORDERS?

the only team orders came from bernie going out to the marshals/stewards and ferrari

"do not penalize my boy mikey REGARDLESS or his actions and/or if he attempts "optomistic moves" similar but not limited to: punting others off the course; causing damage/accidents to others (or his own) car; wreckless/rookie type driving; or any other manuver/action that we would penalize others with....NO penalties for my boy Mikey!! GOT IT!!!"


Lets not forget M$ in his final race of 2003 and 6th World Title, and how could we? he drove like a bloody rookie who drank too much soda before a race thus we hand him the title.


that said, the real people who suffered this year were the F1 fans.

regards,
terry

yeah i agree with the above post, M$ (i like that) drove a crappy race and almost caused a few accidents, including one with his brother (Ralf with an f cause europeans spell funny).... and that move on Sato was garbage, i dont care if hes brand new to the sport, just cause you're MS doesnt mean you can try crap like that, but i guess according to the FIA, he can

im itching like crazy for next season already