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I know, Liz. The set-up was just irresistable.
Back to the topic at hand: Another issue is the wholesale implementation of pit stops for tire changes and re-fueling. Where a driver once nursed tires for the full duration of a race, or struggled to fend off his pursuers as his own tires deteriorated. Who modulates fuel usage throughout a race now? This season, we have been treated to astounding finishing records by the two top teams. Colin Chapman's adage that the best car was the one that broke just just as it crossed the line as a winner.
In this milieu, we don't have the drama of a fragile but fast car struggling to the line in the hands of a genius like Clark, or an exceptional driver, who on the rare day has it all come right for him. ( The last example of this was Panis' win at Monaco in 96) There are several drivers out there today who display a different form of craft; Schumacher has brilliant car control and has perfected the pit-in pit-out sequence-combined with the brilliant strategy of Brawn, Byrne, Todt et al. Hakinnen is the master of the perfect lap and consistently faster laps as the race progresses. Alesi...
well Alesi, so briliant at Tyrrell and we'll never know what might have been.
Yet despite all these skills, we haven't seen a driver craft a perfect 200 mile drive on one tank and four tires.
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