Round 12 Race Thread :Assen (RACE Spoilers)

[2112]

What fast track that is. It made the race.
Bruno`s situation kept it interesting, Go Blinky!

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

I am curious Jimmy, what made this one of the better races for you to watch?

I suspect much of it was down to how the strategy played out, and the absolute delight to watch Bruno out front. I watched the Eurosport coverage and I thought it was quite good, and I didn't think the race had less passing than say Zolder or Road America (Jan Heylen was absolutley fantastic).

[JohnSSC]

Fair enough, Jimmy. I thought maybe it was the strategy part as there was a fair amount of that going on. Very similar to an F1 race. My difficulty was that these cars are able to pass more easily as they don't have the aero issues an F1 car does. With the track being so narrow there was just no chance for passing.

[luke]

I missed the race due to the 'eruopean' start time as I was at work. Hopefully I can see the race this week when it's next replayed.

The coverage didn't sound too good but atleast it looked as though it was a good race looking at the results.

Looks as though Bourdais has won the title now..

[luke]

Also does this mean Dale Coyne won the euro cup? Burno had a 2nd and a 3rd!

Then again Legge has been where she is...

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

With the track being so narrow there was just no chance for passing.

I havent yet watched the race but both the Autosport and Speed TV reports that overtaking did occur. Not an abundance but was achievable.

[JohnSSC]

Once the p to p option was gone there was very little passing. Wasn't much before, to be honest. It just turned into a very fast parade.

Was passing achievable? I guess it was but you really had to catch someone out on a big mistake. None of the corners had any "zones" where you could could outbrake someone or attempt to use an alternative line to get by. The track was just too narrow. The entire middle portion of the race was made up of lines of 5 - 7 cars all clearly held up by the first car in the line with no opportunity to pass.

I think Tim Northcutt hit it on the head as this is clearly a bike track. In all seriousness a Formula Ford race on this track would be awesome! Not sure about Atlantics, for example, but the size of the cars would have a lot to do with freeing up some racing room.

[D.R.T.]

Absolutely a bike circuit. They made some changes to try and accomodate cars but yes still bikes work best.

Not a classic with overtaking manouvers but I thought an enjoyable race. With a few different faces up front

[marcel82]

anyone seen this?
http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=rb1Ehizwg8k

a disgrace if you ask me

[Leighton Irwin]

Well good old Score TV with only 6 mo to figure out when they were going to show the race didn't bother to advise any of the people who publish TV guides. I joined it 33 laps in.
CC has used 'power' to pass for about 2 years now (?) and still have software problems? They had better hire a couple of 10 year olds who understand this stuff.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by marcel82

anyone seen this?
http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=rb1Ehizwg8k

a disgrace if you ask me

no it's fookin hilarious!

Apparently what happened was they had a known rock star lined up to sing it, but at the last second got cold feet, so they grabbed this guy off the pit lane and threw him in.

[JohnSSC]

Maybe the same guy singing does the software...

[gomick]

great win for justin & much needed too - also great results for jan heylen & conquest racing aswell as bruno & dale coyne...

[marcus]

Im very late in putting up the race results due to a hectic week but i have finally done it

One thing that has surprised me is that this was only Justin Wilsons 4th Career victory , I thought for sure he had won more than that !!!

[climb]

What about the attendance?
Are there any data?
It would be interesting to make a comparison with the previous weekend; in both weekends a F3 session was held, so comparing their respective attendances it would be possible to appreciate CC effect.

[gomick]

Originally Posted by marcus

Im very late in putting up the race results due to a hectic week but i have finally done it

One thing that has surprised me is that this was only Justin Wilsons 4th Career victory , I thought for sure he had won more than that !!!

think he has been very consistent since he has been in the championship, but, hardly anyone has won races since sebby has been the man for so long

[marcel82]

Originally Posted by climb

What about the attendance?
Are there any data?
It would be interesting to make a comparison with the previous weekend; in both weekends a F3 session was held, so comparing their respective attendances it would be possible to appreciate CC effect.

I don't remember seeing F3 in Zolder

but anyhooo:

in Zolder there were 40,000 people over the weekend
in Assen, there were 60,000 people

[JohnSSC]

Speed TV quotes the Assen promoter as saying 61,200 (I swear) on Sunday with 15K on Saturday, I believe.

[Red Bulldog]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

Apparently what happened was they had a known rock star lined up to sing it, but at the last second got cold feet, so they grabbed this guy off the pit lane and threw him in.

Did I hear him sing "star bangled spanner"?

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

Speed TV quotes the Assen promoter as saying 61,200 (I swear)

Why are you skeptical John ?

(Paul Tracy estimated 100 000 from his vantage point)

[MCWB]

Originally Posted by Red Bulldog

Did I hear him sing "star bangled spanner"?

Bungled, I think.

[Knowlesy]

Assen promoter or Paul Tracy? Hmmm...

I really hope they don't return to Assen next year. It is a glorious track (albeit not as glorious as two years ago) and I'm sure it was a moderate success in some eyes but as a racing car event it is a non-entity. Please, leave it to the bikes gentlemen!

PS - Nice donuts from Justin as ever. Watch and learn Seabass. Actually, probably best not bother, you're off to F1 next year.

[JohnSSC]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Why are you skeptical John ?

(Paul Tracy estimated 100 000 from his vantage point)

I wasn't skeptical, I was amused that the promoter was that precise. That extra 200 tacked on to the 61K number just seemed, well, almost quaint. Most folks would have rounded up or down or said "61K and change" or something! It was a decent article on Speed by Dave Phillips, by the way in regard to the event and the numbers.

PT is a race driver, not crowd-estimator though. I am sure that from track level the crowd did look substantial.

This is why I prefer a "true" number of bodies through the turnstiles so to speak as estimates can be way off.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

I wasn't skeptical, I was amused that the promoter was that precise.

Not that rare, plenty of events racing and not racing go with specifics rather than whole round numbers.

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

PT is a race driver, not crowd-estimator though. I am sure that from track level the crowd did look substantial.

Absolutely, probably should have put an emoticon with it as by no means was I trying to use Paul Tracy's opinion as evidence.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

I wasn't skeptical, I was amused that the promoter was that precise. That extra 200 tacked on to the 61K number just seemed, well, almost quaint. Most folks would have rounded up or down or said "61K and change" or something!

PT is a race driver, not crowd-estimator though. I am sure that from track level the crowd did look substantial.

This is why I prefer a "true" number of bodies through the turnstiles so to speak as estimates can be way off.

John I don't think which ever way they stated the attendence you'd be happy.

I've seen the pictures and there were a hell of a lot of people there.