So close

**Dani Filth** · 20 Jun 2004, 21:34 (Ref:1010091)

here's a pic .. sssssssoooooooo close ..

Tweed · 20 Jun 2004, 21:36 (Ref:1010096)

I don't think even the great Michael S could have timed that deliberately, anyone else would have had a penalty!

**Dani Filth** · 20 Jun 2004, 21:40 (Ref:1010103)

he got it the second try .. after 2002

Damon · 20 Jun 2004, 22:11 (Ref:1010162)

I think he plain forgot the no over taking before the line rule and simply got bloody lucky. Even the 'great' Schu can't judge it to that degree.

**Adam43** · 20 Jun 2004, 22:12 (Ref:1010164)

I think he knew the rule. You have to keep you foot in, you can't feather it just in case because then you won't get the pass in.

**Dani Filth** · 20 Jun 2004, 22:15 (Ref:1010169)

took the risk . and he won ..

Damon · 20 Jun 2004, 22:22 (Ref:1010181)

Bit of a big risk if you ask me. A drive through penalty really hurts at Indy. To suggest that Schu weighed up the positives and negatives then darted out of Rubens slipstream knowing he'd still be second by 0.01 secs seems a little blinkered to me.

**Dani Filth** · 20 Jun 2004, 22:27 (Ref:1010190)

no .. it was a lot to luck ..

**Adam43** · 20 Jun 2004, 22:37 (Ref:1010201)

Quote:

Originally posted by Damon
Bit of a big risk if you ask me. A drive through penalty really hurts at Indy. To suggest that Schu weighed up the positives and negatives then darted out of Rubens slipstream knowing he'd still be second by 0.01 secs seems a little blinkered to me.

Nah that small a gap never occured to him. It was probably closer than he thought it would be, but he had to go for it. Win or bust, the racer in him. Also for Michael in his position he had less to lose.

The only hope you have to get by on a restart is go for it from the last corner, to try and get the jump on the guy ahead. If you do get the jump then you have to stick with it. If you lift it is all over and you'd never get past.

Of course the other guy chose lift and sucker you into a penalty I suppose, but then he risks being overtaken by third or causing an accident. And you aren't going to sucker your team mate to get him a drive through (certainly not at Ferrari anyway).

**Spudgun** · 20 Jun 2004, 22:39 (Ref:1010203)

Quote:

Originally posted by AdamAshmore
(certainly not at Ferrari anyway).

I'm glad you added that bit.

Gt_R · 21 Jun 2004, 03:11 (Ref:1010305)

Didn't Eddie make a good restart once at Australia GP in Ferrari? Where he knew the rules, pulled himself almost beside the race leader...and floor it only past the start line...well judged~

MS judged it beautifully coming out of the final corner. Indy is a place where i think the leader has a tough time to defend after a race restart because of the long straight which lends itself to slipstreaming. The point where they cross the line is so close that only the timing beam could have shown who's ahead and whether rules are broken.

It's close, and luck kinda played into MS's hands there. All RB needed to do is to lift~

But i guess MS had no choice than to go flat out...slowing down would only mean third place Alonso may get the jump.

Inigo Montoya · 21 Jun 2004, 03:48 (Ref:1010313)

Close, yes... And that is why that is a seven (ooops, did I say that?) time world champion.

avsfan733 · 21 Jun 2004, 04:26 (Ref:1010325)

Question: the rule in F1 is at the line not when the green comes out? correct?

can someone confirm that for me

**Adam43** · 21 Jun 2004, 07:52 (Ref:1010402)

Yes it is, at the line.

Additionally I am pretty sure that the first green will be shown at the line, although they know it'll be their due to the SC lights.

Gt_R · 21 Jun 2004, 08:00 (Ref:1010409)

Yes, the green flag shows and it meant the race is started, but cars are not allowed to overtake UNTIL they past the start/finish straight.

RB almost held the cars up until they all stopped

Perhaps they could draw a new grid at the final corner next year...in any case, one of the better rolling starts for MS.

jetsetter · 21 Jun 2004, 08:20 (Ref:1010425)

He took the punt on making a move on Rubens & it paid off but he wouldn't have wanted to make his move any earlier.

R · 21 Jun 2004, 08:26 (Ref:1010429)

And when they passed the line, it said on the screen: "Lap 5 - 1. M.Schumacher".

So did he pass before or after the start/finish line?

fog_shadow · 21 Jun 2004, 09:09 (Ref:1010479)

after

R · 21 Jun 2004, 09:22 (Ref:1010490)

Thanks for clearing that up, the graphics showing TGF as the leader put me in doubt for a bit.

fog_shadow · 21 Jun 2004, 10:04 (Ref:1010528)

optical illusion

Mattracer · 21 Jun 2004, 10:11 (Ref:1010531)

Pays a big tribute to Rubens that he tried it and got lucky and ended up winning.

**Adam43** · 21 Jun 2004, 10:34 (Ref:1010543)

Quote:

Originally posted by R
And when they passed the line, it said on the screen: "Lap 5 - 1. M.Schumacher".

So did he pass before or after the start/finish line?

Martin Brundle commented that it still said RB in P1 on the timing screen after the crossed the line - so Rubens was ahead a the end of the last SC lap.

That was also the case on my FIA screen IIRC.

Testure · 21 Jun 2004, 12:05 (Ref:1010626)

The comments from Rubens after the race about that moment were interesting. Apparently he hadn't been keeping his tyres warm to the same extent that Michael had. So when the safety car came in and the pressures were a little lower in his tyres, his car was bottomming out on the straight. Michael made it look ridiculously easy, he pretty much breezed past him. In fact, Martin Brundle was wondering if he didn't have a button on the steering wheel to run the engine on the limiter for a few seconds to give a few extra HP...

**Dani Filth** · 21 Jun 2004, 12:38 (Ref:1010674)

don't think Ferrari has that kind of buttons ... those engines don;t need them .. they can run full time at max rev

Gt_R · 21 Jun 2004, 13:41 (Ref:1010746)

I think even MS is a little caught out by the slow speed of Rubens..

MS floored it and i think he anticipated using RB's slipstream down the straights to overtake, not a sudden jinx alongside RB and overrun him.

RB blames the safety car for the late notice of the race restart... but i think Indy, more than Interlagos, are the type of track where a restart is very tricky for the race leader.