Spanish Grand Prix: 14 May
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Loaction: Barcelona, Spain
Raceday: Sunday, 14 May 2006
Time: 2000 (+8 GMT)
2005 winner: K Raikonnen
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The Formula One teams are no strangers to Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya; not only have they raced there every year since 1991, they also conduct extensive testing at the venue.
Familiarity does not, however, lessen the challenge for car or driver. Barcelona's mix of high and low-speed corners, plus its abrasive and rather bumpy track surface, makes for a physically and mechanically taxing race. Tyre wear is particularly high and the varying winds that cut across the circuit mean an optimum set-up can be hard to find.
For spectators Elf corner is among the best places to watch, as it is one of the track's few overtaking opportunities. For the drivers it is the final two turns, known collectively as New Holland, which provide one of the biggest challenges of the season. A fast exit is essential in order to maximise speed down the start-finish straight into Elf.
2003 marked the 13th time Barcelona has hosted the Spanish Grand Prix. Michael Schumacher has been the most successful driver at the circuit, with a total of five victories, while Jacques Villeneuve is the only other current driver to have won there, back in 1997.
The Circuit de Catalunya is located only 30km from Barcelona. It is easily accessible on major routes, either the N152 or the A7 motorway (exit 13) towards Gerona.
Alternatively, it is served by rail from Sants station (Line 2) to Montmelo Station with journey time lasting about 40 minutes, or from Gerona in around one hour. The circuit is a short walk from the station.
If you're flying, then the nearest international airport is El Prat de Llobragat in Barcelona, which is 47km from the circuit. There are regular connections to Barcelona from the airport via bus and train. -
damn... why must it be so late!!! how i wish theres no mid-year exams
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Spanish Grand Prix free practice session 2 results
1. DAVIDSON Honda 1m16.533s
2. DOORNBOS Red Bull 1m16.824s
3. ALONSO Renault 1m16.860s
4. WURZ Williams 1m17.075s
5. KLIEN Red Bull 1m17.086s
6. M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari 1m17.100s
7. FISICHELLA Renault 1m17.291s
8. BUTTON Honda 1m17.414s
9. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m17.417s
10. R.SCHUMACHER Toyota 1m17.506s
11. TRULLI Toyota 1m17.610s
12. HEIDFELD BMW 1m17.622s
13. KUBICA BMW 1m17.844s
14. WEBBER Williams 1m17.908s
15. RAIKKONEN McLaren 1m17.933s
16. VILLENEUVE BMW 1m18.007s
17. MASSA Ferrari 1m18.223s
18. MONTOYA McLaren 1m18.261s
19. ROSBERG Williams 1m18.283s
20. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m18.410s
21. JANI Toro Rosso 1m18.774s
22. MONDINI Midland 1m18.910s
23. SPEED Toro Rosso 1m19.257s
24. LIUZZI Toro Rosso 1m19.334s
25. ALBERS Midland 1m19.358s
26. SATO Super Aguri 1m19.616s
27. MONTEIRO Midland 1m20.311s
28. MONTAGNY Super Aguri 1m22.222s
Spanish Grand Prix free practice session 1 results
1. MASSA Ferrari 1m15.796s
2. M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari 1m16.099s
3. WURZ Williams 1m16.125s
4. KUBICA BMW 1m16.628s
5. DAVIDSON Honda 1m16.961s
6. DOORNBOS Red Bull 1m17.424s
7. JANI Toro Rosso 1m19.720s
8. MONDINI Midland 1m20.708s
9. SATO Super Aguri 1m20.744s -
Coulthard crashed on his hot lap.
1st Quali is now red flagged with 7mins 29s left, Jenson's hot lap aborted.
Kimi currently leading the 1st quali. -
bridgestones are understeering and graining quite a bit as far as i can see from the onboard cams.
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Alonso on pole!!! Fisi 2nd!!! MASSIVE!!! MS has now got someone else's tail gunner to contend with!
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wtf is maccie doing?!
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Where the fvck did the Toyotas come from?!
I suspect Renault's cars will be doing 3 pitstops during the race. -
Massive? both renaults are definitely running on low fuel strategy and MS is on heavy fuel load. Havent you notice MS 2nd qualifying timing is faster than alonso's pole timing?Originally posted by HENG@:Alonso on pole!!! Fisi 2nd!!! MASSIVE!!! MS has now got someone else's tail gunner to contend with!
Mclaren 9th and 12th? Game over liao lah -
oh dear. MS on heavy fuel. so what?Originally posted by Gazelle:Massive? both renaults are definitely running on low fuel strategy and MS is on heavy fuel load. Havent you notice MS 2nd qualifying timing is faster than alonso's pole timing?
Mclaren 9th and 12th? Game over liao lah
Alonso WON MASSIVE!!! whoooop!
kimi's start was... quite hilarious actually. for once nobody decides to ram him. -
Whoops, Gaz - either MS carried a tankful of gas across the finish line, or he just got spanked hard.Originally posted by Gazelle:Massive? both renaults are definitely running on low fuel strategy and MS is on heavy fuel load. Havent you notice MS 2nd qualifying timing is faster than alonso's pole timing? -
it is over for mcclaren.
cant compete at all with the renault and ferrari engine. -
Kimi even has the humour to wave into the camera...Originally posted by dragg:it is over for mcclaren.
cant compete at all with the renault and ferrari engine. (maybe he is waving at Ron Dennis in the pit lane )
A clear sign that kimi has given up hope on mclaren.. -
it ain't over till its over.Originally posted by dragg:it is over for mcclaren.
cant compete at all with the renault and ferrari engine. -
Originally posted by Gedanken:Whoops, Gaz - either MS carried a tankful of gas across the finish line, or he just got spanked hard.
I like the way people here are writing McLaren off when their biggest rivals refuse to do that. -
One of them is Alonso. Keep claiming that mclaren is a bigger threat than Ferrari..I wonder why...Originally posted by HENG@:
I like the way people here are writing McLaren off when their biggest rivals refuse to do that. -
Another is Jean Todt. I also wonder why tooOriginally posted by Gazelle:One of them is Alonso. Keep claiming that mclaren is a bigger threat than Ferrari..I wonder why... Jean Todt also going to work for McLaren next year? -
Jean Todt is definitely more concern in catching renault than worrying about mclarenOriginally posted by HENG@:Another is Jean Todt. I also wonder why too Jean Todt also going to work for McLaren next year? -
If mclaren cant come out with a quick fix, it will be over before the season is over.Originally posted by HENG@:it ain't over till its over. -
oh really. so if itv-f1.com says alonso says he's worried about McLaren, its because he's working for them next year. If the same website says Jean Todt says hes worried about McLaren, they've made a mistake and Jean Todt did not say that huh?Originally posted by Gazelle:Jean Todt is definitely more concern in catching renault than worrying about mclaren
Don't write McLaren off warns Todt
Maybe Jean Todt should stop making remarks about things he is not concerned about then.
I like your "unbiased" views. -
For once I was wrong, and everyone went for 2 pitstops (except for JV). Bridgestone did not have the better tyres here.
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I wonder why MS was unable to catch up with alonso when Massa was able to clock the fastest lap time. the championship is definitely getting more and more interesting and it will be interesting to see the qualifying at Monaco in 2 weeks time. I believe renault will have an edge over the ferrari.Originally posted by Gedanken:Whoops, Gaz - either MS carried a tankful of gas across the finish line, or he just got spanked hard. -
big "if" isn't it? say wheres the magic that u say mclaren's aero team is workin at RBR? how come RBR aren't even solidly in the midfield? if their leaving hurt McLaren as significantly as u say it has, it should also have some significant improvement on RBR cars, so where is it?Originally posted by Gazelle:If mclaren cant come out with a quick fix, it will be over before the season is over. -
someone wasn't using the car to its maximum then.Originally posted by Gazelle:I wonder why MS was unable to catch up with alonso when Massa was able to clock the fastest lap time. the championship is definitely getting more and more interesting and it will be interesting to see the qualifying at Monaco in 2 weeks time. -
Newey officially joined in February IIRC. Any influence he might have should be restricted to aero upgrades over the course of the season.Originally posted by HENG@:big "if" isn't it? say wheres the magic that u say mclaren's aero team is workin at RBR? how come RBR aren't even solidly in the midfield? if their leaving hurt McLaren as significantly as u say it has, it should also have some significant improvement on RBR cars, so where is it?
Methinks McLaren and Kimi can bounce back in Monaco. He has the talent, a new engine, some testing at Valencia in the run-up and they are usually strong there.
