Qualifying 10 pm Eastern on Speedvision. New rules should be interesting.

 

I haven't been keeping up with F1. What is the new rule?

 

Lots of new rules this year. I am not sure of all of them. The most obvious change is that there are two days of qualifying for the first time in many years. Qualifying proceedure is different as well. Each car gets a flying lap on a clear course. The advantage for spectators is that we get to see every car and driver at least once per session instead of just the top couple of drivers at the directors whim. First days qualifiers go in reverse order slowest first, fastest last on Saturday in Australia (Friday night in the US this weekend.) Yesterdays qualifying already had some surprises: Barrichello pole, Raikkonen second and Villeneuve(!) third. Once qualifying is complete tonight you can't change tires or add fuel! That throws a whole new monkey wrench into the equation. 35 minutes before final qualifying tonight.

 

That was a very entertaining race. Unusual for F-1 these days. The new qualifying procedure mixed up the order a bit at the start leading to a rasther frantic first few laps. The rain or lack of it and two full course yellows threw in a monkey wrench. Schumacher (ran over curb), Raikkonen (speeding in the pits) and Montoya (spun while leading) only have themselves to blame. Congrats to Coulthard for not making a mistake and taking the win.

Interesting: It looked like Michael had planned on a 3rd pit stop all along since they added fuel during his black flag stop.

Opinions?