I thought I was replying to RE30B#16 --Sorry

[Jim Watt]

Right you are RE30B#16! It was a horrific accident.

In the Indianapolis papers today, Bobby Rahal wasn't speculating about why Dana didn't slow (he passed at least one other driver who had already come off the gas) but he did say there was NO communication problem. The Yellow light came out on the track and in the cars, too. The spotters were telling everyone to slow. But Dana either didn't lift, or was only beginning to when he smacked into Carpenter's Engine/Transmission.

It's the kind of thing you can't engineer the danger out of. The fact that Carpenter is O.K. is a testament to the safety engineering of the cars, but the laws of physics can't be bent and the human body can only take so much stress.

Everyone feels terrible and Dan Wheldon was an exemplary spokesman for the racing fraternity. When they asked him about his winning yesterday, which was a terrific display of skill and courage, he immediately referred to his heartbreak for Dana and his family. He had also carried Dana's number on his side pod for the race. The papers say that, later, in the interview room, Wheldon broke down.

I didn't see that and wouldn't care to. But I have certainly marked Wheldon as the champion he is, no matter what happens in the rest of his career.

I don't know if you follow the Moto GP series, but they started yesterday and the reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi fell on the first turn; he was VERY lucky not to be seriously hurt, too, since plenty of bikes could have easily hit him when he was on the track.

It was the equivalent of Fernando wrecking on the first turn and flying into the safety fence.

Again, Valentino got back on his bike and finished the race --even though he had no chance at scoring any points. It's a reminder for the rest of us that the champions ARE champions because they are DIFFERENT from the rest of us. Not merely gifted athletes; not merely brave --but fundamentally DIFFERENT.

And that, mates, is why I love them.

jim watt

p.s. What does your name mean anyway? Who is #16?

[RE30B#16]

I don't know if you follow the Moto GP series, but they started yesterday and the reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi fell on the first turn; he was VERY lucky not to be seriously hurt, too, since plenty of bikes could have easily hit him when he was on the track.

It was the equivalent of Fernando wrecking on the first turn and flying into the safety fence.

Again, Valentino got back on his bike and finished the race --even though he had no chance at scoring any points. It's a reminder for the rest of us that the champions ARE champions because they are DIFFERENT from the rest of us. Not merely gifted athletes; not merely brave --but fundamentally DIFFERENT.

And that, mates, is why I love them.

Well put, Jim. Part of what intrigues us is how they can hang themselves over the edge time and time again.

p.s. What does your name mean anyway? Who is #16?

The 1982 ground-effect era Renault RE30B was the first turbocharged 1.5 litre V6 engined car to consistently win in Formula 1. This car was also the car in which Alain Prost established himself as a new force in F1. My name, however honors teammate Rene Arnoux (#16), who developed the car and engine along with Jean-Pierre Jabouille, only to be told to move over and let Prost by if he ever were leading 1-2 in a race. A true racer, Arnoux found himself in this position at the 1982 French GP and refused to yield to Prost. This got him fired by Renault and hired by Enzo Ferrari the following year.

Chris

[Jim Watt]

thanks, Chris, a fascinating piece of history for me to file away!

Jim Watt

[Snowy]

I didn't see that coming!

[Kapel]

Its great that u ppl have (kissed) made up!!

N hey go celebrate this re-union at the F1idiots bar,its on the house(oops its on Julian's tab ) till Australian GP

[rah]

Yeah that is just another great example of Renault team orders. It was just as well that Ferrari came to the recue showing true sportsmanship.

Quick men batton down the hatches, a JayVee broadside is on the way.

[JayVee]

Yeah that is just another great example of Renault team orders. It was just as well that Ferrari came to the recue showing true sportsmanship.

Quick men batton down the hatches, a JayVee broadside is on the way.

And you came up with how many other great examples rah

Anything older than 15 years can't be used as evidence