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Subject: [WtW] Race Report: Montreal Subject: [WtW] Race Report:
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 22:31:02 -0700
From: Donald A Erickson <derickso@...>


This year, I again flagged F1 both at Montreal and Indianapolis. The
two races, from their host cities to their circuits, can't be more
different. I enjoy the contrast.

For example, at Montreal, one thing unique to that event is that you're
assigned to the same crew for the weekend but you work a different
corner each day. Thus, on Friday, I found myself at Turn 15, the corner
just before the start/finish line (and where Button crashed during the
race). Nothing so dramatic happened there on Friday.

However, the response post on DL is one of my favorite vantage points on
the entire circuit. From that vantage point, the Renaults, McLarens,
and even the BARs were all noticeably quicker than the Ferraris. The
Ferraris seemed to be handling like barges thru that turn.

Saturday, we were assigned to Turn 11. It's on a straightaway and it's
the track's gateway to the paddock. Still, I wasn't expecting much that
day.

Then we watched one of the Medical/Safety pace cars back into a tree.

Someone slapped a band-aid on the "oowiee". That prompted much photo
taking. Later, whenever that car tried to back into its position, 4-5
people appeared to guide it into place. Finally, some of the Emergency
people wrapped an airbag around the tree that car hit!

The only other notable incident came at the end of the Star Mazda
race. On Friday, that group had been tip-toeing around the track.
However, come the race, they quickly reverted to their usual selves. At
the end of the race, we had 9(!) broken FMs stacked behind our station,
awaiting lift tows back to the paddock.

Plus, we had yet another FM park at our station with a mechnaical
problem. Recognizing the driver, I just had to say, "I'm the only Cal
Clubber on the entire course. You just had to park it here, didn't
you?" What else do you say to someone from your own region track-side
in Montreal?

Sunday, race day, found me beside the river at Turn 5. Actually, it was
a quiet day -- except we saw Alonso strike the wall at the exit of Turn
4 as well as Michael Schumacher put two wheels off when he caught the
marbles overtaking a Jordan.

That was F1 @ Montreal. On to Indy....

On Thursday, Tony George joined us at the Workers Dinner. However, most
of the discussion focused on Bernie's complaints about IMS' promotion of
the race, his comments about Danica Patrick, and the possibility of a
second USGP in Las Vegas.

Come Friday, I went to my station for the weekend, Turn 13. That flag
station is located on the short chute between Oval Turns 1 & 2. It's
also at the very entrance to the pit road and just downstream from where
the road course re-enters the oval.

As you know, IMS re-surfaced the oval, then diamond ground it before the
Indy 500. Just walking the transition from the infield course to the
oval, the difference in the surface was noticeable. The grinding left
grooves in the surface that really grabbed at the soles of your shoes.

I didn't think much of it until after Ralf's crash. That was a
memorable moment: I was yellow flagging when Ralf suddenly snapped
sideways in the exit of Turn 13 -- and hit the wall right at the Turn
13A flag station. Time really does slow down in such instances. I
distinctly remember seeing the 13A blue and yellow flaggers going down
-- with a flag pinwheeling in the air above them -- just before Ralf hit
the wall.

It was a great relief when the 13A crew returned to action seconds
later. BTW, the SAFER wall looked like someone had taken a giant can
opener to it.

Afterward, we flaggers were most concerned with how to manage the field
should a similar event happen during the race. The obvious thing to do
was re-direct the field into the pit lane. How'd we do that was a
matter of debate that wasn't settled until Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, during Saturday morning's practice sessions, the
Michelin-shod teams took to the pit lane on almost every lap. By that
afternoon, all kinds of rumors were flying.

As we flaggers understood it, a big part of the problem was the diamond
ground surface on the oval. It was proving to be very abrasive. That
seemed to catch Michelin by surprise; however, Bridgestone, courtsey of
their Firestone brethren, wasn't. (As to all of the saw dust being
thrown about, the smell of burnt wood was quite strong. All of the cars
were spewing sawdust, especially the two Jordans.)

In addition, it was obvious that a lot of people were spooked by Ralf's
accident.

Come Sunday, while the rumors flew about the race, a decision was made
about re-directing the cars into the pit lane if necessary. Originally,
Race Control wanted us to show an arrow board from an e-hole opposite
the 12A flag station. That wouldn't work because of a creek (the one
Pedro de la Rosa fell into a couple of years ago) flows underneath the
oval just before the Turn 13 station. Put simply, we couldn't get there
from here.

So, instead the crews at Turns 12, 12A, and 13 would show arrow boards
to point the field into the pit lane should a "Ralf" occur during the
race. Great, if it happened, I'd be showing 3-4 flags, an arrow board,
and a safety car board. You know, there's only so much you can put thru
an e-hole.

Things started to get interesting after the Porsche Super Cup race that
morning. One of the cars littered the pit lane with its undertray.
After the race, I walked down the pit lane to return the parts. Walking
back, I realized I was leading a parade of team members, techs, and the
like. Apparently, they figured if a flagger was cleared to walk up the
pit lane, they could do so too.

They also wanted to know what I knew. One volunteered that he didn't
know what was going to happen. He claimed that Michelin had
confisicated all og the left rear tires. He then mentioned the proposed
chicane but said Bridgestone (not Ferrari) had vetoed that idea. In
reply, I pointed out the semi-trailer loaded with tires and other gear
that was parked behind Turn 12 on the oval

The drivers parade was strangely subdued. No joshing with us flaggers
and little waving.

When the recon laps started, the Jordans, Ferraris, and Minardis came
out promptly. At almost the last minute, everyone else appeared. You
could almost feel the sense of relief.

When Trulli pulled off during the formation lap, first thought was that
Toyota was pulling out because of Ralf's crash. Then 13 other cars
pulled off.

Once the race started, it was only 2 laps before one of the flag
stations on the main straight called for extra security. "We've got a
potential riot brewing in the grandstands," was the call.

Soon, people started throwing stuff at the track. Most of it didn't
clear the catch fence (or hit any of us) but still we feared something
like what had happened at Talledega a few years ago.

Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed. Some people left, but most stayed
to boo the trophy presentation. We workers left the track as quickly as
we could.

Later, we all wondered about the GPWC angle. And whether F1 would be
back at Indy next year.

It was one "interesting" experience,

Don Erickson
CSCC F&C