2008 F1 Podium Picker Challenge: Italian Grand Prix: Rd 14

[Don Salyers]

Why so brittle Don?

Ok, here's my picks:

Hamilton
Kubica
Kovalainen

[Bucky MacConaghy]

My guess is one of the "new" tracks being built recently:

Miller Motorsports Park (Tooele, Utah)

Sorry Gio, but the track was not designed to the standards required for F1. That was specifically brought up in the public meetings prior to the track being built.

[Bill Schenker]

Do we have any track, other than Indy, that is FIA certified for F1? My guess, if it's not Indy: "Streets" course somewhere, with 'Vegas Baby as the obvious choice. 'Though my choice would be NYC w/a special allotment for one NYC cabbie to get to run - you wanna see a single finger salute? They invented it!

[Will Kalman]

Laguna Seca?

[Jeff Shyu]

Laguna Seca?

not enough runoff.

i'm not sure how they justify the street circuit though.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

The problem with most, if not all, road courses in the U.S. is they're not close to airports or hotels. That eliminates most of them before the track and facilities are even considered. Road America would be great, but it's out in the sticks and lacks the facilities. Same with Mid-Ohio, Laguna Seca and Sears Point. Road Atlanta is a possibility.

Then there's the matter of the local promoter, who has to put up some money. Well, a lot of money. Bernie doesn't bring the show for free. That leaves either Tony George and Indy or someone like Trump or the owner of the Mirage and it becomes a street race. Before Indy, the last USGP was a street course in Phoenix in 1991. It was the last of three races in Phoenix, the first year the race was held in JUNE! Overall the events were poorly promoted and a financial failure for the locals.

[William Chen]

coolest would be a night race through Vegas strip.

[Jeff Shyu]

coolest would be a night race through Vegas strip.

with all the drunk people trying to climb the fences..

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

Why so brittle Don?

Ok, here's my picks:

Hamilton
Kubica
Kovalainen

Good to have you back. Now remember, if you or anyone doesn't pick for whatever reason, I just reuse your last race's picks.

[Vincent Komara]

1. Massa
2. Hamilton
3. Raikkonen

[Larry Andrews]

Laguna Seca?

That would be my first choice by a longshot. Walking that course brings one nearly to nirvana. Biggest hassle would be getting Monterey county to pony up for the necessary upgrades. There is an airport (MRY?) about five miles away and some tasty vittles too. Wouldn't hurt that it's about 45 minutes from the farm.

LBGP would be a close second, and is probably the most likely option. Indy seems unlikely because of the tire problem and moreso that TG and BE are like two pouting brats with each other.

Oh yeah, pix. Felipe, Lewis, Kimi

[Thomas Smith]

Lewis
Kimi
Massa

[Kurt Rahn]

Flippi
Lewi
Bobbi

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

1. Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes
2. Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari
3. Felipe Massa - Ferrari

[Larry Andrews]

Not that it does me any good, but what a cool qualifying session! Anybody see them sweeping 2" of water out of the McLaren garage during practice? Too cool...

[Jeff Shyu]

wow.. that 2nd qualifying session sure shook things up.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

wow.. that 2nd qualifying session sure shook things up.

All the way into today.

In some ways, we've seen how conditions make a difference, ESPECIALLY on the older, longer, faster courses. The Tilke-tracks don't seem to show such difference wet or dry. Part of why the races on those circuits are often tedious.

[Jeff Shyu]

lewis and his McLaren looked like they were strapped to a rocket or something in the earlier stages of the race. I was REALLY impressed by some of those passes he pulled.

[Larry Andrews]

How cool that Don's the only active picker that got points! Nice shootin, tex.

Oh, and a big congrats to the new kid on the block.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

How cool that Don's the only active picker that got points! Nice shootin, tex.

Oh, and a big congrats to the new kid on the block.

Kurt Rahn collects 5 points for Kubica in 3rd.

[Kurt Rahn]

Now I can hardly wait to watch the Tivo! We're going on vacation to day, so I'm gonna have to wait a whole week!

[KJ Christopher]

I'm just not good at this game. I was certain that Massa would pull out an amazing 2-3 finish. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wait - there is still time!

[Sebastian Rios]

My man Seb pulls it off! :king:

I will not be denied bonus points!

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

My man Seb pulls it off! :king:

I will not be denied bonus points!

WOW! Just watched the race last night and IMMEDIATELY thought of Mr. Rios! He didn't put his picks in but.......I reuse his last race's picks. Well since you still hadn't changed your picks from your "Seb-Seb" theory, I keep using them.

And voila! X-mas comes early!

1. Sebastien Vettel - Scuderia Toro Rosso
2. Heikki Kovalenien - Mclaren Mercedes
3. Robert Kubica - BMW Sauber

Who would've predicted that. Seb you will get bonus cookie points. I'll update the standings tonight.

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

Monza will be Kimi, followed by Massa, followed by Massa again.

I've put Massa down for 2nd and 3rd only because the idea that FIA will make him 1st, 2nd and 3rd is a bit out there.

I must've missed this but you can't obviously pick the same driver twice so I will pick 3rd as your 3rd place pick from the last race.