Over taking in tunnel!

[elspethhardie]

I know this is not F1 but just switched on the TV to find F3000 at monaco and there has been a successful over taking manouver in the tunnel!!! how come they managed it and got praise on such a good move and there was such shock at Alonso doing it??? and getting it so wrong? I presume this race was the same weekend as the F1 race(could be wrong)

[Kidzer]

I assume you mean Friesacher's move? cant remember details about it

[Adam43]

I guess you are comparing the Alonso/Ralf incident with the time Friesacher went past Doornbos just after the stops and Doornbos was on cold tyres. It was the same weekend.

It was very different to the Alonso move. Alonso tried to go round the outside of Ralf, whereas Friesacher hugged the inside as Doornbos slide a little wide (and slightly scraped the barrier). Also overall the manoeuvre happened later in the tunnel - more or less on exit.

So one driver on cold tyres and hence travelling a little slowly. A move where the overtaker was on the inside. It happen in a slightly different place. Finally they were F3000 cars (although to try it earlier on the outside is daft in most cars).

[BootsOntheSide]

Doornbos had been out there for half a lap though, so his tyres can't've been far short of operating temperature, especially as that was quite a warm day. It was a rgeat move, nothing else to say.

The Alonso crahs was a little differnet, because he tried the move before the tunnel had straightened out. Assuming that Ralf didn't baulk him or miss a gear previously, Fernando was quite foolish not to do it the same way.

[Adam43]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
Doornbos had been out there for half a lap though, so his tyres can't've been far short of operating temperature, especially as that was quite a warm day. It was a rgeat move, nothing else to say.

I'm not denying the greatness of the move.

However it was clear he was still struggling relatively with grip. Compare how the two of them when getting the power down out of Portier and into the tunnel. This is only about 1 mile from the pit exit - not far enough to get those tyres fully up to temperature. Also Doornbos said he was "wanted to take the tunnel flat", but had to lift because otherwise he'd be in the barrier. I think this is a clear indication that the tyres weren't giving all the grip they would if up to temperature.

Friesacher took full advantage of this and got past quite superbly.

[cannardd]

And because his tyres were hot he had the grip to be able to brake later too.

[Dan Fielden]

What channel is the f3000 on

[BootsOntheSide]

ITV show it, either in Speed Sunday or in special half-hour 'International Motor Racing' slots on Saturday afternoons. Usually it's the weekend after the race, but having Monaco and Nurbrurgring back-to-back amde that impossible.