F1 drivers beware: Aguri confirms Sato and Ide

[fpv_gtho]

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=35039

SATO AND IDE CONFIRMED AT AGURI
Last Updated: Wednesday, 15, February, 2006, 09:13


Super Aguri F1 has confirmed that Japanese drivers Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide will form its line-up for 2006.

While Sato has long been linked with a seat in F1's newest team, while Ide makes his F1 debut after an impressive career in Japan's domestic junior formula.

Set up by former grand prix driver Aguri Suzuki, the new team boasts Honda backing that includes a V8 engine supply.

Suzuki was only given the green light to compete in this year's championship last month, and having been dropped from Honda's works team last year, Sato said he was happy to have a place on the grid confirmed.

“Everyone at Super Aguri has done a great job to make the team happen in such a short period of time," he said.

"I am extremely excited to be working with the team and especially with Aguri-san who has achieved huge success in motorsport."

Sato shook down the car the team will use in the first couple of races at Kemble airfield on Tuesday.

Based on an old Arrows A23, Super Aguri admits the chassis is a temporary measure until it has time to complete its own design.

“Yesterday I was delighted to shakedown the car for the very first time with all of the boys who have done such a great job," said Sato.

"We know that there is a lot of hard work to do, but we are up for the challenge and I am really looking forward to it.”

Ide makes his debut off the back of finishing runner-up in the Japanese Formula Nippon Championship in 2005.

“This year will be very exciting and challenging," said Ide.

"I would like to thank Suzuki-san for giving me the opportunity to drive in F1. I drove an F1 car for the first time yesterday and I was nervous, but very excited.

"The car is powerful!

"I would also like to thank the whole team for working so hard to get the car ready for yesterday’s shakedown. We had no problems and now I am very much looking forward to testing.”

The team will joins F1's band of testers at Barcelona next week.

[henk4]

how enthralling

[blackcat77]

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce the NEW MINARDI!

[jorismo]

Originally Posted by blackcat77

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce the NEW MINARDI!

And the old one isn't even gone...

[Jack_Bauer]

Ide: Super Aguri was a gamble

By Michele Lostia Sunday, February 26th 2006, 21:17 GMT


Newly signed Super Aguri driver Yuji Ide has revealed that he took a gamble on landing the F1 drive and left Japan for Europe despite not having a contract from the new team.

Ide, who finished second in the Formula Nippon championship last year, was confirmed as Takuma Sato's teammate in the all-Japanese outfit.

But Ide says it was he who initiated contact with team founder Aguri Suzuki.

The Japanese said: "I proposed myself to Suzuki in September already, taking advantage of the fact that he and I are friends.

"I then took a gamble, by refusing every offer I got to carry on racing in Japan. Instead, I came to Europe without a contract in my pocket. It could have ended my career.

"Suzuki used to taunt me by saying, 'forget it, I've already ruled you out'..."

Ide, who will make his Formula One debut in the Bahrain Grand Prix in just two weeks, said he was not worried about his first race - and revealed he is looking to imitate wild teammate Takuma Sato.

"I like the way Takuma races in the Grands Prix, so I'll try to imitate him," Ide told Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport.

"But I'm not worried; the leap from F3 to Formula Nippon was harder. I just need to improve my English and my knowledge of the tracks.

"I feel a bit like an ambassador for my country. I especially want to demonstrate that a Formula Nippon driver has what's needed to be in Grands Prix racing."

Oh christ, that's all we need! Hopefully the FIA will reinforce the 107% qualifying rule so we won't have to suffer the carnage of TWO Satos on track!

[aNOBLEman]

Originally Posted by Jack_Bauer

Oh christ, that's all we need! Hopefully the FIA will reinforce the 107% qualifying rule so we won't have to suffer the carnage of TWO Satos on track!

HAHAHA Yep, better make the cars extra safe. Can't wait till Indy, maybe they'll take each other out and I can capture the absolutely hilarious moment on my camera. It's like a Mastercard commercial:

Going to an F1 race: $80
Food: $30
Watching teammates Kamikaze each other: Priceless

[MrKipling]

Oh good lord.

No, that's all I can think of: Oh good lord!

[magracer]

Traffic for the first 15 min of qualy is going to be awful, so please start praying for your favourite drivers to get safely through these (moving) chicanes!

Seriously, it sounds scary when you consider Alonso (just to name someone) might be out in a kamikaze lap, and he catches someone like Sato (just to name someone as well) just out, with cold tires, in a not very well sorted car (due to lack of testing), and little disposition to watch his mirrors.

[Matra et Alpine]

Originally Posted by magracer

Traffic for the first 15 min of qualy is going to be awful, so please start praying for your favourite drivers to get safely through these (moving) chicanes!

It wont' be any more different than it was 20 years ago when it was the norm

Seriously, it sounds scary when you consider Alonso (just to name someone) might be out in a kamikaze lap, and he catches someone like Sato (just to name someone as well) just out, with cold tires, in a not very well sorted car (due to lack of testing), and little disposition to watch his mirrors.

Nobody is going to hang about in those first 15 mins. They all have to drive to 90% of their best to avoid the cut off.

THe "slow back markers" problem really only became an issue when number of laps was limited. It's nto such a major problem to lose a "fast" lap in those 15 minutes.

[MrKipling]

That's the beauty of the old school (ish) qually system.

[magracer]

Originally Posted by Matra et Alpine

Nobody is going to hang about in those first 15 mins. They all have to drive to 90% of their best to avoid the cut off.

I think otherwise. There will be at least 12 guys trying to give it their best (the slowest 12), and there is always going to be people on an "in" or "out" lap, so chances for people running across each others racing line will always be there. I'm predicting drivers of all sorts complaining about others "mad beheviour" all the way from 1st qualy session in Bahrain.

That the scheme is dangerous and there will be accidents, is another issue all together. Hopefully, given the professionalism of the drivers nothing will happen but "only time will tell".

I thought "old school" qualy was 30 minutes, but if you say it was 15 min I'll give you the benefit of doubt.

[Matra et Alpine]

Originally Posted by magracer

I think otherwise. There will be at least 12 guys trying to give it their best (the slowest 12), and there is always going to be people on an "in" or "out" lap,

The "in" and "out " laps were bad under the old scheme as people were trying to minimise the fuel used and were totally focused on the one or at most 2 laps they would try in each qualifying stint. It's quite likely that now - with no lap limit - that they will stay out for 5 or 6 laps for each in and out and that the "out" laps will not be as slow ( ie saving fuel ) as they used to be. So the chances of getting caught out are MUCH smaller because of that.

I'm predicting drivers of all sorts complaining about others "mad beheviour" all the way from 1st qualy session in Bahrain.

They always have and always will. It's easier to try to convince your team and fans it was someone else that made you slow and not put your hand up to a crap lap

That the scheme is dangerous and there will be accidents, is another issue all together. Hopefully, given the professionalism of the drivers nothing will happen but "only time will tell".

Why will it be more dangerous ? There will be LESS "in" and "out" laps. It will be closer to what qualifying used to be when 30 CARS used to be out fighting for grid places.

I thought "old school" qualy was 30 minutes, but if you say it was 15 min I'll give you the benefit of doubt.

"old school" was a full hour.
Everyone wanted to book a "banker" reasonably fast lap early on and then work up to their fastest lap time during the session. Qualifying tyres introduced the concept of a one-off very fast lap rather than build up to a fast lap.

[magracer]

MetA: Where I stand, 30 cars lapping for 60 minutes is very different from 22 cars lapping for 15 min.

I feel no need to go deeper on the issue right now given that its all purely theorical (and hence it same as bench racing, useless), but I promise I'll get back to it as soon as first qualy in Bahrain is over in two weeks time...

I'm hoping I'll start with "I told you so..."

[Matra et Alpine]

Originally Posted by magracer

MetA: Where I stand, 30 cars lapping for 60 minutes is very different from 22 cars lapping for 15 min.

Only because you have made up the image that those 30 cars arent on the track at the same time. 30 cars on track is worse than 22 WHether thay are on for 60 or 15 isnt' the issue.....
Usually the majority were on most of the time -- unless weather was problematic.
Back then it was frailly normal to see a car do 20-30 laps ! Adjusting the brake balance and building UP to faster lap times. Coming in to the pits and adjusting suspension and wings before going out again.
Everyone I think has go to used to the limited laps the "old-new" system brought in
The fuelling rules I'm not convinced about and I think will have a bigger impact on the tactics chosen. Expect that to cause more upset than anything else -- and possibly altered (again)

[fpv_gtho]

Originally Posted by Jack_Bauer

Oh christ, that's all we need! Hopefully the FIA will reinforce the 107% qualifying rule so we won't have to suffer the carnage of TWO Satos on track!

That wont affect SA as the 107%'s only for the final sector when theyre on race fuel loads