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THE BRIDGESTONE BENEFIT PARADE

 

Once again this year, Indianapolis was the site for the U.S. Grand Prix as Formula 1 came to America for the sixth time after a long hiatus.   BMW Williams fans have become accustomed to disappointment at this venue, but no one could have predicted this year’s experience.   We’ve endured DNFs and even Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher taking themselves out on the very first turn, but that was nothing compared to what we were in store for this year.

We arrived in Indy on Thursday evening and spent some time with a few friends that arrived by then.   More friends were arriving on Friday and we looked forward to the first F1 practice sessions and reacquainting with old friends.   The Hoosier Chapter’s F1 Corral is a great event.   It has become such a gathering that some years the attendance has rivaled Oktoberfest.   Barbara O’Brien and her gang of dedicated Hoosier volunteers have somehow managed to make the corral better every year.   I think we would consider going just for the corral.

Each year, the volunteers can be identified by a specially designed T-shirt for the event.   This year’s shirt said, “WHAT RACE,” on the front and “IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CORRAL,” on the back.   That seemed to echo our sentiments from previous years, but was there someone who knew more than we were led to believe, as the design proved quite prophetic.

The corral not only provides excellent reserved parking about one block from the track, but breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus the much anticipated Saturday night auction.   After a couple of bagels, we headed for the track on Friday.   BMW Williams must have thought they had everything knocked because for some reason, they did not feel the need to spend much time practicing.   Their practice times did not reflect their lack of need for track time as they were well down on the grid.  

Friday evening we had a cookout type dinner back at the tent and then enjoyed catching up with friends.   Saturday it was breakfast at the corral before we made our way to the track for more action.   Again, Williams felt no need to spend time on the track practicing or working on their setup, apparently that confident in their cars.   We returned to the corral for lunch and then headed back for F1 qualifying.   The result of all this marvelous preparation on the part of Williams was a spectacular 9 th and 15 th on the grid.   I will never understand why teams who are not doing well, still don’t think they need to practice.   Toyota had had some problems with their Michelin tires on Friday as Ricardo Zonta and Ralf Schumacher both had incidents when their tires failed, Ralf coming out the worse of the two.   In fact, Ralf was having trouble with his vision and it was announced that Zonta (the Toyota test driver) would fill in for Ralf and team with Jarno Trulli.  

To say the qualifying results were a surprise was an understatement as Trulli presented Toyota with their first-ever pole.   Of course, we would later learn why.   Saturday evening, the dinner at the corral was catered.   We were joined by Reed Stevens, a very well-spoken young man who was one of the Formula BMW drivers.   There were drawings for a BWM M School in Spartanburg , a nice $3650 door prize if I do say so, and a few other items.   Then we moved into the auction.   This year, the Hoosiers decided to switch charities and split the money between the BMW CCA Foundation and the Wellness Community of Central Indiana, in memory of Jim Watson, a dear member the Hoosiers lost last December.   The auction is quite entertaining as Ben & Jerry (I swear, those are their real names) are not your normal auctioneers.   They were able to raise over $6000 for their charities and donations came from all over the country.

Sunday morning was a more substantial catered breakfast at the corral and then we headed for the track.   The second Formula BMW race was followed by the Porsche Super Cup race before the preparation for the F1 race began.   There were a lot of rumors circulating among the spectators that Michelin had declared a problem with their tires after the two Toyota incidents.   We heard they had flown in new tires, but that the FIA would not allow them since the rules require you race on the tires on which you qualify.   The Michelin teams had suggested a chicane be installed in Turn 13, but that suggestion was also turned down.   As all these discussions were taking place in the stands there was much speculation regarding what type of compromise would occur.   Of course, no one guessed what would actually happen.  

One diversion was the interview we had seen on TV where Bernie Ecclestone was asked what he thought about Danica Patrick.   Bernie’s final comment on Danica was, "You know I've got one of those wonderful ideas…women should be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances.”   It’s nice to see Bernie courting the female audience.

The announcers had nothing to say about the tires and the cars started to come out for their grid positions.   The cars sped off on their reconnaissance lap and as they approached the grid, all the Michelin cars peeled off and into pit lane.   Quickly, our initial reaction was that they would all change tires and take a penalty.   Seconds later, we watched on the Jumbo- tron as the cars were all wheeled back into their garages.   There were six cars on the grid, when the lights came on.   The first four starting positions were empty followed by Michael Schumacher in 5 th and Barrichello behind him in 7 th, then nothing but space until 17 th through 20 th way at the back.   What a strange site as the lights went off and the six cars launched.   By the time the six reached the third turn fans were filing for the exits.   The exodus continued throughout the race.   What a disappointment!  

At least traffic getting out wasn’t a problem as the crowd dissipated over a two plus hour stretch.   The best we could hope for was a Minardi podium.   It started to become apparent that that would not happen.   When we returned to the corral about halfway through the race I told Barbara that it was a good thing their corral was so good, because their race really sucked.   We didn’t even hang around long enough to see the two Ferraris almost take themselves out.   I must say, the day’s events gave us plenty to talk about.   Oh, and that Trulli pole; it was because he was running about an ounce more fuel than he needed to get around as opposed to running what you needed to start the race on.

There were class action law suits immediately filed the next morning and we won’t fully know the ramifications of this action for some time.   The next clues should come on June 29 th when the seven Michelin teams have been asked to appear before the FIA in Paris for a hand-slapping.   One lady with whom we spoke at the airport on Monday said that perhaps part of our fascination with F1 is all the politics.   Maybe so, it sure isn’t all the on-track action.   Will there be a race next year?   I’m pretty sure there will be.   Will it be well attended?   That’s a little more suspect.

What race, it’s all about the corral indeed!

                                                                                    Bob Morin