[}{arlequin]

bear with me, it's gonna be loooong post

This weekend I had a chance to check out the GP live. It was one of the coolest things that I've experienced. My first impression is that the machines are LOUD. I mean really, gets-into-your-bone-marrow-hair-on-the-back-of-the-neck-raising loud. It may be louder due to the place I was watching from. It's practically a concrete canyon, but I didn't mind one bit. Disappointingly, all the cars sounded alike, probably due to the unanimous V10 configuration. They did backfire very nicely when off the gas though. (Just like my car ) Somehow the backfires were distinct though, to the point that I could identify the Jordan cars even before they came into view.

My vantage point, arguably, one of the most famous/recognizable corners in the world (apart from Eau Rouge). Nice thing about it is that the speeds are fairly low and you can see the cars accelerate downhill, *really* get on the brakes, turn in, track out, more gas, more brakes, lift the inside front wheel, power out, and continue into the tunnel.

This is Wednesday or Thursday, right before all the practice/qualifying action began. Notice there is no tire marks on the road, yet






JV having lunch.... I wonder how they deal w/ all the attention.




the Bridgestone camp, busy mounting tires all day Wednesday and Thursday




Michelin came out in force (obviously) I think I saw a total of 5 of these rigs




Webber




the MacLaren crew chillin'




most of the tickets were sold out, check out the prices





coming into, through, and out of the hairpin














there were also several supporting races throughout the weekend, including 2 different Formula Renault classes as well as the Supercup

one note on the Cup cars, compared to the 996's, these sounded a lot deeper and bassier. It was almost a V8 rumble.














I was stragnely drawn to this one, even though it didn't have good pace, surprise surprise






this was the leader and eventual winner, don't know how he kept his focus b/c on every right turn his door kept popping open




post race pause, a spinal column of 997's




all the classes use the same pit as the GP cars so after the race this is how all the spares were transported to another part of the city.
Check out the green/orange "tow vehicle"






two different Formula Renault classes going at it






getting lifted off the track




the big boys, right before they go into the tunnel running below the hotel






here you can see the right hand turn preceding the entrance to the tunnel





It was great to see all the action in person. I had a particularly good view of the pile-up that took off Shuey's nose.

Much much later on Sunday (actually Monday morning ) , I had a chance to check out Kimi partying it up celebrating his victory. All the Finns (all two that I know of) seem fridgid during the interviews but this one really let loose afterwards. Wonder if Mika was like that too.



there's more, I'll post the rest later