Live Commenting: Spain - Free Practice 2 | Sidepodcast : Your Weekly F1 Podcast

Live Commenting: Spain - Free Practice 2

That time already is it? My how the day does fly by.

So with free practice 1 complete and the teams preparing for the second run of the day, what do we have in store?

It’s another 90 minute session, the weather is warm and sunny and the track is suitably rubbered in. An interesting point brought up by Le Seb in his recent interview with F1.com is the fact that last week a lot of running was done on the circuit during testing, but more importantly, a good deal of that was using slicks which lay even more rubber onto the asphalt. It’s not clear how much of a difference that could make this weekend, or if the rain lifted it up again. Nevertheless some laptimes could be a surprise today.

Free Practice 2 begins at 2pm local time (1pm in the UK). As before you can follow Formula 1’s live timing online and watch ITV’s video coverage too (if you’re in the UK, or use a proxy hack).

Update: As an alternative you can watch a slightly lower quality feed on TVlizer 335.

In addition 5Live Sports Extra have full audio coverage and for this session Force India’s Ian Phillips thankfully replaces the ever-so-dull Mark Hughes, sitting alongside Maurice Hamilton.

Please shout if you’re about!

Written on April 25th, 2008 at 12:43 pm by me.
Posted in Live Comments
Tags: 2008, Barcelona, Catalunya, Chat, Commentary, F1, Formula 1, Free Practice, Live, Spain

What others have said...

291 Responses

April 25th, 2008 at 12:47 pmChristine said:
I’M ABOUT!
April 25th, 2008 at 12:48 pmme said:
I’M ABOUT!

i hear ya
April 25th, 2008 at 12:49 pmJourneyer said:
Woohoo! FP2! I won’t be running any meetings until AFTER FP2, so I should be able to chat a bit more this session.
April 25th, 2008 at 12:51 pmAlenyaa said:
Hey guys!

I was just wondering, For the first race in Australia one of our American friends here mentioned we can watch FP on Speedtv.com

Can any o you tell me if this is still the case, because I can’t seem to find any link to live streaming on their site.

Cheers!
April 25th, 2008 at 12:53 pmAlenyaa said:
Oh, and I’m glad to hear there’s an edit-button on the way
April 25th, 2008 at 12:53 pmme said:
I won’t be running any meetings until AFTER FP2

nice one.

Can any o you tell me if this is still the case, because I can’t seem to find any link to live streaming on their site.

not a clue but you can watch on TVlizer:

http://www.tvlizer.com/content/view/203/335/
April 25th, 2008 at 12:55 pmSteven Roy said:
The 5 live link does not work. The url it takes you to is http://www.sidepodcast.com/www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/sportsextra/ instead of http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/sportsextra/
April 25th, 2008 at 12:56 pmScott Woodwiss said:
I’m here too, they just reset the Live Timing, looks like we’ll get underway soon!
April 25th, 2008 at 12:57 pmJourneyer said:
Can any of you tell me if this is still the case, because I can’t seem to find any link to live streaming on their site.

Yep, you can! Use TVU. It’s on the Wheels channel.
April 25th, 2008 at 12:58 pmAlianora La Canta said:
TVU works for getting Speed TV as well (it’s called Wheels on that system).
April 25th, 2008 at 12:58 pmme said:
itv feed not showing anything yet, but tvlizer shows a bmw driver sitting in his cockpit.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:00 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Davidson and Heidfeld on track.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:00 pmme said:
live timing has 5 drivers on track.

nothing from itv, nor 5live. anyone else?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:00 pmSteven Roy said:
I just posted a comment and it hasn’t appeared. I tried to re-post it and it told me I had posted it already. The 5 live link is wrong
April 25th, 2008 at 1:01 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Hmm, 5 Live Sports Extra’s coverage is late starting. All I get at the moment is the same woman telling me it’s coming up shortly. You’ve said that for the last 10 minutes!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:01 pmAlianora La Canta said:
I think ITV have set their clocks a bit slow… …and Glock has a purple sector 2.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:01 pmJourneyer said:
Around half of the grid out on track already.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:01 pmme said:
I just posted a comment and it hasn’t appeared. I tried to re-post it and it told me I had posted it already. The 5 live link is wrong

fixed and fixed. cheers
April 25th, 2008 at 1:02 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Aha. We have the live feed!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:02 pmAlianora La Canta said:
ITV’s feed is now up… …and we’re seeing some fans and Heidfeld leaving the pits!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:02 pmme said:
Around half of the grid out on track already.

much better.

itv now working, but well behind.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:03 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Kubica purple s1, Heidfeld purple s2, alonso purple s3
April 25th, 2008 at 1:03 pmChristine said:
Looks like we’re getting full laps straight away as well. None of this installation nonsense.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:04 pmAlianora La Canta said:
BMW on top - Clive will like that
April 25th, 2008 at 1:04 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Hamilton was cruising around… …and now he’s putting the hammer down and getting purple sectors. And isn’t the crowd pleased?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:06 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Hmm, the ITV audio quality has gone down again.

Also, has anyone noticed the Turn 1 runoff is now tarmac? Maybe because of Alonso’s escapade last year
April 25th, 2008 at 1:06 pmme said:
And isn’t the crowd pleased?

ha! ian philips saying on radio that rain has been heavy during the week and lifted up lots of the laid rubber. damn that weather.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:07 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Hamilton missed a gear through La Caixa. I heard him upshift my mistake.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:07 pmme said:
Also, has anyone noticed the Turn 1 runoff is now tarmac? Maybe because of Alonso’s escapade last year

hehe. i hadn’t but that’s quite a reaction!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:07 pmScott Woodwiss said:
*by mistake
April 25th, 2008 at 1:07 pmAlianora La Canta said:
And now Lewis is complaining about the brakes. Bet Mr Kubica isn’t…
April 25th, 2008 at 1:08 pmScott Woodwiss said:
According to 5 Live, Hamilton’s off again
April 25th, 2008 at 1:09 pmme said:
lewis spins it at t10.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:09 pmScott Woodwiss said:
HAHA! Those rabbit ears look so stupid on the Honda on the onboard shot.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:09 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Still can’t get over the Honda flip-ups. I know they’re called Dumbo ears, but they look more like cheap plastic modern statuary.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:10 pmAlianora La Canta said:
And Lewis has just demonstrated the 720-degree method around one of Spain’s turns…
April 25th, 2008 at 1:10 pmAlianora La Canta said:
What precisely is Adrian Sutil doing in 2nd?!?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:11 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Do you reckon by jerking out of their pitbox like that, they’re putting rubber down so they get a quick getaway from their stops in the race?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:12 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Purple sector for Sutil in Sector 2? What is this world coming to?!?!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:12 pmme said:
What precisely is Adrian Sutil doing in 2nd?!?

i have him as first. umm. no idea.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:12 pmSteven Roy said:
I guess they are putting down rubber and getting used to the how the car reacts in that pit lane
April 25th, 2008 at 1:12 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Yes, Scott, I think the pitlane exit method is a way of getting around the rule that forbids artificial attempts to improve the pit lane surface.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:12 pmme said:
Do you reckon by jerking out of their pitbox like that, they’re putting rubber down so they get a quick getaway from their stops in the race?

yup and practicing pitstops.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:13 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Another purple S2 for Sutil! What on earth is going on! Quickest? How? Why?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:13 pmlou said:
Hey! im here!! yay! have i missed anything?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:13 pmSteven Roy said:
Sutil is first on live timing. Maybe he has seen the new FIF1 motor home and decided they must have a ggod car,
April 25th, 2008 at 1:13 pmme said:
Yes, Scott, I think the pitlane exit method is a way of getting around the rule that forbids artificial attempts to improve the pit lane surface.

oooh, didn’t know that. good call.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:13 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Adrian was 2nd, then he improved a bit as I was waiting for the comment to make its way through cyberspace. And now we’ve finally linked up to him on the TV screen.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:14 pmSteven Roy said:
Fisi P3
April 25th, 2008 at 1:14 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Aha! Kimi’s got a purple S1. That’s gonna put Ade in his place
April 25th, 2008 at 1:14 pmAlianora La Canta said:
And Fisi is now 3rd… …0.623s behind his team-mate. This is crazy!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:14 pmme said:
Hey! im here!! yay! have i missed anything?

nope. live video is so far behind that it’s like watching a whole other race. and sutil has set the benchmark
April 25th, 2008 at 1:14 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Oh….maybe not
April 25th, 2008 at 1:15 pmSteven Roy said:
Fisi P1
April 25th, 2008 at 1:15 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Fisi gets purple S2! He’s now quickest! hahaha!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:15 pmme said:
And Fisi is now 3rd… …0.623s behind his team-mate. This is crazy!

this is brilliant!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:15 pmAlianora La Canta said:
OK, so now we have two Force Indias in the top 2. I am trying very hard not to faint from over-excitement…
April 25th, 2008 at 1:16 pmSteven Roy said:
FIF1’s must be running light
April 25th, 2008 at 1:16 pmlou said:
nope. live video is so far behind that it’s like watching a whole other race. and sutil has set the benchmark

Im glad. Unfortunatly i have noo timings or video so please be my eyes and ears
April 25th, 2008 at 1:16 pmChristine said:
FIF1’s must be running light

Also, we don’t have to worry about whether the universe is upside until they get into the 1:21s.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:17 pmScott Woodwiss said:
either that and/or it’s those soft tyres….wait, Fisi’s on hards! WHAT!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:17 pmme said:
FIF1’s must be running light

one running on soft tyres and the other on hard, so it’s not the rubber.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:17 pmShashank SK said:
OK, so now we have two Force Indias in the top 2. I am trying very hard not to faint from over-excitement…

Same Here.. though im not really fainting im just excited
April 25th, 2008 at 1:18 pmlou said:
2 force indias in the top 2? is everyone out/been out?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:19 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Apart from Heikki Kovalainen, yes
April 25th, 2008 at 1:19 pmSteven Roy said:
There have been a lot of comments since the start of the season that the FIF1 looks like the McLaren. You don’t think they popped into Woking and picked up a couple of MP4/23s and hoped none of us would notice
April 25th, 2008 at 1:19 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Yes Lou, believe it or not, they have Well, there’s just Massa and Kovi left.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:19 pmme said:
kovi the only driver yet to leave the pits in this session.

massa done one installation, but not a hot lap yet.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:20 pmlou said:
Oh right so as it stands 3 cars have been out? argh i hate not having any infomation!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:20 pmme said:
You don’t think they popped into Woking and picked up a couple of MP4/23s and hoped none of us would notice

that would be a fine business plan, wouldn’t it
April 25th, 2008 at 1:20 pmSteven Roy said:
Vijay looks happy
April 25th, 2008 at 1:21 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Maybe that’s why McLaren REALLY invited FI yesterday
April 25th, 2008 at 1:21 pmSteven Roy said:
Lou everyone has run except Kovi. Massa has only done 2 laps
April 25th, 2008 at 1:21 pmme said:
summary (for lou):

1 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India 1:22.494
2 Adrian Sutil Force India 0:00.334
3 Nick Heidfeld BMW 0:00.674
4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 0:00.926
5 Nico Rosberg Williams 0:00.941
6 David Coulthard Red Bull 0:00.974
7 Kazuki Nakajima Williams 0:01.034
8 Robert Kubica BMW 0:01.053
9 Lewis Hamilton McLaren 0:01.063
10 Jenson Button Honda 0:01.396
11 Timo Glock Toyota 0:01.682
12 Sebastien Vettel Toro Rosso 0:02.086
13 Fernando Alonso Renault 0:02.422
14 Sebastien Bourdais Toro Rosso 0:02.587
15 Rubens Barrichello Honda 0:02.686
April 25th, 2008 at 1:22 pmAlianora La Canta said:
I think the dream’s about to be ruined. Hamilton’s going purple…
April 25th, 2008 at 1:22 pmlou said:
Oh ok, lol and they are that far up? Are we in some sort of parallel universe?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:22 pmSteven Roy said:
Order is
Fisi
Sutil
Kub
Raikk
Hamilt
Heid
Piq
Ros
DC
Webb
Alons
Trull
Bourd
Naka
Butt
Glock
Vettel
Sato
Davi
Mass
Kovi
April 25th, 2008 at 1:22 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Vettel’s on the raggid edge there through the chicane, it looks like’s he went in to drift mode.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:23 pmlou said:
summary (for lou):

Thank you!!!! thank you thank you!!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:23 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Or maybe not. Lewis really hasn’t cracked sector 2 yet…
April 25th, 2008 at 1:23 pmChristine said:
Is anyone looking at the Autosport live stuff?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:23 pmAlianora La Canta said:
If we’re in a parallel universe, I don’t want a lift home!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:24 pmAlianora La Canta said:
No, though I will need to look at it to cross-reference my engine/gearbox information later on.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:24 pmSteven Roy said:
DC purple in S2?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:25 pmSteven Roy said:
DC P3
April 25th, 2008 at 1:25 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Update on the conditions for everybody. Track temp is 37C, air temp 24C, wind speed 0.5m/s and humidity 38%
April 25th, 2008 at 1:25 pmSteven Roy said:
Fisi purple S2 & S3
April 25th, 2008 at 1:26 pmme said:
Is anyone looking at the Autosport live stuff?

ahh, no i forgot. is it any good?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:26 pmSteven Roy said:
Hamilton purple in S1 every lap
April 25th, 2008 at 1:26 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Purple S2 for Fisi again. I’ve just had a look at the sector speeds and Fisi is only 3 fastest through S1 and 5th through S2. I think that their car is more setup for the corners, as it looks like they’re lacking maybe a tad on the straighter sections. Maybe it’s just me, though.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:27 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Fisi’s going even faster now… …it seems Force India has figured out every sector except sector 1, where the McLaren is quicker. Evidently the paddock chat did not include all their respective set-up secrets, since their strengths are in different places.

Oh, and Piquet Jr’s still eight-tenths off Fisi…
April 25th, 2008 at 1:27 pmme said:
apparently kovi car is in bits. not sure what the problem is yet?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:27 pmSteven Roy said:
Did you need to mention Autosport. I had a quick look at the site and the first thing I saw was a grinning Max and a comment saying he will be in Monaco
April 25th, 2008 at 1:27 pmlou said:
Fisi purple S2 & S3

I assume they are running light? while others are setting up the cars??
April 25th, 2008 at 1:27 pmChristine said:
It’s just like what you get from F1.com during the race. Personally, I think the BBC do it better, but I guess not during Free Practice.

If anyone’s interested.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:29 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Piquet 4th. Did we miss something here? Did something happen between the end of FP1 and the beginning of FP2? This is not what I or I believe anyone was expecting. Although, most of the higher teams (Ferrari, McLaren, BMW, etc.) might just either be doing setup work or practicing runs with slightly heavier fuel loads.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:29 pmSteven Roy said:
Piquet P4
April 25th, 2008 at 1:30 pmSteven Roy said:
Massa out again at last
April 25th, 2008 at 1:31 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Sounds like Bourdais’s complaining about his STR.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:31 pmJourneyer said:
Did something happen between the end of FP1 and the beginning of FP2?

Maybe they all decided to swap liveries. Hahaha!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:32 pmAlianora La Canta said:
I’ve just had a look at the Autosport live thing. I like it, but I think I’ll mostly be using it right at the end of a session when it’s finished its little summary.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:32 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Kimi purple s2
April 25th, 2008 at 1:32 pmChristine said:
Maybe they all decided to swap liveries. Hahaha!

Ah, that would be a great April fool’s joke.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:32 pmSteven Roy said:
Kimi purple S2. Goes P2

April 25th, 2008 at 1:32 pmme said:

with an hour to go, here are some more times:

1	Giancarlo Fisichella	Force India	1:22.494
2	Adrian Sutil	Force India	0:00.054
3	David Coulthard	Red Bull	0:00.065
4	Nelsinho Piquet Jr	Renault	0:00.407
5	Robert Kubica	BMW	0:00.455
6	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren	0:00.545
7	Nick Heidfeld	BMW	0:00.674
8	Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari	0:00.926
9	Nico Rosberg	Williams	0:00.941
10	Mark Webber	Red Bull	0:00.986
11	Kazuki Nakajima	Williams	0:01.330
12	Jenson Button	Honda	0:01.396
13	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	0:01.404
14	Timo Glock	Toyota	0:01.682
15	Sebastien Vettel	Toro Rosso	0:02.086
16	Fernando Alonso	Renault	0:02.422
17	Sebastien Bourdais	Toro Rosso	0:02.587
18	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	0:02.686
19	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	0:03.328

April 25th, 2008 at 1:33 pmChristine said:
when it’s finished its little summary

That’s what I’m thinking as a tool for F1 Digest as well.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:33 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Kimi’s split the FI’s at last.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:34 pmlou said:
Kimi purple s2

Thats more like it!

On the subject of Kimi, we had a general knowledge quiz today, that i was forced to take part it. AND one of the questions was who was the Formula 1 2007 world champion! ahaha everyone else put Lewis down!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:34 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Oh dear. Sebastien Bourdais does not sound a happy bunny, even if he is blitzing Vettel’s time…
April 25th, 2008 at 1:35 pmSteven Roy said:
The track is quiet 2 Ferraris, BMWs, SAs and Glock only drivers out
April 25th, 2008 at 1:35 pmAlianora La Canta said:
About the April Fool’s joke. It’s Poisson d’Avril day on April 27th, which is the European version of April Fool’s day. Maybe it’s a practise session for that, when Ferrari comes out with Super Aguri livery…
April 25th, 2008 at 1:36 pmScott Woodwiss said:
I think you’ll find it’s much busier now.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:36 pmChristine said:
The Dumbo ears don’t appear to be helping Honda out that much.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:36 pmlou said:
This sounds stupid, but where is the Davidson? - do they not have enough money to chance to cars in a practice?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:36 pmSteven Roy said:
Ferraris are slooooow in S2. Fisi/DC 31.2 Kimi 31.8 Massa 31.5
April 25th, 2008 at 1:37 pmScott Woodwiss said:
massa purple s1
April 25th, 2008 at 1:37 pmSteven Roy said:
Davidson slowest of the drivers who have put a time in
April 25th, 2008 at 1:37 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Davidson’s done 10 laps, but he’s 21st, six-hundreths of a second behind Sato and seven-tenths off next-slowest runner Vettel.

Meanwhile work is still being done on Kovalainen’s car. He may get to run later on, though…
April 25th, 2008 at 1:38 pmSteven Roy said:
Kovi is being strapped into his car at last
April 25th, 2008 at 1:38 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Raikkonen’s split the Force Indias. Reality begins to seep back into my parallel universe…
April 25th, 2008 at 1:39 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Haha! I can’t really understand a work that STR engineer’s saying to Vettel.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:39 pmAlenyaa said:
Thanks for helping me out with live streaming! Am now watching it!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:39 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Vettel’s complaining about something not working, but I haven’t a clue what. Lousy quality of radio mics…
April 25th, 2008 at 1:40 pmlou said:
The Dumbo ears don’t appear to be helping Honda out that much.

I really hope they are just setting up the car! and that its not a step backward!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:40 pmAlenyaa said:
The TVU player was a bit flaky at the start, but much better now!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:40 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Coulthard now quickest
April 25th, 2008 at 1:40 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Coulthard’s come from nowhere to yank me back into reality completely. At least Mum will be happy about him being P1!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:40 pmSteven Roy said:
Kimi put in that time a few minutes ago Ali. The two Ferraris have been putting in ‘quick’ laps since and don’t seem able to improve their times
April 25th, 2008 at 1:41 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Fisi’s sector times have dropped a bit. And I think david was only quickest because he was using soft tyres.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:41 pmSteven Roy said:
I think their must be some kind of Spanish improbablitly drive in use to try and get Alonso a good result
April 25th, 2008 at 1:42 pmSteven Roy said:
There are white stripes on DC’s tyres
April 25th, 2008 at 1:43 pmlou said:
Coulthard now quickest

Slightly more believable than the Force Indias being 1 & 2 but still sooo out of place!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:43 pmChristine said:
I think their must be some kind of Spanish improbablitly drive in use to try and get Alonso a good result

It’s not working though, is it? He’s still in 13th.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:43 pmme said:
vettel one place up on last session, but kovi not gone out yet.

he is having an awful day. 4 places behind teammate.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:43 pmScott Woodwiss said:
massa purple s1 again
April 25th, 2008 at 1:43 pmlou said:
I think their must be some kind of Spanish improbablitly drive in use to try and get Alonso a good result

Finally an explanation
April 25th, 2008 at 1:44 pmSteven Roy said:
That FIF1 looks good. Sutil is chucking it about like it is a kart
April 25th, 2008 at 1:44 pmChristine said:
Quote from Autosport Live: “Adrian Sutil running wide at Campsa corner, and onto the grasscrete on the outside of the circuit.”

What the hell is grasscrete?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:45 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Did I just hear Ian Philips say bargeboards are banned as well next year?!?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:45 pmChristine said:
Kovi’s out now.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:46 pmAlianora La Canta said:
I suppose the improbability drive must be backfiring - I find Piquet Jr being seven places and half-a-second ahead of Alonso to be pretty improbable in itself…
April 25th, 2008 at 1:46 pmJourneyer said:
What the hell is grasscrete?

It’s astroturf, Christine. Concrete that is as as grippy as if you were on grass.

Ferrari-engined cars running 2nd-5th.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:46 pmAlenyaa said:
The TVU player was a bit flaky at the start, but much better now!

And of course as I say that the feed dissappears completely…
April 25th, 2008 at 1:46 pmChristine said:
Grasscrete is quite possibly the worst word I’ve ever heard.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:46 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Grasscrete is concrete designed to resemble grass to the (very inattentive) observor.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:46 pmSteven Roy said:
Grasscrete is concrete with fake grass on it so that it doesn’t look like concrete. Martin Brundle mentions it all the time.

Scott,
There are a whole set of new aero rules next season including banning the barge boards
April 25th, 2008 at 1:47 pmAlianora La Canta said:
And now Vettel is exploring the properties of grasscrete… …and so did Sutil right behind him.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:48 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Rosberg is now in P1.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:48 pmSteven Roy said:
Vettel is fighting the STR. No wonder Bourdais was complaining about it
April 25th, 2008 at 1:48 pmJourneyer said:
Nico P1 - just about!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:48 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Ah right. I knew there were new aero rules for next year, but I didn’t know barge boards were being banned. That’s news to me.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:48 pmSteven Roy said:
Kovi has managed to get a few laps in P14
April 25th, 2008 at 1:49 pmlou said:
sadly thats it for me *sniff* i have lessons in about 2 mins! argh! i really want to watch this rest of this strange session unfold! will be back later (probably 4?) to catch up! Am hoping for some normality!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:49 pmSteven Roy said:
Nakajima purple in S2
April 25th, 2008 at 1:50 pmlou said:
Nico P1 - just about!

thats abit better! and with that i leave! see ya!!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:50 pmSteven Roy said:
Nakajima P1
April 25th, 2008 at 1:50 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Nakajima’s now quickest
April 25th, 2008 at 1:50 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Bye lou!

And now Nakajima has the fastest sector 2 - that seems to be the key to lapping Spain quickly - and P1.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:50 pmJourneyer said:
Kazuki-san P1!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:51 pmJourneyer said:
Williams-Toyota 1-2 too!

April 25th, 2008 at 1:51 pmme said:


1	Nico Rosberg	Williams	1:22.302
2	David Coulthard	Red Bull	0:00.019
3	Giancarlo Fisichella	Force India	0:00.081
4	Kimi Raikkonen	Ferrari	0:00.196
5	Adrian Sutil	Force India	0:00.246
6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	0:00.470
7	Nelsinho Piquet Jr	Renault	0:00.599
8	Robert Kubica	BMW	0:00.647
9	Mark Webber	Red Bull	0:00.718
10	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren	0:00.737
11	Nick Heidfeld	BMW	0:00.866
12	Fernando Alonso	Renault	0:01.144
13	Heikki Kovalainen	McLaren	0:01.201
14	Kazuki Nakajima	Williams	0:01.363
15	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	0:01.377
16	Sebastien Bourdais	Toro Rosso	0:01.382
17	Timo Glock	Toyota	0:01.581
18	Jenson Button	Honda	0:01.588
19	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	0:01.994
20	Sebastien Vettel	Toro Rosso	0:02.278
21	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	0:03.520
22	Anthony Davidson	Super Aguri	0:04.031

April 25th, 2008 at 1:52 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Frank’s looking grumpy. You would have thought that with his cars 1st and 2nd quickest, you’d be a bit happier than that.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:52 pmJourneyer said:
A bit late, your standings, me.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:53 pmme said:
A bit late, your standings, me.

sorry, takes a couple of seconds to format it nicely.

still experimenting.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:54 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Frank never looks especially happy unless he’s just won the championship or a hard-fought race.

Glock looks like he’s on an endurance run - he’s done 26 laps and is hovering around 17th.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:55 pmSteven Roy said:
Heidfeld is the same. 29 laps for P12
April 25th, 2008 at 1:56 pmChristine said:
Kovalainen didn’t last long, did he?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:58 pmAlianora La Canta said:
No - though he is 14th, so at least he’s managed to exercise the McLaren a little.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:58 pmSteven Roy said:
I thought those Honda trousers would start to look better after a few races but they don’t
April 25th, 2008 at 1:59 pmme said:
Kovalainen didn’t last long, did he?

nope, and this going to hurt the team’s and his preparation.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:59 pmSteven Roy said:
I guess Kovi’s car still needs a little work
April 25th, 2008 at 1:59 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Rosberg has turned sector 3 purple - but it’s not leading into an especially hot lap…
April 25th, 2008 at 2:01 pmScott Woodwiss said:
the times from 1st to 12th are covered by less than a second. Looks like qualifying tomorrow could be quite close.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:01 pmme said:
massa slots into 2nd
April 25th, 2008 at 2:01 pmScott Woodwiss said:
massa p2
April 25th, 2008 at 2:01 pmme said:
kovi stretching his legs again.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:02 pmJourneyer said:
the times from 1st to 12th are covered by less than a second. Looks like qualifying tomorrow could be quite close.

Or it could be some of the backmarkers are running light, while the frontrunners are running heavy.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:02 pmAlianora La Canta said:
I thought Nakajima and Massa had cracked sector 2?!?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:02 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Bourdais’ 4th quickest through the speed trap
April 25th, 2008 at 2:02 pmSteven Roy said:
Watching Kimi onboard he doesn’t seem to have a lot more in the car. He is using every mm available and the car looks neat everywhere
April 25th, 2008 at 2:04 pmSteven Roy said:
Massa seems to be fighting the car in a couple of corners
April 25th, 2008 at 2:05 pmme said:
Watching Kimi onboard he doesn’t seem to have a lot more in the car. He is using every mm available and the car looks neat everywhere

running a lot of fuel then?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:06 pmScott Woodwiss said:
kovi’s stopped on track according to 5 live.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:06 pmAlianora La Canta said:
What’s up with Kovalainen? It says he’s stopped in sector 2 and I can’t see a reason why…
April 25th, 2008 at 2:06 pmme said:
alonso find some pace and hits the top spot.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:06 pmScott Woodwiss said:
alonso quickest!?!?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:06 pmJourneyer said:
Alonso P1. And Kovy stopped?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:07 pmSteven Roy said:
We have ultimate improbability Alonso P1
April 25th, 2008 at 2:07 pmme said:
What’s up with Kovalainen? It says he’s stopped in sector 2 and I can’t see a reason why…

radio 5 say turn 6 the car stopped.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:07 pmSteven Roy said:
Ali,
5 live say he pulled off the track. Car problem
April 25th, 2008 at 2:07 pmme said:
alonso quickest!?!?

cheered up the crowds.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:08 pmAlianora La Canta said:
OK, he’s just pulled off with an unhealthy-sounding car. Oh dear
April 25th, 2008 at 2:08 pmChristine said:
We have ultimate improbability Alonso P1

Wow, you were right!
April 25th, 2008 at 2:08 pmSteven Roy said:
He just parke it. Nearly got rammed from behind he was so slow.

What was the original problem with his car?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:08 pmbrendan stallard said:
Can’t stand watching any more ads for double glazing, and pinks: can someone hit me with that hack for ITV? Por Favor?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:09 pmJourneyer said:
OK, he’s just pulled off with an unhealthy-sounding car. Oh dear.

If that’s the case, thank goodness it’s just Friday.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:10 pmSteven Roy said:
The original Kovi problem was a gearbox component
April 25th, 2008 at 2:10 pmme said:
What was the original problem with his car?

no-ones saying, but the floor was off earlier.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:11 pmme said:
The original Kovi problem was a gearbox component

oh
April 25th, 2008 at 2:11 pmSteven Roy said:
Alonso looks wild. He is over-driving
April 25th, 2008 at 2:12 pmSteven Roy said:
Holly Samos on 5 live managed to find someone at McLaren who told her it was gearbox
April 25th, 2008 at 2:12 pmSteven Roy said:
Piquet on a flyer
April 25th, 2008 at 2:12 pmSteven Roy said:
Piquet P1
April 25th, 2008 at 2:13 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Piquet Jr. now in P1. Fernando won’t like that at all…
April 25th, 2008 at 2:13 pmJourneyer said:
Alonso looks wild. He is over-driving

Well, he must be doing SOMETHING right. He is P1, after all.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:13 pmme said:
is it me, or are autosport just listening to 5live too?

they updated the same time holly told us about kovi, and steven was ahead of them.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:13 pmJourneyer said:
And his teammate pips him to P1. What - on earth - is going on???
April 25th, 2008 at 2:13 pmbrendan stallard said:
“Piquet Jr. now in P1. Fernando won’t like that at all…”

Alianora,

I do:)

brendan
April 25th, 2008 at 2:13 pmSteven Roy said:
Piquet going faster again
April 25th, 2008 at 2:14 pmme said:
so… renault have improved
April 25th, 2008 at 2:15 pmme said:
And his teammate pips him to P1. What - on earth - is going on???

great session this one.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:15 pmSteven Roy said:
Piquet is flying in S1 & S2 but struggling a bit in S3
April 25th, 2008 at 2:16 pmAlianora La Canta said:
brendan, I suppose I had my 15 minutes of bliss earlier in the session (when Fisi was beating Piquet Jr and Alonso), so I can hardly begrudge you yours

April 25th, 2008 at 2:17 pmme said:

more times. 15 mins to go:


1	Nelsinho Piquet Jr	Renault	1:22.019
2	Fernando Alonso	Renault	0:00.015
3	Kazuki Nakajima	Williams	0:00.153
4	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	0:00.210
5	Nico Rosberg	Williams	0:00.247
6	Kimi Raikkonen	Ferrari	0:00.275
7	David Coulthard	Red Bull	0:00.302
8	Giancarlo Fisichella	Force India	0:00.364
9	Adrian Sutil	Force India	0:00.529
10	Robert Kubica	BMW	0:00.769
11	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren	0:00.838
12	Mark Webber	Red Bull	0:00.863
13	Nick Heidfeld	BMW	0:01.111
14	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	0:01.205
15	Heikki Kovalainen	McLaren	0:01.245
16	Sebastien Bourdais	Toro Rosso	0:01.665
17	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	0:01.760
18	Timo Glock	Toyota	0:01.864
19	Jenson Button	Honda	0:01.871
20	Sebastien Vettel	Toro Rosso	0:02.431
21	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	0:03.091
22	Anthony Davidson	Super Aguri	0:03.144

April 25th, 2008 at 2:17 pmSteven Roy said:
The big question now is are we going to finish with 10 minutes of reality
April 25th, 2008 at 2:18 pmScott Woodwiss said:
I agree, this has been the best free practice session of the season so far. Please can we have more of the same in the future. This is exactly what I want to see!
April 25th, 2008 at 2:18 pmChristine said:
If Kovi is broken, what’s Hamilton’s excuse?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:19 pmSteven Roy said:
Bourdais down to P19. Don’t tell Christine
April 25th, 2008 at 2:20 pmScott Woodwiss said:
7 different manufacturers in the top 10 times. Yes, F1 is getting back to just how it used to be. With next year getting slick tyres it seems, and also the new simple aero rules, we just need goodyear to start supplying tyres again and skid plates on the cars to create sparks and it’s the 1990s all over again!
April 25th, 2008 at 2:20 pmme said:
If Kovi is broken, what’s Hamilton’s excuse?

kovi hasn’t been able to setup his car for him.

*ducks for cover*
April 25th, 2008 at 2:21 pmSteven Roy said:
I know he is not popular in Spain but is Lewis really 0.666 off pole
April 25th, 2008 at 2:21 pmbrendan stallard said:
Me,

Tsk: you’re soooo cynical: (hurls handbag into universe)!

brendan
April 25th, 2008 at 2:21 pmAlenyaa said:
Lewis only at P10, I’m curious how this weekend will work out for McLaren.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:21 pmme said:
we just need goodyear to start supplying tyres again and skid plates on the cars to create sparks and it’s the 1990s all over again!

sparks would be awesome. we need sparks.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:22 pmbrendan stallard said:
“is Lewis really 0.666 off pole”

Steven,

That’s the mark of the beast, innit?

brendan
April 25th, 2008 at 2:22 pmScott Woodwiss said:
I think Ian Philips just said why Spyker never turned up at the Goodwood event you guys went to last year
April 25th, 2008 at 2:22 pmSteven Roy said:
Sparks should never have been banned.

FIF1 are not doing the Festival of Speed. Pathetic
April 25th, 2008 at 2:23 pmAlenyaa said:
Ok, make that 11th.
Seems to be really struggling in S3.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:24 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Nice bit of athletics from Heikki!
April 25th, 2008 at 2:24 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Also we need to free up the engine rules so we can allow V10s and V12s again. Man, I miss those Honda and Ferrari engines.

Kovi practicing his hurdling technique over the fence?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:24 pmSteven Roy said:
Alonso doesn’t look very happy
April 25th, 2008 at 2:24 pmme said:
I think Ian Philips just said why Spyker never turned up at the Goodwood event you guys went to last year

he did, they’re poor, that’s fine. what was renault’s excuse?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:24 pmme said:
kimi purple s2.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:25 pmScott Woodwiss said:
raikkonen purple s2
April 25th, 2008 at 2:25 pmSteven Roy said:
Kimi purple S2
April 25th, 2008 at 2:25 pmSteven Roy said:
Kimi P1
April 25th, 2008 at 2:25 pmAlenyaa said:
I really wnna thank you guys for getting me up to speed (get it?) with this live stream. Will definitely be around more for FP from now on!
April 25th, 2008 at 2:25 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Raikkonen’s now P1 - looks like real life.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:25 pmScott Woodwiss said:
yep kimi quickest. ah well, the lunacy was fun while it lasted.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:25 pmJourneyer said:
Kimi P1!
April 25th, 2008 at 2:26 pmChristine said:
he did, they’re poor, that’s fine.

They’re not poor anymore, will we be expecting them?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:26 pmJourneyer said:
ah well, the lunacy was fun while it lasted.

Indeed.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:26 pmme said:
I really wnna thank you guys for getting me up to speed (get it?) with this live stream. Will definitely be around more for FP from now on!

no probs, wish we did it last year. used to sit and watch times by myself
April 25th, 2008 at 2:27 pmSteven Roy said:
Christine,

Philips said they are not going this season
April 25th, 2008 at 2:27 pmAlenyaa said:
Wow, I think Kovi’s pitcrew pushed the car back in at a quicker pace than he managed to drive it!
April 25th, 2008 at 2:27 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Kovi’s ride is back in the pits
April 25th, 2008 at 2:27 pmme said:
They’re not poor anymore, will we be expecting them?

apparently not no. maybe we should petition?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:28 pmme said:
Wow, I think Kovi’s pitcrew pushed the car back in at a quicker pace than he managed to drive it!

ahahaha
April 25th, 2008 at 2:29 pmAlenyaa said:
no probs, wish we did it last year. used to sit and watch times by myself

And still forever gratefull for that
April 25th, 2008 at 2:29 pmChristine said:
maybe we should petition?

They were at Autosport though, so that’s one brownie point for them.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:29 pmSteven Roy said:
Looks like no-one else is going to put in a quick time
April 25th, 2008 at 2:29 pmme said:
webber and davidson the only cars to remain in the pits.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pmAlenyaa said:
grateful

Edit button should be integrated into this website :p
April 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pmme said:
where did that car following the ferrari go??
April 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pmSteven Roy said:
Those were marshalls pushing Kovi’s car. The pit crew can’t touch it outside of the pitlane
April 25th, 2008 at 2:31 pmme said:
track it chaotic right now.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:31 pmScott Woodwiss said:
hamilton’s stopped at the end of the pit lane. Looks like he was asleep and forgot to go out.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:32 pmAlenyaa said:
Those were marshalls pushing Kovi’s car.

Sorry, was focusing at the joke rather than the details :p
April 25th, 2008 at 2:32 pmme said:
5live say hamiton off the track. stopped?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:33 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Oops!
April 25th, 2008 at 2:34 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Thanks again guys for an awesome live commenting session. That’s the most fun I’ve had on a friday morning/afternoon for a while now. Can’t wait for tomorrow!
April 25th, 2008 at 2:37 pmme said:
That’s the most fun I’ve had on a friday morning/afternoon for a while now. Can’t wait for tomorrow!

makes up for the first session

thanks again to everyone, really do appreciate all contributions.

we’ll both be around for another hour or so, and christine will wrap up the day’s events in a podcast later today.

fp3 thread will open at 9:30am (ish) tomorrow morning.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:37 pmAlianora La Canta said:
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself. In a sense it was lucky that Keith’s session at F1 Fanatic didn’t run - I’d never have discovered your live blog session otherwise
April 25th, 2008 at 2:39 pmSteven Roy said:
I have to go. Thanks for another good session
April 25th, 2008 at 2:40 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Is there any way I can watch the rest of the support stuff online (GP2, Porsches, etc.)?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:41 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Unfortunately I won’t be able to make the rest of the weekend - Saturday free practise clashes with a shopping expedition and the qualifying and the race is watched from a TV with my parents at the opposite corner of the house.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:41 pmChristine said:
I’d never have discovered your live blog session otherwise

Every cloud, eh?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:42 pmAlenyaa said:
Is there any way I can watch the rest of the support stuff online (GP2, Porsches, etc.)?

Not that I’m aware of. Sorry…
April 25th, 2008 at 2:43 pmAlenyaa said:
Well, gotta head off for work now. Thanks for all your comments and see you tomorrow!
April 25th, 2008 at 2:46 pmJourneyer said:
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself. In a sense it was lucky that Keith’s session at F1 Fanatic didn’t run - I’d never have discovered your live blog session otherwise

But hey! Keith’s live blog will be back up tomorrow. Try to be in two chatrooms at the same time?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:46 pmme said:
Unfortunately I won’t be able to make the rest of the weekend - Saturday free practise clashes with a shopping expedition and the qualifying and the race is watched from a TV with my parents at the opposite corner of the house.

awww, enjoy though, and cheers for stopping by.

I have to go. Thanks for another good session

cheers sir.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:50 pmme said:
so the ferrari’s never got a clean run at the end of the session, but do we think that there’s anyone to match them?

bmw were there usual quiet selves, mclaren are on the back foot, while alonso should be able to wring more speed out of the car than nelson.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:52 pmme said:
also kaz did a mighty fine job, although nico did appear to be struggling with car troubles early on.

both fif1 cars finished in the top 10 which, even given maccas troubles, is an impressive finishing position.

neither honda driver has much to shout about do they?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:54 pmme said:
don’t forget the fantasy racers deadline is 6pm (BST) this evening. i have kovi, so i’m gonna have to make a change.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:01 pmScott Woodwiss said:
I’ve made some changes based on FP2 ;)(
April 25th, 2008 at 3:02 pmScott Woodwiss said:
By the way, do you have a link to that spreadsheet which determines the best drivers depending on their results and value?
April 25th, 2008 at 3:05 pmChristine said:
By the way, do you have a link to that spreadsheet which determines the best drivers depending on their results and value?

Not yet, but I can see about putting that info up if you want it.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:06 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Yes please, if that’s not too much trouble.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:15 pmScott Woodwiss said:
I’m currently working out the average times for all the drivers from both free practice session so we can see on average who’s the quickest so far.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:25 pmme said:
I’m currently working out the average times for all the drivers from both free practice session so we can see on average who’s the quickest so far.

i’ll hold fire on my changes then.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:37 pmScott Woodwiss said:
OK people, here are the average times for today’s Free Practice:

1 Raikkonen (Ferrari) - 1′21.292
2 Massa (Ferrari) - 1′21.359
3 Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes) - 1′21.939
4 Piquet (Renault) - 1′21.978
5 Alonso (Renault) - 1′21.983
6 Kubica (BMW) - 1′22.178
7 Coulthard (Red Bull Renault) - 1′22.204
8 Kovalainen (McLaren Mercedes) - 1′22.511
9 Webber (Red Bull Renault) - 1′22.627
10 Rosberg (Williams Toyota) - 1′22.635
11 Nakajima (Williams Toyota) - 1′22.663
12 Heidfeld (BMW) - 1′22.704
13 Fisichella (Force India Ferrari) - 1′22.790
14 Sutil (Force India Ferrari) - 1′22.852
15 Button (Honda) - 1′22.948
16 Trulli (Toyota) - 1′23.183
17 Barrichello (Honda) - 1′23.384
18 Glock (Toyota) - 1′23.443
19 Bourdais (Toro Rosso Ferrari) - 1′23.818
20 Vettel (Toro Rosso Ferrari) - 1′23.872
21 Sato (Super Aguri Honda) - 1′24.694
22 Davidson (Super Aguri Honda - 1′25.116
April 25th, 2008 at 4:55 pmme said:
OK people, here are the average times for today’s Free Practic

piquet did a fantastic job didn’t he? i guess knowing the circuit makes a lot of difference.

think i’m gonna lose kovi this week.
April 25th, 2008 at 10:31 pmbrendan stallard said:
Alianora La Canta,

I hope I’m not being rude, or personal: but that is just about the bestest name I’ve ever seen on the web. What a cracking handle, I wish mine were so dramatic!

I don’t suppose you can have a word with ole “me” up there and drop some advice into his shell likes as regards things like names: would you?

Seriously, great name, wish I had one like that.

brendan
April 25th, 2008 at 11:49 pmSteven Roy said:
I didn’t realise Alianora was new to this site. She knows more about the rules and procedures of the sport than anyone I have ever come across. If you have always wanted to know chapter and verse on a particular rule I guarantee she knows the answer.
April 25th, 2008 at 11:55 pmme said:
I didn’t realise Alianora was new to this site.

she made top 5 commentor on her debut, she’s welcome again anytime.

i think we’ve had conversations before, but it could have been on other blogs. it all blurs into one these days.
April 26th, 2008 at 5:39 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Christine, every cloud does indeed have a silver lining.

Journeyer, I’d love to be in both chat sessions, but I can’t be in either of them on Saturdays or Sundays due to the way viewing pans out. Saturday mornings are occupied by shopping expeditions, thus precluding any viewing or discussion of simultaneously-occurring F1 whatsoever. I’d have to move my desktop computer down a flight of stairs and into the next room over in order to be able to do the rooms and watch qualifying and the race on TV with my parents. My room is too small for my parents and me to squeeze in and see the PC at once. In theory, my PDA can do the internet, but it can only have one web page open at a time and besides, the screen is tiny… Maybe I can get a laptop when I’ve got a job. Sorry.

brendan, I came up with that handle when I was 11, for a minor character in a story I never finished (and probably never will - there came a point when it felt like a second-rate imitation of Harry Potter). The first name was borrowed from a character called Princess Alianora of the Duchy of Toure-on-Marsh (from a book called Dragonsbane by Patricia C. Wrede) because I liked the sound of it, and then used the root of the feminine Spanish verb “cantar” for the surname (cantar, in case you’re wondering, means “to sing”).

As far as generating names in general is concerned, I found the best advice is to read a lot of the sorts of books where the type of name you want occurs, then let something come to you. If you want a funny name, read funny books. If you want an exotic name, read exotic books (and Spanish dictionaries seemed really exotic to me when I was 11!) If you want a dramatic name, pick books where dramatic stuff happens. Fantasy books tend to yield very unusual names and so on.

Steven, yesterday was indeed the first time I commented here (I’ve visited a couple of times before during the off-season, but yesterday was the first sustained visit). I like to keep an eye on what the FIA is up to with its regulations and tend to keep quite a few of the regulations documents on my hard drive, so feel free to ask

Yes, me, all our previous conversations have been on other blogs (mostly Clive’s at F1 Insight). It tickles me, though, that I made the top 5 commentator list before realising that there even was a top 5 commentator list on this site
April 26th, 2008 at 7:13 pmme said:
If you want a funny name, read funny books. If you want an exotic name, read exotic books

see i wanted a rock n’ roll name, but ‘the edge’ is already taken. somehow ‘blunt corner’ sounds a bit second rate.

I like to keep an eye on what the FIA is up to with its regulations and tend to keep quite a few of the regulations documents on my hard drive

see i keep ‘em too, but you actually understand them
April 26th, 2008 at 7:25 pmScott Woodwiss said:
Wow, I’m top commenter by a long way.

Maybe I’m spending too much time here? Am I talking too much?
April 26th, 2008 at 7:40 pmlou said:
Wow, I’m top commenter by a long way.

Maybe I’m spending too much time here? Am I talking too much?

not by that much! lol you only beat me by about 200. Ok thats alot. But you were commenting on friday, i couldn’t. I was top for along time. lol
April 26th, 2008 at 8:10 pmme said:
Maybe I’m spending too much time here? Am I talking too much?

what’s odd is your name doesn’t link to your site in the ‘top’ list. will have to look into that.

lol you only beat me by about 200.

you can make that difference easily tomorrow afternoon lou
April 26th, 2008 at 8:16 pmlou said:
you can make that difference easily tomorrow afternoon lou

lol! oh i will! ahaha although it does depend on how many comments Scott posts too. lol you may need to tell me to go away tomorrow Im very very excited about tomorrow! Just to see how the field evens out. Fingures crossed that Button/Honda do well! I think/hope we are in for an unpredictable race, just like quali!

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