Exciting Auto Racing Coming Up! But is Anyone Going to Watch?
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by user Alex Holowczak
Formula One has become very exciting lately. I'll take you back to March, when the season began in Bahrain.
Renault and Fernando Alonso continued their dominance - the 2005 World Champion won easily. After three races, Alonso lead by 17 points.
Suddenly, Ferrari began to get back in the hunt. Michael Schumacher started to become competitive, and the seven-times World Champion (the most successful F1 driver in history) began to hold pace with Alonso.
However, Alonso lead by 18 points again after winning four races in a row up to Canada.
The United States Grand Prix was the turning point, with Schumacher winning, and Renault becoming slow, with Alonso struggling. Schumacher began to reel in Alonso, and Schumacher won three races in a row.
In the German Grand Prix at the end of July, Renault had their mass-damper system banned - a major aerodynamic feature - and Ferrari became the car to be in. Schumacher began to claw back the advantage faster. Renault were unable to respond due to an August testing ban.
Into August, and after Button won the most exciting Hungarian Grand Prix ever (the first Brit to win a Grand Prix for three years), the lead was still 10 points for Alonso.
At the next round in Turkey, Alonso held off Schumacher for over ten laps, as Schumacher couldn't find a way past Alonso, despite Alonso's ailing car. Massa won for Ferrari, and Alonso extended his lead to 12 points, with four races left.
Then came the Italian Grand Prix this weekend. After a highly dubious decision from the stewards (it appeared to be Italians helping the Italian's favourite car - Ferrari), Alonso dropped five places on the grid. As a result, Alonso had to work his engine harder in the race to catch up. He moved into third, until his engine blew near to the end, right infront of the loyal "tifosi." Schumacher won, and reduced the championship lead of Alonso to just two points.
Then came the announcement that Schumacher was retiring after the season. The most successful Formula One racer ever (More race wins, more World Championships, more Pole Positions etc.) was going to retire from the sport.
So it's Schumacher's last chance to win an eighth World Title, and Alonso can win his second World Title, before leaving to join McLaren next year.
Add to that - the war of the words begun today, as Alonso accused Schumacher of being the biggest cheat in F1 history. A bit harsh perhaps - there is no doubt that Schumacher has performed a few selfless moments, but all-in-all, his racing pedigree is second to none.
Three races remain.
There is the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on October 1, followed by the last Japanese Grand Prix to be held at Suzuka a week later. The season culminates two weeks after that on October 22, as mid-afternoon ET, the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos could see the championship decided.
Did Alonso block Massa? (complete with British commentary) :)
The Bad side to Michael Schumacher
Adelaide 1994 - Schumacher damaged his suspension in the off, and blocked Hill to stop him winning the title. Nothing happened as a result of that crash. Schumacher turned in to stop Hill winning - his suspension was damaged in the off. Hill's car was later retired due to damage caused from the "accident".
Jerez 1997 - Schumacher was disqualified from the Championship for turning in deliberately (dangerous driving)
Monaco 2006 - this stopped Alonso from setting a faster qualifying time by blocking the track. MS's punishment was being moved to the back of the grid (Alonso went on to win, Schu finished fourth).
So...
The Alonso-Schumacher rivalry is reminiscent of Schu's previous rivalries, with Damon Hill and then Mika Hakkinen.
So this year's Championship will lead to an exciting conclusion. But will any US people watch it?
Fair enough with Japan and China, it's happening 1am in the morning ET, but Brazil will be done just in time for a Sunday's Football. Will anyone be watching it? Is it televised?
Date
Tue 09/12/06, 10:49 am EST
