Before we depart for the circuit (just on 10.10 here) I can say with certainty that the track temperature will not be high, by GP time it will be in the mid 20C range.
The reason RBR can't come up with a bolt-on fix is simple, unlike the other teams they run pullrod suspension instead of the 'universal' pushrod set up.
One thing we (as in my usual buch of old racing farts) believe with absolute certainty is the three 'cheater' teams have a huge advantage, a view shared among the members of the various 'Domestic' teams where I have friends.
Let's be honest, Barrichello is very nice bloke, a good journeyman driver, but has never been a real contender, and Button (who I do think is good but past his best) has done nothing much aside from stirring up a media frenzy when he first landed at Williams.
Rosberg still has the potential to do well, while 'Nakajap' is part of the Toyota-Williams package and was a definate mobile chicane last season.
And while the Toyotas showed signs of being on the way up last year, and both drivers are (IMHO) good, one is past his best and the other is just beginning to shine.
So, and I must say in my experience, ANYTHING that Ross Brawn comes up with that might be interpretated as 'clever exploitation of the regulations' is always shifty, we suddenly find three teams with no real front ranked drivers giving the rest grief.
It rather proves the 80% car+20% driver equation.
Considering the possibility of a win by any of these teams as probable, with the same result in the next round, against the
possible success of an appeal against them (it's not just RBR who are unhappy, Ferrari, Renault and MacDonalds are prime movers behind the protest!) and the resulting loss of any wins and points
if this is the case, it will be what remains of the 'Sport' in Motorsport that will get a black eye.
It was mentioned yesterday that the controversial diffusers appearing on both Team Toyota 1 and Team Toyota 2 smells more than a trifle.
That aside, the cars are really ugly and the speeds have not been cut back into the bargain, I'll reserve judgement on the 'overtaking' after the event.
Of more interest to us ancients are the 30+ F5000 'Dinasours' having a very serious go in the support events and the welcome appearance of some very good GT racing, as the Porsche Cup has gone, so the assorted National' GT series have got together, adopted the European format, absorbed a good number of the Porsche runners and are turning on entertaining action with over 30 entries.
And those Astons are an aural delight!!
Time to go.
PS:Ed, the six wheel Tyrrells were not banned, they were just a 'one season wonder', it was the far more effective Williams that was ruled out in late '81 ....... nothing really changes.
