http://mpd.smugmug.com/gallery/1315918

Thanks Micky, I'll get some photos at the local Motorkhana this weekend in return. :p

:indi:

McLarens will always be McLarens.......




http://www.mini2.com/forum/attachment113124.jpg


:p

Webber ready for dream result


Mark Webber is hoping he can prolong Melbourne’s party atmosphere by scoring a home victory in this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.

With the city’s Commonwealth Games still fresh in the memory, Webber starts the race in Albert Park on Sunday with his best chance yet of scoring a podium in front of his countryman.

Williams showed blinding pace in Sepang two weeks ago and senior team members reckon there is no reason why it can’t carry this form into Australia.

“The recent pace of the FW28 has been encouraging and, although we had a double retirement in Malaysia which was a big shame, there’s no question we’d like a big points haul in Melbourne,” said Webber.

"The Australian GP is always a special fixture on the F1 calendar because there’s a tremendous atmosphere at Albert Park.

“It’s particularly rewarding for me to drive in front of my home fans and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the weekend will unfold.

“Melbourne has finished staging a very successful Commonwealth Games so there’s already a big buzz around the city and an exciting Grand Prix will be a fantastic way to top off the past few weeks.”

Webber and team-mate Nico Rosberg began the Malaysian Grand Prix with genuine hopes of victory.

But while Mark’s progress was hit by a hydraulics problem, Rosberg suffered a major engine failure.

Cosworth has since rectified the issues and Webber and Rosberg will use modified engines in Melbourne.

“Mark and Nico will both start fresh CA2006 Series 2 engines,” said Cosworth’s head of F1 race Engineering Simon Corbyn.

“The Melbourne engines incorporate an update in response to the failure in Malaysia and this has been tested both on the dyno and in Valencia last week.

“Feedback on the CA2006 engine performance from the first two races has been very positive so we’re looking forward to the weekend in Melbourne with WilliamsF1.”

The team’s technical director Sam Michael also remains confident of success and believes that tyre choice will be critical at Albert Park.

”The Australian Grand Prix is being held a month later than normal due to the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

“This means that the temperature is likely to be lower and more variable, with a high chance of rain during the weekend. The most immediate impact this will have is on tyre choice.

“We are confident that the FW28 will be competitive and are looking forward to a good race."

I think the place would go mental if he won the race!

Todd

Sure would...

got permission today to take photos during F1 sessions :) :) :)

also about to upload a few more pics from the pits this evening

Sounds good Bimbadeen... so what was todays events like?

well there's one F3 driver who needs to learn about dangerous re-entry onto the track.... stooge.

they've got rid of the gravel trap at turn 3 (where brundle went off in 96), and replaced it with bitumen. MUCH better for continuity of racing.

Really? Who was it? I didnt think they did F3 anymore? Is this the Holden powered car?

Todd

http://mpd.smugmug.com/gallery/1318520/

got permission today to take photos during F1 sessions :) :) :)

also about to upload a few more pics from the pits this evening
ooooooo sensational news Micky! :cool:

f3 is the little 2 litre cars, they used to call it F2 in Australia, you're thinking of FBrabham/FHolden

http://mpd.smugmug.com/gallery/1318520/
I'm so jealous Micky :cool:


Nice work again matey :D

Great photos again

-Dan

Practice 1 - Times


1 36 Anthony Davidson Honda 1:28.259

2 37 Robert Doornbos RBR-Ferrari 1:28.559

3 17 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-BMW 1:28.595

4 3 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:28.713

5 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:29.025

6 5 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:29.041

7 7 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1:29.411

8 35 Alexander Wurz Williams-Cosworth 1:29.461

9 38 Robert Kubica Sauber-BMW 1:29.576

10 15 Christian Klien RBR-Ferrari 1:29.601

11 14 David Coulthard RBR-Ferrari 1:29.676

12 21 Scott Speed STR-Cosworth 1:31.017

13 19 Christijan Albers MF1-Toyota 1:31.039

14 18 Tiago Monteiro MF1-Toyota 1:31.812

15 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:34.036

16 23 Yuji Ide Super Aguri-Honda 1:36.684

17 39 Markus Winkelhock MF1-Toyota 1:36.859

18 40 Neel Jani STR-Cosworth 1:40.818

19 1 Fernando Alonso Renault

20 2 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault

21 8 Jarno Trulli Toyota

22 4 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes

23 16 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-BMW

24 11 Rubens Barrichello Honda

25 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Cosworth

26 9 Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth

27 10 Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth

28 12 Jenson Button Honda

Practice 2 - Times


1 36 Anthony Davidson Honda 1:26.822

2 35 Alexander Wurz Williams-Cosworth 1:26.832

3 38 Robert Kubica Sauber-BMW 1:27.200

4 12 Jenson Button Honda 1:27.213

5 1 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:27.443

6 5 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:27.658

7 3 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:27.773

8 11 Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:28.075

9 4 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 1:28.200

10 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:28.227

11 2 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1:28.280

12 17 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-BMW 1:28.440

13 14 David Coulthard RBR-Ferrari 1:28.531

14 9 Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth 1:28.860

15 16 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-BMW 1:29.053

16 8 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:29.138

17 21 Scott Speed STR-Cosworth 1:29.196

18 7 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1:29.379

19 18 Tiago Monteiro MF1-Toyota 1:29.713

20 37 Robert Doornbos RBR-Ferrari 1:29.876

21 15 Christian Klien RBR-Ferrari 1:29.879

22 10 Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth 1:29.933

23 40 Neel Jani STR-Cosworth 1:30.686

24 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Cosworth 1:30.734

25 19 Christijan Albers MF1-Toyota 1:30.830

26 39 Markus Winkelhock MF1-Toyota 1:31.260

27 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:32.556

28 23 Yuji Ide Super Aguri-Honda 1:34.224

Just watched practice 2..

That gravel trap at 6-7 is going to be an interesting one tomorrow!


Excellent to hear Murray back in the commentary box :D :D :cool:

t'll be a few hours before todays pix are uploaded, but I think the highlight of my day was having a bit of a play with a 600/4L IS on my camera, just a shame it wasn't during a session.

haha wow!! I take it you borrowed that?! :p


Can't wait to see your pics :) :cool:

600mm phwooooaaaaaaaarrr! :p

So close you can see the "oh *****" look in the drivers eyes as he is about to go off the track

$18,000 phwooar :)

Ouch :)

give it 1/2 an hour or so and todays pics will be at:
http://mpd.smugmug.com/gallery/1321140

<-- Stops his startwatch :p

a selection from today:

http://mpd.smugmug.com/photos/62319474-M.jpg

http://mpd.smugmug.com/photos/62319484-M.jpg

http://mpd.smugmug.com/photos/62319485-M.jpg

http://mpd.smugmug.com/photos/62319476-M.jpg

http://mpd.smugmug.com/photos/62319497-M.jpg

more at:
http://mpd.smugmug.com/gallery/1321140

I ended up moving away from the spot where I took the 2nd and 3rd, it was too scary :)

you forget how freaking fast these things are, and they were going past <3m away powering out of the corner.

As usual mate, they're brilliant... better than official!

oh MAN - brilliant stuff Micky :D :D :D

I'm so jealous! :D :cool:

http://mpd.smugmug.com/photos/62319492-M.jpg

Wicked shot..