DTM Istanbul

[Hazard]

Paffett leads a Mercedes 1-2-3-4 in qualifying, best chance yet to put a good lead together.

[JMeissner]

Will be a very interestning race tomorrow. Hope Ekström can fight trough the Merc-wall.

But above all, lets hope the fights are clean!

[gwyllion]

There is a possibility of rain during the race (it was raining during warmup). I hope that Ekstrom can take advantage from this.

[FIRE]

Thank you Mr Green.

[Bernard Bram]

He was faster than Ekström, why should he stay behind?

[j_t_8_8_8]

He was faster than Ekström, why should he stay behind?

Yes,he was faster, but that move was very very hard...Ekstrom passed Reuter without any contact

[Bernard Bram]

It was risky, but we've seen worse this season.

[SALEEN S7R]

The move IMO was hard but fair. If the move was bad you know and I know that the officials would have had Green in for a drive through penalty very quickly indeed.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by j_t_8_8_8

Yes,he was faster, but that move was very very hard..

Agree

[j_t_8_8_8]

It was risky, but we've seen worse this season

Yes, like at the Norisring...

[Knowlesy]

Greens move was hardly the dirtiest thing we've seen all season. Just a little nudge, hard but fair. Overall, it probably made little difference to proceedings.

Looks like gary has the title in his pocket.......but anything can happen!

[JMeissner]

I wouldn't call Green's move fair. But, that is what happends in touring car racing, and Ekström has been in Green's position before.

The title is looking quite certain to be in Paffetts hands. But things can happen quickly, just look at today

[Hazard]

Good race for Gary - well, best possible result really.

Ekstrom suffered at the hands of an uncompetitive car or unsuited circuit...which ever - ashame the balance has shifted so much one way to deprive us of a close finalé, but at least it still goes to the wire.

(And as my nationalistic side surfaces, hey, at least it's our guy who has to completely screw it to lose it!)

[Jaxs]

The thought Mercedes would go all out to isolate Ekstrom, even after making the prediction I thought Bernd Schnieder would get between Pafett and Ekstrom but to have that much of a gap betweent he leaders in the championship... and the points difference.

There had to be something very wrong with Ekstrom's car:

Lap 28. Mücke tries to overtake Ekström and slides off the track
Lap 29 Mücke overtakes Ekström for 9th place

Lets hope there are no drive through penalties or anything else silly at Hochenheim

[JMeissner]

To quote Mattias:

– We have driven 25 races without problems, but at Istanbul we managed to do all errors possible. The tyres were totally finished but we can´t blaim anyone else but our selves. We made stupid mistakes. A fifth place would have been fair but we didn´t manage that. It is sad not being able to take points and see my worst opponent scoring max.

Since Mattias joined DTM his worst result was 11:th and he has only retired three races.

[rustyfan]

What a boring race, and I'm not just saying that because Ekström had to suffer through so many problems with Audi out to lunch. Once Paffett got through turn one with Schneider behind him, you knew it was over.

[P.Cummins]

It was a boring race indeed. Ekstrom made such a good start and from there, it went downhill. I don't think the move that Green made on Ekstrom was exactly fair, but it was certainly careless. In one of the slow-motion replays, you could see Green dive down the inside and actually onto the kerb. The car bounced slightly but for that split second it was out of green's control and thats the difference between hitting someone and avoiding it.
It was a Mercedes race no doubt. Paffett and his big army of team-mates scoring a
1-2-3-4
Ailleo also seemed to have fun in his penultimate race and that Spengler guy is proving that he can be quick when he gets it right. Maybe a works drive next season is in order in an 05 car.
Ekstrom was, IMO, this rounds biggest loser. He must have had a problem or else the Audi just isn't as fast as the Mercs, and barely as fast as the Opels.

Well, I hope its a close championship battle at the end. It would be nice to see Paffett get 7th place and Ekstrom get the win. It couldn't be much closer that way. And of course, we want exciting racing, which, suprisingly, the DTM series didn't provide much of at Istanbul.

Finally, a word of congratulations to Alexandros Margaritas. He had some good battles with the likes of Mucke and Fassler today and proved that he's not a bad guy in the wet. Best of luck to him at Hockenheim where he can maybe score some points!

[P.Cummins]

Just one question:

WHen Pierre Kaffer spun off towards middle distance, he drove straight into the gravel. Why?

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by P.Cummins

Just one question:

WHen Pierre Kaffer spun off towards middle distance, he drove straight into the gravel. Why?

He spun because they had just mounted slicks on his car. A way to optimistic gamble Maybe that's why he accidently drove into the gravel afterwards.

[toot toot]

I've never heard so much rubbish, saying Greens move on ekstrom wasn't fair. I didn't hear Ekstrom complaining after the race, i didn't see the marshalls taking any action, and it was certainly a lot fairer than when Ekstrom took Green out of the race at the first Lausitz.

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by toot toot

I've never heard so much rubbish, saying Greens move on ekstrom wasn't fair. I didn't hear Ekstrom complaining after the race, i didn't see the marshalls taking any action, and it was certainly a lot fairer than when Ekstrom took Green out of the race at the first Lausitz.

Some of the irritation might be related to the fact that Green's pass might have directly affected the championship outcome, as well as robbing the fans of a proper showdown come Hockenheim.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by rustyfan

Some of the irritation might be related to the fact that Green's pass might have directly affected the championship outcome, as well as robbing the fans of a proper showdown come Hockenheim.

Indeed.

People will always wonder what would have happened when Ekstrom's car did not get damaged by Green's pass. Maybe Ekstrom would have become 4th or 5th (of course he was not able to win the race). Now the championship is completely decided


An other remark: Why did Kristensen not let Aiello pass? In that case Audi would get -10 kg in the final race...

[P.Cummins]

Well, the championship isn't exactly over and it will go "down to the wire".

If Paffett has as bad a race at hockenheim that Ekstrom had Istanbul, then it may be interesting.

[JMeissner]

Well, Hockenheim is Mercedes grounds... And Paffett only need to take a single point. But perhaps "some" Audi-driver forgets to brake when Paffett is infront. Worse things have happened

[P.Cummins]

Well theres still a bit of hope (for you Ekstrom fans I mean).

Ekstrom can realistically win this race and if Audi do some "Team Work" and try to get Paffett off the track then the championship is Ekstrom's, depending on how realistic Audi make it look.