Montoya's Shanghai incident

[Dixie Flatline]

This is being discussed in the Aussie V8 forum at the moment, but it seems to have escaped attention (as far as I can tell) here in the Formula One forum.

Montoya hit a loose manhole cover that effectively ripped the floor away from his McLaren and caused his engine to expire. This happened just four months after a V8 driver, Mark "Frosty" Winterbottom, had the bottom of his V8 ripped out by driving over a manhole cover.

Now, you would have thought that the Chinese race promoter would have ensured that all these manhole covers were far, far away from the circuit before the Formula One event kicked off, but apparently not.

With drivers' safety supposed to be at the forefront of the FIA's collective mind, I wonder whether any action will be taken by the FIA against the Chinese race promoter for this incident. However, given the importance of the burgeoning Chinese market for both Formula One and the brands and products of F1 sponsors, it may be that this is quietly swept under the carpet. Indeed, from what I've read, Montoya doesn't seem to have made a big deal about it.

[Dutton]

Well, I am not sure they can have them far away for the circuit. I mean, I thought point is it provides drainage in the event of rain?

However, that it was so obviously a poor job is concerning. When you add on top of that the V8 scenario, thus showing they have failed ot rectify a known issue, it makes it more disturbing. Certainly, I would hope the incdent is going to be investigated by the FIA.

Also, off-topic I know, but safety related, did anyone else think the stewards were sub-standard?

[Dutton]

Btw, the issue is also discussed (albeit briefly) HERE.

[Bononi]

Yeah, that's very strange. And to my knowledge, FIA inspects all the aspects covering a Grand Prix, so how it could be "passed" ?

[Dixie Flatline]

Oops, thanks Bononi. Luckily I covered myself in my opening paragraph. Feel free to close/merge this thread.

[Dutton]

Are you thanking Bononi for my hardwork at providing a link? Not that it matters, of course.

I think it merits its own thread.

[MRJUCY]

After the huge damage it did to the V8 Supercar I was amazed it hadn't been rectified before the F1 showed up as in an open wheeler this could have very easily been a tragedy. Imagine if a car had been behind Montoya & the grate was flicked up at the following driver they wouldn't have even seen it coming.

[Dutton]

Can anybody explain how these things are normally put together in the 99.99% of times there are no problems?

[twig]

I don't think the V8 Supercar incident was with a manhole cover - but a water drain/grate.

http://us1.webpublications.com.au/st...104588_3mg.jpg

And for those who didn't see the damage - here it is.

http://us1.webpublications.com.au/st...104588_2mg.jpg

That hole started just below the driver's seat - putting a dent in the kevlar seat.

[Dutton]

Well, twig, I think we are talking about the same thing, that is a water drain/grate. By that I mean i don't think the F1 incident was literally a manhole cover, or at least I presumed that......why would there need to be a manhole at that point?

[Dixie Flatline]

Originally Posted by Dutton

Are you thanking Bononi for my hardwork at providing a link? Not that it matters, of course.

I think it merits its own thread.

Lack of sleep over the weekend due to a newborn baby has left me confusing users. Sorry about that, Chief.

[windsok]

Yeah im quite sure that what montoya hit is the same thing that the V8 hit, when the marshal picked it up off the track, it looked exactly the same.

Concidering the damage it did to a V8 Supercar, if Montoya had hit it the wrong way, he could have easily been seriously injured, or killed.

Bad effort China!

[Dutton]

I'll let you off dixie, ;-p.

[Sodemo]

I think someone in the Renault garage pushed a button and the drain popped up "Roadrunner stylee" as Montoya was passing!

[00 XR8]

You would think that somebody would have learnt what these manhole covers/water drain/grates can do to racing cars from the original DTM Shanghai street race

To have it happen twice more is just disgraceful.

Lucky it didn't happen during the MotoGP round earlier in the year, imagine what one of these metal beasts could do to a motorcycle

[BertMk2]

Didn't the DTM hit trouble with drain covers too in china? If I remember correctly they had to be welded down before the race after they'd been kicked up in practice.

[Kicking-back]

They did indeed - but that was a street circuit, not this track.

[Super Tourer]

Tilke says that the cover was not properly locked down. Kimi also says that he saw the cover was loose and avoided the kerb as a result.

[okeefe]

Originally Posted by The Monster

I think someone in the Renault garage pushed a button and the drain popped up "Roadrunner stylee" as Montoya was passing!

I like this theory - at least it would save harmless Jacques from taking the wrap on this one.

[maximus]

Originally Posted by 00 XR8

Lucky it didn't happen during the MotoGP round earlier in the year, imagine what one of these metal beasts could do to a motorcycle

OMG yeah it would just disintigrate!

[Dutton]

Presumably it would not have come loose in such a way with motorbikes, seeing as they don't have the downforce etc.?

[garcon]

Probably a better chance of seeing it on a bike too.

Very nasty though, as the Aussie V8 pics show (opened that car up like a tin can). From the footage, you could tell a couple of drivers had concsiously avoided it, but there was bound to be someone who didn't, and the onboard footage from JPM's car showed just how difficult it would be to see form the driver's seat (lower down than the camera).

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by 00 XR8

Lucky it didn't happen during the MotoGP round earlier in the year, imagine what one of these metal beasts could do to a motorcycle

Whilst it doesn't bear thinking about one thing i would say about it is.. The drain cover was very likely "sucked out" by Pizzonia's car as he went over it, a bike isn't likely to be able to do that... fortunately.

[Knowlesy]

I was thinking this morning, if Kimi saw the loose cover the lap before, why didn't he get on the radio to warn the team?

Another great example of the teamwork between the McLaren drivers......JPM is reluctant to give up the wins and Kimi stays silent when he see's a car destroying object on track!

I guess he just either thought it would be moved by the next lap, or he thought it was something insignificant and not a threat to the car.

[Rennen]

His race really went down the drain!