What would you do for Indy if you were Kimi or Fernando?

[Menelaos]

So, what would you do for the qualies at Indy if you were Kimi or Fernando? I mean, the obvious factor that makes it interesting is that Fernando comes out for his qualies 4th, while Kimi comes out 20th. So, how much fuel would you choose to have in, and what pitstop strategy would you go for?

[N I Tram]

I'd say a two-stop strategy will be the way for both drivers to go, but Kimi can probably afford to put 2-3 extra laps worth of fuel in and still be ahead of Alonso on the grid. We'll have to see which team appears faster on Friday before making any real decisions though.

[Menelaos]

Only 2-3 you think? I think Kimi can afford at least 6-8 laps... Unless the Renaults are faster than McLaren in Indy which I don't think will be the case.... But anyway, as you said, let's see what happens tomorrow...

[LampCord]

If I'm Alonso, I go for a 2 stop and be a little conservative. What's important for him at this point is not necessarily wins, but finishing on the podium. It will take a near perfect season for Kimi to catch him still if he only picks up two points a race. In fact with a 22 point lead and 11 races to go, he would exactly catch him on the very last day.

What he absolutely can not afford is another outing like last week. Every week that Kimi doesn't gain significant ground plays into FA's favor.

So I'd go a little heavier on the fuel and try to qualify in the top 6. I figure he can pass a couple people on the start since the Renaults are scary fast off the line for some reason and then be one of the last to pit. Work his way up to second or third and just make sure not to hit any walls at this time.

Kimi as mentioned can go heavier than most and still qualify on poll. He needs to win this to keep the pressure on Fernando.

It would really help Kimi's cause if JPM could get in front of FA but we all know helping Kimi is the last thing on Montoya's mind.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by LampCord

In fact with a 22 point lead and 11 races to go, he would exactly catch him on the very last day.

That is of course, assuming that Kimi finishes 1st and Fernando 2nd in every race, not very likely that.

Originally Posted by LampCord

but we all know helping Kimi is the last thing on Montoya's mind.

At this stage of the season, no driver should be concerning themselves with helping out their team mate.

[Glen]

Montoya, just like very other driver, wants to beat everybody - so helping Kimi doesn't come into it remotely. JPM is hardly going to slot in behind FA just to spite Kimi is he? I guess Montoya's black flag gives him no finish at all from the last race, so he starts qualifying even before Alonso - likely he'll be in the mid-pack too. Alonso will have to watch out for him.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Glen

I guess Montoya's black flag gives him no finish at all from the last race, so he starts qualifying even before Alonso - likely he'll be in the mid-pack too. Alonso will have to watch out for him.

This thread should be called, what do you do if your Fernando, Juan Pablo and Fisi! Kimi has the easy job when it comes to stratergy.

[Glen]

It would be an ironic turn if Kimi's team-mate was able to trap Alonso into making an error - because that is exactly what Rubens managed to do a couple of years ago, at Kimi's expense.

Funny how things go - now that Montoya is on the back foot due to the black flag it might actually be an advantage that he is a bit of a loose cannon. Had he finished first or second in the previous race it would be a headache for McLaren to try and get him to play the team game.

As you point out MrV - Fisi could also be in the mix - he is not happy and will be out for blood. I wouldn't regard GF as quite as much of a handful as JPM though.

Another feature to look out for - McLaren will be hoping for a strong Ferrari team - because they can take points from Renault, esp Alonso. Alonso's strategy of keeping within a place or two of Kimi will only work if Renault are the next best team - as the season goes on this is far from certain.

[Gt_R]

I think Kimi would run a slightly aggressive strategy. Ron would simply give him perhaps a couple of laps fuel more than normal strategy, but run him just enough to keep him ahead of the next challenging car (ie Williams/Ferrari)...which is quite a bit of room. Kimi has no option but to go out and win, and being caught up behind any cars would not be helpful.

Alonso on the other hand runs heavier to minimise time lost behind other cars..but i figure Mclaren would run Juan just abit lighter than Alonso to either keep Alonso in check, or simply, if qualifying behind Alonso..to hussle him and force Alonso to push and race the Renault.

But all guys out there would just try as hell to get the best results they can.. I think Alonso would probably find himself qualify in the top18-10..The Renault is THAT quick. So would the Mclaren.

[Menelaos]

Yeah the strategy for McLaren would probably be to simply put JPM in front of Alonso:

a) he's not very fast
b) he's not going to let alonso pass him
c) he might even take alonso out if he tries to pass

The strategy for Renault would simply be to avoid this, and if possible put at least one car (preferably for them GF) in between.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Menelaos

Yeah the strategy for McLaren would probably be to simply put JPM in front of Alonso:

a) he's not very fast

Thats why JPM's lap was faster than Fernando's at Canada then was it?

You come out with some strange comments fella.

[Menelaos]

Yeah, that was not to be taken very seriously, it was meant to be a joke, just like the third comment Had to use a smily there, eh? Sorry Seriously though, he's obviously one of the best on grid, but until now he hasn't been able to go very well. I suppose in 3 GPs he'll be steady and fast. Although I think Raikonen is faster and better overal...

[Mr V]

Your entitled to your opinion of course.

BTW, i don't think that URL's are allowed in your sig

[Menelaos]

yeah, apparently they're not, so I removed it Thanks for telling me though

BTW, do you think JPM is better than Raikonen?

[ralf fan]

Hmm... Kimi will probably go for a 'normal' strategy while Fernando may run a little heavier and try to make places of the start.... I think a podium for Alonso wont be a disaster assuming Kimi wins....

[Menelaos]

losing only 4 points to Kimi will be a huge success for Alonso this weekend. But of course everything might turn around and he might even win lots of points to Kimi. But if I were Fernando I would celebrate a podium regardless of what Kimi does.

[BootsOntheSide]

JPM would have to run light to get ahead of Fernando on the grid - running first is a much bigger disadvantage than running 4th in most circumstances. As people have said, a podium and thus a good qualifying spot for France would be a reasonable result.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Menelaos

BTW, do you think JPM is better than Raikonen?

As it happens, i do, not that JPM's season so far would testify to that. Just wait till JPM settles into the season properly and we will know for sure one way or the other.

[alesi95]

I would go as fast as possible without pushing the tyres or the car and not think of anything else.

[Mr V]

Not like your name sake then (with the exception of going as fast as possible of course )

[Menelaos]

Originally Posted by alesi95

I would go as fast as possible without pushing the tyres or the car and not think of anything else.

I agree we can't judge yet. Kimi has been in McLaren for two years, JPM just arrived and also had an injury, it's acceptable that he still hasn't reached 100% of his potential. Anyway, we'll see

[Skam85]

If I was Alonso I'd

a) try to win
b) all of the above

If I was Raikkonen I'd

a) try to win
b) try not to keep adjusting the microphone in the press conference after the race
c) all of the above

[Gerben24]

Because of the long straight at Indy, I think you can go for a relative long first stint (which might mean a slow qualy lap), as long as you make sure you have a good top speed to be able to overtake into the first corner... But then again, this is easier said than done.

[Sodemo]

Call me old fashioned but if I were Kimi or Fernando I would try and win...?

[Valve Bounce]

Originally Posted by Menelaos

So, what would you do for the qualies at Indy if you were Kimi or Fernando? I mean, the obvious factor that makes it interesting is that Fernando comes out for his qualies 4th, while Kimi comes out 20th. So, how much fuel would you choose to have in, and what pitstop strategy would you go for?

If I was Kimi's engineer, I would try to guesstimate how many laps Alonso would do in his first stint, and I would put in 4 more laps worth of fuel. Then at the first pit stop, if Kimi was still unable to put in sufficient hot laps to put Alonso well behind for the next stint, I would put in 6 laps of fuel less than Alonso, thereby giving Kimi a shorter pit stop and saving precious seconds. Kimi would have to stop before Alonso for teh second pit stop, but hopefully he would have, by then put the Renault well beind him allowing for the 2 extra laps of fuel to go in during the second stop.

If I was Alonso's manager, I would try to get him to qualify as best he could, then gain positions at the start, and go as fast as he could in the early laps without frying hsi tyres, put in as big a gap as possible to Kimi before the pit stop. I would suspect that Kimi would be long on fuel, and take this into consideration.