Kimi's Wing

Cougar · 26 Jul 2004, 08:55 (Ref:1047442)

Do we know why it failed so spectacularly?

Has the team made a press statement?

What are the possible reasons for it failing? Bad moulding? Could a bird have hit it possibly?

Will the team tell us?

Wrex · 26 Jul 2004, 09:09 (Ref:1047453)

No

No

No

No

Hope this helps

Cougar · 26 Jul 2004, 09:16 (Ref:1047462)

Great reply Wrex

Can we get those four options in a poll maybe

Super Tourer · 26 Jul 2004, 09:17 (Ref:1047464)

Ron Dennis said the failure was due to "a manufacturing mistake rather than a design problem"

On that basis they decided not inform DC that Kimi had suffered a wing failure, as there was "no danger of the same thing happening to David", quite how they could tell that is anyone's guess??

**Peter Mallett** · 26 Jul 2004, 09:19 (Ref:1047465)

Well he wasn't going as fast as Kimi so there was less downforce.

garcon · 26 Jul 2004, 09:27 (Ref:1047471)

The trouble with carbon fibre bonding is that the first you know of any sort of problem is when it fails catastrophically.

RD's comments seem a little odd given that the chief race engineer had a very good look at DC's rear wing at his next pitstop. Just to be sure I guess. Having said that, McLaren have always been sensible in this kind of situation - if they thought there was any serious likelihood of a similar failure on David's car they'd have pulled him in.

Cougar · 26 Jul 2004, 09:30 (Ref:1047474)

Quote:

Originally posted by Super Tourer
Ron Dennis said the failure was due to "a manufacturing mistake rather than a design problem"

On that basis they decided not inform DC that Kimi had suffered a wing failure, as there was "no danger of the same thing happening to David", quite how they could tell that is anyone's guess??

The wings were possibly from different batches? Still a tough call to make!

johnh875 · 26 Jul 2004, 09:52 (Ref:1047491)

Wouldn't the wings be hand made individually? Maybe not "no" danger, but not that likely.

Reminded me of a similar rear wing failure in the local touring cars (Dick Johnson at the Bathurst sprint round) where the rear wing failed at the entry to the fastest corner in the country - Caltex Chase, 280-290kph entry.

**Adam43** · 26 Jul 2004, 10:14 (Ref:1047515)

Quote:

Originally posted by Peter Mallett
Well he wasn't going as fast as Kimi so there was less downforce.

Kimi the car breaker

Kicking-back · 26 Jul 2004, 10:25 (Ref:1047530)

As has been said, the wings are hand-made, and the team were confident it was a manufacturing problem.

On an interesting historical note - at the Hungaroring 1992 the same thing happened to Michael Schumacher.

The very next race at Spa, he won.

So - time to bet on Kimi winning Hungary? Lets hope so

Try Hard · 26 Jul 2004, 10:42 (Ref:1047556)

Quote:

Originally posted by garcon

RD's comments seem a little odd given that the chief race engineer had a very good look at DC's rear wing at his next pitstop.

But as Mr Martin Brundle put it...

"He (DC's race engineer) doesn't have X-Ray eyes..."

The only reason I can think that they didn't stop DC was if they were running different spec wings (and hence different batches)...

1200Datto27 · 26 Jul 2004, 11:02 (Ref:1047585)

And when the in-car camera was focused on Dicky's face, the change (I think he was doing an in-car commentry at the time to) in his expression was amazing, as he went from just cruising, to having a major off with absolutely no warning.

1200Datto27 · 26 Jul 2004, 11:05 (Ref:1047588)

you can imagine if RS was in the other car "I was just taking it easy, as I knew that the wing wouldn't last, Kimi caused it to fail by loading the wing too much"

johnh875 · 26 Jul 2004, 12:05 (Ref:1047658)

Quote:

Originally posted by 1200Datto27
And when the in-car camera was focused on Dicky's face, the change (I think he was doing an in-car commentry at the time to) in his expression was amazing, as he went from just cruising, to having a major off with absolutely no warning.

That's the one! THey had just switched over to Dick when the accident happened, and from the view on the in-car camera the commentary team thought they might have caused the problem. Luckily there was more than plenty of run-off, 'cause he used plenty. Also, wasn't he wired up with a heart-rate monitor? I think so, and when the failure occurred, his heart rate spiked to 220 or something similar.

Logrence · 26 Jul 2004, 13:28 (Ref:1047753)

I still think it's a bit rough of a team that the first thing DC heard of his team-mate's rear wing failure was when Louise Goodman asked him about it in the post-race press interviews.

Must've been embarassing for DC if nothing else.

Kicking-back · 26 Jul 2004, 13:55 (Ref:1047786)

Not at all, Logrence.

The team were confident there was not a problem for DC's car - and McLaren historically haven't put their drivers at unneccessary risk.

There was no point in saying anything to him, as that may have proved unsettling.

Knowlesy · 26 Jul 2004, 18:18 (Ref:1048023)

Quote:

Originally posted by Kicking-back

On an interesting historical note - at the Hungaroring 1992 the same thing happened to Michael Schumacher.

Only because Martin Brundle knocked into the back of him though!

f1manoz · 26 Jul 2004, 18:21 (Ref:1048026)

Indeed. Completely different scenario's there. Although TGF's entire wing went flying... somewhere!

Knowlesy · 26 Jul 2004, 18:27 (Ref:1048029)

Yes, where did that wing go?!?!

f1atic · 26 Jul 2004, 20:07 (Ref:1048125)

Quote:

Originally posted by Super Tourer
Ron Dennis said the failure was due to "a manufacturing mistake rather than a design problem"

On that basis they decided not inform DC that Kimi had suffered a wing failure, as there was "no danger of the same thing happening to David", quite how they could tell that is anyone's guess??

Right you are, especially with the pieces of the puzzle numbering in the hundreds, perhaps thousands and at least until the race's end, not all collected.

avsfan733 · 27 Jul 2004, 05:06 (Ref:1048415)

if something is designed in a way that a manufacturing problem can create an accident like that, then by my point of view there is inherently a design problem but not knowing what actually happened no one can really say

and I agree with the comments about Mclaren not putting DC in any unreasonable risk...they are the same ones who put there team in the most protective gear on the pitlane following the bennetton pit fire

gttouring · 27 Jul 2004, 11:05 (Ref:1048619)

interesing how different team protocol and culture is apparent when disaster strike- as maclarens calculated and calmness in a disaster...and we KNOW they wouldn't put a driver in harms way.
i wonder how this would play out in Jordan or minardi
minardi would proabbly bring their second car in hoping not to stuff 2 cars on one weekend

save money you know- and they would end up last anyway.
Jordan well they both would probably fly apart.
so would toyota- i bet they are still too arrogant to think a problem like this would happen twice.
but maclaren- they knew it was a single occurence somehow and we knew thye wouldn't let the other drive-in this case David- to get hurt.
interesting that they didn't tell DC about kimi though

Hugh Jarce · 27 Jul 2004, 11:37 (Ref:1048647)

GT - with every respect - that post deserves to be flushed down the closet in which you are sitting!

Are you having a bad day?

Knowlesy · 27 Jul 2004, 16:11 (Ref:1048925)

*flush*

Kirk · 27 Jul 2004, 16:39 (Ref:1048958)

I wonder if X-rays could detect such a flaw? ... and if yes, why would not all teams use them in their QC? Seems fundamental. A scary punt indeed; thank goodness for safety features which came through in flying colours!!

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