Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race - Italy

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 12 Sep 2009, 13:10

Welcome, everyone, to the renewed IIDOTR, hastily remodelled to reflect Force India's first points last time around, in Belgium. As a result, I have substituted the reference to the Silverstone-based outfit for a much more improbable event. Please spot the differences, while the wallpaper dries up:

This democratically-attributed trophy is

based on the assumption that, at any moment in time, there is a non-zero probability that even the slowest, most inexperienced and least reliable of underdogs might win the race. That under every rock, there might be a gold nugget. This is the award for that first podium that we all celebrate, for the overtake no-one was expecting, for Nick Heidfeld's first win. This is the award, in short, for the driver or team that makes you go "Woah! Where did THAT come from?!".

Just remember: this is a feel-good award, that will focus on nothing but track action.

Cast your votes, people! So far, Liuzzi gets mine. Q3 on the return to Formula 1, in a Force India? Woah!

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 12 Sep 2009, 13:19

Liuzzi and Force India as a whole has done an absolutely brilliant job so far so they get my votes.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 12 Sep 2009, 13:30

Liuzzi gets my vote so far. I was expecting him to be mixing it up with the Toro Rossos and not the Brawns and Red Bulls.

Many Blue Flags · Post by **Many Blue Flags** » 12 Sep 2009, 13:39

Liuzzi for me as well.

jackanderton · Post by **jackanderton** » 12 Sep 2009, 13:40

Sutil getting a podium would do it for me.

Liuzzi getting some points would also do it for me.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 12 Sep 2009, 13:42

Tonio Liuzzi gets the nod from me, with a honourable mention to Button's apparent return to form.

Enforcer · Post by **Enforcer** » 12 Sep 2009, 15:58

Liuzzi is winning at the moment.

But...

If whatever KERS car(s) that leapfrog Sutil off the start don't ruin his strategy and he somehow gets ahead in the pits to win (because he sure as hell won't on the track), then it'll have to go to him.

RAK · Post by **RAK** » 12 Sep 2009, 22:36

I think, having the post-qualifying weights, that it has to be Liuzzi, considering he's carrying more than just a trumpeter's fart in the fuel tank. He seems to be the first replacement driver this year who is fighting up at the pointy end of the grid, and his low qualifying position compared to Sutil could be contributed to weight as much as any other factor.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 13 Sep 2009, 13:43

IIDOTR for me has to be:
Rubens Barrichello for winning from 5th, despite having Kovy ahead of him.
Nick Heidfeld for finishing 7th...dunno how he even made it there.

Many Blue Flags · Post by **Many Blue Flags** » 13 Sep 2009, 13:45

I'll put in a mention for Heidfeld as well. Excellent performance.

shinji · Post by **shinji** » 13 Sep 2009, 13:45

Heidfeld, Barrichello, and overall for the weekend Liuzzi for being close to Sutil in terms of pace. He was unfortunate with his retirement.

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 13 Sep 2009, 13:52

Despite my agreement with what has been said so far, I'm voting for Nakajima. 10th in the Williams today was a surprise.

eytl · Post by **eytl** » 13 Sep 2009, 14:20

I noticed Nakajima as well, but I'm also siding with Liuzzi ... especially for that move on Kovalainen going into Parabolica on lap one. Shades of Mansell v Berger at Mexico in 1990.

Waris · Post by **Waris** » 13 Sep 2009, 14:30

This one was very close. I'd give it to Liuzzi, his crash was a shame, but if he hadn't crashed he could well have been in the points.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 13 Sep 2009, 15:07

Waris wrote:This one was very close. I'd give it to Liuzzi, his crash was a shame, but if he hadn't crashed he could well have been in the points.

Which race were you watching? Liuzzi didn't crash

Very difficult to decide, but I'm leaning towards Nakajima.

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 13 Sep 2009, 15:25

BlindCaveSalamander wrote:
Waris wrote:This one was very close. I'd give it to Liuzzi, his crash was a shame, but if he hadn't crashed he could well have been in the points.

Which race were you watching? Liuzzi didn't crash

Well, his gearbox did.

Ross Prawn · Post by **Ross Prawn** » 13 Sep 2009, 15:44

Liuzzi, excellent performance after 2 years out of F1.

Post by **Nuppiz** » 13 Sep 2009, 16:46

Liuzzi. 'Nuff said.

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 13 Sep 2009, 16:55

Nuppiz wrote:Liuzzi. 'Nuff said.

No 'nuffs this time around. It's neck-a-neck, ladies and gentlemen!

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 13 Sep 2009, 18:38

I'm going with Heidfeld.

Jack O Malley · Post by **Jack O Malley** » 13 Sep 2009, 19:45

my vote for Liuzzi.

deCrasheris · Post by **deCrasheris** » 13 Sep 2009, 19:54

I'm going with Liuzzi as well because i thought he wasn't going to make into Q2 never the less Q3. And was doing good in the race too before the gearbox packed it in.

watka · Post by **watka** » 13 Sep 2009, 20:18

Toyota - for actually providing some entertainment with Glock and Trulli battling it out (for 14th place or something).

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 13 Sep 2009, 22:54

watka wrote:Toyota - for actually providing some entertainment with Glock and Trulli battling it out (for 14th place or something).

Good point there!

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 14 Sep 2009, 05:59

Liuzzi for putting what was simply one of the best drives be someone out of the sport for a while in a long time... as I've said before last weekend will do his career a whole world of good

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 14 Sep 2009, 08:13

CarlosFerreira wrote:
watka wrote:Toyota - for actually providing some entertainment with Glock and Trulli battling it out (for 14th place or something).

Good point there!

About 5 laps before this, I was commenting to my dad how boring Toyota and their cars were and their motorsport pedigree had done nothing to change this...

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 14 Sep 2009, 08:15

dr-baker wrote:
CarlosFerreira wrote:
watka wrote:Toyota - for actually providing some entertainment with Glock and Trulli battling it out (for 14th place or something).

Good point there!

About 5 laps before this, I was commenting to my dad how boring Toyota and their cars were and their motorsport pedigree had done nothing to change this...

Strong words, and a sharp reply.

Should I count it as a vote for Toyota?

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 14 Sep 2009, 08:24

Yes. Be my guest. Although it still hasn't changed my opinion of Toyota overall...

FloProAct · Post by **FloProAct** » 14 Sep 2009, 11:17

I nominate Toyota for providing us with the first decent battle since Webber vs Alonso in Malaysia.

jackanderton · Post by **jackanderton** » 14 Sep 2009, 12:12

In the context of the season, Sutil is the obvious choice- even though the car is fast, no-one on earth thought they'd be this fast at any point of the year, and given Sutil's previous mishaps, he beat the odds in spectacular fashion.

Plus that girl with the champagne coming to stand next to him in his interview was a classic moment.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 14 Sep 2009, 13:22

dr-baker wrote:Yes. Be my guest. Although it still hasn't changed my opinion of Toyota overall...

...Although Liuzzi probably deserves it more considering he outperformed Rrrrmmmmmnnnn Grrrssssjjjjjnnnnn and Jaime Alguersuari, considering the latter two have been racing all year and Liuzzi ought to know FIF1 as well as Badoer knows the Scuderia...

Popi_Larrauri · Post by **Popi_Larrauri** » 14 Sep 2009, 17:30

I'll go for Liuzzi, even if threats my objetiveness over de Predicament Competition.

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 14 Sep 2009, 19:04

Tonio Luizzi and Rubens Barrichelo!

Luizzi, nice performance in your return, certainly he's score some points in this race if your gearbox didnt broken.
Barrichello wins starting from 5th and wins button again (3 times in a row).

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 15 Sep 2009, 16:22

jackanderton wrote:In the context of the season, Sutil is the obvious choice- even though the car is fast, no-one on earth thought they'd be this fast at any point of the year, and given Sutil's previous mishaps, he beat the odds in spectacular fashion.

I would like to see the Adrian Sutil Fan Club in F1R-forum stand up in protest, please!

shinji · Post by **shinji** » 15 Sep 2009, 16:30

CarlosFerreira wrote:I would like to see the Adrian Sutil Fan Club in F1R-forum stand up in protest, please!

I'm to attention, but where's the conspiracy theory?

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 15 Sep 2009, 16:35

shinji wrote:
CarlosFerreira wrote:I would like to see the Adrian Sutil Fan Club in F1R-forum stand up in protest, please!

I'm to attention, but where's the conspiracy theory?

Don't rush me! We'll all stand up, and some CT is bound to come along some time in the future. :lol:

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 20 Sep 2009, 10:12

OK, people. Last chance to vote! The votes will be counted and the results posted tomorrow, so use the opportunity to make your opinion count! :geek:

Winterspring · Post by **Winterspring** » 20 Sep 2009, 11:33

I have to say Nick Heidfeld because he is the driver that is getting most out of the pitstops and the only driver who didn't make Q3 to finish in the points.

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 25 Sep 2009, 08:00

Hammertime!

The votes are counted and the jury is beavering away. And the nominations are:

NOMINEE VOTED BY
Vitantonio Liuzzi CarlosFerreira
Vitantonio Liuzzi Wizzie
Force India Wizzie
Vitantonio Liuzzi kostas22
Vitantonio Liuzzi Many Blue Flags
Vitantonio Liuzzi BlindCaveSalamander
Jenson Button BlindCaveSalamander
Vitantonio Liuzzi Enforcer
Vitantonio Liuzzi RAK
Rubens Barrichello kostas22
Nick Heidfeld kostas22
Nick Heidfeld Many Blue Flags
Nick Heidfeld shinji
Rubens Barrichello shinji
Vitantonio Liuzzi shinji
Kazuki Nakajima CarlosFerreira
Vitantonio Liuzzi eytl
Vitantonio Liuzzi Waris
Kazuki Nakajima BlindCaveSalamander
Vitantonio Liuzzi Ross Prawn
Vitantonio Liuzzi Nuppiz
Nick Heidfeld thehemogoblin
Vitantonio Liuzzi Jack O Malley
Vitantonio Liuzzi deCrasheris
Toyota watka
Toyota CarlosFerreira
Toyota dr-baker
Toyota FloProAct
Adrian Sutil jackanderton
Vitantonio Liuzzi dr-baker
Vitantonio Liuzzi Popi Larrauri
Vitantonio Liuzzi DJ_bereta
Rubens Barrichello DJ_bereta
Nick Heidfeld Winterspring

You might just notice a patter emerging when you read it... and it really is true. Despite my best efforts to remember Nakajima and saying it wasn't closed, the fact is it's been coming since the thread was open. After the disappointments of Jaime Alguersuari, Rrrrmmmnnn Grrrjjjnnn and our beloved Luca Badoer, what Liuzzi has done is show that yes, you can be competitive in F1 out of the blue, even with all the testing constraints. We'll just ignore the fact that he had probably the second or third more efficient car in Monza underneath him.

NOMINEE VOTES
Vitantonio Liuzzi 17
Force India 1
Jenson Button 1
Rubens Barrichello 3
Nick Heidfeld 5
Kazuki Nakajima 2
Toyota 4
Adrian Sutil 1

Another Force India driver gets the nod. Wonderful!