Massa grid error prompts FIA probe
Posted by LS.
[www.autosport.com]
By Jonathan Noble and Dieter Rencken
The FIA has launched an investigation into why Felipe Massa was able to start the Belgian Grand Prix slightly ahead of his grid slot without the error getting picked up at the time.
Amateur video footage that appeared on the Internet in the days after the race showed that Massa came to a stop on the grid slightly in front of where he should have been.
Massa's wrong positioning was in theory a breach of the regulations, but FIA race director Charlie Whiting received no information from the marshals at the track that the Brazilian had stopped in the wrong place - and the electronic systems in place on the grid did not detect it either - in time for a jump start penalty to be imposed.
With rival teams unaware of Massa's error, so not complaining to the FIA, the matter was not looked at in any more detail before the Belgian GP results were made official on Sunday night - which means no further action on the incident could be taken.
However, although Massa escaped punishment for what happened, the FIA has promised to look into why the wrong positioning was not picked up at the time.
"The problem was not brought to the attention of the FIA race director by either the marshals nor the automatic jump start system in time to be able to apply the appropriate penalty for jump starts," said an FIA spokeswoman.
"As no further information or complaints were received before the publication of the official result on Sunday night, the classification of the Belgian Grand Prix will now remain unchanged.
"The FIA are investigating the causes of the apparent failures in communication with race control in order to ensure a repetition is not possible."
LS's Tip of the week
ESSENTIAL OILS aren't essential unless you're an engine, a gearbox or a twat
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2010 07:49PM by LS..
By Jonathan Noble and Dieter Rencken
The FIA has launched an investigation into why Felipe Massa was able to start the Belgian Grand Prix slightly ahead of his grid slot without the error getting picked up at the time.
Amateur video footage that appeared on the Internet in the days after the race showed that Massa came to a stop on the grid slightly in front of where he should have been.
Massa's wrong positioning was in theory a breach of the regulations, but FIA race director Charlie Whiting received no information from the marshals at the track that the Brazilian had stopped in the wrong place - and the electronic systems in place on the grid did not detect it either - in time for a jump start penalty to be imposed.
With rival teams unaware of Massa's error, so not complaining to the FIA, the matter was not looked at in any more detail before the Belgian GP results were made official on Sunday night - which means no further action on the incident could be taken.
However, although Massa escaped punishment for what happened, the FIA has promised to look into why the wrong positioning was not picked up at the time.
"The problem was not brought to the attention of the FIA race director by either the marshals nor the automatic jump start system in time to be able to apply the appropriate penalty for jump starts," said an FIA spokeswoman.
"As no further information or complaints were received before the publication of the official result on Sunday night, the classification of the Belgian Grand Prix will now remain unchanged.
"The FIA are investigating the causes of the apparent failures in communication with race control in order to ensure a repetition is not possible."
LS's Tip of the week
ESSENTIAL OILS aren't essential unless you're an engine, a gearbox or a twat
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2010 07:49PM by LS..
Funny how Legard and Brundle noticed it (and pointed it out) in the BBC commentary, but the people who mattered (Whiting, marshals, electronics) didn't. 
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2010 08:11PM by Diax F1.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2010 08:11PM by Diax F1.
Diax F1 Wrote:
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> Funny how Legard and Brundle noticed it (and
> pointed it out) in the BBC commentary, but the
> people who mattered (Whiting, marshals,
> electronics) didn't.
This is exactly what I thought. Bearing in mind all of the commentators tend to be in a row, I wonder how many others noticed it too.
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> Funny how Legard and Brundle noticed it (and
> pointed it out) in the BBC commentary, but the
> people who mattered (Whiting, marshals,
> electronics) didn't.
This is exactly what I thought. Bearing in mind all of the commentators tend to be in a row, I wonder how many others noticed it too.
Whiting has a clear view of all cars I thought.
Bad call from FIA.
"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL
Bad call from FIA.
"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL
chet Wrote:
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> Whiting has a clear view of all cars I thought.
>
> Bad call from FIA.
Isnt whiting on a gantry though?
i guess the FIA stewards leave cars moving to the sensors at the race start, and focus on cars/drivers safety at the start, ie drivers waving hands after a technical fault that stops them from pulling away off the grid/ green flag man at the tail of the cars/ listening to the medical car radio procedure.
its not just a question of looking out the window when they trust cars missing the grid markings
At least its now been highlighted and adressed for future races
LS's Tip of the week
ESSENTIAL OILS aren't essential unless you're an engine, a gearbox or a twat
-------------------------------------------------------
> Whiting has a clear view of all cars I thought.
>
> Bad call from FIA.
Isnt whiting on a gantry though?
i guess the FIA stewards leave cars moving to the sensors at the race start, and focus on cars/drivers safety at the start, ie drivers waving hands after a technical fault that stops them from pulling away off the grid/ green flag man at the tail of the cars/ listening to the medical car radio procedure.
its not just a question of looking out the window when they trust cars missing the grid markings
At least its now been highlighted and adressed for future races
LS's Tip of the week
ESSENTIAL OILS aren't essential unless you're an engine, a gearbox or a twat
Massa should probably get a reprimand or a fine for a stupid error, but that's about it.
chet Wrote:
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> Whiting has a clear view of all cars I thought.
That's impossible, unless he's in a helicopter.
X (@ed24f1)
chet Wrote:
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> Whiting has a clear view of all cars I thought.
That's impossible, unless he's in a helicopter.
X (@ed24f1)
He can't be penalised for it, it's too late as any protest had to be lodged before the official results were published on Sunday evening.
I was pointing out a technicality :P. rFactor got that right when I missed my spot, got a D-T
36.4
The grid will be in a staggered 1 x 1 formation and the rows on the grid will be separated by 16 metres.
Not "will be separated by whatever the drivers feel appropriate".
38.9
When the cars come back to the grid at the end of the formation lap, they will stop on their respective grid
positions, keeping their engines running.
Massa was half a car over the position.
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theRacingLine.net
SportsCarArchives.com
The grid will be in a staggered 1 x 1 formation and the rows on the grid will be separated by 16 metres.
Not "will be separated by whatever the drivers feel appropriate".
38.9
When the cars come back to the grid at the end of the formation lap, they will stop on their respective grid
positions, keeping their engines running.
Massa was half a car over the position.
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theRacingLine.net
SportsCarArchives.com
Ok I see I messed up my wording on the 1st post... punishment instead of illegal. 
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