i got a brain in left hand drive

due to the events of this weekend, didn't end up getting to watch the Formula One Grand Prix of Brazil (Interlagos~~! ^^) until last night.

had been looking forward to it, too---so far, even though we're only (post-Brazil) three grands prix in, this season has been quite the most interesting one in some time. of course, a lot of it is to do with the massive rule changes that the FIA has put into place for this season---not a few of which are rather stupid, but it seems like they're working as far as shaking up the grid goes. much mention has been made of how confusing the new rules are, and how it seems no one has got them completely straight. (which i'd believe; some of the rules which have been in place forever are rather vaguely phrased, so even in the best of times one can't be entirely sure that they'll mean to the FIA what they mean to you.)

two of the rules in particular seem a little silly, though. the three main stated goals of the massive rulebook revisions done for this season were to a) reduce costs, as they'd gotten significantly out of hand; b) increase the recently-waning public interest in the sport by shaking things up a bit; and c) as ever, increase safety.

however, while the limitation of tyre choices might save a bit of money, the fact that Bridgestone is still developing 20 or so different specifications of tyre for all the teams they're supporting hardly seems to support the idea of cost-cutting measures. add to this the restriction on the amount of sets of dry, intermediate, and wet-weather tyres that can be taken from race to race and it seems to make even less sense.

with Interlagos, there was of course some temperamental weather---something to be expected. with the new tyre restrictions in place, none of the teams had thought to bring full-out wet weather tyres, which seemed to be a bit of a bad choice on their part. was this situation a fault more of bad judgment on the part of the teams, or bad judgment on the part of the FIA in enacting such a rule? it seems a bit of both, although Michelin has since stated publicly their opinion that even full-out wets couldn't have done much against the standing water on some parts of the track, thereby possibly completely rendering this line of thought moot. :)

the other questionable new rule is the one regarding how teams aren't allowed to work on the cars once they've done qualifying and have gone to parc ferme. i don't see this having much effect (if any) on increasing interest in the sport; since the mechanics and other team members have to be present anyway, i don't see how this could possibly cut costs (and if it does, not by a lot); and regarding safety, it's more dangerous, if anything.

anyway, onto the race itself. it was a bit of a disappointment, actually. i mean, i'm glad for Kimi and all; Spaz was predicting that now he'd broken through the barrier and won his first race, he'd do like Mika had done and go crazy, winning race after race after race. i have no problem with Kimi, nor with how he drove. but how unbelievably frustrating must that have been for Fisi and Jordan? it's another instance where i really can't see any point whatsoever to a rule. why two laps back? was this number just arbitrarily chosen? the whole rule, morelike. and i know it's not a new rule, but it seems rather silly. i'd be happy if someone could point out the reasoning behind it to me; i couldn't find any and Spaz couldn't think of any, either.

am glad Alonso has come out of his big shunt with only minor bruising, though. watching him collapse after the incident with one of Webber's loose tyres was rather horrible.

the wheel tethers seem to mostly be doing their job this season, though---not with Webber's car, but elsewise. good---had begun to wonder what the point was, with the way they seem to fail nearly every single time previously since compulsory implementation...:P

as for poor old Rubinho---well, i'd hoped he'd win. it'd be really great for anyone to win their home grand prix. it was brilliant to see him qualify on pole for it, at the very least. Spaz was fairly certain from the outset that he wouldn't finish the race; i tried to think he would, and hoped he would, but no such luck. he says he's going to keep going in F1 until he's won his home grand prix---and i hope he's able to, one day. if he's able to ever finish it, he just might.

weird to see both Ferraris get DNFs, though. wonder what's going on with them...? it didn't seem like a "break-the-car-button" kind of moment was had at any point on Schumi's part. :P