Most places gained on a first lap?

brafield

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Oct 14, 2012, 2:09:59 PM10/14/12

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From Autosport, the usual insane performance of Moto2 riders, with
Marquez winning the race at Motegi in Japan. Quote:

"Victory looked unlikely when Marquez stalled on the startline,
getting away virtually last in the 32-bike field.

But Marquez's recovery was incredible. He was back up to ninth by the
end of lap one, and into podium contention by lap five."

Which F1 drivers have made great recoveries from poor starts or grid
positions? I appreciate that in a Moto2 grid with 32 racers, the back
half is not as talented, relatively, compared to the back half of a F1
grid.

Brian Lawrence

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Oct 14, 2012, 2:55:10 PM10/14/12

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Given the length of the old Nurburgring and old Spa, there may be some
big gains there. I've got most F1 lap charts, but the only way to check
would be by eyeball. The back half of F1 grids used to be pretty poor
back in the day.

--

Brian W Lawrence
Wantage
Oxfordshire

Ian Dalziel

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Oct 14, 2012, 3:13:22 PM10/14/12

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I may be showing my ignorance, but aren't the vehicles a bit narrower
in Moto2?

--

Ian D

Phil Carmody

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Oct 14, 2012, 6:07:08 PM10/14/12

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And the wheels/tyres don't stick out to the side prominently either.
That might also have something to do with it.

Phil
--
Regarding TSA regulations:
How are four small bottles of liquid different from one large bottle?
Because four bottles can hold the components of a binary liquid explosive,
whereas one big bottle can't. -- camperdave responding to MacAndrew on /.

brafield

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Oct 14, 2012, 6:36:21 PM10/14/12

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On Oct 14, 3:17 pm, Phil Carmody <thefatphil_demun...@yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:

>
> > I may be showing my ignorance, but aren't the vehicles a bit narrower
> > in Moto2?
>
> And the wheels/tyres don't stick out to the side prominently either.
> That might also have something to do with it.

Good lord, THAT' must be the explanation. No skill at all required,
then!
;-)

MontyCarlo

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Oct 14, 2012, 9:53:00 PM10/14/12

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I seem to recall that a few years ago at Suzuka MS started from near the
back of the grid and made up a considerable amount of places in the
first few laps.
Do you have any stats on that?

Obviously when a natural front marker is at the back of the grid for
some reason then quite a few will be passed quickly.

Brian Lawrence

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Oct 15, 2012, 1:49:35 AM10/15/12

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Probably 1998. He qualified on pole, but stalled at the start and was
sent to the back of the grid. He finished lap one in 12th place, gaining
10 places on the opening lap. He had made it up to third when
he suffered a puncture and retired.

Most backmarkers will fall over themselves to get out of the way of a
Schumacher, Senna or Prost when they find themselves at the back of the
field.

MontyCarlo

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Oct 15, 2012, 2:22:03 AM10/15/12

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Thanks for those stats.
I am surprised it was as far back as 1998... where have the years gone?

Brian Lawrence

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Oct 15, 2012, 2:51:56 AM10/15/12

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On 15/10/2012 06:49, Brian Lawrence wrote:

>>> Given the length of the old Nurburgring and old Spa, there may be some
>>> big gains there. I've got most F1 lap charts, but the only way to
>>> check would be by eyeball. The back half of F1 grids used to be pretty
>>> poor back in the day.

August 5 1962, German GP, the Nurburgring. Jim Clark had qualified 3rd
fastest which meant that he lined up on the front row. The start was
delayed because of heavy rain, and when the flag finally fell 25 cars
roared away, but not Clark, who, apparently, forgot to switch on his
fuel pumps. He quickly rectified that and set off in 26th place. During
lap one he passed 15 cars, ending the lap in 10th place (Trevor Taylor
retired during that lap). He managed to pass six more cars to finish 4th.

Brian Lawrence

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Oct 15, 2012, 4:08:45 AM10/15/12

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One stat I have researched before is drivers who qualified in a lowly
grid position, but went on to stand on the podium.

One race was won from 20th or lower - John Watson, Long Beach 1983,
22nd. Seven other races have been won from 15th or lower, fairly
recently by Barrichello (GER 2000, 18th), Räikkönen (JPN 2005, 17th),
and Alonso (SIN 2008, 15th). 17 others were won from outside the top
10 on the grid - Alonso won this year's European GP from 11th.

Five drivers have finished 2nd from 20th or lower (most recent, JPM in
GER 2005, 20th). 46 other 2nds from outside the top 10 - two this year,
RAI, BHN, 11th & PER ITA 12th.

Ten third places from 20th or lower - BAR CDN 2005, 20th, RAI BHN 2006,
22nd. One hundred and seven (107) others from outside the top 10 - 20
since 2000, two in 2012 (PER CDN, 15th & MSC EUR, 12th).

Note: These figures are based on qualifying positions rather than
starting positions, although some of the most recent may well be
starting/grid positions. Most websites/ref. books don't record actual
starting positions until recent years.

brafield

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Oct 15, 2012, 11:05:39 AM10/15/12

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On Oct 14, 11:51 pm, Brian Lawrence <Brian_W_Lawre...@msn.com> wrote:
>
> August 5 1962, German GP, the Nurburgring. Jim Clark had qualified 3rd
> fastest which meant that he lined up on the front row. The start was
> delayed because of heavy rain, and when the flag finally fell 25 cars
> roared away, but not Clark, who, apparently, forgot to switch on his
> fuel pumps. He quickly rectified that and set off in 26th place. During
> lap one he passed 15 cars, ending the lap in 10th place (Trevor Taylor
> retired during that lap). He managed to pass six more cars to finish 4th.

Thank you, Brian. Oh for time travel, with an HD video camera on a
helicopter!

News

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Oct 15, 2012, 11:08:57 AM10/15/12

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Good thing Grojo wasn't on that grid. He would have punted the stalled
Clark.