After MS and RB got weighed, they got into the back of Dr. Watkins medical car, a Mercedes wagon, to be driven off to the press room. The front seats had harnesses, but the car didn't have a cage. The shoulder straps were fastened at the rear lapbelt locations.

Why wouldn't the medical car (that chases the field on the first lap) not have a cage?

 

LMAO! I saw that too! D'oh!


Matt

 

Honestly - I think it is because those cars are on loan from Mercedes and they can't hack them up for a cage/bar. I seriously doubt that the FIA would pay for those things when they can trade sponsorship for the use of them.

 

"Why wouldn't the medical car (that chases the field on the first lap)..."
__________________________________________________ ______


You ARE using the word "chase" loosely in this context I hope!

I can't wait to go to the Canadian GP next year.

Anthony "Mario" Crea


[Modified by honda93, 4:25 PM 9/28/2002]

 

Mercedes sends them to AMG to be prepped before sending to the FIA. I remember reading that they were highly modified for performance.

I also remember reading that Prof Sid joked with Norbert Haug that he didn't have anywhere to put his cigar because they had placed a radio (or something) in the ash tray... at the next race Mercedes rolled out a brand new car for him that included a built in humidor for his cigars!

As for them being driven hard... the driver (Ribiero?) stuffed one at Monco 1 or 2 years ago. Prof Sid even broke some ribs in the crash. This was "practicing" between sessions. Doh!

 

The safety car is the one that follows the field (2dr MB).

And as for the roll cage, that would also require helmets in the med. car, which probably wouldn't be a good idea.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Prof. Watkins "chases" the field in his MB wagon, at speed, for the first lap, in case there are any serious accidents. His driver, Alex Ribeiro, was a former CART driver. He wears full Nomex and a helmet.

Watkins has been instrumental in some of the changes in the saftey regulations in F1 over the past 15 years, why I was surprised that he had no cage. My only thought is that the chasis may be reinforced before they are delivered to the FIA.

There is an interesting article about him in the October issue of Car & Driver.

 

I saw the USGP today, and i was incorrect. Before viewing the grid from the front it looked like the safety car, but today they showed a rear view and it was clearly the wagon.

I would probably go w/ the notion that MB reinforced the chassis. Also even though Alex wears a helmet, Sid still doesn't and a cage would require him to.