Re: The career of Ciaran O'Driscoll (1988-???) - 1989 DONE!
Posted: 29 Dec 2016, 22:12
9 March, 1990
Grouillard, aided by his Pirelli-shod Osella, tops the session, followed by Donnelly with a lucky one-shot lap and the two Ligiers led by Alliot. Donnelly crashed out on his second flying lap, and faced a nervous 50 minutes of waiting to see if his time could be beaten. Weidler misses out by an agonising 0.002 seconds, and was shown as Eurobrun's only hope of pre-qualifying. Langes was only saved from last place by the Life of Gary Brabham, which surprised onlookers by lasting for 22 laps, albeit not managing any more than five laps in a single stint.
10 March
It looked clear that all three of the new engine suppliers would have their work cut out for 1990, as the Subaru-powered Colonis were only spared the wooden spoon thanks to a horrific crash for Riccardo Patrese and Larini inexplicably doing too many laps. Ogawa didn't disgrace himself in his first race this side of the Pacific, ending up within a second of Gachot before his engine gave up.
Patrese's rear brakes locked up into the first corner, and he was helpless as he careened into the concrete barriers lining the track. He was immediately taken to hospital, and although Williams had the spare car ready for him, he was not cleared to finish off the session. The car would see some use though, as Thierry Boutsen's failed to budge out of its garage, and would take the Belgian to 6th.
Bernd Schneider, seeking refuge from the doomed Zakspeed-Yamaha partnership, headed the Pirelli challengers in 5th place, behind a McLaren front row lock-out led by Senna.
11 March
GABRIELE TARQUINI IS A GRAND PRIX WINNER!
Despite not even having a full-time seat for the season, Tarquini threaded his Dallara through the mean streets of Phoenix for 36 faultless laps to take the chequered flag, giving them their first win in only their 33rd Grand Prix!
Following him home is Michele Alboreto, and as a result Michele has already beaten his 1989 tally. Paolo Barilla finishes an all-Italian podium in only his SECOND Grand Prix, benefiting from Jean Alesi's heartbreak. The Corsican's Ford engine failed while he was in 3rd, chasing down Alboreto, just as he was braking for the penultimate corner, and the car was brought to a halt within 100 metres of the finish line. Alesi, dumbstruck by this failure, didn't bother getting out of the car, and was classified 8th, behind Lehto in the Onyx. Johansson saves some face for AGS, taking 3 points for 4th. Alliot takes 2 points for Ligier, and Nakajima crawls around on his ruined Pirellis, having inherited the lead after Prost retired from it!
Senna's title defence couldn't have gotten off to a worse start. He suffered suspension damage in a first-corner fracas with Mansell, and while Mansell would get his comeuppance with an engine flame-out on the 4th lap, Senna's car wasn't right after that. Senna would end up visiting the pits three times to try (and fail) to fix his car, eventually retiring with an engine failure on lap 31.
It was frustration for Ferrari as the prancing horse failed to get either car to the finish in what should have been a gift-wrapped victory for them.
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Constructors' Championship:
Drivers' Championship:
Grouillard, aided by his Pirelli-shod Osella, tops the session, followed by Donnelly with a lucky one-shot lap and the two Ligiers led by Alliot. Donnelly crashed out on his second flying lap, and faced a nervous 50 minutes of waiting to see if his time could be beaten. Weidler misses out by an agonising 0.002 seconds, and was shown as Eurobrun's only hope of pre-qualifying. Langes was only saved from last place by the Life of Gary Brabham, which surprised onlookers by lasting for 22 laps, albeit not managing any more than five laps in a single stint.
10 March
It looked clear that all three of the new engine suppliers would have their work cut out for 1990, as the Subaru-powered Colonis were only spared the wooden spoon thanks to a horrific crash for Riccardo Patrese and Larini inexplicably doing too many laps. Ogawa didn't disgrace himself in his first race this side of the Pacific, ending up within a second of Gachot before his engine gave up.
Editor's notes wrote:There's a problem with the AIW file at this track - if you enter the pit lane, your lap is automatically finished. Larini must have entered on his 24th lap, but then got counted as doing 25 when he pulled in.
Patrese's rear brakes locked up into the first corner, and he was helpless as he careened into the concrete barriers lining the track. He was immediately taken to hospital, and although Williams had the spare car ready for him, he was not cleared to finish off the session. The car would see some use though, as Thierry Boutsen's failed to budge out of its garage, and would take the Belgian to 6th.
Bernd Schneider, seeking refuge from the doomed Zakspeed-Yamaha partnership, headed the Pirelli challengers in 5th place, behind a McLaren front row lock-out led by Senna.
11 March
GABRIELE TARQUINI IS A GRAND PRIX WINNER!
Despite not even having a full-time seat for the season, Tarquini threaded his Dallara through the mean streets of Phoenix for 36 faultless laps to take the chequered flag, giving them their first win in only their 33rd Grand Prix!
Following him home is Michele Alboreto, and as a result Michele has already beaten his 1989 tally. Paolo Barilla finishes an all-Italian podium in only his SECOND Grand Prix, benefiting from Jean Alesi's heartbreak. The Corsican's Ford engine failed while he was in 3rd, chasing down Alboreto, just as he was braking for the penultimate corner, and the car was brought to a halt within 100 metres of the finish line. Alesi, dumbstruck by this failure, didn't bother getting out of the car, and was classified 8th, behind Lehto in the Onyx. Johansson saves some face for AGS, taking 3 points for 4th. Alliot takes 2 points for Ligier, and Nakajima crawls around on his ruined Pirellis, having inherited the lead after Prost retired from it!
Senna's title defence couldn't have gotten off to a worse start. He suffered suspension damage in a first-corner fracas with Mansell, and while Mansell would get his comeuppance with an engine flame-out on the 4th lap, Senna's car wasn't right after that. Senna would end up visiting the pits three times to try (and fail) to fix his car, eventually retiring with an engine failure on lap 31.
It was frustration for Ferrari as the prancing horse failed to get either car to the finish in what should have been a gift-wrapped victory for them.
Ciaran O'Driscoll wrote:I'm sorry to my fans today, I just...took my eye off the ball, took it too easy, and then I ended up clipping the inside wall at...turn 3?...yeah, turn 3, and smacking my rear-right off the wall. Michele has shown why he's a great driver today, and I congratulate him for that.
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Constructors' Championship:
- BMS Scuderia Italia Dallara-Ford: 9
- Footwork Arrows-Ford: 6
- SCM Minardi-Ford: 4
- Kronenbourg AGS-Ford: 3
- Equipe Ligier Gitanes-Ford: 2
- Camel Tyrrell-Mugen Honda: 1
Drivers' Championship:
- Gabriele Tarquini: 9
- Michele Alboreto: 6
- Paolo Barilla: 4
- Stefan Johansson: 3
- Philippe Alliot: 2
- Satoru Nakajima: 1