Frentzen at Indy?

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Frentzen may get to substitute for Felipe Massa at Indianapolis if his test at Silverstone goes well this week. Because of Massa's penalty hed be placed 10 spots down from where he qualified, so Frentzen could gain some experience with the car and Sauber could avoid the penalty.

[nichosnz 0]

Similar to what I said in "... Panis at Toyota", but more long winded.

That may depend on the wording of the rule, if the penalty is hanging over Massa's head until his next race (whenever that may be) then for Sauber to avoid it they would have to put HHF in at Japan also. And Massa (however good he appears, in testing next year) may never get a F1 seat again, until he joins Minardi. Which team would want to suffer a 10 place penalty at the first race of a season, when points are often gifted to lower teams.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Don't forget that there are still seats available in F1, and Massa could well be in with the second Toyota race seat. I imagine Mr. Andersson would be interested in Massa, because the team obviously could do with a young gun to hold on to for a while. Like Mclaren with Hakkinen and Raikkonen. Mark Webber may take that Toyota spot though, so Massa could be headed to Jaguar as well, which may not be as bad as it seems considering recent performance.

But Frentzen will race at Indy if Sauber get the answer that they want, that Massa's penalty will not carry over, or if it does then Massa will not be at Suzuka either. Otherwise I think Frentzen at Indy, but more likely they'd let Felipe drive at Suzuka as a farewell gift

[nichosnz 0]

Oh well we will have to see in Suzuka then as he is unlikely to appear in Indy.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Anything can happen, but Im guessing the FIA will go the other way with the verdict and say that it is a penalty on the car, not Massa so Frentzen would go back 10 slots. Cant tell till it happens in F1.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

The FIA has said that they are not against the driver change and that the penalty was imposed on Massa only, not the team. It now depends on Frentzen's test that he will run tomorrow.

[nichosnz 0]

On if Frentzen is too tall etc.

But is the penalty still hanging over Massa or is a race suspension deemed enough of a punishment.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

FIA didn't exactly clarify that, but I dont believe so. Meaning Massa would race again at Suzuka. Its all down to if Frentzen fits comfortably into the car as you said...

[nichosnz 0]

Unless Frentzen does really well in Indy, then Massa may not get his Japanese race.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

That could be very possible. I think that if Sauber were able to get fourth in the constructors two years running that theyd have a pretty good base for getting a speedy new engine and some sponsors to pay for even better designers and so forth.

[nichosnz 0]

Sauber have gone a number of years being the customer of another team, for engines. 4th is about their limit doing that, they need a works deal soon.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Frentzen was fastest at Silverstone testing, so I think he will be allowed to race at Indy. He lapped over a second faster than Massa did on Tuesday, and was only a tenth behind Heidfeld's best time from yesterday.

[nichosnz 0]

It does look like Frentzen will be in a Sauber for Indy. Good for him, good for Sauber.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Definitely a boost for Sauber if he does race. The driving position was a "compromise" but he didn't do bad at all, and the spin was caused by him hitting a rabbit or something of the sort.

[nichosnz 0]

Common problem at Silverstone most drivers have done that at some stage.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

It is confirmed, Frentzen will race at Indy and Massa will be back for Suzuka. Excellent!!

[nichosnz 0]

Well once he'd gone fastest, it was just a matter of being announced.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I think he will do real well, the Sauber seems to be a good car on tracks like Indy where you have to compromise downforce and straightline speed. The Ferrari engine isn't half bad..

[nichosnz 0]

He will do better than Massa would have (even without the penalty), so that has to help Sauber.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Hopefully Sauber will score a nice deal of points, it will be interesting then at Suzuka if Renault or Sauber gets best of the rest.

[nichosnz 0]

Sauber are unlikely to match Renault in Indy (9 point defecit), but it would be good to see them get close enough to think it is possible in Japan.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I think for any good chances Renault cant score any more points, and Sauber would need a 3-4, at least a 4-5 finish at Indy for them to be able to attempt passing Renault at Suzuka.

[nichosnz 0]

Yes that is really the minimum. A 4-5 is more realistic, but pushing it a little.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Definitely the most predictable 5-6 will not be enough, so they will need some help from retirements by Ferrari/Williams/Mclaren.

[nichosnz 0]

Or all 6, if Sauber finish 1-2 a Renault 3-4 would tie the 2 teams on 27, if neither team scored in Japan, Sauber would take the 4th position, having scored a win.

Oh s##t I'm dreaming again.