05-09-2016, 07:28 AM
I only skimmed your Argentinian example because I already have a pretty good grasp of how racers qualify and why they may not need to qualify on the pole.
The reason that I asked the question is because you seem to contend that Rossi successfully implemented a particular strategy (let's call it the "Prudence Strategy") in qualifying at LeMans. However, I disagree and more important than that, Rossi disagrees. Yes, he was not necessarily interested in the pole, but he was intensely interested in being in the top 5 because he knew he didn't have much of a chance to win if he was further back. His strategy for qualifying (distinctly different than that he used in the actual race) was the wrong strategy and not properly executed at that. In an interview, he said “We did a wrong strategy, and unfortunately I was stuck in traffic, I lose a lot of time. But at the end, I had another chance to make a good lap, and I was not so bad, but I made a mistake in sector three, and I lose a lot unfortunately. If not, I think my potential is to start in the top five, but I have to start from the third row, from seventh, so for sure is more difficult." Sounds like Rossi screwed up, by his own admission.
Now, in the race, he seems to have employed a strategy that I will call the "Resignation Strategy" wherein he knew that he could not win unless the leaders crashed or broke, so he did not really need to ride the rubber off his tires to catch the leaders. Instead, he probably picked off the low hanging fruit - the riders immediately ahead of him - and waited for an opportunity. Marquez and Dovi tossed up two synchroed low-sides to give him that opportunity and he walked through the door. Smart. That Rossi was smart does not mean that the others were not. I still cannot find an interview with anyone involved that says that either of the crashers had the wrong tires or the wrong race strategy.
Very impressed with your racing pedigree, though. Thank you for sharing that.
The reason that I asked the question is because you seem to contend that Rossi successfully implemented a particular strategy (let's call it the "Prudence Strategy") in qualifying at LeMans. However, I disagree and more important than that, Rossi disagrees. Yes, he was not necessarily interested in the pole, but he was intensely interested in being in the top 5 because he knew he didn't have much of a chance to win if he was further back. His strategy for qualifying (distinctly different than that he used in the actual race) was the wrong strategy and not properly executed at that. In an interview, he said “We did a wrong strategy, and unfortunately I was stuck in traffic, I lose a lot of time. But at the end, I had another chance to make a good lap, and I was not so bad, but I made a mistake in sector three, and I lose a lot unfortunately. If not, I think my potential is to start in the top five, but I have to start from the third row, from seventh, so for sure is more difficult." Sounds like Rossi screwed up, by his own admission.
Now, in the race, he seems to have employed a strategy that I will call the "Resignation Strategy" wherein he knew that he could not win unless the leaders crashed or broke, so he did not really need to ride the rubber off his tires to catch the leaders. Instead, he probably picked off the low hanging fruit - the riders immediately ahead of him - and waited for an opportunity. Marquez and Dovi tossed up two synchroed low-sides to give him that opportunity and he walked through the door. Smart. That Rossi was smart does not mean that the others were not. I still cannot find an interview with anyone involved that says that either of the crashers had the wrong tires or the wrong race strategy.
Very impressed with your racing pedigree, though. Thank you for sharing that.