I maybe should have used a Matra here, their top speed does make a big difference around Monza, but what the heck! I like a challenge!!
I also figured that provided that I had the right gearing I would be able to draft along behind any faster cars anyway.
6th on the grid did not particularly bother me, although once you are in the pack there is always the chance of becoming involved in other drivers misfortunes. I got a good start and closed rapidly on Robert Teso, who appeared to bog down slightly. I looked for a space but as I went for the outside he eased back across and I had to put a couple of wheels on the grass to avoid him. No complaints from me, that is racing.
But my lift allowed just about everyone to stream pass before Curve Grande...Rats!!
Then I seem to recall a punt up the rear which dropped me further back, before the T1 "incident" which regained me a few places. Gradually I hauled myself back up through the field and by lap 8 was beginning to think I might get close to the front if I could just keep getting the tow from other cars. My Brab was definitely quicker through the Lesmos and into Parabolica than most other drivers which helped me get into the "zone" for a tow.
I had just passed Natan on the approach to Para when I saw yellow flags and a couple of cars definitely NOT where you would expect them to be. i took the inside line into Para and had just poured on the gas for the wide line around the exit before I realised that the car in front was going much slower than me AND right across the path that my Brabham was expecting to take. I backed off but it totally upset the balance of the car and I got into a tank slapper that I just could not hold
. Normally i would have opted to go wide and risk the grass and gravel, but I could not control the direction of the car.
I missed that slow moving car, but it seems that Natan was caught out by my wildly fishtailing car and we both ended upside down.
Apologies to Natan for inadvertantly involving him in my accident, but once I lifted off the gas the car had a mind and direction of its own.
I used the S/R and then a SnG , which dropped me waaaay back down the field. The rest of the race was fun as I caught Colin and his ruddy "too fast" Matra. For the rest of the race it was a cat and mouse game of slipstreaming and late braking as we hauled in and passed several other cars until it became obvious that we were disputing 6th and 7th.
I had already tested the demon last lap move into Parabolica several laps earlier and knew that if could lead into the bend I could just hold off that Matra to the line....but only just!!! So I had to be sure that Colin had the lead exiting Lesmos and that I was set for a draft pass into Parabolica. Well it all worked like a charm
and I stole 6th place from a very quick Colin.
Grats to the podium and all the finishers.
This was a full grid and a race where cars are very equal in performance, so the first lap was sure to be tight.
But guys, on a circuit like Monza and with the draft available in F2's NO-ONE, but NO-ONE, is going to get away unless the pack falls over itself behind!! Any of the cars can pull back a 100mtr lead easily so why risk so much in the first few corners. An incident and a spin will lose you 300mtrs and that means you WILL lose the draft. Backing out of a risky move and playing safe would cost you 50 mtrs which you will easily pull back on the next straight. I know the red mist of competition can blur the best of intentions, but it can also spoil your chances in a race at a circuit like Monza. The only lap that will count is the LAST lap.
