Tuesday 30th March 2010

Coin Toss Decides Lotus's Malaysia Practice

Kovalainen calls tails, misses out on Friday running

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Heikki Kovalainen is to miss the first practice session for the Malaysian GP this weekend after he lost a coin toss with Lotus team-mate Jarno Trulli.

It's unusual for track time to be decided on a toss of a coin, but that's what has happened at the Lotus F1 Team.

One of the team's regular drivers was due to make way for Malaysian test driver Fairuz Fauzy (Lotus F1 is Malaysian-owned - you do the maths...) so, at the suggestion of Tech boss Mike Gascoyne, Kovalainen and Trulli decided who would miss out on the flip of a coin. Kovalainen picked tails and lost.

"Both Jarno and Heikki are experienced drivers who do not need to do 40 laps in the first practice on a circuit that is familiar to them," said Gascoyne.

[Oddball RS]

Thats the way forward............... Keeping the backers happy

[GPT]

It's always heads in Malaysia.

[bencollins]

lol, cos great sports people never need to practice or hone their skills.
I mean when did you last see tiger woods practice.

oh yeah, that.

IN THE HOLE!

[cronk-flakes]

I'm sorry but that, to me, makes this team seem really mickey mouse!

But we'll see if it is reflected in the race!

[dgmx5]

He may not need the 40 laps, but I bet Heikki would prefer to be driving the company car rather than letting Fauzy have the keys.

[soad]

Ha ha, love the coin flipping tactics.

[Bugeyeandy]

Isn't that gambling? I'm surprised Mohammed Fauzy was ok with that....kidding!

I guess with limited testing now this is the best way to get track time, keep the sponsors happy and get some tv air time for Fauzy. Makes sense all round really.

Not sure why they didn't do it on who had the best lap time from Australia instead of a random flip of a coin.

Edited by Bugeyeandy on Tuesday 30th March 11:57

[FourWheelDrift]

Since Trulli never started Melbourne I think the right decision was made, if by flipping a coin.

Although Force India share it, on Fridays with De Resta.

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Tuesday 30th March 11:56

[Bugeyeandy]

I suppose so, his quali lap was 3/100ths slower than Kov too. I guess he needs the practice more

[DSM2]

dgmx5 said:

He may not need the 40 laps, but I bet Heikki would prefer to be driving the company car rather than letting Fauzy have the keys.

Especially if Fauzy bins it...................

[Frimley111R]

Remind me what this is all about again, having a test driver drive in practice.

[Kenzle]

That Lotus is one of the better looking cars on the grid this year....

[dmax]

cronk-flakes said:

I'm sorry but that, to me, makes this team seem really mickey mouse!

well, jean Todt did the same, and it was to decide the winner of Paris Dakar Rally before the last 2 stages, and it was between Jacky ickx and Ari Vatanen, who won that dakar in winning the coin toss...

so to do that for 40 laps of practise is hardly shocking

[bn9af]

Frimley111R said:

Remind me what this is all about again, having a test driver drive in practice.

the idea is that there is less of a transition when new drivers enter formula 1 full time. keeps the young guys progressing and gives them invaluable experience of different circuits in an F1 car.

[FourWheelDrift]

Kenzle said:

That Lotus is one of the better looking cars on the grid this year....

Until Barcelona when the new shrink fit body work is fitted or so I have heard.

[paulrockliffe]

bn9af said:

Frimley111R said:

Remind me what this is all about again, having a test driver drive in practice.

the idea is that there is less of a transition when new drivers enter formula 1 full time. keeps the young guys progressing and gives them invaluable experience of different circuits in an F1 car.

He means, why doesn't the tester......er....... test the car and let the racers practice.......er.........racing.

[Mazda Baiter]

This is purely a political stunt for Lotus F1.

But there is a precedent, their namesake Team Lotus (not the same team) had a coin toss for the 1967 American and Mexican GPs. Graham Hill won the toss and was meant to win the American GP, but his flywheel broke up, he still finished second. Clark won that race and the Mexican race which he won the toss for, Hill's car failed on him.

[andyps]

paulrockliffe said:

bn9af said:

Frimley111R said:

Remind me what this is all about again, having a test driver drive in practice.

the idea is that there is less of a transition when new drivers enter formula 1 full time. keeps the young guys progressing and gives them invaluable experience of different circuits in an F1 car.

He means, why doesn't the tester......er....... test the car and let the racers practice.......er.........racing.

Trouble is, the amount of testing allowed is..........er...........none.

Actually, I think it is a smart move by the teams - it means that if they need to draft in a replacement driver for whatever reason the reserve driver has at least driven the car before. Plus, another potential big benefit for the small teams could be that if a major team needed a driver for whatever reason they may be inclined to use a driver with experience in a 2010 car - one of these drivers could then become a valuable proposition, boosting the team budget.

[Smartass]

F1 drivers are tossers.

[FourWheelDrift]

Smartass said:

F1 drivers are tossers.

Thanks for that, they say the same about you too.