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Sunday November 3, 2019
Happy 199th Independence Day to Cueanca and all my friends there. I hope you enjoy the festivities.
I walked 5 dogs this morning because Rocas decided to come along. She is not leash trained yet, but close. After chores we both had a nice long nap before making some delicious bacon and eggs for brunch.
Then I headed to David's for the pre-race show of the US GrandPrix at 1pm. Mario Andretti was there in Austin, Texas, as was Matthew McConaghey.
My guy LeClerc was starting in 4th place behind Bottas, Vettel (his partner) and Verstappen, but ahead of Hamilton who only needed 4 points to clinch this year's championship.
Both Mercedes and Ferraris had a good start but Verstappen hung in there, grabbing 2nd place for a brief period. Vettel had troubles and was out before lap 10.
The Austin track has undulations, wind, and many curves one after another. Passing was not easy and the front four did not change much throughout the race as tire strategies and pitstops became the name of the game. LeClerc's pit had trouble with the left rear tire and cost him about 5 seconds extra, an eternity when they are racing up to 300 kph+.
Bottas made a 2-stop strategy work for him as he passed Hamilton on his 1-stop strategy and finishing on failing tires. So the ending was Bottas, Hamilton, Verstappen, LeClerc and the surprising Albon who won "Driver of the day" honours. LeClerc had the day's fastest lap.
So Bottas won the race and his partner Hamilton won the year's championship with 2 races to go. Congrats to Lewis Hamilton for his 6th Championship. He is a true champ.
David always mentioned his riding buddy, Igor Djokovic, who rides all over the world by motorcycle and takes amazing photographs. Today he gave me Igor's new website and I have almost looked at it all, there is a LOT to see, and it is absolutely mind-boggling, informative and humorous as well. Please give this a look... You won't be sorry.
We can all travel vicariously through his images and stories.
Oh, and apparently Igor may be visiting David soon so I may get a chance to meet him. I really look forward to that!
This Blog is still glitching... Grrrr
Had a nice walk with Aram this evening without any dogs....
I hope you enjoy the pictures. That was the day’s excitement.
Al
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| Austin, Texas racetrack |
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| Lots of wild curves, hills and wind |
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| View from the other side |
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| Soft tires wear out quickly, hard tires last the longest |
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| Bottas and Vettel are 1-2 |
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| Verstappen and LeClerc are 3-4 |
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| Hamilton and Albon are 5-6 |
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| And they're off |
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| They make it through the 1st turn without major mishaps |
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| Bottas, Verstappen, Hamilton, Vettel and LeClerc lead |
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| LeClerc and Norris pass Vettel |
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| Vettel is out |
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| Bottas pitted early, then passes LeClerc |
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| Pitstop strategy comes into play |
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| Tire strategy as well |
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| LeClerc has a bad pitstop |
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| Problems putting on the left rear tire |
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| These tire stats can't be right... |
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| Big difference just 2 laps later....... |
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| Hard tires usually mean a 1-stop strategy |
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| Hamilton has a fast pitstop |
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| Stats and strategies |
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| The diff between good and bad tires |
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| Not much changes from here on |
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| Bottas has a fast pitstop (2nd) |
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| Bottas maintains 2nd place after his pitstop |
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| Bottas will chase down his partner Hamilton |
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| Big speeds |
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| Bottas is charging hard. LeClerc now has faster tires |
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| LeClerc sets a new lap record |
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| Tire performance is important late in the race |
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| Bottas chases partner Hamilton |
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| Bottas will not be denied |
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| Albon gets Driver of the Day honours |
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| And the winners are.... |
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| We are happy for the level-headed Bottas |
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| He deserved to win |
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| Congrats Valterri Bottas |
