From Formula1.com

World champion Fernando Alonso has dropped from fifth to tenth on the provisional grid for SundayÂ’s Italian Grand Prix after Monza stewards penalized him for impeding FerrariÂ’s Felipe Massa during qualifying.

Massa complained to officials that Alonso had blocked him whilst on his final run at the end of session. The stewards agreed and deleted the Renault starÂ’s three fastest times from Q3, though they did concede that AlonsoÂ’s actions may not have been deliberate.

The penalty has no effect on MassaÂ’s grid position as he had qualified fourth, immediately ahead of Alonso. However, it is good news for Ferrari team mate Michael Schumacher, who qualified second. Schumacher, who trails Alonso by 12 points in the driversÂ’ championship, now has seven cars between himself and his title rival for the start of FerrariÂ’s home race.

The final grid positions will be published by the FIA on Sunday morning.

I wonder if:

A- This is a ploy to make F1 more exciting
B- Ferrari favouritism

I did not see the quali so I cannot comment on the incident. Did anyone see it ? If so what are your thoughts ?

Another thought....

If he did "block", why isn't the punishement the same as was doled out to Schumi when he "blocked" earlier this year ?

:edit:

I see that The FIA have Alonso starting 10 on their grid list right now !!!

:tim: Roger Federer remained on course for a third consecutive US Open title with victory over Nikolay Davydenko in the first of Saturday's semi-finals.

Federer will play Andy Roddick or Mikhail Youzhny in the final after seeing off Russia's Davydenko 6-1 7-5 6-4 in one hour 41 minutes.

The top seed raced through the first set but needed two breaks in each of the second and third sets.

"I played a great first set and thought I played really well," said Federer.

"Again in the final is a great feeling and it's great to be in the final of all four majors this year." :tim:


Read more...

I just watched a match between Bay of plenty and Taranaki played in New Zealand.

The field was totally waterlogged and the rain did not let up for the whole match.

Despite this, both sides played attractive rugby, and considering the conditions they played in, surprisingly made very few mistakes.

I reckon this is why the NZ reams seem to have such ball skills. When the weather is good and the fields are nice the skills developed in the mud just put them a half a step ahead.

The conditions made me think back to my youth in the Cape. ( I remember playing at Hamiltons in CT once,and hail pelting our ears, and the steam rising from the scrum every time we set down.)

SA 24 - Wallabies 16 !!!

Didn't watch the game..... was it good?

:jive:

I saw a few adverts while reading the multiple free newspapers that are now handed out in London and as we are heading off to SA in December I thought I would take my partner through to London to this 'colours of a new day' event in London...

It was quite a challenge to find the information on line but here it is...

http://www.southafricatimes.co.uk/index....5&Itemid=2

Sounds like a good day out and a chance to taste some saffa wine for free!!!

BTW - its today!!!! 11am - 6pm Hanover Square, London, W1

Off to Beirut on Sunday, hope they did a good job of repairing the bomb craters on the runway.

Wish me luck

I was having something to drink at Bhs when this older couple - in their early 60 I would guess - sat down near me with a big plate of chips and a huge ciabatta roll each. The husband ripped his roll open and started to pile the chips on. The wife started off eating hers with a fork and the next moment she ripped hers open too and piled the chips on too. I didn't want to stare at them, but couldn't help watching them as they trying to open their mouths real wide to get a bite. :haha:

Somehow I thought that is something a teenager would do and not people with grey hair. :haha: Guess they were teenagers once and just carried on doing it.

Are you into chips sarnies? Can't remember if I ever had one..... :dazed:

It costs European taxpayers approximately 200 million euros a year to move the Parliament between Brussels/Belgium and Strasbourg/France....

http://www.oneseat.eu/

[BUZZ="4"]Top of the Morning
to you lovelies[/BUZZ]

have a grand day and all and a weekend to match

:weekend:








ps.. cubbie hope today is more pleasant

Happy Birthday to all three

:bday3:

may you all have a wonderful day

and to the skirt wearer .. enjoy your haggis

:high: