Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race - Singapore

[CarlosFerreira]

Here we go, ladies and gentlemen, slightly early today. Please refrain from voting until Qualifying is over.
Just to remind you, the IIDOTR is

based on the assumption that, at any moment in time, there is a non-zero probability that even the slowest, most inexperienced and least reliable of underdogs might win the race. That under every rock, there might be a gold nugget. This is the award for that first podium that we all celebrate, for the overtake no-one was expecting, for Nick Heidfeld's first win. This is the award, in short, for the driver or team that makes you go "Woah! Where did THAT come from?!".

Just remember: this is a feel-good award, that will focus on nothing but track action.

Too bad we don't count FP for the IIDOTR. Rrrrmmmnn Gggrrrjjjnnn would get it after his crash in Piquet Corner. Oh well, maybe the remaining sessions will provide something as hilarious.

[CarlosFerreira]

Qualy is over, and the invisible man Timo Glock somehow popped up in 7th place, while carrying a respectable amount of fuel - heaviest in the top ten, on par with Hamilton, so he gets the first nod.

Any more thoughts?

[shinji]

Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race - I'll wait 'till tomorrow.

[TomWazzleshaw]

My IIDOTR candidate so far must be Nico Rosberg for giving Williams their best grid slot since the 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix

[DemocalypseNow]

So far, Rosberg. Would have had pole without Rubens incident I think.

Also a mention for Vettel, qualifying 2nd on a track which I didn't expect to suit the Red Bulls.

[shinji]

Glock

[kaiserfranz]

Glock

Seconded.

[Yannick]

Glock and Button are my two nominees.

[Bleu]

Glock for sure. Especially as Toyota was so bad at Monaco, didn't expect that coming. Alonso on the podium was a bit of surprise but not that big.

[Alianora La Canta]

Glock. I didn't even think a podium was possible for him until about five laps before the end, and he looked so happy when he netted second

[Many Blue Flags]

Glock

Seconded.

+1

[RAK]

While Rosberg looked strong in qualifying and throughout the race, he messed things up with that pit exit mistake. A fairly easy win for Timo Glock in the race, though.

[Waris]

Glock

Seconded.

+1

+1

[thehemogoblin]

The German Toyota driver.

[watka]

Rhymes with "clock".

[shinji]

We're getting in to 'Some say, he's called...' territory. RUN!!!!

[watka]

"Some say that he has an irrational phobia of the Michelin Man, and that he thinks that Jarno Trulli should hang up his helmet and spend time improving his wine. All we know is that he's called Timo Glock".

[Enrique Bernoldi]

Glock. No contest .

[DemocalypseNow]

Timo Glock because I have no idea where he qualified, yet came 2nd.
Fernando Alonso, ditto.

[tristan1117]

Glock. Again Formula 1's mystery man comes in 2nd.

[Captain Hammer]

Glock is again a contender, but I think Brawn would be a better candidate. They had a bad qualifying session, and Jenson Button still managed to extend his lead over Barichello. He would have nabbed Vettel, too, if he brakes hadn't gone. As it stands, Barrichello needs to get five points a race just to be even with Button.

[CarlosFerreira]

Voting for Button myself. I actually believed he was a gonner, but his performance surprised me.

[Jack O Malley]

Glock and Button, 50-50.

[TomWazzleshaw]

My votes go to Glock and Brawn

[Jordan192]

If Button (or either Brawn) had made it to the podium, they'd have my vote, but as it stands, I'm going to go for Glock with Brawn as an Honourable Mention.

Even with the grid as it was, I was still expecting both Brawns to be in the low-order points by the end. I wasn't expecting a Toyota on the podium, though.

[muttley]

As much as I appreciate Timo Glock's valiant effort, I'd like to be the first to nominate Fernando Alonso. After a terrible week for Renault, netting up a podium finish with such a wreck of a car is remarkable.

[Winterspring]

Timo Glock with a solid drive but that is it really. Good to see a Toyota on the podium and the timing hopefully was good.

[Warren Hughes]

Unoriginal, but it has to be Glock.

[Warren Hughes]

I would also like to vote for Luca Badoer, as Fisichella's performances so far for Ferrari have shown that Badoer wasn't quite as awful as everyone thought.

[fjackdaw]

I would also like to vote for Luca Badoer, as Fisichella's performances so far for Ferrari have shown that Badoer wasn't quite as awful as everyone thought.

Seconded - the commentators (and others) mentioned that this isn't a fair comparison because Fisi wasn't nearly as bad as Badoer, but then Fisichella has been racing non-stop in Formula 1 since 1996, and Badoer hasn't.

The trouble is, I think, people have short memories. For most of this decade, Fisichella has been regarded as something of a steady driver, not spectacular, prone to making silly mistakes, but generally gets some kind of job done. It only took one amazing race in a Force India to make him the best thing since sliced bread, and he gets snapped up by Ferrari. Italian ambitions of racing for Ferrari aside, it's probably the worst thing that could have happened for his career. At Force India, when it's going badly, it's the car's fault, when it's going well you're a hero. At Ferrari, when it's going badly it's your fault, when it's going well it's only to be expected, it's a Ferrari!

[DemocalypseNow]

As much as I appreciate Timo Glock's valiant effort, I'd like to be the first to nominate Fernando Alonso. After a terrible week for Renault, netting up a podium finish with such a wreck of a car is remarkable.

Sorry dude, I already beat you to it

[CarlosFerreira]

I would also like to vote for Luca Badoer, as Fisichella's performances so far for Ferrari have shown that Badoer wasn't quite as awful as everyone thought.

Seconded - the commentators (and others) mentioned that this isn't a fair comparison because Fisi wasn't nearly as bad as Badoer, but then Fisichella has been racing non-stop in Formula 1 since 1996, and Badoer hasn't.

The trouble is, I think, people have short memories. For most of this decade, Fisichella has been regarded as something of a steady driver, not spectacular, prone to making silly mistakes, but generally gets some kind of job done. It only took one amazing race in a Force India to make him the best thing since sliced bread, and he gets snapped up by Ferrari. Italian ambitions of racing for Ferrari aside, it's probably the worst thing that could have happened for his career. At Force India, when it's going badly, it's the car's fault, when it's going well you're a hero. At Ferrari, when it's going badly it's your fault, when it's going well it's only to be expected, it's a Ferrari!

Warren and Jack, although I heartily disagree, your opinion is perfectly legitimate. Please understand, however, I cannot accept Badoer's nomination. The rules for the IIDOTR are clear: focus on track action. It means the winner will always be a competitor in the relevant GP - so one of the 20 brave men out there (or one of the valiant teams) will get the gong.

The rationale behind this is simple: there is already enough discussion around off-track action in F1. In all fairness, how improbable was Briatore being kicked out of F1 for life? Surely, very improbable. But not a drive, I'm afraid.

So, a vote on Badoer won't have any votes. He had his chance to surprise in Valencia and Spa, and failed to do so. Hope you guys understand!

[Warren Hughes]

Carlos - my 'vote' for Badoer was somewhat tongue in cheek; my real vote is in the post above, for Glock. I fully appreciate your rules for IIDOTR, and just fancied a light-hearted dig at the Badoer-bashers (of whom there are, of course, fewer on this forum than anywhere else!)

[CarlosFerreira]

Carlos - my 'vote' for Badoer was somewhat tongue in cheek; my real vote is in the post above, for Glock. I fully appreciate your rules for IIDOTR, and just fancied a light-hearted dig at the Badoer-bashers (of whom there are, of course, fewer on this forum than anywhere else!)

Fair enough, mate! Just making it clear. Cheers!

[Salamander]

Difficult to choose between Glock and Alonso. Considering how anonymous Trulli was in the same car as Glock, though and the fact that Glock and Trulli are more evenly matahced than Alonso and Grosjean, I'm leaning towards Glock in this instance.

[CarlosFerreira]

Rhymes with "clock".

Which time did Dork Clockwork drive for?

[CarlosFerreira]

*Thump* *Thump*
Is this on?

Hello everyone to the results of the IIDOTR vote for the 2009 Singapore GP. I was personally convinced it'd be a very disputed vote, with at least 3 drivers deserving it in my eyes. Turns out the results were one of the clearest ever, with pretty much everyone going for The Invisible Man. Here's what you voted for:

NOMINEE VOTED BY
Timo Glock CarlosFerreira
Nico Rosberg Wizzie
Nico Rosberg kostas22
Sebastien Vettel kostas22
Timo Glock shinji
Timo Glock kaiserfranz
Timo Glock Yannick
Jenson Button Yannick
Timo Glock Bleu
Fernando Alonso Bleu
Timo Glock Alianora La Canta
Timo Glock Many Blue Flags
Timo Glock RAK
Timo Glock Waris
Timo Glock thehemogoblin
Timo Glock watka
Timo Glock Enrique Bernoldi
Timo Glock kostas22
Fernando Alonso kaiserfranz
Timo Glock tristan1117
Timo Glock Captain Hammer
Jenson Button Captain Hammer
BrawnGP Captain Hammer
Jenson Button CarlosFerreira
Timo Glock Jack O Malley
Jenson Button Jack O Malley
Timo Glock Wizzie
BrawnGP Wizzie
Timo Glock Jordan192
BrawnGP Jordan192
Fernando Alonso muttley
Timo Glock Winterspring
Timo Glock Warren Hughes
Timo Glock BlindCaveSalamander

Notice a trend there? Me neither. So, who got the gong then?

NOMINEE VOTES
Timo Glock 21
Nico Rosberg 2
Sebastien Vettel 1
Jenson Button 4
Fernando Alonso 3
BrawnGP 3

Ah, yes. Timo Glock did. Surprising, considering he'd driving for the team with arguably the second largest budget in F1.

Also notice that, between them, Champions-to-be Button and BrawnGP bagged 7 points, making them the undisputed second most surprisingly good performance of the race; that should show you how rubbish they have been lately.

That's it, then. Remember the vote for the GP of Japan is open and running!

[RejectSteve]

Rhymes with "clock".

Which time did Dork Clockwork drive for?

Which time? Well 12:00 of course. Its been flashing since he got the ride.