Tracks were before much more dangerous and so were spectator safety pretty bad but today's formula car does 1/2 of the driving. If we had same kind of cars with similar powers than 20-30 years ago, without driving aids but with modern safety instructions and todays F1 tracks, I don't see any problems with overall safety. Cars would be just harder to drive but not that much more dangerous. I'm just dreaming about this kind of F1.
What the hell... didn't they do one with Mercedes/McLaren and David Coulthard??? (Looks like Top Gear had copied Ferrari) Still, this one is WAY BETTER!!!!
Despite my depression after watching the accidents, it still amazes me how ineffective the fire suppression equipment was/is in many cases. One would think that they could have had something better. Use of CO2 extinguishers just seems idiotic. Once the CO2 dissipates and oxygen is supplied again there is still plenty of heat in the car to once again ignite the remaining fuel. Spraying large volumes of water to cool things down and/or foaming the crap out of everything makes more sense to me, but perhaps they simply can not respond quickly enough.
Actually i agree with you Deggis. It would put the skill back into the drivers hands rather than the electronics. Some of the drivers agree too, JV in particular. In fact, they did try to ban all driving aids a couple of yrs ago, but, found that there was no effective way to regulate the use of electronics within the cars, because driving aids could be easily hidden within the system. I'll have a google and see if i can find a more technical explanation.
-------------
[edit], just found this from FIA reg's for 2008
- A standard electronic control unit for engine and gearbox to be used at all times in Formula One (Article 8.2).
Reason: To reduce costs, eliminate driver aids such as traction control and allow the FIA to check engine use and testing mileage.
------------
However, this is a quote from Patrick Head, on this subject :- I’m not convinced that it automatically follows that if you have a standard ECU that there’s no more possibility of some sort of power modulation but if we all get put to a standard ECU then those of us, few of us, with devious minds will turn their attention to other means.
Time will tell, but there are some very very interesting rule changes for 2008
------------
[edit 2]Looks like your dreams maybe coming true Deggis, heres a link to the 2008 proposed rule changes http://www.formula1.com/news/3175.html
This is looking very very interesting just keep your fingers crossed that all of these are implemented