Filed under: Motorsports
Toyota F1's Ricardo Zonta sets Laguna Seca record
Toyota F1 "third driver" Ricardo Zonta broke the Laguna Seca track record in a demonstration run of the TF106 during the Monterey Historic Races.
On only his second flying lap, the Brazilian set a new record for the modern track layout of 1:07.587, a tenth and a half quicker than Helio Castroneves' previous record, set in 2000 in a Champ Car.
Toyota will go all out for the record Saturday, with softer compound tires and a fix for the electrical gremlins that cut short Zonta's first attempt.
[Source: SpeedTV.com, MontereyHistoric.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
James2 2:26PM (8/20/2006)
Think of it this way: Toyota is, like, the fifth or sixth fastest F-1 car, and then imagine what the track record would look like.
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Vinny 2:41PM (8/20/2006)
Agreed. Either Renault, McLaren or Ferrari would beat that record. Honda maybe too,.
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Poleaxe 2:51PM (8/20/2006)
This should probably be updated; the record set on Saturday was 1:06.596.
So is Laguna certified by the FIA? The US should be able to handle two F1 races; Laguna would be a neat track at which to see the F1 circus, if only to see them careen down the Corkscrew.
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Rich 2:54PM (8/20/2006)
you have to assume that when he set the fastest time it was a very conservative setup. if the team gave him enough track time to retrieve data he would blow the old record by 3 to 4 secs. the time that set the record was a 2000 champ car vs a 2006 TF106B toyota f1 car. i wouldn't be surprised if they spent an actual race weekend at laguna that they would be in low 4's to high 3's.
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naggs 4:50PM (8/20/2006)
im suprised, last year ferrari was a full 2 seconds off the lap record with the faster v10 car. i wonder what was holding ferrari back last year?
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doonie 11:58PM (8/20/2006)
From SpeedTv.com:
With new Bridgestones on all four corners, the Brazilian managed to lower his mark yet again, managing to pull off a lap of 1m06.309s on Sunday morning. That time is expected to stand as the best of the weekend, as Zonta's final run scheduled for this afternoon will be made on the same set of tires.
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jason 8:49AM (8/21/2006)
#3
Im not up on my standard track dimensions, but my guess would be that it is too small. motoGP bikes usually can not get into their top gear there. (Now Road America..)
#5
I think it was last year that Ferrari was having issues developing a carbonfiber gear case.
I bet if you stuck Alonso and Schumacher out there together they would eventually break the 1min barrier.
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Philip 9:24PM (8/26/2006)
The track is fine, its the padock and pits that would stop F1 from going there. I used to work the SCCA club events at laguna and those would fill most of the padock up, no way there would be enough room for F1 and all the suport races. The other problem is they only have 12 accual garages. I think the plan is to eventuall build more. Then you get into the problem of Laguna Seca being a county park. The county is a pain in the butt to deal with. They have noise restrictions at the track for all except five race events per year.
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