Japanese Grand Prix, October 14 2001
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Race Distance 310.596km / 192.995m Number of Laps 53 Lap Distance 5.864km / 3.644m Lap Record HH Frentzen 1:38.932
Qualifying:13:00 - Oct 13/2001 |
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Description
The start is downhill and this can help cars get away. Indeed, in 1988, it helped Ayrton Senna get away after he stalled just before the go signal. Once away, the cars approach First Curve flat out in top gear at speeds of up to 190 mph with a change down to 5th and 150 mph into the bend and into a second curve that is much tighter than the first and can only be negotiated in 3rd with speed dropping to 95 mph.The S Curve is a left-right-left-right combination that severely taxes any car that is not well balanced. It can usually be taken all the way through in 4th. The sequence is entered at 135 mph, dropping to 85 mph on exit of the final curve. On exiting, the S Curve's 4th gear is maintained for the approach to the Dunlop Curve. This long left-hander is extremely bumpy with plenty of understeer at 135 mph.
Accelerating to 160 mph, the Degner Curve is a tight right-hander that is taken in 4th gear at 120 mph, down to 3rd as the second part of the corner becomes tighter still, and then generally exited with the use of the kerb. Then it is up to top gear at 170 mph to go under the bridge where the course crosses itself to the Hairpin Curve. This is guarded by a short right-hander which slows the cars, but then they have to get down very quickly to 2nd gear for the 45 mph hairpin. Out of the hairpin the circuit curves to the right and on completion of the curve the majority of cars will be in top gear at 170 mph.
Spoon Curve awaits at the end of the looping right-hander. It is negotiated in 3rd gear, with speeds dropping from 105 mph on entry to 85 mph on exit. Then it's full on the throttle and it's a 185 mph straight-screamer over the Crossover to 130R, a very fast left-hander which forces a slight deceleration to 155 mph. The Casino Chicane (Triangle Chicane) guards the entrance to the finishing straight. The right-left combination is taken in 2nd gear at 40 mph, with the cars having to brake hard from 175 mph as they approach it. Once through, the cars swing right at 120 mph and onto the Start-Finish straight for the next lap.