Thoughts on F1 Season Opener at Melbourne

The Formula One opener at Melbourne began as a wild card event and was not disappointing. All teams entered the race with new cars and new tires. Some using KERS, others not. Three teams using rear diffusers. After watching the race, here are some random thoughts:

1. Long pit stops lasting 11 to over 13 (Button’s last stop) seconds in many cases.
2. I’d like to own the carbon fiber manufacturer who will be supplying all of the honkingly large nose spoilers that get knocked off in 2009.
3. I’d like to own the carbon fiber manufacturer who will be supplying all the new rear diffusers as found on the Brawn GP cars.
4. I would have preferred a slightly wider rear wing and a slightly narrower front wing
5. The cars seem very twitchy with the narrower wings.
6. Now that we’ve seen KERS in action, I’m curious about how long it will take the other teams to get on board.
7. Nice to see Button out front with a good car. But will it last?
8. With the juggernaut teams finishing mid-pack or worse, it certainly adds tension to the season when anticipating the outcome.
9. Not the usual suspects at the finish.
10. Kimi seemed to carries his pattern over from last season. Will he brek the streak?
11. Button finished under yellow but he owned the race from the start and would have won regardless. It was a great, surprise win.
12. If it were anyone else I’d say it was dumb luck, but Ross Brawn makes his own luck.
13. The outcome validated Branson’s choice of an “underdog” team. Will they be able to preserve the momentum?
14. Lewis goes from 18th to 4th. Wow.

This is anyone’s show this year.