From: irw@bharh58.bnr.co.uk (Ian Woollard)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport
Subject: Re: Mansell and Senna
Date: 9 Nov 1992 12:46:54 GMT
Organization: BNR Europe Ltd, London Road, Harlow, England.
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Keywords: Mansell and Senna

In article <s1072964.721270128@giaeb> s1072964@giaec.cc.monash.edu.au (SHERLOCK(G.Fletcher)) writes:
>
>    Well I don't know about anyone else but I think we have just seen the
>    Senna of old!. That's right, his reckless and unpunished driving has done
>    it again, I was quite annoyed and very PISSED OFF when I saw him just
>    calmly wipe out Mansell and was hoping that Mansell would once and for go
>    and punch his lights out. It's about time someone taught Senna a lesson in
>    how to drive. I think his actions were summed up well by Allen Jones when
>    he said that Senna must have had "brain fade".
<stuff about how much he likes Mansell deleted>

On the contrary, I think Mansell may have deliberately stiffed Senna.
He had Opportunity, Motive and had a smoking gun. (well OK, somewhat smoking car ;-)

I think Mansell *might* have been getting his own back for Canada... 

In article <1dkrggINNl6t@morrow.stanford.edu> jeff@pangea.Stanford.EDU (Jeff Freymueller) writes:

>It looked to me like Senna closed on Mansell EXTREMELY rapidly just before
>the impact - it looked to me like Mansell slowed rather than Senna trying
>to outbrake him (even Senna-haters must agree that he is not so stupid to
>outbrake without being alongside).

I taped this and played it back many times. Observations were
identical to Jeffs, plus: there was a sharpish corner just after the
accident point...  I saw no signs that Senna applied his brakes before
the impact, nor accelerated... Sennas front brakes weren't operating
after the accident: this was consistent with the damage to the left
discs however.

Explanations:

a) Senna deliberately running into the back of Mansell
b) Mansell 'brake testing' Senna
c) Mansell and Senna jointly making a mistake
d) Problem with either car

We might rule out d) since Mansell complained to the authorities,
he had little to gain by doing so, if there was a failure in his car.
There was a report in one newspaper that Mansells traction control
system failed, but as far as I know this has not been substantiated.
Senna didn't report a failure to his car either. 

a) seems unlikely: Senna could only lose in the points by such a manouevre.

Jeff:
>
>In fact, it almost looked like Mansell "brake-tested" Senna, although I'm
>sure that isn't what happened.
>

I'm alot less sure.

The options b), c) remain likely, lets look at b).

Facts:

1) Mansell doesn't like Senna (and vice versa one assumes)
2) Mansell doesn't need to win at Australia, Senna would have gained much-needed points
3) Patrese needed the points, and was in third place in the race
4) It was a good place on the circuit to do it (nice run-offs...)
5) Who would believe Senna, if he claimed that Mansell did it deliberately?
6) On the other hand, Mansell running to the authorities after would be
extremely smart, especially if he did slow suddenly... (Mansell has generally not shown
signs of being that politically smart however...)
7) He ran away afterwards

The only people who really know are Williams/Mansell: they have charts of
when the brakes were applied/he knows what he did(nt) do.

>*                                  |                                          *
>*  Fletch                          |     "No one rises so high as he who      *
>*  Traralgon 3844                  |      knows not whither he is going"      *
>* s1072964@giaec.cc.monash.edu.au  |          - Oliver Cromwell               *
>*                                  |                                          *
>*******************************************************************************

>
>Jeff

-Ian.
Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport