26/09/2004
NEWS STORY
 |
BAR's Jock Clear is one of many people who believes that Michael Schumacher's spin during qualifying was intentional. In a season which the German has totally dominated, and two weeks after that epic drive at Monza, another fight from the back of the field might finally convince the German's critics - those who claim he has won the championship without having to pass anyone on track.
Ross Brawn denies this, and claims the German "made a mistake".
Anyway, in it infinite wisdom, Ferrari has opted to change the engine in Schumacher's F2004 - prompting the inevitable headline 'A chink in the armour', while also deciding to start the German from the pitlane.
A strange call, which should certainly make for an interesting drive from Schumacher, not for the first time.
As the cars prepare for the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 29 degrees C, while the track temperature is 40 degrees.
Other than Schumacher, the other thing to focus on today, will be the battle for runner-up spot in the championship between BAR and Renault, a fight which at this stage the Brackley outfit appears to be winning.
Barrichello leads the field around this impressive facility on the warm-up lap, though the Brazilian doesn't appear to be forcing a very serious pace.
Barrichello gets away cleanly, while Massa makes a brilliant as does Sauber teammate Fisichella. Button loses out, losing two places, as Villeneuve gains two places.
At the end of the first lap, Barrichello leads Raikkonen by 0.6s, with Alonso third ahead of Massa, Button and Fisichella. Sato has made up several positions, while Schumacher is running last - he was unable to put fuel in the car until after the red lights went out.
Massa and Button are involved in a titanic battle for fourth, the Brazilian giving no quarter. Finally the Englishman gets through, his Michelins clearly having the advantage.
After 3 laps, Barrichello's lead is up to 1.3s, while Michael is up to eighteenth.
Fisichella closes in on Massa, who appears to be struggling. Raikkonen closes the gap to Barrichello to 0.8s, as Alonso is 2.2s behind the Finn.
Massa is now leading a whole train of cars - Fisichella, Ralf, Coulthard, Zonta, Webber, Villeneuve and Montoya.
Massa has no grip, and is unable to hold off his teammate, who slips through, unfortunately so too does Ralf. Coulthard also finally gets past the struggling Brazilian.
Michael Schumacher is now running seventeenth, closing in on Olivier Panis, who is in turn chasing Klien.
As Barrichello and Raikkonen battle up front, Button makes a bold move on Alonso, and makes it stick.
With clear air ahead of him, Button immediately goes quickest in the second sector, while Coulthard is also setting a hot pace in his pursuit of Ralf Schumacher.
Fastest lap for Button (1:34.507) on lap 8, though the Englishman is almost 4s behind Raikkonen. Elsewhere, Villeneuve makes a move on Montoya to take eleventh.
Another fastest lap for Button (1:34.122) though Barrichello is also setting a strong pace.
Poor Massa is still struggling, and has now dropped to ninth, with Webber fast closing in.
At the end of lap 10, Massa pits, as does Panis, while Barrichello goes quickest with a 1:33.782.
Despite his pace, Barrichello still can't shake off Raikkonen, who is just 0.7s behind.
Fisichella, Coulthard and Zonta (running sixth, seventh and eighth) all pit, but they are held up by Bruni's Minardi, which appears to have a problem.
Next time around, Barrichello and Raikkonen both pit, giving the lead to Button, who responds by posting a new fastest lap. Meanwhile, Schumacher and Klien 'touch' quite heavily as the German attempts to get past the Austrian. Shortly afterwards the Jaguar driver retires, though the Ferrari appears to have escaped unscathed.
At the end of lap 13, Alonso pits, which promotes Ralf to second. The German is 9.9s behind Button.
Next time around, the Englishman pits, as Michael Schumacher moves up to tenth. It's a slow stop by Button, who exits the pits as former teammate, Jacques Villeneuve, enters.
Ralf Schumacher now leads, though he has yet to stop. At the end of lap 15 the WilliamsF1 driver finally nips in for fuel and tyres.
Barrichello now leads from Raikkonen, Button and Montoya, who has yet to stop, with Sato, who also has to stop, running fifth. At the end of lap 16, Juan Pablo finally pits, as does Webber, though Sato continues.
Barrichello leads Raikkonen by 0.6s, with Button and Sato running third and fourth, ahead of Alonso and Heidfeld, who hasn't stopped. Meanwhile, a big spin for Michael Schumacher, who is able to continue. It's thought that he simply lost downforce since he was running so close behind Alonso.
Lap 18, and as Sato pits, Michael Schumacher posts an unbelievable 1:32.627. He is now running seventh 3.3s behind his brother.
Barrichello leads Raikkonen by 0.6s, with Button a further 7.3s down the road. Alonso is fourth ahead of Ralf, Michael, Fisichella, Coulthard, Zonta and Massa.
Michael pushes his brother hard, and though the younger Schumacher tries to resist, it is ultimately pointless, the result is inevitable. The world champion gets past then immediately pits, Ferrari running a very, very strange strategy. He drops to fifteenth.
Jacques Villeneuve is running fourteenth, running a second a lap slower than his teammate. He now has to contend with his former nemesis, Michael Schumacher, who is 3s down the road.
Raikkonen continues to shadow Barrichello, the pair are separated by just 0.8s. Button is third, 9.1s behind, with Alonso fourth, followed by Ralf, Fisichella, Coulthard, Zonta, Massa and Sato. Klien is the only retirement, thus far.
Lap 23, and Olivier Panis is the first driver to make a second pit stop.
Button is losing ground to the leaders, though thankfully for BAR, Renault is unable to take advantage. Alonso is fourth, with Sato tenth and Villeneuve thirteenth.
At the end of lap 25, Zonta pits, the Brazilian seemingly destined for a points finish. Next time around it's Massa that pits, the Brazilian having a difficult afternoon.
At the end of lap 27, Raikkonen pits, unfortunately so does Bruni, who consequently delays the McLaren driver. Fisichella also pits.
With the Finn out of the way, Barrichello ups his pace, as Villeneuve sets a personal best lap of the race as he attempts to keep Michael at bay.
New fastest lap on lap 28 for Rubens (1:32.455), as Coulthard pits. At the end of the next lap, he makes his second stop of the afternoon.
Raikkonen is unable to take advantage, losing time behind Baumgartner, therefore Barrichello exits the pits still ahead of the Finn.
Button leads, but he still has to stop. Barrichello is second (7.5s behind), with Raikkonen third, ahead of Alonso, Ralf, Sato, Montoya, Coulthard, Fisichella and Webber.
Michael is one second behind Villeneuve, who is running eleventh, 0.7s behind Webber. Alonso and Ralf both post personal best laps. The Canadian posts a new personal best (1:35.063).
With 32 laps completed, Button continues to lead, though he has yet to stop. His advantage of Barrichello is now 7.9s, with Raikkonen a further 0.9s behind.
The Englishman is lapping almost a second a lap quicker than his rivals, as Alonso makes his second stop at the end of lap 33.
Raikkonen is all over the back of the Brazilian, as Michael appears unable to get past Jacques, both champions matching one another's times.
At the end of lap 34, the Canadian pits, which finally releases Schumacher. Next time around, race leader Button also pits. Meanwhile, further drama for Michael Schumacher, who now has a puncture, and is heading back to the pits.
Kimi Raikkonen makes his third stop of the afternoon, only nine laps after his second stop. Webber and Zonta also stop. A very strange strategy from McLaren.
Rubens Barrichello now leads Jenson Button, with Kimi Raikkonen third. Elsewhere, Ralf has a communication problem with the pits. He looks set to pit, then decides against it, then changes his mind again. When he finally arrives at his garage, the crew isn't ready for him. SNAFU!
Moments later Montoya pits, that's who the crew were waiting for! Coulthard pits as does Sato, while Zonta retires, another fruitless afternoon for the hapless Toyota driver.
It's now clear that Ralf had a 'coming together' with Coulthard which damaged the WilliamsF1. That's why the German made the unscheduled pit stop.
Lap 39, and Barrichello leads Button by 25s, though the Brazilian has to make one more stop. Button is running second, 7.9s ahead of Raikkonen. Fisichella is fourth, ahead of Alonso, Massa, Montoya, Sato, Coulthard and Webber.
More drama for Minardi, Bruni has lost his left-front wheel, and is having problems getting back to the pits.
At the end of lap 41, Rubens makes his final stop, as does Fisichella. Michael is currently running twelfth, 10.9s behind Villeneuve.
As the dust finally settles, with no more 'scheduled' stops, Barrichello leads Button by 8.3s, with Raikkonen 6.2s down the road. Alonso is fourth, ahead of Montoya, Sato, Fisichella and Massa.
Michael Schumacher has upped his pace quite considerably, he's now 0.5s behind Villeneuve, who had a minor moment. The Renault driver and his former arch rival are having a great scrap, and no doubt both men are really enjoying it.
Schumacher finally makes a move, having got a tow from Villeneuve on the straight. Amazingly he then pits.
Question, why didn't they top him up when he had the puncture? Furthermore, why the big effort to pass JV when he immediately pitted. This simply doesn't make sense.
With seven laps remaining, Barrichello leads Button by 5.5s, with Raikkonen a further 4s behind. Alonso is fourth, ahead of Montoya, Sato, Fisichella, Massa, Coulthard, Webber, Villeneuve, Michael, Heidfeld, Panis, Glock and Baumgartner.
Raikkonen posts a personal best as he closes to within 2.5s of the BAR of Jenson Button. The Finn is lapping 0.5 - 0.7s a lap faster than the Englishman. Further behind, Webber and Villeneuve are having a great scrap for tenth.
Another personal best for Kimi, as he takes 0.5s out of Button. Alonso, running 24s behind the Finn, has also upped his pace.
Kimi takes another 0.5s out of the BAR team leader, his pursuit of the Englishman is absolutely remorseless.
It's hardly a cruise to victory for Rubens, his lead is down to 2.9s, but while Button is under pressure from Raikkonen, the Brazilian is comparatively 'safe'. The top three are covered by 4.1s.
As they begin the last lap, Button leads Raikkonen by a mere 0.8s, while Barrichello has an advantage of just 2s.
Rubens takes the flag, his second successive win, and a result that consolidates his runner-up spot in the world championship.
Despite his best efforts, Kimi is unable to take Button on, and has to 'settle' for third.
Alonso takes fourth, and five valuable points for Renault, however, with a gap of over30s to the leaders, and both BAR drivers scoring 11 points between them, it's little consolation.
Juan Pablo Montoya takes fifth, in a week which has been an absolute nightmare for the Grove outfit. The Colombian will be relieve to have salvaged something from a miserable weekend.
Sato drove a great race, delivering a typically gritty performance. Let's not forget that he started from the back of the grid, finally finishing sixth, thereby adding three precious points to BAR's tally.
Both Sauber's finished in the points, and deservedly so. They had the pace, but in the end their Bridgestones were no match for their rivals.
The overriding thought is that this has been very much a 'stage managed' event, and though the organizers will be delighted, one can't help feel that it was a little too perfect.
The sight of Luca di Montezemolo on the rostrum just about summed it up, the car manufacturers regard China as the 'new frontier', the brave new world, that they, together with the other multi-national global corporations want to crack.
Certainly, the Chinese have invested a vast amount of money in this event, therefore it's only right that they get a good show for their money, at least in its debut year.
Summing up: An interesting race, but some very, very strange strategies.