24/10/2004
NEWS STORY
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After seven months, 17 races and countless thousands of miles of racing and testing, the 2004 Formula One World Championship reaches its conclusion, here at Interlagos, Brazil - and as promised, it's raining.
With fifteen minutes remaining before the cars head off on the parade lap, it's only light rain, but the dark clouds in the distance are ominous. Last yea's race, held in treacherous conditions, caused quite a few upsets, not least two horrendous crashes involving Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso, not to mention utter confusion when it came to awarding the victory.
Today, much like the ice cream you find at the end of the cone, it could be about saving the best for last, with Interlagos shaping up to produce one of the best races of the season.
Although we have local hero Rubens Barrichello on pole, looking supremely hot to trot, and eager to shake off his jinx, alongside him we have fellow-south American Juan Pablo Montoya, not to mention Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa right behind.
Then, bearing in mind the conditions, we have rain-master Michael Schumacher, starting from eighteenth, a man who would dearly love to make amends for the shambles that was Shanghai. The German forfeited ten grid positions following his engine change on Saturday.
Then again, both BARs are at the front, with both Jenson and Takuma eager to end the Brackley outfit's phenomenal season in style.
Yes, we really could be in for a thriller, and unlike TV broadcasters, we at Pitpass are not given to hyperbole.
With five minutes before the cars leave the grid for the warm-up lap, it's still raining, while the ambient temperature is 24 degrees C, while the track temperature is 27 degrees.
Gianmaria Bruni is starting from the pit.
The rain appears to have eased, but of course, the track is still wet. Consequently a number of drivers have opted to start on intermediates, which will favour the Michelin runners. Several drivers, including Coulthard and Villeneuve are on dry tyres.
The cars head off on the parade lap. At the end of the lap, Baumgartner pulls into the pits.
Great starts by Barrichello, Raikkonen and Massa, as Montoya fluffs it. Coming out of Turn 3 Raikkonen makes short work of the Ferrari to take the lead, while Button passes Massa for third.
At the end of the first lap, its Raikkonen from Barrichello, Button, Massa, Montoya, Sato, Ralf and Trulli. Michael Schumacher is up to tenth.
Montoya is the fastest man on track, as Fisichella goes off.
Massa is having a tremendous battle with Button as Montoya takes advantage and moves up to third. Meanwhile Michael and Klien tangle, and the German spins.
At the end of lap 3, Barrichello re-takes the lead as they approach the first corner. Montoya is running third ahead of Massa, while Button is dropping back through the field, the Englishman clearly suffering an engine problem. Sadly, it's terminal, his race ends.
Montoya closes in on Raikkonen, as Massa sets a new fastest lap. Elsewhere, Coulthard and Villeneuve are fighting for last place - on their dry tyres.
Ralf is the first driver to pit - lap 4 - as Michael takes twelfth.
At the end of lap 5, Raikkonen, Montoya, Sato, Trulli and Michael all pit.
Barrichello now leads Massa by 5s, as Alonso sets a new fastest lap (1:17.692).
At the end of lap 6, Barrichello pits, which promotes Massa into the lead. Alonso is now running third, he's setting an unbelievable pace.
At the end of lap 7, Massa pits, which leaves Alonso leading. The Spaniard heads Montoya, Raikkonen, Heidfeld, Ralf and Fisichella.
Alonso is setting a blistering pace, his gamble, running on dry tyres, is certainly paying off.
That said, Montoya sets a new fastest lap (1:13.727), though he's running almost 8s behind the Renault driver, who hits back with a 1:13.317.
At the end of lap 9, Alonso leads Montoya, who is ahead of Raikkonen, Ralf, Sato, Barrichello, Villeneuve, Massa, Coulthard and Michael.
A 1:12.922 for Alonso, as Coulthard firmly shuts the door on the world champion, as they battle for eighth.
Alonso now leads Montoya by 8.4s, while Raikkonen is just 1.5s behind the Colombian. Sato is all over Ralf Schumacher, who is running fourth.
Coulthard goes quickest, the Scot posting 1:12.752, as he extends his lead over Michael Schumacher to 2.5s.
Montoya now goes quickest as he closes to within 6.9s of Alonso. Raikkonen is a further 2.1s down the road. Massa, whose race appears to have fallen apart, is now running tenth.
At the end of lap 14, Coulthard pits, which releases Schumacher, who is now 5s behind Villeneuve.
Montoya posts 1:12.541, while Barrichello and Michael Schumacher are still posting best times in various sectors. The Brazilian is currently sixth.
Alonso, who has yet to stop, still leads Montoya (6.5s), with Raikkonen third, ahead of Ralf, Sato, Barrichello, Villeneuve, Michael, Massa and Zonta.
On lap 18, the yellow flags come out as Nick Heidfeld spins off, his race over. Meanwhile, Barrichello posts a new lap record, 1:12.423.
At the end of lap 18, Alonso finally pits, Montoya responds by posting a new fastest lap (1:12.242).
Montoya now leads Raikkonen by 3.6s, with Ralf a further 5.4s down the road. Sato is fourth ahead of Barrichello and Alonso. As Barrichello posts a new fastest lap (1:11.986), Villeneuve makes his first stop of the day.
The big battle at present - other than Raikkonen's pursuit of Montoya - is the three-way fight for ninth, involving Zonta, Trulli, Klien and Webber.
Ralf Schumacher posts a new lap record, but this is immediately eclipsed by Barrichello, who is now 2.6s behind Sato. Elsewhere, Michael Schumacher is now 1.2s behind Alonso.
A desperate, disappointing end for Jaguar as Webber and Klien collide at Turn 1, the Australian's race is over, while his teammate returns to the pits. The Austrian gets a new nose and returns to the race.
After 25 laps, Montoya now leads Raikkonen by 4.7s, with Ralf a further 4.9s behind. Meanwhile, Michael is all over Alonso, the Renault and Ferrari drivers scrapping hard for sixth.
Next time around, Ralf pits, promoting Sato to third and Barrichello to fourth.
At the end of lap 27, Sat and Barrichello both pit, promoting Alonso to third and Michael to fourth.
Next time around, it's race leader Montoya that pits, which means that Raikkonen now leads. Michael Schumacher also pits.
Raikkonen goes quickest in the second sector, the Finn trying to make the most of a clear track. At the end of the lap (29) he pits.
Of the leading group, only Alonso has yet to make a second stop.
Race leader Montoya sets a new fastest lap (1:11.644), as he extends his lead over Raikkonen to 6.4s. Alonso is third - a further 6.4s behind - with Ralf fourth, ahead of Sato, Barrichello, Massa, Fisichella and Michael Schumacher.
Two great scraps now, as Ralf pursues Alonso, and Barrichello chases Sato. At the entry to Turn 1, the Japanese driver gets it wrong, the Ferrari driver is through, to take fifth.
It's now raining again, though only lightly, which probably explains why Sato got it wrong. Elsewhere, Massa pits.
Montoya lost 2s on lap 33, therefore Raikkonen is able to close to within 5s of the Colombian.
At the end of lap 34, Fisichella (7) pits, as does Glock (15).
At half-distance, Montoya leads Raikkonen by 5.2s, with Alonso a further 11s down the road. Ralf is fourth, ahead of Barrichello, Sato, Michael, Villeneuve, Coulthard and Massa. Ralf is all over the Spaniard, while DC is closing in on Villeneuve.
The rain has eased right off, as a result the leaders are lapping in the low 1:12s.
Michael Schumacher posts a personal fastest lap (1:11.924), as he closes to within 5.5s of Sato, who is running in the low 1:13s.
At the end of lap 41, Coulthard (11) pits, he is 'serviced' by the Woking boys for the last time after a 150 Grands Prix partnership.
Michael Schumacher is now 3.6s behind Sato, who is 9.2s behind Barrichello.
Out front, Juan Pablo is driving a masterful race. On his day he can be magnificent, and at this point it does look as though this is indeed 'his day'.
Alonso (3), Ralf and Barrichello are now covered by 2.5s, as Michael goes quickest in sector one.
Jarno Trulli pits at the end of lap 46, Toyota having a very quiet day. Next time around, Villeneuve makes his final stop of the day.
At the end of lap 47, Alonso finally makes his second stop, which promotes Sato and Michael to fifth and sixth.
Next time around, Ralf pits, as does Baumgartner. Meanwhile Montoya posts a new fastest lap, 1:11.473. The Colombian pushing himself, and his car, to the limit.
Barrichello pits at the end of lap 49, while one lap later its race-leader Montoya that stops, as do Michael and Zonta.
With 51 lap[s completed, Raikkonen leads Montoya by 16.9s, though the Finn still has to make his final stop.
The McLaren driver posts a personal best (1:11.562), as he extends his lead over Montoya to 18.1s. Elsewhere, Ralf and Alonso are having a terrific scrap for fifth, passing and re-passing one another.
Raikkonen stays out, he's lapping around 0.7s faster than Montoya, he now leads the WilliamsF1 driver by 18.8s.
As Alonso and Ralf continue their battle, Michael closes in.
At the end of lap 54, Sato (3) pits, while Raikkonen stays out.
At the end of lap 55, Raikkonen finally pits. 6.8s later he's heading down the pitlane, he exits behind Montoya.
As they cross the line, the Colombian and the Finn are separated by 1.4s, with Barrichello a further 20.4s behind. Alonso is running fourth, but with Sato, Ralf and Michael all in hot pursuit - indeed they're covered by 1.4s.
Raikkonen closes to within 1.1s of Montoya, the Finn hasn't given up, and as a result we could be in for a barnstorming finish.
Further back, Massa and his Sauber teammate are slugging it out for eighth, last of the points-earning positions.
Raikkonen takes another 0.6s out of Montoya's lead, they're now separated by half-a-second.
Montoya is in no mood to surrender however, the Colombian hits back, extending his lead to almost a second.
AS Raikkonen continues his pursuit of 2005 teammate Montoya, Barrichello settles for third, and Alonso continues to receive attention from Sato, Ralf and Michael. The Ferrari driver tucks in behind his brother, makes his move, but is unable to make it stick.
Montoya maintains a lead of 1s over his Finnish rival, however the McLaren driver hasn't given up.
Despite the pressure, Alonso refuses to capitulate, much to the frustration of Sato, and indeed the Schumachers.
Raikkonen now closes to within 0.6s of the race-leader, it's not over yet. That said, he makes a mistake, going very wide, giving Montoya precious breathing space.
As they begin the final lap, Montoya leads by 1.3s, has the Finn got a surprise up his sleeve?
Elsewhere, Ralf passes Sato, to take fifth, proof that it's never over until it's over.
Montoya takes the flag, a fitting end to his career with BMW WilliamsF1, the team that brought him into F1, and a fitting way to throw down the gauntlet to his new teammate, Kimi Raikkonen.
After all the promise, once again, Rubens Barrichello goes home (relatively) empty handed, finishing a distant third.
Alonso takes fourth, as Renault loses out on the runner-up spot in the constructors' championship, but takes a small amount of comfort as it at least closes the gap to the Brackley outfit.
Ralf Schumacher, who like Montoya is leaving Grove, takes fifth, after holding off his brother and still managing to pass Sato in the final stages, while Ralf Schumacher finishes a disappointing seventh.
We now face a long winter in which Formula One could change forever, and it's in now certain that the ten teams we saw in action today, will line up on the grid in Melbourne.
However, today we saw that F1 still has the ability to throw up surprises, which is why we all persevere with it.
A great result for Juan Pablo, WilliamF1 and indeed F1.