03/07/2005
NEWS STORY
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According to who you believe, the political fallout from Indianapolis continues, but (hopefully) we can now put that aside for ninety minutes and focus on what Formula One should be about, racing.
Fernando Alonso starts from pole position for the third time this season, on both previous occasions - Malaysia and Bahrain - he converted this into a win.
Starting alongside him is former teammate, and good friend, Jarno Trulli, who, following a mistake at the final chicane here in 2004, found his relationship with Renault beginning to fall apart.
Kimi Raikkonen should have been starting from the second row, however an engine failure on Friday means that the Finn is demoted ten places and will now start alongside Nick Heidfeld on the seventh row. That said, it would who would bet against the McLaren driver being on the podium later this afternoon.
Thanks to the Indianapolis debacle, Michael Schumacher is now in a serious championship contender, albeit 25 points behind Alonso. Scenting a possible eighth title, the German is sure to move up a gear in the coming weeks, providing Ferrari and Bridgestone are up to the job.
Then again, Sato, Fisichella, Button and Montoya all looked good in yesterday's qualifying session. The only real disappointments being the two WilliamsF1 cars.
As ever, strategy is also the key.
Qualifying was exceedingly tight, with the top nine covered by less than a second. Although (driver) opinion regarding Magny Cours is mixed, unlike some tracks on the calendar, the track does offer a couple of genuine overtaking possibilities, it's only a pity that we don't have some rain - or the threat of it - to add to the mix.
Talking of weather, there is hardly a cloud in the sky, and the grid assemble under clear blue skies, with the air temperature at 33 degrees C, and the track temperature 51 degrees C.
The cars head off on the warm-up lap for the first of four races this month, as F1 looks begins the most intensive race schedule in its fifty-six year history.
They're away, and Alonso makes an excellent start, as do Trulli and Schumacher. Sato makes a poor start, while both Red Bulls and Montoya gain positions.
At the end of the first lap, Alonso leads Trulli by 1.4s, with Michael third ahead of Barrichello, Sato, Fisichella, Montoya, Button and Massa. Meanwhile, Raikkonen is all over Villeneuve, who is running tenth.
Sadly, Klien is the first retirement of the day, the Red Bull driver pulling off on the second lap.
Alonso posts a fastest lap (17.056) as he extends his lead to 2.8s, as Raikkonen takes tenth from Villeneuve and sets off after Massa. Behind Trulli, the next thirteen cars are running nose-to-tail.
Another driver who had a good start is Albers, who has made up two places and is all over Karthikeyan.
Another fastest lap for Alonso (16.551) as he enjoys an advantage of 5.5s over Trulli. The Italian is under close scrutiny from Schumacher, who is now 1.4s ahead of Barrichello. Sato is fourth, ahead of Fisichella, Montoya, Button, Massa and Raikkonen.
With 6 laps completed, Alonso continues to pull away from Trulli, who is struggling to hold off Schumacher. Elsewhere, Coulthard is all over Heidfeld, who is running fourteenth, behind teammate Webber.
It's clear that, not for the first time, Trulli is holding up the opposition, which is to Alonso's advantage. Schumacher is clearly quicker than the Toyota driver, but is unable to find a away past.
The order remains the same, as Raikkonen falls to 1.6 behind Massa, as he prepares for the next attack.
After 9 laps, Alonso enjoys a 12.9s lead over Trulli, he's lapping 1.5s a lap quicker than the Toyota driver. Schumacher has to find a way past.
As Trulli continues in second place, teammate Ralf Schumacher is running in twelfth, 1.8s behind Villeneuve. Barrichello is 1.5s behind Schumacher, under threat from Sato.
With 13 (rather tedious) laps completed, Alonso leads Trulli by 18.9s, with Schumacher a further 0.6s down the road. The rest of the field holds position, clearly awaiting the first round of pitstops.
Patrick Friesacher is the first driver to pit, the Minardi driver stopping at the end of lap 13.
At the end of lap 14, Sato pits, as do Massa and Ralf Schumacher. Meanwhile, Alonso goes quickest in the first sector.
With Sato out of the way, Fisichella closes in on Barrichello, the Italian under pressure from Montoya.
At the end of lap 17, Barrichello pits, as Alonso enjoys a 24.6s lead, that's enough for a pit stop. The Spaniard is setting an awesome pace, especially considering his (obvious) fuel load, although he is greatly assisted by Trulli's 'mobile chicane'.
At the end of lap 18, Schumacher pits as does Trulli, they re-join the action with the German ahead of the Toyota driver. Heidfeld also pits.
At the end of lap 19, Fisichella pits, as do Button and Villeneuve, back on track, Alonso enjoys a 30s advantage.
Next time around the race leader stops, as Raikkonen moves up to third behind teammate Montoya, though both have yet to stop.
Although the McLarens have yet to stop, after 20 laps it's Alonso from Montoya, Raikkonen, Michael, Trulli, Barrichello, Sato, Button, Coulthard and Fisichella - though the Scot has yet to stop. That said, he stops at the end of lap 21, though he nearly collides with Heidfeld as he leaves the pits.
There's a bit of a mix up at the hairpin, which sees Sato take sixth from Barrichello, who runs wide.
The McLaren drivers up their pace, running 3.2s apart, as Michael Schumacher matches Alonso's pace, proving that he was being held up by Trulli.
Kimi Raikkonen posts a new fastest lap (1:16.434), as he closes to within 3s of his teammate, who is 8.3s behind Alonso.
At the end of lap 25, Montoya pits, as Raikkonen posts another fastest lap (16.423). Elsewhere, Trulli and Sato are enjoying the mother of all battles for fifth.
Montoya has rejoined ahead of Michael Schumacher, though he only enjoys an 0.8s advantage.
Sato gets it all wrong at the hairpin and loses out to Trulli, Barrichello, Button and Fisichella.
At the end of lap 28, Raikkonen finally pits, clear proof of how excellent his qualifying lap really was. He rejoins ahead of Montoya and Michael.
Therefore, with the first round of stops out of the way, the order is: Alonso, Raikkonen, Montoya, Michael, Trulli, Barrichello, Button, Fisichella, Sato and Villeneuve. The two WilliamsF1s are running twelfth and thirteenth, behind Ralf.
Out front, Alonso enjoys a 29s lead, which is more than enough for another pit stop. Furthermore, he's now lapping around 0.5s a lap quicker than Raikkonen. Elsewhere, Webber has made his second stop, while Massa has retired, reason unknown.
As the field settles down, this is going to be about strategy, good pit stops and tyre wear. There is a long way to go, and one cannot help but feel that we are in for some surprises in the closing laps.
Meanwhile, Mark Webber has stopped out on track, as WilliamsF1's miserable Magny Cours weekend continues.
At the end of lap 34, Michael Schumacher stops, it seems very early, and not a lot of fuel goes in. Is this a change of strategy for Ferrari? Sato also pits, as does Monteiro.
Massa is back on track, the Sauber crew clearly having sorted out whatever problem he had. Furthermore, Webber also appears to be back on the race, though Friesacher is a definite retirement.
At the end of lap 39, Alonso leads Raikkonen by 33.8s, with Montoya a further 3.4s down the road. Michael is fourth, 22.3s behind the Colombian, ahead of Trulli, Barrichello, Button and Fisichella.
At the end of lap 40, Barrichello pits, as Christijan Albers goes off into the gravel. Both Minardis out within a couple of laps of one another.
At the end of the next lap, Alonso pits, 7.6s later he's back on track, still leading. On the pit wall Flavio Briatore allows himself a satisfied smile.
Coulthard makes his second stop at the end of lap 43, as Michael Schumacher locks up 'big time'.
As Ralf Schumacher pits, Juan Pablo Montoya posts a very slow lap time (21.26), a problem for McLaren or Michelin? His next lap is 1:20.8, which seems to confirm that there is a problem, but what? Elsewhere, Giancarlo Fisichella pits.
At the end of lap 45, Trulli pits, as Montoya posts another 1:21.3, falling into the clutches of Michael Schumacher, who is now 4s behind. Another poor lap, and Schumacher is past to take third, as the Colombian clearly struggles.
As the McLaren crew prepares to receive him, Juan Pablo pulls off track, his afternoon's work at an end. It's his first retirement of the season.
Back on track, Alonso now leads Raikkonen by 14.2s with Michael 32s behind. Villeneuve is fourth - yes fourth! - ahead of Fisichella, Button and Trulli. However, the Canadian pits, as does Heidfeld. Next time around, the German pits again, more woe for WillliamsF1.
Another off for Takuma Sato as he is caught out by dust thrown up from someone up ahead. He loses two more positions.
Michael Schumacher makes his third stop of the day, rejoining just ahead of Fisichella, who is 11.9s ahead of Button.
As Nick Heidfeld struggles, Mark Webber makes his third stop of the afternoon.
With 54 laps completed, Alonso leads Raikkonen by 12.5s, with Michael almost a minute down the road. Fisichella is all over the German, with Button 12.1s behind.
Next time around Kimi Raikkonen pits, as does Barrichello.
At the end of lap 57, Sato pits, his third stop of the afternoon. Next time around, race leader Alonso makes his final stop. Heidfeld makes his sixth stop of the day.
Fisichella makes his final stop, which eases the pressure on Michael Schumacher, who appears to be struggling for grip. It's a disaster for Fisichella however, as the car stalls, costing him vital seconds and a possible podium place.
Schumacher is now lapping in the 1:21s, as Jenson Button closes to within 11s. Trulli is fifth, ahead of Fisichella, Ralf, Villeneuve, Barrichello and Coulthard.
Michael posts a 19.2, but Button posts a 19.5, they are caught up in traffic.
Out front however, it's plain sailing for Alonso who leads Kimi by 18.2s. Further back - and it's hard to believe this, but Heidfeld's WilliamsF1 is under serious threat from the Jordan of Karthikeyan as they battle for fourteenth.
It appears that Michael doesn't have a problem, for though he is clearly slower than Alonso and Raikkonen, so too are Button and Trulli. Meanwhile, Alonso is lapping around 0.5s quicker than Raikkonen.
Unbelievably, Webber and Heidfeld are both lapping in the 1:24s, while Monteiro is lapping in the 1:21s.
It's a Magny Cours master-class for Fernando Alonso as he takes his fifth win of the season, and another step towards (historic) World Championship glory. A mighty performance from the youngster and indeed Renault.
Sadly, due to his engine failure on Friday, which resulted in the loss of ten grid spots, we didn't get to see Kimi take on his championship rival in the way we wanted. However, that doesn't detract from an equally impressive performance from the young Finn, who gave a typically determined performance.
Michael Schumacher shares the podium, but in all honesty the Ferrari was no match for the Renault or McLaren, and, considering its performance in qualifying, was extremely disappointing.
That said, in much the same way as the grid penalty prevented us seeing what Kimi could really do, the fact that he spent so many of the opening laps behind the (clearly slower) Toyota of Jarno Trulli meant that we were deprived of witnessing a typical Schumacher fight back. That said, a deficit of well over a minute speaks volumes.
Jenson Button will be delighted to finally score some points which (hopefully) he will get to keep, while Jarno Trulli will surely be disappointed with fifth. Yet more bad luck for Fisichella, while, once again, it would have been easy to forget that Ralf was actually out there.
Jacques Villeneuve takes the final point of the day, the Canadian delivering a solid workmanlike performance.
With seven days to go before the British Grand Prix, there is much work to be done, and Red Bull and WilliamsF1 are sure to be kept very, very busy.
Hardly a classic F1 race, but awesome performances from Fernando and Kimi, and a whole lot better than what we witnessed two weeks ago.