09/10/2005
NEWS STORY
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Not for the first time this season, we begin by saying that we are looking forward to what should be a great race. Sadly, all too often, the big race didn't live up to expectations, somehow we think that today it will.
Thanks to the weather on Saturday, we have a grid which sees four of the best drivers in the world start from the very back. Meanwhile, up front, there are a couple of highly talented drivers who could make a little bit of history this afternoon, we refer to Ralf Schumacher and Jenson Button, both of whom drive for Japanese teams that would dearly love to take that long-awaited maiden win on home ground.
However, having got things uncannily accurate for qualifying, the weathermen appear to have got it wrong today. Whereas they had predicted a 60 percent chance of rain, we have sunshine, with just a few clouds. The air temperature is 27 degrees C, while the track temperature is 36 degrees.
The cars head off on the warm-up lap, though Jarno Trulli starts from the pitlane. Teammate Ralf Schumacher leads the field on what appears to be a very slow parade lap. His brother Michael is really generating heat into the Bridgestones on his Ferrari.
Ralf makes a superb start, as does Coulthard, while Fisichella slots into second. However, further back Sato has had a little off as does Barrichello, both are able to continue however. Meanwhile Alonso makes up around nine places.
At the end of the first lap Montoya goes off, the back of his McLaren absolutely destroyed, he appeared to have a 'clash' with Villeneuve, having been forced very wide. Clearly, having spent so much of the weekends running on wet tyres and intermediates, the cars are not set up for these conditions, and drivers are struggling for grip.
The safety car is brought out, and Barrichello immediately pits, next time around, Sato also pits.
Ralf, Fisi, Button, Coulthard, Webber, Klien, Michael Schumacher and Alonso.
The cars continue behind the safety car as Montoya's car is removed from the track, behind it the drivers work frantically to generate heat into their tyres.
As the safety car prepares to pull off, Barrichello pits again. On track the two Renaults are second and eighth, which bodes well for the Constructors' Championship, especially in light of Montoya's crash.
After 7 laps, the race is back on and Ralf maintains his lead as Michael passes Klien to take sixth. Raikkonen is running twelfth, behind Villeneuve, Pizzonia and Massa.
In his efforts to pass Klien, Alonso cuts the chicane, but allows the Austrian through… moments later however, he nails him on the pit straight.
Ralf leads Fisichella by 1.7s, with Button a further 1.8s behind. All eyes are on the cars running in sixth and seventh however, Michael and Alonso. Raikkonen is now up to tenth.
Another disappointing outing for Pizzonia, who spins off at Degner and gets stuck in the gravel. Meanwhile, Alonso is all over Michael, however, the Renault slows, seemingly with a technical problem.
Jarno Trulli has stopped on track, the Italian having had a coming together with Sato. This is the second incident the Japanese driver has had, but somehow his car is able to continue.
It would appear that Alonso does not have a problem, but instead was told by his team to allow Klien back through after the previous error at the chicane.
Alonso re-takes Klien, but he's now several seconds down on Michael Schumacher.
At the end of lap 13, Ralf pits, which tells us his strategy - that was an early stop, Renault must be feeling confident. The German returns to the track in ninth.
Fisichella leads Button by 3.5s with Coulthard third, ahead of Webber, Michael, Alonso and Raikkonen. This is really shaping up.
The stewards announce that they are to investigate the incident involving Montoya and Villeneuve.
Alonso is back on Michael's tail, while Raikkonen watches the battle, just 3s behind them, ready to benefit should it all go wrong. The Finn posts a new fastest lap (1:32.084).
The three run as one, this is what F1 has been waiting for - the race of 'champions'. Out front, Fisichella leads Button by 4s.
The Spaniard pushes the Ferrari driver hard, but Michael is a wily old fox and is having none of it. Raikkonen watches and waits. Elsewhere, Monteiro pits.
At the end of lap 20, Fisichella pits, as his teammate takes Michael around the outside at 130R, absolutely unbelievable, brilliant driving by both drivers. Now Kimi closes in on the German.
Once past, Alonso heads off into the distance, as Michael is left to deal with Raikkonen. The Spaniard posts a new fastest lap (1:31.599), a new lap record, and way quicker than anyone else here this afternoon.
Fisichella has re-joined in seventh, which means that Button leads from Coulthard, Webber and Alonso.
At the end of lap 22, both Button and Alonso pit, the British driver having a long stop as a result of a problem with the fuel filler. Klien also pits.
Therefore, Coulthard leads from Webber, with Michael third, ahead of Raikkonen.
Next time around, Coulthard and Webber both pit, Michael Schumacher leads. Somehow, Webber has got ahead of Coulthard in the pits.
24 laps completed, and it's Michael, Raikkonen, Fisichella, Ralf, Button, Webber, Coulthard, Villeneuve, Massa and Alonso. The Spaniard appears to have lost a lot of ground.
At the end of lap 25, both Michael and Kimi pit. Although the Finn's stop is one second less than the German's, the Ferrari is first back on track.
Other than Villeneuve (eighth) the top ten have all pitted.
Giancarlo Fisichella leads Ralf Schumacher by 4.5s, as Villeneuve pits. Button is third, 6.4s behind the Toyota, with Webber fourth, ahead of Michael, Raikkonen, Coulthard, Alonso, Villeneuve and Klien.
At the end of lap 28 Ralf pits again.
Kimi Raikkonen finally gets past Michael, as Alonso lines up to make his move on the Ferrari, having made short work of Coulthard.
Fernando attempts to pass the Ferrari on the main straight - where Kimi got through on the previous lap - but the German is having none of it.
As Raikkonen heads off into the distance, Alonso tries every trick in the book as he attempts to get past the Ferrari and set off after the Finn.
Out front (lap 31), Fisichella enjoys a 14.7s lead over Button, who has Mark Webber filling his mirrors. A great drive from the Australian.
Alonso pushes Michael at the chicane, forcing the German to lock up, however, he hold position. That said, the Renault driver is so close, passing the Ferrari on the main straight is a mere formality. The new World Champion sets off after Raikkonen, the fight for the Constructors' Championship, not to mention the Japanese Grand Prix, is definitely.
Raikkonen has closed right up on the Button/Webber battle, the Finn clearly eager to get by and set off after Fisichella.
With 35 laps completed, Fisichella leads Button by 17.2s, the British driver running as one with Webber and Raikkonen. Alonso is 2.7s behind the Finn and 6.4s ahead of Michael.
There's drama in the pits as Albers' Minardi catches fire. The Dutch driver gets out of the car, and appears to be fine. The crew works on his car, seemingly prepared to send him out again.
At the end of lap 36, Alonso pits, rejoining in eighth position, behind Ralf Schumacher.
Raikkonen still hasn't got past Webber, or indeed Button, which is doing McLaren's cause no good whatsoever.
Albers is indeed back on track in the barbecued Minardi.
At the end of lap 38, Fisichella pits, rejoining in fourth, behind Button, Webber and Raikkonen. The three leaders are covered by 1.1s.
Button leads, however, at the end of lap 41 he pits, hoping that there won't be a repeat of the previous debacle, which cost him vital seconds. Webber also pits. The Australian's pit stop is just 0.5s quicker, but it's enough, he leads the BAR driver back on track… one can't help but feel that the WilliamsF1 crew will feel a warm glow of satisfaction as a result.
Raikkonen leads, but still has to stop. The Finn posts a personal best (31.989) as Michael pits.
After 43 laps, Raikkonen leads Fisichella by 8.7s, with Coulthard third, a further 7.4s behind. Ralf is fourth ahead of Webber, Alonso and Button.
As Coulthard and Ralf pit - the German's third of the day - Kimi posts a new fastest lap (1:31.540).
At the end of lap 44, Kimi pits, as Fisichella falls 10.7s behind. The Finn is stationary for just 4.7s, a true splash 'n' dash, which allows him to rejoin in second.
Therefore, Fisichella leads Raikkonen by 5.4s, with Webber a further 11s behind. Alonso is now fourth, ahead of Button, Coulthard, Michael, Ralf, Klien and Massa.
Fisichella has this race in his hands, however he needs to up his pace, because Kimi is a man on a mission. He takes over s second out of the Italian's lead.
The Renault crew orders its driver to pull out all the stops, it needs the victory. Meanwhile, Alonso is all over Webber but cannot get by.
Finally the Spaniard makes a stunningly brave move at the end of the main straight, actually taking to the grass, the Australian can only watch and wonder what happened.
With just four laps remaining, Fisichella leads Raikkonen by 1.8s, the Italian doesn't seem to have the wherewithal to prevent the inevitable.
An errant Minardi almost causes Fisichella to trip up at the approach to 130R, which allows Raikkonen to close right up. There is now just 0.5s between them.
There is nothing that Alonso can do, it's all down to 'Fisico'.
The Finn makes a move at the end of the main straight, but Fisichella is well aware, and closes the door.
The Italian slightly fluffs it at the chicane, which allows Kimi to close right up. All down the main straight he pushes the Renault, finally making his move at the approach to the first corner, a job done superbly well. The Finn leads with just one lap remaining.
Raikkonen takes the chequered flag, much to the delight of the McLaren crew, however, on the pit-wall Flavio Briatore is clearly furious and storms off down the pitlane. One has to wonder whether today's performance might begin some fresh movement in the driver market. Perhaps there was a good reason, but from here, Fisichella simply didn't seem to have the wherewithal to stop Raikkonen, and as a result the championship may have been lost.
Full kudos to Raikkonen, who thoroughly deserved today's result, having given a master-class in the best tradition of 'never say die'. However, a great performance also from Fernando Alonso, who showed today the drive and bravery that has excited us for so long.
Away from the track there is much political wrangling over the future of the sport, much of it involving money. However, this is what the fans want to see, this is what has people sitting on the edges of their seats.
A great race with some phenomenal performances. Other than Kimi and Fernando, who were both superb, Webber, Button and Coulthard also gave strong performances, as did Michael. In all honesty, one couldn't have scripted it much better than this.
The Drivers' Championship was settled in Brazil, but the Constructors' Championship goes all the way to China, with Renault now enjoying the two-point advantage.
Despite the talk from Honda this week, Takuma Sato did himself no favours, having been involved in two incidents, causing Jarno Trulli to brand him "a very dangerous person" and warning that the Grand Prix Drivers' Association must take action.
However, let's not dwell on the negatives, this has been a great day for F1, and providing the manufacturers, teams, Bernie and Max can get things sorted, the sport, and its fans, can look forward to a glorious future.
To paraphrase Oliver Twist… "may we have some more, please?"