30/07/2006
NEWS STORY
Team McLaren Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen finished third in today's 67-lap Mobil 1 German Grand Prix. Pedro de la Rosa retired on the third lap with a mechanical fuel pump failure. Kimi was on a three-stop strategy which saw him pit on laps 10 (15.2 seconds), 28 (7.2 seconds) and 55 (6.6 seconds). Kimi is fifth in the Drivers' Championship with 49 points and Pedro is 16th with two. Juan Pablo Montoya remains sixth with 26 points, and Team McLaren Mercedes is third in the Constructors' standings with 77 points. The Team moves directly on to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring next weekend.
Kimi Raikkonen: "To be on the podium is really the best result that we could have achieved today as we have had several problems. During the race I was delayed in my first pit-stop due to a crossed wheel nut; I suffered from blistering on my second set of tyres, and there was a small issue with the hydraulics, which meant that Jenson Button was able to get ahead after my first stop. However none of these really mattered as we were able to make up all the time in the last part of the race where we were very strong. The result today shows that the car has definitely improved, and hopefully next race we can do even better."
Pedro de la Rosa: "It is a real shame that my race ended so quickly, especially after I had such a good start and had moved up two places. The car felt really quick and was easy to drive. I was catching the Renault's when all of a sudden I lost power and had to pull up, as a result of a failed fuel pump. Although I am disappointed these things happen, and I am now just looking forward to the race next weekend in Hungary where hopefully we can better demonstrate the improved competitiveness of the car."
Ron Dennis: "An outstanding race by Kimi, and I am exceedingly pleased for the team because of the necessity to vary our strategy and the role this played in getting onto the podium. Our apologies to Pedro whose retirement was the result of a mechanical fuel pump failure, the cause of which will be analysed over the next few days. It is hard to be satisfied with this result, but it was the best we could do in the circumstances, and we now look forward to the next race where we hope our improved performance should continue."
Norbert Haug: "A good race result at the Mercedes-Benz home Grand Prix as the best Michelin car and a super job by Kimi. Taking into consideration that we had problems with a crossed wheel nut on the right rear tyre on his car during the first pit stop and a small hydraulic problem during the race we could not do any better against the combination of Bridgestone and Ferrari. The failure on Pedro's car was a shame. I am sure that he definitely was able to get into the top five."
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