DeTomaso Mailing List: April 2001, Message #15

-----Original Message-----

Subject: Brazil_F1GP_Day3

GALE FORCE F1 Report (http://www.galeforcef1.com)

Formula 1: Grand Prix of Brazil
------------------------------------------------------------
Day 3: Warm-Up & Race
------------------------------------------------------------

Warm-Up Session
---------------
Its a bright sunny day at the Interlagos Circuit in Brazil, its 9h30,
the air is at 24C and the track surface at 22C. The 30 minutes Warm-Up
sessin for the Grand Prix of Brazil is just starting:

R.Schumacher was nearly disqualified yesterday when it was suspected
that the fuel he used in Qualifying had not been agreed by the FIA. Later
analysis showed the fuel was fine and he will start 2nd on the grid
as Qualified.

09:30:47: As the lights go green K.Raikkonen leads most of the field
out onto the circuit, just R.Barrichello and O.Panis left in the pits

09:31:14: R.Barrichello is on track

09:31:47: O.Panis is on track, the rest are returning to the pits

09:32:30: E.Irvine stays out on track

09:33:19: E.Irvine pits after 2 installation lap

09:34:10: N.Heidfeld, T.Marques, D.Coulthard and J.Trulli are back
on track

09:35:04: D.Coulthard is back in the pits again

09:36:31: J.Montoya sets the top S3 at 18.050s, N.Heidfeld sets the best
S1 at 19.855s, J.Montoya sets the top S1 at 19.651s

09:37:26: J.Montoya sets the first lap time of the day at 1m 18.521s-4L

09:38:51: J.Villeneuve takes 2nd at 1m 18.732s-4L. The top 6 are just 3
so far: J.Montoya, J.Villeneuve, F.Alonso

09:39:11: M.Hakkinen sets the top S1 at 19.515s

09:39:25: J.Villeneuve takes 1st at 1m 18.484s-5L

09:39:44: M.Hakkinen sets the top S2 at 39.816s

At 09:40 the top 6 are:
M.Hakkinen   1m 17.261s 4 laps
D.Coulthard  1m 17.475s 5 laps
J.Trulli     1m 17.784s 5 laps
H.Frentzen   1m 18.235s 4 laps
K.Raikkonen  1m 18.425s 4 laps
J.Villeneuve 1m 18.484s 5 laps

09:42:59: The top 6 are now: M.Hakkinen, D.Coulthard, R.Barrichello,
J.Trulli, H.Frentzen, J.Alesi

09:43:54: M.Schumacher sets the top S1 at 19.264s, O.Panis takes 3rd,
R.Barrichello takes 1st, D.Coulthard takes 2nd, R.Schumacher takes 4th

09:44:08: M.Schumacher takes 1st at 1m 16.371s-5L

09:44:33: The top 6 are now: M.Schumacher, R.Barrichello, D.Coulthard,
M.Hakkinen, R.Schumacher, O.Panis

09:45:30: M.Schumacher slides around turn 1

09:46:54: J.Montoya takes 9th from N.Heidfeld at 1m 17.964s-9L, just
R.Barrichello on track of the top 7

09:47:35: R.Schumacher (5th) is back on track

09:48:22: R.Barrichello improves his S1 to 19.265s and his S3 to 17.724s

09:48:47: M.Hakkinen and M.Schumacher are back on track

09:49:26: J.Montoya retakes 9th from H.Frentzen at 1m 17.838s-11L, he sets
his best S1 on the next lap at 19.333s

At 09:50 the top 6 are:
M.Schumacher  1m 16.371s 7 laps
R.Barrichello 1m 16.558s 8 laps
D.Coulthard   1m 16.901s 7 laps
M.Hakkinen    1m 17.224s 7 laps
R.Schumacher  1m 17.311s 7 laps
O.Panis       1m 17.566s 6 laps

09:52:36: M.Schumacher improves his 1st to 1m 16.188s-9L

09:52:51: K.Raikkonen takes 5th at 1m 17.213s-9L

09:53:22: The top 6 are now: M.Schumacher, R.Barrichello, M.Hakkinen,
D.Coulthard, K.Raikkonen, R.Schumacher

09:54:04: H.Frentzen takes 5th from K.Raikkonen at 1m 17.138s-12L

09:55:09: O.Panis takes 4th from D.Coulthard at 1m 16.711s-9L. J.Trulli
takes
2nd at 1m 16.449s-12L. The top 6 are: M.Schumacher, J.Trulli, R.Barrichello,
M.Hakkinen, O.Panis, D.Coulthard

09:55:55: F.Alonso spins off into the gravel and retires

09:56:20: R.Schumacher is 9th and J.Montoya 15th

09:56:41: O.Panis is 5th, J.Villeneuve 11th

09:56:58: K.Raikkonen is 8th N.Heidfeld 13th

09:57:18: G.Fisichella is 20th J.Button 22nd

09:57:58: J.Trulli is 2nd, H.Frentzen 7th

09:58:14: M.Schumacher sets the top S1 at 19.250s

09:58:32: All the top 11 are on track

09:59:15: 16 cars on track, M.Schumacher improves 1st to 1m 15.971s-13L,
R.Schumacher sets the top S1 at 19.215s

09:59:34: M.Hakkinen takes 2nd from J.Trulli at 1m 16.308s-15L

10:00:14: R.Schumacher takes 3rd at 1m 16.375s-13L, the top 6 are now:
M.Schumacher,
M.Hakkinen, R.Schumacher, J.Trulli, R.Barrichello, D.Coulthard

10:00:19: The flag is out

10:00:34: R.Barrichello takes 2nd at 1m 16.145s-13L

10:01:20: J.Montoya takes 8th at 1m 17.008s-16L

At 10:02 the top 6 are:
M.Schumacher  1m 15.971s 14 laps
R.Barrichello 1m 16.145s 13 laps
M.Hakkinen    1m 16.308s 16 laps
R.Schumacher  1m 16.375s 13 laps
J.Trulli      1m 16.449s 16 laps
D.Coulthard   1m 16.679s 15 laps

The best times in each track sector were:
S1: R.Schumacher - 19.215s
S2: M.Schumacher - 39.104s
S3: O.Panis - 17.543s

The best speeds in each sector were:
S1: E.Bernoldi - 307kph
S2: M.Schumacher - 250kph
S3: E.Bernoldi - 320kph


Session: Warm-Up
----------------
Weather:  Bright sunny, Air: 24C, Track: 22C

Track Times:
Pos Driver       Team      Time       To 1st Laps
 1 M.Schumacher  Ferrari  1m 15.971s          14
 2 R.Barrichello Ferrari  1m 16.145s  0.174s  13
 3 M.Hakkinen    McLaren  1m 16.308s  0.337s  16
 4 R.Schumacher  Williams 1m 16.375s  0.404s  13
 5 J.Trulli      Jordan   1m 16.449s  0.478s  16
 6 D.Coulthard   McLaren  1m 16.679s  0.708s  15
 7 O.Panis       BAR      1m 16.711s  0.740s  14
 8 J.Montoya     Williams 1m 17.008s  1.037s  16
 9 N.Heidfeld    Sauber   1m 17.135s  1.164s  17
10 H.Frentzen    Jordan   1m 17.138s  1.167s  15
11 K.Raikkonen   Sauber   1m 17.213s  1.242s  15
12 J.Villeneuve  BAR      1m 17.405s  1.434s  19
13 E.Irvine      Jaguar   1m 17.420s  1.449s  16
14 L.Burti       Jaguar   1m 17.674s  1.703s  13
15 G.Mazzacane   Prost    1m 17.681s  1.710s  14
16 J.Alesi       Prost    1m 17.728s  1.757s  13
17 F.Alonso      Minardi  1m 18.016s  2.045s  11
18 J.Verstappen  Arrows   1m 18.074s  2.103s  17
19 E.Bernoldi    Arrows   1m 18.460s  2.489s  15
20 G.Fisichella  Benetton 1m 18.773s  2.802s  12
21 T.Marques     Minardi  1m 19.126s  3.155s  12
22 J.Button      Benetton 1m 20.008s  4.037s   4

Race
----
The sun is shining at the Interlagos circuit in brazil, the air is at 30C
and the track surface at 36C. It 13h35 and the pit lane has been open for
5 minutes. In 10 minutes it will close and everyone should be sitting in
their cars on the grid.

Whats this? A Ferrari going backwards on the grass! The red car of local
hero Rubens Barrichello has suffered serious problems on its way from the
the pits to the grid. Rubens pulls off onto the grass only to find that
when he leaps out the supposedly stationary Ferrari rolls back down the
grass. He hangs onto it as marshals arrive to collect his troubled machine.
Just over 5 mintes left to join the grid and Rubens is running back to the
pits as mechanics convert the spare cars from the M.Schumacher configuration
to his. No easy task as Rubens brakes with his right foot and Michael with
his left.

With 30 seconds to spare Rubens leaves the pit lane in the spare car.

Its 2pm and the formation lap begins. Looks like trouble ahead for E.Irvine
as his mechanics are late leaving the grid when the Jaguar refuses to start.

Everyone makes it around and they line up for the start.

And what a start it is....

As the lights go out M.Schumacher charges for the first corner from pole,
R.Schumacher makes a terrible start from grid 2 and is 4 at the first
corner.
J.Montoya makes a great start from grid 4 and is second at the corner.
M.Hakkinen does not start at all from grid 3 and sits there waving his arms
as the rest stream by.

At the first corner its M.Schumacher, J.Montoya, D.Coulthard (from grid 5)
and J.Trulli (from grid 7).

The McLaren of M.Hakkinen is firmly stuck to the grid so the Safety Car
comes
on track as they end lap 1. One lap later and the McLaren is gone as is the
Safety Car - race on.

Now it seems no one told this new boy J.Montoya not to overtake Micheal when
he is leading. Not only does JPM pass Schummi on Turn 1 of lap 3 he also
knocks
the side of the Ferrari and nearly pushes Michalel onto the grass!

Local hero R.Barrichello has even less sucess when he bounces off the
Williams
of R.Schumacher and heads for the gravel on 3 wheels on lap 3. R.Schumacher
dives into the pits with no rear wing and returns to the circuit 5 minutes
later
and 4 laps behind the field.

By the end of lap 3 J.Montoya is leading M.Schumacher by 0.4s followed by
D.Coulthard, J.Trulli, H.Frentzen, J.Villeneuve and N.Heidfeld.

J.Montoya means business and by lap 22 he is 1.4s in front of the Ferrari.
D.Coulthard is 1.6s further back with O.Panis a massive 17s behind having
passed
J.Trulli who is now followed by team mate H.Frentzen.

M.Schumacher makes a tactical pit stop on lap 25 and drops down to 5th
between
the Jordan's.

O.Panis pits on 28 while in 3rd and rejoins in 8th.

By lap 38 J.Montoya is 5.7s in front of D.Coulthard, M.Schumacher is in 3rd
by
30s. Then disaster strikes - a speeding J.Verstappen slams into the back of
J.Montoya
sending both cars into the gravel. The only Williams left is now
R.Schumacher
running 4 laps behind the leaders.

On lap 44 D.Coulthard is leading M.Schumacher by just 0.9s when the rain
starts.
In the next few laps just about everyone pits for wet tyres.

D.Coulthard loses the lead when he pits on lap 47 then in a daring JPM move
he
takes it back from M.Schumacher at Turn 1 on lap 50.

By lap 51 D.Coulthard is leading M.Schumacher by 1.5s with H.Frentzen in 3rd
58s
further back after the field lost a great deal of time with the pits stops.
J.Trulli
is 4th followed by N.Heidfeld, K.Raikkonen, E.Irvine, J.Alesi and O.Panis.

E.Irvine loses it into the gravel on lap 53 and J.Alesi takes 6th for a few
laps
until he is passed by O.Panis.

By lap 60 D.Coulthard has pulled out 17s over M.Schumacher and H.Frentzen is
51s
further back in 3rd. J.Trulli is 4th followed by N.Heidfeld, O.Panis,
J.Alesi
and G.Fisichella.

N.Heidfeld passes J.Trulli and H.Frentzen retires with car problems.

The race ends with D.Coulthard winning, M.Schumacher in 2nd by 16s followed
by
N.Heidfeld, O.Panis, J.Trulli and G.Fisichella. Just 10 cars finish with
only
the first 2 on the lead lap. J.Button is the last car moving 7 laps behind
with
H.Frentzen being classified as 11th.

This win means D.Coulthard closes to within 6 points of M.Schumacher in the
championship with R.Barrichello in 3rd and N.Heidfeld 4th. In the
constructors
table McLaren are 15 points behind Ferrari with Sauber in 3rd 13 points
further
back.


Post Race Interview
-------------------
Interviewer: Congratulations gentlemen a fantastic race, David Coulthard
first,
Michael Schumacher second, and Nick Heidfeld a first visit to this top three
conference in third place. David, saw you jigging around on the podium
there,
it must have meant an awful lot for you this win, but talk me through the
move
you pulled on Michael going into that first corner.

D.Coulthard: Well it was in incredibly difficult conditions, when we were in
all that traffic, and to be honest, you could not see anything of the car in
front so you had to put a great deal of trust in the other drivers to still
keep
it flat I think Michael must have lifted through the left hand kink on to
the
straight and then it was quite straightforward to just slipstream past him.
And
you know we decided that this time with the changeable weather we
compromised
the set up with a bit for the dry to try and make sure I was in good shape
for
the damp, and although it was a bit of a struggle to stay with them at the
beginning
of the race, once it was damp the car was working very well so I have to say
a
big thank you to the team.

Interviewer: Now in the early half of the race before you made the move on
Michael
you were running third behind Juan Pablo Montoya and Michael, and stuck in
behind
them, what were your tactics going to be at that stage, did you know rain
was coming?

D.Coulthard: Praying for the rain because I knew that I had made some
changes to
the car with my engineer to help the car for the wet conditions and you know
we
were getting reports of increasing percentage chance of rain, and I just
didn't
want to be the one that caught out again on those conditions, I did not want
to
be the first to pit waiting for Michael to do that, but once I was out I was
obviously able to get past him quite easily and you know I think my engineer
Phil
and Mark and all the guys did a good job in setting up the car so it's very
satisfying
to win this race and I know that it was maybe slightly fortunate because
Montoya
was going very strong but I still think in the wet we would have been in
good shape.

Interviewer: Well congratulations David. Michael could you talk me through
the move
just after the restart when the safety-car came in after the end of lap 2
when Juan
Pablo Montoya made a move on you?

M.Schumacher: Pretty easy I mean he had quite a lot of straight line speed
in
comparison to us, the problem here is that you have a very long straight
from the
last corner to start and finish line so you have to give a lot of time
before the
safety car to go up front before you can really start to push and that means
you only
have this last corner and the guy is able to stay very close to you from
there, and
it is very easy then to take the slipstream and go in the first corner,
although I
thought I was in front enough to keep in front but then he must have braked
very late
and then he just got it right, I mean he pushed me wide in the exit which is
pretty
normal racing, we touched a bit but no problem with that and then I thought
I could
have another run at him at a later stage but I never got really in that
position.

Interviewer: Later in the race when the rain had come, you went out on
intermediates
as you did in rather different circumstances in Malaysia, last time out, but
then it
became clear that you were not able to make any gains on David, did it ever
cross your
mind to take the gamble and come in and fit dry tyres again, because you
had... Heinz
Harald Frentzen was an awfully long way behind you in that stage ?

M.Schumacher: No, there was no way to go with dry tyres, it was far too wet.

Interviewer: Okay, Michael thank you very much. Nick Heidfeld,
congratulations, your
first visit, third place for Sauber, an excellent performance, you were very
very fast
in the wet, getting past Jarno Trulli, was this because you guessed before
the race
that it was going to rain?

N.Heidfeld: No we went for normal dry set-up, but I think Jarno was on wet
tyres, I
am not sure but when I followed him it looked like he was on wet tyres,
because
earlier on when it was wet he passed me and later on I was quicker.

Interviewer: Then Heinz Harald Frentzen retired ahead of you and you were up
to third
place, what does it means to be up on the podium for the first time?

N.Heidfeld: I mean it's incredible for me and I am really happy for all of
the team
who put a lot of effort in it and to be honest I think I did'nt realise
right now
because for me now to be on the podium is really amazing.

Interviewer: Well congratulations, back to you David. Three races gone,
Michael leads
the championship on 26 points, you are now six behind on 20, and your team
mate
Mika Hakkinen has only 1, does this now change your position within the
team, do you
think they will put their full weight behind you for the San Marino Grand
Prix?

D.Coulthard: You know I really I think the team provide two identical cars
anyway so
I don't think that's an issue, and equally I think you count your
championship position
at the end of the season not at the beginning, so there is a long way to go,
a lot of
work to be done but I am just delighted I was able to get my tenth victory
here, it's
my sister's birthday, so she asked me for a win for her birthday so that's
the best
present I could give her so I am really overjoyed you know this is
definitely the best
feeling I've had in a Grand Prix victory.

Interviewer: Thank you very much.


Session: Race
-------------
Weather:  Bright sunny then rain, Air: 30C, Track: 36C

Track Times:
Pos Driver       Team        Race Time
 1 D.Coulthard   McLaren  1hr 39m 00.834s : 71 laps
                                          : 31 laps 1st
                                          : 2 pit stops
(36.1s-L40,33.0s-L47)
 2 M.Schumacher  Ferrari         +16.164s : Pole Position
                                          : 4 laps 1st
                                          : 2 pit stops
(35.0s-L25,35.0s-L46)
 3 N.Heidfeld    Sauber   Laps behind:  1 : 2 pit stops
(39.4s-L38,40.4s-L45)
 4 O.Panis       BAR      Laps behind:  1 : 2 pit stops
(35.1s-L28,107.3s-L45)
 5 J.Trulli      Jordan   Laps behind:  1 : 2 pit stops
(38.5s-L44,48.6s-L45)
 6 G.Fisichella  Benetton Laps behind:  1 : 2 pit stops
(38.5s-L42,37.5s-L44)
 7 J.Villeneuve  BAR      Laps behind:  1 : 3 pit stops
(39.0s-L12,38.5s-L42,77.4s-L44)
 8 J.Alesi       Prost    Laps behind:  1 : 2 pit stops
(50.0s-L24,38.7s-L44)
 9 T.Marques     Minardi  Laps behind:  3 : 2 pit stops
(38.9s-L38,37.7s-L44)
10 J.Button      Benetton Laps behind:  7 : 2 pit stops
(402.4s-L28,38.0s-L39)
11 H.Frentzen    Jordan   Laps behind:  8 : 2 pit stops
(36.3s-L43,42.1s-L45)
                                          : Retires: Car problem

Race Retirements
----------------
K.Raikkonen   Sauber      Laps behind: 16 : 2 pit stops
(37.4s-L37,35.2s-L46)
                                          : Retires: Spun off in rain
R.Schumacher  Williams    Laps behind: 17 : Race Fastest lap 1m 15.692s
                                          : 4 pit stops
(314.1s-L3,38.1s-L41,42.2s-L42,52.7s-L48)
                                          : Retires: Spun off in rain
G.Mazzacane   Prost       Laps behind: 17 : 2 pit stops
(37.6s-L25,38.6s-L45)
E.Irvine      Jaguar      Laps behind: 19 : 2 pit stops (36.4s-L6,39.4s-L46)
                                          : Retires: Spun off in rain
J.Montoya     Williams    Laps behind: 33 : 36 laps 1st
                                          : Retires: Crash with Vestappen
J.Verstappen  Arrows      Laps behind: 34 : Retires: Crash with Montoya
L.Burti       Jaguar      Laps behind: 41
F.Alonso      Minardi     Laps behind: 46
E.Bernoldi    Arrows      Laps behind: 56 : Retires: Car problem
R.Barrichello Ferrari     Laps behind: 69 : Retires: Crash with R.Schumacher
M.Hakkinen    McLaren     Laps behind: 71 : Retires: Stuck on grid

Not Included
------------

Fastest Race Laps
-----------------
Pos Driver        Team     Lap   Time       To 1st
 1  R.Schumacher  Williams  38  1m 15.692s
 2  D.Coulthard   McLaren   44  1m 16.498s  0.806s
 3  M.Schumacher  Ferrari   44  1m 16.545s  0.853s
 4  J.Montoya     Williams  31  1m 16.593s  0.901s
 5  O.Panis       BAR       44  1m 16.732s  1.040s
 6  J.Villeneuve  BAR       41  1m 17.106s  1.414s
 7  E.Irvine      Jaguar    43  1m 17.132s  1.440s
 8  H.Frentzen    Jordan    41  1m 17.522s  1.830s
 9  J.Alesi       Prost     43  1m 17.609s  1.917s
10  J.Trulli      Jordan    41  1m 17.632s  1.940s
11  K.Raikkonen   Sauber    33  1m 17.816s  2.124s
12  G.Fisichella  Benetton  41  1m 17.830s  2.138s
13  N.Heidfeld    Sauber    42  1m 18.064s  2.372s
14  G.Mazzacane   Prost     23  1m 18.176s  2.484s
15  L.Burti       Jaguar    29  1m 18.759s  3.067s
16  J.Verstappen  Arrows    26  1m 18.875s  3.183s
17  E.Bernoldi    Arrows    12  1m 19.449s  3.757s
18  T.Marques     Minardi   34  1m 19.734s  4.042s
19  F.Alonso      Minardi   16  1m 19.765s  4.073s
20  J.Button      Benetton  38  1m 19.846s  4.154s
21  R.Barrichello Ferrari    2  1m 58.705s  43.013s

Pit Stops (Times are IN/OUT of pit lane)
----------------------------------------
 Time  Lap Driver        Team
 33.0s  47 D.Coulthard   McLaren
 35.0s  46 M.Schumacher  Ferrari
 35.0s  25 M.Schumacher  Ferrari
 35.1s  28 O.Panis       BAR
 35.2s  46 K.Raikkonen   Sauber
 36.1s  40 D.Coulthard   McLaren
 36.3s  43 H.Frentzen    Jordan
 36.4s   6 E.Irvine      Jaguar
 37.4s  37 K.Raikkonen   Sauber
 37.5s  44 G.Fisichella  Benetton
 37.6s  25 G.Mazzacane   Prost
 37.7s  44 T.Marques     Minardi
 38.0s  39 J.Button      Benetton
 38.1s  41 R.Schumacher  Williams
 38.5s  42 J.Villeneuve  BAR
 38.5s  42 G.Fisichella  Benetton
 38.5s  44 J.Trulli      Jordan
 38.6s  45 G.Mazzacane   Prost
 38.7s  44 J.Alesi       Prost
 38.9s  38 T.Marques     Minardi
 39.0s  12 J.Villeneuve  BAR
 39.4s  38 N.Heidfeld    Sauber
 39.4s  46 E.Irvine      Jaguar
 40.4s  45 N.Heidfeld    Sauber
 42.1s  45 H.Frentzen    Jordan
 42.2s  42 R.Schumacher  Williams
 48.6s  45 J.Trulli      Jordan
 50.0s  24 J.Alesi       Prost
 52.7s  48 R.Schumacher  Williams
 77.4s  44 J.Villeneuve  BAR
107.3s  45 O.Panis       BAR
314.1s   3 R.Schumacher  Williams
402.4s  28 J.Button      Benetton

Drivers Championship
--------------------
Pos Driver        Team     Points  Gap
 1  M.Schumacher  Ferrari    26
 2  D.Coulthard   McLaren    20      6
 3  R.Barrichello Ferrari    10     10
 4  N.Heidfeld    Sauber      7      3
 5  H.Frentzen    Jordan      5      2
 6  O.Panis       BAR         3      2
 7  R.Schumacher  Williams    2      1
 7  J.Trulli      Jordan      2      0
 9  K.Raikkonen   Sauber      1      1
 9  G.Fisichella  Benetton    1      0
 9  M.Hakkinen    McLaren     1      0

Team Championship
-----------------
Pos Team     Points  Gap
 1  Ferrari    36
 2  McLaren    21     15
 3  Sauber      8     13
 4  Jordan      7      1
 5  BAR         3      4
 6  Williams    2      1
 7  Benetton    1      1

All information is unofficial
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