Italian Grand Prix: 4 September
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Race Track: Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
Location: Monza, Italy
Raceday: Sunday, 4 September 2005
Time: 2000 (race) [Local time]
2004 winner: R Barichello [2]
Monza is regarded by many as the embodiment of Formula One racing. Not only is it a fantastic example of a track that combines speed with skill, it also has a heart and soul all its own. It has seen some of the finest races of all time, but also some of the sport's worst accidents. The names of the great drivers and the sounds of engines from years gone by linger in the grand old trees which surround the track in the royal park.
Work began on the track in 1922 and was completed in under half a year. After Brooklands and Indianapolis it was the third permanent race track in existence. With a banked oval track incorporated into the design of the road racing circuit, the total track length stood at a whopping 10 kilometres.
The list of famous victories and horrifying accidents is long, and all combine to make Monza one of the most magical places on the Formula One calendar. For many there is nowhere that encapsulates the sport better than this circuit. The Italians call it "La Pista Magica," the magic track, a description few would disagree with. -
Last year's Italian GP review
Practice was a close-run affair, with Williams, McLaren and Renault and BAR all mixing it with Ferrari. In qualifying though, Rubens Barrichello proved unbeatable, with Juan Pablo Montoya squeezing ahead of Schumacher to prevent an all-scarlet front row.
With race day came the unexpected - rain. Though the track was rapidly drying by the time the cars took to the grid, there was still a tyre dilemma - intermediates or dries. Most went for the latter, but poleman Barrichello opted for the former. It was a decision he quickly regretted. Despite seizing the lead at the start he was struggling within a handful of laps and was forced to make an unscheduled stop, handing the lead to Fernando Alonso and then Jenson Button.
But the BrazilianÂ’s misfortune was nothing compared to his team mate's. Michael Schumacher made contact with Button at the second chicane on lap one, spun, and dropped to 15th. His fight back through the field was impressive. Both he and Barrichello found pace that simply decimated the opposition. It allowed Barrichello to regain, and keep, the lead, despite his extra stop, and Schumacher to move all the way back to second by the flag. Button, who had genuinely looked set for his and BARÂ’s maiden win, was unable to respond and had to be content with yet another podium. AlonsoÂ’s hopes ended when he spun into the gravel 13 laps from home, while early contender Montoya was hampered by an engine management glitch which left him fifth behind the BAR of Takuma Sato.
Despite FerrariÂ’s dominance, it was a very good day for BAR. Their 11-point haul, coupled with RenaultÂ’s failure to score, lifted them into second place in the constructorsÂ’ championship. It was not such a good day for Gianmaria Bruni. The Minardi driver was caught in the midst of a dramatic pit lane fire and was forced to retire from his home race. Fortunately it looked much worse than it was, and the Italian was unhurt. -
satalite view of the circuit.
u can see the old oval on the left
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Yesterday's practice results:
Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 38 Ricardo Zonta Toyota 1:20.531
2 10 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.583
3 9 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.735
4 35 Pedro de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.922
5 7 Mark Webber Williams-BMW 1:22.032
6 8 Nick Heidfeld Williams-BMW 1:22.107
7 37 Vitantonio Liuzzi Red Bull Racing 1:22.253
8 16 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:22.278
9 6 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1:22.440
10 5 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:22.594
11 15 Christian Klien Red Bull Racing 1:22.600
12 1 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:22.749
13 12 Felipe Massa Sauber-Petronas 1:23.052
14 17 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1:23.126
15 11 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-Petronas 1:23.208
16 2 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 1:23.213
17 4 Takuma Sato BAR-Honda 1:23.223
18 3 Jenson Button BAR-Honda 1:23.415
19 14 David Coulthard Red Bull Racing 1:23.506
20 18 Tiago Monteiro Jordan-Toyota 1:23.994
21 19 Narain Karthikeyan Jordan-Toyota 1:24.202
22 20 Robert Doornbos Minardi-Cosworth 1:24.233
23 21 Christijan Albers Minardi-Cosworth 1:24.264
24 40 Enrico Toccacelo Minardi-Cosworth 1:25.245
25 39 Nicolas Kiesa Jordan-Toyota -
I cant see itOriginally posted by junh:satalite view of the circuit.
u can see the old oval on the left
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Results from yesterday's qualifiers. Raikonnen really blew it, I swear.
Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 9 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:20.878
2 10 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.054
3 5 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:21.319
4 3 Jenson Button BAR-Honda 1:21.369
5 4 Takuma Sato BAR-Honda 1:21.477
6 16 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:21.640
7 1 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:21.721
8 2 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 1:21.962
9 6 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1:22.068
10 17 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1:22.266
11 14 David Coulthard Red Bull Racing 1:22.304
12 11 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-Petronas 1:22.356
13 15 Christian Klien Red Bull Racing 1:22.532
14 7 Mark Webber Williams-BMW 1:22.560
15 12 Felipe Massa Sauber-Petronas 1:23.060
16 8 Antonio Pizzonia Williams-BMW 1:23.291
17 18 Tiago Monteiro Jordan-Toyota 1:24.666
18 20 Robert Doornbos Minardi-Cosworth 1:24.904
19 19 Narain Karthikeyan Jordan-Toyota 1:25.859
20 21 Christijan Albers Minardi-Cosworth 1:26.964
Notes: Raikkonen receives 10 position grid penalty for engine change, therefore starts 11th. -
Damn... so it wud be a Montoya/ Alonso start...Originally posted by iveco:Results from yesterday's qualifiers. Raikonnen really blew it, I swear.
Btw the cars were real fast
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Raikonnen didn't blow it. He clocked the fastest qualifying lap but lost 10 grid positions because Mercedes decided to change the engine.
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In any case, looking at the last 5 races, the WDC's as good as in the bag for Alonso (2 wins and 2 2nds, vs. Kimi's 2 wins, 1 2nd and 1 3rd). Even if Kimi won all the remaining races, and Alonso was contented to preserve the car and cruise to 3rd all the way, he'll win by 4 points.
And I don't expect that Alonso will be contented to cruise.
For today's race, Ron Dennis is not discounting the likelihood of Kimi winning, but that's a bit optimistic. Sure, Montoya's got pole, but Alonso's right next to him, so that dash down to Turn 1 could change everything. Besides, Fisichella is ahead of Kimi as well.
The Macs have the tyre wear advantage over the Renaults, but all things being equal, Kimi will have to overtake 8 other cars to get behind Alonso, possibly scrubbing out that advantage (pun intended). Besides, I don't expect Fisi, MS or Button to let Kimi by easily, and Sato could also be a wild card. -
Whatever. He wasted 10 positions for nothing, IMO. THe poor chap's been dogged by mechanical problems all season.Originally posted by Gedanken:Raikonnen didn't blow it. He clocked the fastest qualifying lap but lost 10 grid positions because Mercedes decided to change the engine. -
You make it sound like it's his fault, iveco. If there's anybody who can be said to have blown it, it's Norbert Haug.
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Yeah, it seems like Haug's the main cause after all. But if the car had been fine, Raikonnen and Montoya would lead the charge at Imola.Originally posted by Gedanken:You make it sound like it's his fault, iveco. If there's anybody who can be said to have blown it, it's Norbert Haug. -
Ah well, watching Raikonnen work his way through the field makes for a much more interesting race, doesn't it?
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I have to admit that it would be more exciting if he'd retired with engine failure during qualifying and have to start from the tail end of the grid.Originally posted by Gedanken:Ah well, watching Raikonnen work his way through the field makes for a much more interesting race, doesn't it? -
Anyone watch yest' qualyfying? Robert Doornbos name was pronounced as Robert DorKnobs
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Hmm - why haven't they gioven MS a penalty yet? He cut the corner to get past Trulli.
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Double post.
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Well, damn - looks like I might just have to take back what I said about the Macs' tyre wear. If not for that, and of course the totally unnecessary spin, Kimi might just have gotten second, and it was a departure from his usual play-the-percentages performances. Big gung-ho effort by Kimi, but that don't bring home the bacon.
27 points and four races to go. At the rate of Monza, the WDC could well be sewn up next Sunday. Ah well, time to pay closer attention to the WCC.
The Italians really do have to stop recruiting their race stewards from the Institute of the Blind. MS and Sato obviously had penalties coming to them.
And as an afterthought, MS is officially out of the running for the WDC, although most of the season's been a case of "Michael who?" anyway. -
Results from the Italian Grand Prix at Monza:
Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
Drivers' standings after the Italian Grand Prix at Monza:
1 10 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 53 1:14:28.659 1 10
2 5 Fernando Alonso Renault 53 +2.4 secs 2 8
3 6 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 53 +17.9 secs 8 6
4 9 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 53 +22.7 secs 11 5
5 16 Jarno Trulli Toyota 53 +33.7 secs 5 4
6 17 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 53 +43.9 secs 9 3
7 8 Antonio Pizzonia Williams-BMW 53 +44.6 secs 16 2
8 3 Jenson Button BAR-Honda 53 +63.6 secs 3 1
9 12 Felipe Massa Sauber-Petronas 53 +75.4 secs 15
10 1 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 53 +96.0 secs 6
11 11 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-Petronas 52 +1 Lap 12
12 2 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 52 +1 Lap 7
13 15 Christian Klien Red Bull Racing 52 +1 Lap 13
14 7 Mark Webber Williams-BMW 52 +1 Lap 14
15 14 David Coulthard Red Bull Racing 52 +1 Lap 10
16 4 Takuma Sato BAR-Honda 52 +1 Lap 4
17 18 Tiago Monteiro Jordan-Toyota 51 +2 Laps 17
18 20 Robert Doornbos Minardi-Cosworth 51 +2 Laps 18
19 21 Christijan Albers Minardi-Cosworth 51 +2 Laps 20
20 19 Narain Karthikeyan Jordan-Toyota 50 +3 Laps 19
Fastest Lap: Kimi Räikkönen 1:21.504Pos Driver Nationality Team Points
Constructors' standings after the Italian Grand Prix at Monza:
1 Fernando Alonso Spanish Renault 103
2 Kimi Räikkönen Finnish McLaren-Mercedes 76
3 Michael Schumacher German Ferrari 55
4 Juan Pablo Montoya Colombian McLaren-Mercedes 50
5 Jarno Trulli Italian Toyota 43
6 Giancarlo Fisichella Italian Renault 41
7 Ralf Schumacher German Toyota 35
8 Rubens Barrichello Brazilian Ferrari 31
9 Nick Heidfeld German Williams-BMW 28
10 Jenson Button British BAR-Honda 24
10= Mark Webber Australian Williams-BMW 24
12 David Coulthard British Red Bull Racing 21
13 Felipe Massa Brazilian Sauber-Petronas 8
14 Tiago Monteiro Portuguese Jordan-Toyota 6
14= Alexander Wurz Austrian McLaren-Mercedes 6
14= Jacques Villeneuve Canadian Sauber-Petronas 6
17 Narain Karthikeyan Indian Jordan-Toyota 5
17= Christian Klien Austrian Red Bull Racing 5
19 Christijan Albers Dutch Minardi-Cosworth 4
19= Pedro de la Rosa Spanish McLaren-Mercedes 4
21 Patrick Friesacher Austrian Minardi-Cosworth 3
22 Antonio Pizzonia Brazilian Williams-BMW 2
23 Takuma Sato Japanese BAR-Honda 1
23= Vitantonio Liuzzi Italian Red Bull Racing 1Pos Constructor Points
1 Renault 144
2 McLaren-Mercedes 136
3 Ferrari 86
4 Toyota 78
5 Williams-BMW 54
6 Red Bull Racing 27
7 BAR-Honda 25
8 Sauber-Petronas 14
9 Jordan-Toyota 11
10 Minardi-Cosworth 7 -
MS gave back the position to Trulli during the following few corners...just wasn't shown on tv.Originally posted by Gedanken:Hmm - why haven't they gioven MS a penalty yet? He cut the corner to get past Trulli.
yay Juan Pablo!!
anyways @ Spa, if fernando beat kimi by 4 points...we will have the youngest ever world champion...that's a record that MS doesn;t hold.