1 Michael Schumacher Ferrari
2 Kimi-Matias Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes
3 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari
4 Ralf Schumacher Williams-BMW
5 David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes
6 Fernando Alonso Renault
7 Juan Pablo Montoya Williams-BMW
8 Jenson Button BAR-Honda
A fantastic result for Micheal and Ferrari but i hope none of us have to make a decision such as Micheal had to make today.
What happend?
Schumacher wins!
San Marino GP - Race [20/04/03 - 15:32]
Weather remained dry for the start of this afternoon’s San Marino Grand P. The two Schumacher brothers started from the front row of the grid, despite the tragic loss of their mother early this morning. Jos Verstappen was forced to start from pit lane after his accident in qualifying yesterday and the Jordan of Ralph Firman is also in the pits as the formation lap gets underway.
All cars get away cleanly and Michael leads the way around the Imola circuit, setting the pace for the drivers following behind as they make their way back to the grid, apart from Justin Wilson who ducks into the pits to fuel his Minardi. And it’s GO in San Marino! Ralf Schumacher instantly takes the lead from his big brother, Barrichello third and Montoya fourth. Mark Webber is dropping back through the field from his fifth placed start as David Coulthard makes his way up to eighth place.
Antonio Pizzonia failed to make it away from the grid and is now a lap down. Rubens Barrichello records the fastest lap of the race on lap two only to have his teammate do the same on the following lap. Michael is now putting pressure on his little brother and the siblings are racing wheel to wheel! Ralf keeps the lead as Barrichello closes up on Michael as well, there is under a second between the first three drivers! Michael continues to attack his brother for the lead but the younger Schumacher continues to stay ahead.
Fastest first sector and lap for Montoya, but the Colombian is two and a half seconds behind his pace setting teammate. Lap eight and Ralf continues to hold off his brother as Montoya edges a little closer to the leading trio with another fastest lap. Michael Schumacher reacts and goes even quicker as he continues to harry his little brother for control of this race.
Sixth placed Fernando Alonso is on a charge and the Renault driver is now the fastest man on track as he hunts down the fifth placed McLaren on Kimi Raikkonen. Montoya refuses to let up, his Michelin tyres working well as he records yet another fastest first sector time, but it’s teammate Ralf that takes the overall fastest lap time. Lap 11 and Olivier Panis pits from seventh place as Montoya continues to put pressure on Rubens Barrichello.
Lap 13 and Toyota now gear up to receive da Matta with Sauber servicing Nick Heidfeld on the same lap. Fernando Alonso is the next in followed by Mark Webber, Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher! That’s an early stop for Williams, lap 16, and brother Michael now takes the lead. Barrichello and Montoya come in on the next lap, a good clean stop for the Ferrari but Montoya is a little slower. Michael Schumacher is in next and suddenly we have a McLaren one-two at Imola, led by Kimi Raikkonen!
Lap 19, Villeneuve Frentzen and Fisichella pit and it’s a long stop for the Jordan driver. Mark Webber’s race gets worse as the Jaguar driver is called in for a drive through penalty for speeding in pit lane. The first retirement of the race and it’s Jacques Villeneuve! Coulthard pits from second place, the McLaren ace taking on a lot of fuel. Raikkonen is in the next time around, only eight seconds for the Finn and he emerges in front of Montoya in fourth place!
Lap 23 and the first pit stops are complete leaving Michael Schumacher in the lead with brother Ralf in close behind. Michael begins to eek out a lead as Justin Wilson pits in for a second time and it looks as if the Minardi driver has retired. Olivier Panis comes in for the second of his three stops here this afternoon, teammate Cristiano da Matta in the following lap. Montoya is also in for his second stop as Rubens Barrichello closes in on the second Williams of Ralf Schumacher. Problems with the refueller for Montoya and the Colombian returns to the track without taking on fuel, Ralf has a second stop on lap 32 with Montoya forced to come in again the following lap.
Barrichello in for stop two, a quick stop for the Brazilian with Michael coming in the next time around. A quick stop for the race leader as well and he emerges ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, still in the lead of the San Marino GP. Raikkonen is second, Ralf third and Barrichello fourth. Meanwhile, Montoya’s pit problems see him back in 8th place. With 25 laps remaining, we only have two retirements here at Imola, Jacques Villeneuve and Justin Wilson.
Montoya is now up to sixth after Alonso and Button complete their second stops. Pizzonia pits, but the Jaguar mechanics are not ready for their man and it’s a very long stop. Jos Verstappen’s Minardi comes to halt on the circuit making the Dutchman retirement number three here this afternoon. Lap 44 and Raikkonen and Panis pit. Stop two for the McLaren, who looks to have fuelled to the end, and stop number three for the Toyota. A short stop for David Coulthard and Williams are gearing up for their third stop, it’s Ralf. Mark Webber is also in the pits, again, that makes stop number four.
Lap 50 and Michael Schumacher is in for his third and final stop. The German rejoins in the lead, ahead of Kimi Raikkonen once again and looks set to be the fourth winner of the 2003 season. Juan Pablo Montoya pits in for his final stop with Barrichello soon afterwards. Kimi Raikkonen is now up to second, Ralf third and Rubens back in fourth, but the Brazilian is on a charge and gets past Ralf for third place.
Eight laps remain and Ralph Firman stops on the track, retiring his Jordan from the event. Barrichello closes in on Raikkonen and Mark Webber’s disastrous San Marino GP comes to an end due to a broken driveshaft in his Jaguar. Raikkonen closes slightly on Michael, but the Ferrari ahs a comfortable lead and looks set to secure his first win of the season. Giancarlo Fisichella joins the list of retirements, his Jordan suffering engine failure with just two laps to go.
Barrichello is now just one second behind Raikkonen, can the Finn hold on for second place? Penultimate lap and the gap is down to seven tenths. Michael starts his final lap and crosses the line to win the San Marino GP! Raikkonen holds on for second and Barrichello is third. Ralf finishes fourth, Coulthard fifth and Alonso sixth.
Thanks!
yeah it was definitely a big victory for Ferrari, especially taking it on their home turf in Imola. It's been an exciting season, and if Ferrari manages to learn from this victory and adjusts well to the new F 1 regulations, it will do well. Nonetheless, the new rules have given teams an equal chance to win..it's not so much about the technological superiority anymore, but more about the race strategies, from practice runs, to the actual race. I think the new rules for the 03 season has brought fun back into the F1 racing..
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Abdullah k: *
yeah it was definitely a big victory for Ferrari, especially taking it on their home turf in Imola. It's been an exciting season, and if Ferrari manages to learn from this victory and adjusts well to the new F 1 regulations, it will do well. Nonetheless, the new rules have given teams an equal chance to win..it's not so much about the technological superiority anymore, but more about the race strategies, from practice runs, to the actual race. I think the new rules for the 03 season has brought fun back into the F1 racing..
[/QUOTE]
what are the new rules?
A look at changes to be introduced in the 2003 Formula One season:
Qualifying: Qualifying will be divided into two, one-hour sessions on Friday and Saturday, instead of one hour on Saturday. Drivers will get one "flying lap'' with cars running one at a time. Friday times will determine the order of Saturday's session, with the fastest car going last. The starting grid for Sunday's race will be based on Saturday's times. Team will not be allowed to refuel after Saturday qualifying for Sunday race.
Practice: Three teams -- Renault, Jordan and Minardi -- have signed up to the new practice schedule. They will be allowed an extra two hours of practice on Friday, but will be allowed just 10 days of private testing during the season. The other seven teams will have one hour to test on Friday before qualifying.
Driver's aids: Traction control and electronic gearboxes will be outlawed beginning with the British Grand Prix in July. Launch control, which helps drivers in starting from a dead-stop, will be banned beginning with the same race, provided all teams can equip their cars with manual clutches.
Telemetry: Pit-to-car telemetry, which allows teams to change the settings on a car during a race via computer, has been eliminated. The FIA proposes car-to-pit telemetry be banned from the start of the 2004 season.
Points: The top eight finishers will earn points instead of only the top six. Scoring will be 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Old system was 10, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Radios: Radio transmissions between the driver and team will continue but the communications must be open to the governing body, FIA, and broadcasters.
Spare cars: Teams will be allowed to use a spare car if the race car is damaged beyond repair. If a car fails before the start of a race or cannot be used after a race has been stopped during the opening two laps, teams can use the spare car but the driver will start from the pit lane.
Team orders: Team orders that interfere with a race result have been banned.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by lussi: *
what are the new rules?
[/QUOTE]
i think most of the rules are covered except for one; each car must start the race with equivalent amount of fuel load as it used for the qualifying lap..and the fastest lap during the practice runs on friday leads to the last position in the qualifying round..and each drive gets one shot during the qualifying session..so in essence the practice runs, the qualifying sessions are almost like playoffs and carry much more significance..
it was a great race…i have to say: each race so far this year has been aciton-packed and exciting :k: