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2005 BRAZILIAN F1 GRAND PRIX

2005 F1 GP: R17 of 19, 2005 Brazilian GP, September 25, Interlagos

NEW F1 WORLD CHAMPION: FERNANDO ALONSO, RENAULT YOUNGEST EVER F1 CHAMPION, AGE 24 "It is too early to realise what is happening to me, and I think I will only understand properly in the days to come. So far, I have spoken to the King of Spain, the Prince and the Prime Minister -- it is impossible to really say anything about it now." "I thought we could fight with the McLarens today but it was clear after the first stops that we couldn't keep their pace, so I just concentrated on controlling Michael Schumacher behind me, and managing the tyres." "The engineers were also worried it might rain, so in the last laps I was really focusing on that, and preserving the tyres, and I was sure there were strange noises coming from the car, so it was only when I crossed the line that I realised I had become world champion!" "I want to dedicate this championship to my family, and all my close friends who have supported me through my career. Spain is not a country with an F1 culture, and we had to fight alone, every step of the way, to make this happen." "A huge thank you to the team as well: they are the best in Formula 1, and we have done this together. It will say that I am world champion, but we are all champions, and they deserve this." "Now, I can go to the last two races and enjoy them a bit more. We made some conservative decisions in some of the last races, and now we will be able to race with nothing to lose until the end of the season. Flavio Briatore (RENAULT Managing Director): "I am just delighted today. For Fernando of course, who has been fantastic all season, and for the team as well. They have produced a fantastic car and even if McLaren has been quicker, the points tell the only story that matters, over nineteen races." "Fernando is just 24 years old, and he has been an incredible leader in this championship. The team works to make the car quicker, and he transforms that into results: that gives the team amazing motivation." "Of course, we have to thank the team back in Enstone and Viry, all the partners who have supported us to make this championship possible, and everybody at the Renault group: they have all been part of a fantastic adventure." "Now, we need to do our best in the constructors' championship, with Fisico and Fernando both pushing hard. We are doing our best to get closer to McLaren, and to take it down to the final race." Pat Symonds, Renault Executive Director of Engineering: "Fernando is a worthy champion, and thoroughly deserves every success he has achieved this year. The race itself was not dramatic for either driver, but it certainly produced a spectacular result." "Now, we will be focusing 100% on the constructors' championship. There is no doubt McLaren are quicker than us, and we relinquished our lead today -- albeit by a slender margin. But the team is working hard to develop the car and improve our speed, and we were certainly closer to them this weekend thanks to the developments at Enstone and Viry." "We fully intend to take the fight to McLaren right up until Shanghai. But first things first: we will be celebrating a worthy champion this evening, and letting the feeling sink in properly!"

CIRCUIT: Interlagos

• Autodromo Carlos Pace
• circuit built in 1940; 7.96km long
• first GP in 1973; won by Emerson Fittipaldi, Lotus-Ford
• new circuit shortened to 4.324km in 1990
• 71 laps; total distance 193.2 miles / 311.1 km
• anti clockwise; bumpy and abrasive surface; high level of tyre wear
• 2.68 miles / 4.324 km per lap
• PREVIOUS WINNERS:
• 2004 winner: Montoya, McLaren Mercedes
• 2003 winner: Fisichella, Jordan
• 2002 winner: M Schumacher, Ferrari
• 2001 winner: Coulthard, McLaren Mercedes
• 2000 winner: M Schumacher, Ferrari
• 1999 winner: Hakkinen, McLaren Mercedes

BEFORE RACE

• RAIKKONEN: "With only three races remaining nothing but another win will do for me in Brazil this weekend"
• BUTTON TO STAY WITH BAR-HONDA
  BAR (N FRY): "We have made no secret of the fact that we wanted Jenson to remain with us for the next few years and that we considered Jenson and Rubens to be our dream line-up for 2006 and beyond ...."
• HEIDFELD JOINS THE NEW BMW TEAM (SEPT 16, 2005)
• 28 year old German driver Nick Heidfeld has signed a 3 year contract to drive for the new BMW team (Ex Sauber) from 2006.
• Munich: BMW and Nick Heidfeld will embark on a joint future in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship in 2006. The Munich automobile manufacturer has concluded a three-year contract with the racing driver from Mönchengladbach (28). This fills the first cockpit in the new team run by BMW.
• BMW Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen comments: “For us, a new era in Formula 1 will begin on 1 January 2006 when BMW takes over the team operated by Peter Sauber.
• “We are very pleased that Nick will be with us in what will undoubtedly be a difficult initial phase. He is not simply a fast and courageous driver; he is also an analytical and meticulous worker. Nick already knows the two sites in Munich and Hinwil, and is familiar with everybody involved.”
• Heidfeld, who is currently recovering from a cycling accident in his adopted home of Switzerland, said: “I’m really looking forward to the future. As far as I’m concerned, this represents the fulfillment of a big dream. I have a great deal of respect for the work carried out in Hinwil from 2001 to 2003. And for nearly a year now I’ve experienced at first hand the commitment and resources BMW puts into its Formula 1 project. Naturally, I’m not expecting a miracle during the first season after a new start in 2006. But I’m confident that the new team will be successful over the long term.” Heidfeld has been lining up on the grid for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team since 2005. He achieved his first F1 pole position in May at the Nürburgring and took second place in two races (Monaco and Nürburgring).

RACE RESULT

• 1. Juan Pablo Montoya (COL) McLaren-Mercedes
  2. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) McLaren-Mercedes
  3. Fernando Alonso *** 2005 CHAMPION ***
  4. Michael Schumacher (GER) Ferrari
  5. Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA) Renault
  6. Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Ferrari
  7. Jenson Button (GBR) BAR-Honda +1 lap
  8. Ralf Schumacher (GER) Toyota
  9. Christian Klien (AUT) Red Bull
  10. Takuma Sato (JPN) BAR-Honda
  11. Felipe Massa (BRA) Sauber-Petronas
  12. Jacques Villeneuve (CAN) Sauber-Petronas
  13. Jarno Trulli (ITA) Toyota
  14. Christijan Albers (NED) Minardi
  15. Narain Karthikeyan (IND) Jordan
• DNF: Monteiro ; Webber ; Doornbos; Pizzonia ; Coulthard

McLAREN RACE REPORT

• Ron Dennis: "A phenomenal and well disciplined race by both Juan Pablo and Kimi. Our strategy meant that our actual qualifying performance was masked as we were running with a lot of fuel. We are delighted to be in the lead of the Constructors' World Championship but are disappointed not to be able to challenge for the Drivers' during the last two races."
• "However, today's performance makes us confident that we are in a position to end the season on a high. Apologies to Kimi and Juan Pablo for the missed opportunities this season. Congratulations to Fernando and I'm sure he will be worthy World Champion. Now he has to raise his game as he faces a significant challenge to beat us in the remaining races."
• Juan Pablo Montoya, winner: "That was a lot of fun. I had a really good fight with Kimi and it was definitely not easy keeping him behind. He came especially close after the second pitstop but not close enough. I got past Fernando at the first corner when the Safety Car came in and then managed to maintain the lead for the rest of the race, but it was tough."
• "It's great to win in Brazil for the second time in a row particularly as a lot of Colombian fans come here to support me. I'm so pleased for everybody in the team who have worked so hard that we finally got the one-two which has been so close a number of times this year. I think we definitely deserve the Constructors' Championship and I can't wait for the last two races. Also well done to Fernando."
• Kimi Raikkonen, 2nd: "Congratulations to Fernando, but he better be prepared for me and the team to fight him hard for the rest of the season and next year. Today's race was quite difficult and my car was not easy to drive. I carried a bit more fuel than Juan Pablo, but I still was not able to get past him in the pitstops, and he drove a good race."
• "Of course I'm disappointed that my fight for the Drivers' World Championship is over, but we sort of knew it was going to happen. I will now focus on winning the Constructors' title for the team and go flat out for the last two races."

QUALIFYING

GRID, SAT, SEPT 24, 2005

1. Fernando Alonso 1m 11.988s

• "So far so good, I think. But this is only the starting point, we know tomorrow is a long race with 71 laps, so I will try and finish the job. The team has done a fantastic job in the past few weeks to carry on developing the car and engine, and this is the result: it is working well, and Fisi and I are on the front two rows. At the last few races we were not able to fight with McLaren, but here I think we have a better chance. Looking ahead, we are aiming to get on the podium at every one of the last races not just here. But if we can do it tomorrow, then it will be very good for the championship!

2. Juan Pablo Montoya (COL) McLaren-Mercedes 1:12.145

• "An OK lap until the last corner really. I put the throttle down and all of a sudden there was just no grip, and this probably cost me about two tenths of a second. It's frustrating, but that is what happens at this track where the conditions are changing continuously. However, I'm really confident for the race as during practice this morning we found a strong set-up and our package should be working really well, but I would have liked to be on pole though."

3. Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA) Renault 1:12.558

• "Honestly, I didn't expect to be here: the circuit conditions were not so good at the start of the session, and the grip levels were definitely a bit low. Here in Interlagos, this really hurts you in the second sector, and that's where I lost some time to the others. Our target for the last races has been to be in the top three, and to carry on scoring lots of points. I am optimistic for tomorrow, because we have a good pace on the long runs, so I think Fernando and I can get a strong result for both championships.

  4. Jenson Button (GB) BAR-Honda 1:12.696
  5. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) McLaren-Mercedes
  6. Christian Klien (Aut) Red Bull-Cosworth
  7. Michael Schumacher (GER) Ferrari
  8. Jarno Trulli (ITA) Toyota
  9. Felipe Massa (BRA) Sauber-Petronas
  10. Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Ferrari
  11. Ralf Schumacher (GER) Toyota
  12. Jacques Villeneuve (CAN) Sauber-Petronas
  13. Tiego Monteiro (POR) Jordan-Toyota
  14. Mark Webber (AUS) Williams-BMW
  15. Antonio Pizzonia (BRA) Williams-BMW
  16. David Coulthard (UK) Red Bull-Cosworth
  17. Narain Karthikeyan (IND) Jordan-Toyota
  18. Christijan Albers (NED) Minardi-Cosworth
  19. Robert Doornbos (NED) Minardi-Cosworth
  20. Takuma Sato (JAP) BAR-Honda

FRI PRAC #2, SEPT 23, 2005

• 1 Alex Wurz , McLaren-Mercedes 1m 12.083
  "The nature of this circuit means that you have to cope with a bumpy and extremely dusty track which makes my work quite difficult as I have to adapt to the rapid and continuous change in conditions. Consequently tyre choice on what I would describe as being the trickiest of all circuits is extremely challenging. However, I'm quite confident that with our car and the experience of the team we will work out the optimum package for the qualifying and the race."
• 2 Juan Pablo Montoya , McLaren-Mercedes +0.61
• 3 Ricardo Zonta , McLaren-Mercedes +0.62
• 4 Massa
• 5 Barrichello
• 6 Raikkonen
• 7 Villeneuve
• 8 M Schumacher
• 9 Trulli
• 10 Fisichella 11 Alonso 12 Webber 13 Pizzonia 14 Doornbos 15 Coulthard 16 Liuzzi 17 Button 18 R Schumacher 19 Albers 20 Sato 21 Monteiro 22 Klien 23 Kiesa 24 Karthikeyan
• ALONSO: "It was a bit confusing today really: we were quick in the first session, and then this afternoon, there were quite a lot of people in front of us. The track conditions were not very good, so we didn't make many changes to the set-up -- we just concentrated on doing long runs on the tyres to understand our choice, and we will wait for the grip levels to improve tomorrow, which will definitely help the car balance. The tyre choice is quite close, because Michelin have brought two excellent tyres, so we will have to look closely at the data to make our final validation. But overall, I still have lots of confidence for the rest of the weekend, and I am sure we can be quick.

FRI PRAC #1

• 1 Alex Wurz , McLaren-Mercedes 1m 11.701
• 2 Takuma Sato , BAR+1
• 3 Fernando Alonso , Renault +1
• 4 Button +1.2
• 5 Raikkonen
• 6 Fisichella
• 7 Montoya
• 8 Pizzonia
• 9 Webber
• 10 Zonta

2005 RACE PREVIEW:

BAR - BRIDGESTONE - FERRARI - JORDAN - McLAREN - RENAULT - SAUBER - TOYOTA - WILLIAMS

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