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2005 BRAZILIAN F1 GRAND PRIX

RACE

2005 RACE PREVIEW:

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

BAR-HONDA PREVIEW:

• Jenson Button: "I'm really looking forward to the race in Brazil as this is a circuit where I always enjoy driving. The race is usually an exciting one with the weather coming into play quite often to liven things up a bit. It's a demanding circuit for both the car and the driver and your fitness is so important in managing the left-hand turns. We had a good test in Barcelona looking at development aero parts designed to improve our performance with a higher-downforce set-up. The car is handling well, which is essential as you need a good aero package at Interlagos. It is one of the bumpier tracks on the calendar so car stability is all-important. Unfortunately I haven't been able to finish the race during the past few years but have always been able to get myself into a strong points-scoring position. I'm looking forward to getting back into the action at the front of the grid and scoring some more points for the team."
• Takuma Sato: "Interlagos is one of only three circuits where the track runs anti- clockwise and physically it's tough for the drivers with all the left-hand corners. The infield is very much like a karting track with all the twisty corners and slow speeds. It's a circuit that always sees exciting racing because there are some overtaking opportunities, although it is still difficult. The track used to be very bumpy but the resurfacing last year helped reduce that. We have had a positive test in Barcelona which is encouraging for the race. We will be back to a higher-downforce aero package after two low- downforce races, which the team is confident will suit the car. It will be tough for me having to start further down the grid but I'm looking forward to fighting my way through the field and having a good race."
• Gil de Ferran, Sporting director: "Interlagos is considered the home of Brazilian motor sports for many of my countrymen and it was there where my racing career began nearly twenty five years ago. I have attended many Brazilian GPs over the last several years, but this one will be a very different experience for me. I am delighted that most of our team, including the drivers, seem to enjoy the track. As far as our expectations go, we had a productive test in Barcelona and as a result we will bring some new developments to Brazil which will hopefully contribute to increased performance over the weekend. Our podium in Spa gave everyone in the team a boost, so we await our first free practice sessions on Friday to see how we look compared to the competition."

FERRARI PREVIEW:

• BARRICHELLO: I have always gone well here. However, looking at the current situation, both in theory and in practice, we do not have a car capable of delivering a win. Nevertheless, I will face the weekend in a positive frame of mind, as you never know what might happen. Look at Hungary, where we were expecting very hot conditions and a difficult weekend. In the end, we did very well there. Here, like in Spa, the weather could play its part. So, I am in a strong frame of mind and will go to the track thinking I can fight for the win. I would love to do well in Brazil. That is my main target for this end of the season."

BRIDGESTONE PREVIEW:

• Hiroshi Yasukawa, Director of Motorsport: "Brazil marks the start of the final push to the end of the season. It is also another favourite round for the F1 community. Facilities may not be up to the standards of other circuits in this current era of building brand new tracks, but the people of Brazil and Sao Paulo always give us a warm welcome."
• "For Bridgestone, the Brazilian Grand Prix is an important event as we have a road tyre factory and substantial business in the country. It would be great to give all the Bridgestone employees something to cheer about."
• "Furthermore, while we wish all the Bridgestone runners the best of luck this weekend, we would particularly like to see Rubens Barrichello have a competitive run in his final home race with the Ferrari team."
• Tyres for Interlagos (4.309 km)
  Bridgestone Motorsport's Formula One Potenza tyres arrive in Sao Paulo this week direct from Bridgestone's F1 production facility in Tokyo, Japan. The specifications for Interlagos will consist of two dry, grooved specifications for each team and the same wet weather and extreme wet weather specification for all Bridgestone teams.
• Hisao Suganuma, Technical Manager: "The anticlockwise nature of the Brazilian track means that from a tyre point of view, Interlagos can be tough on the right front and right rear tyres. The other issue we have to take into account is the track surface. Although bumpy, the tarmac itself is relatively smooth which would normally require as soft a compound as possible."
• "However, there are several long corners which can be hard on the rear tyres so we have needed to keep rear degradation rates in mind when choosing the compounds for this race. The undulating rises and dips of the circuit are also factors, having an affect on both the choice of tyre and fuel usage. I would expect teams to be running mainly two- stop strategies, although three is possible."
• "Weather wise, the Brazilian race is always unpredictable with the potential for either hot track temperatures or torrential rain. Taking these variables into account, we have been busy testing with Ferrari and Jordan in the last week at Jerez and Silverstone respectively with a view to getting the right tyres for a competitive weekend."

JORDAN PREVIEW:

• Narain Karthikeyan: "I like Brazil and particularly the circuit at Interlagos, even if it is bumpy and hot there. It is a very undulating circuit and, as it is anticlockwise, like Imola and Turkey, it consists of mainly left-hand corners, apart from one of the hairpins. I drove there in 2002 when I was racing in the Formula Nissan World Series. We did very well and I hold the fastest lap record for the Nissan cars."
• Tiago Monteiro: "After such a great race at Spa and only three races left, everybody is very motivated to go to Brazil. The extra point could not have come at a better time. Brazil will be a very difficult track physically because of its anticlockwise configuration and also because it is quite technical to find a good set-up. We will have to be ready for the challenge. Of course, I am as motivated as ever - even more than ever - and I am looking forward to being there."

McLAREN-MERCEDES PREVIEW:

• Norbert Haug, (Mercedes-Benz Motorsport): "The Interlagos circuit saw the track debut of the McLaren-Mercedes partnership 10 years ago. Since then we have won three times and everybody in the team has worked hard in order to obtain another victory on this demanding circuit. The track is a physical challenge for the drivers, as it is one out of only three anti-clockwise circuits after Imola and Istanbul. This places different physical pressures on the drivers, as the forces in the corners are on the opposite muscles."
• "As for the racetrack, the bumpy surface causes major vibrations in the car and also influences the set-up, as the team needs to ensure it rides well over the bumps and it has high levels of grip. Our aim is to maintain the momentum from the last four races which we have won, in order to finish the season with the maximum possible points in both Championships. We will see whether we can score enough to be at the top of the rankings at the season's end."
• RAIKKONEN: "With only three races remaining nothing but another win will do for me in Brazil this weekend. I will be pushing hard to get maximum points for both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships. Qualifying at the front will be important, as there is a slope that gets steeper the further down the grid you are, which can make your start slower. There are chances to overtake at Interlagos so we often see exciting racing here, the main one is under braking into the first corner.
• The track surface is very bumpy, which can cause major vibrations, so you need to be 100% focused at all times as they can jar the car, and you mustn't be caught out by it. Braking stability is key, as you have to brake at the same time as turning in going into most of the corners, and this is one of the many things MP4-20 handles well."
• MONTOYA: "Interlagos is a challenging track, that demands high grip, with lots of different features, including the long, fast straights and the twisty infield. The atmosphere is always amazing, the passion of the Paulistas is what motor sport is about, and the queues to get into the track every morning are just crazy. Also, the race is close to home so family and friends tend to come and watch and I hope we can put on an entertaining race for them."
• "Interlagos is the third anti-clockwise circuit we race on, in addition to Imola and Turkey, and this does put different pressures on our bodies, specifically the neck area. However we prepare for this with our trainers so it is not a big deal. Myself and Kimi had a great battle here last year and hopefully we can dominate again this weekend by taking 18 points away from Brazil, which is what we need for the Championship battle."

RENAULT RACE PREVIEW:

• ALONSO: "We have been quick in Brazil in recent years, and now our car is even stronger in every area. So I am looking forward to the race ... As always, I go there trying to do the maximum. What's the point of going to a race and only aiming for a podium? You can't do that, you have to want to be the best, to attack. So that's what I am going to Brazil to do. We need to have a smooth weekend, no problems, and hopefully we will get the result we want."
• FISICHELLA: "I am really optimistic for the end of the season. I want to win another race, and maybe Brazil will be a good opportunity. We have a new aero package, and a new engine spec as well, so I think we can be a bit more aggressive over there."

SAUBER RACE PREVIEW:

• Jacques Villeneuve: "Interlagos definitely has character, but it's not amongst my favourites. It has some difficult corners and a tight infield section. It's also pretty bumpy. You need as much grip as possible for the corners but as little downforce as you can get away with for straightline speed.
• "It always has a great crowd - the fans in Brazil create a really special atmosphere. The weather has been tricky a few times there so if it rains again this weekend, we could take advantage of the situation as we did at Spa where I could finish sixth and score three points for the team."
• "Sao Paulo has never been my favourite town but maybe Felipe will make me change my mind. In any case, I want to wish him all the best for his home Grand Prix."
• Felipe Massa: "Obviously I am going to have quite a lot of pressure racing at home in Brazil, but I always love being here and performing in front of my countrymen. It's a very nice feeling. It will also get me used to the sort of pressure I can expect all the time at Ferrari next year, I guess.
• "I'm really looking forward to the race, especially after the way the Sauber Petronas C24 went at Spa. I have very fond memories of last year's race, when I led a Grand Prix for the first time, and I hope I can do even better this time."
• "Interlagos is a tricky circuit, and very physical. You are cornering all the time, because even the straights are really very long curves, and the track runs in an anti-clockwise direction which is unusual. That can be hard on the neck muscles, and the numerous bumps are tough too, but there are a lot of nice corners and getting them right is really satisfying."

TOYOTA RACE PREVIEW:

• After a season of races that has taken in Australia, Asia, North America and Europe, the Formula One circus will next weekend head for the last continent on the calendar: South America, courtesy of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
• Brazil has produced so many motor racing legends that it will have a place in the heart of any F1 fan. Interlagos, the current base for the country's grand prix in the giant, sprawling city of Sao Paulo, has also played host to some classic battles down the years.
• Panasonic Toyota Racing heads to Brazil in 4th place in the constructors' championship on 80 points, just 10 points behind Ferrari and pushing hard to make the top three.
• THIRD IN THE HAND
• Toyota has three races left to fulfil its ambition of making it into the top three of the constructors' championship, and Jarno Trulli will be pushing as hard as ever to make it happen.
• Jarno Trulli (Car 16):
• "Our pace has looked good recently so our target for the last three flyaway races is to challenge Ferrari for third place in the constructors' championship. We are only ten points behind and we can definitely manage it if we continue to push hard. To come from near the back of the grid last year to the position we are in now is an amazing achievement and it's down to a fantastic performance by the whole team."
• "The Brazilian Grand Prix is a race that I have always enjoyed. I always enjoy racing at technically demanding tracks, and Interlagos is certainly a challenge with a mix of low and high speed sections and some other things that make it quite complicated."
• "I like the first corner a lot, and it is one of only three anti-clockwise circuits on the calendar, which can make the race tiring on the neck. Most of all, I remember the torrential rain from the 2003 race. That made life really tricky..."
• LET'S MEAT UP
• Ralf Schumacher is looking forward to his Sao Paulo trip for many reasons, not least the quality of the steaks in the downtown restaurants.
• Ralf Schumacher (Car 17):
• "Interlagos is a challenging circuit for both drivers and the technical team - one of the most demanding on the calendar. It's less bumpy than it used to be, which is lucky seeing as I've had such a pounding in past races that it's only taken a few laps to give me a headache! But even since they changed the track surface there are still bumps so you have to find a good damper and spring set-up."
• "Apart from that you have to find a good compromise between aerodynamical downforce, mechanical grip and top speed. When you come to the tight corners on the infield like Pinheirinho and Bico de Pato it's important to have as much mechanical grip as possible, and as much downforce as you can find. But you have to balance that out with the two long straights, where the cars need to have as little wing as possible to go quickly."
• "Away from the circuit I'm a big fan of meat so I'm looking forward to trying out some more great Brazilian steaks."
• WINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE HEIGHT
• Interlagos is at a higher altitude than most circuits on the F1 calendar, and it has a track surface that is more prone than most to give the cars and drivers a bumpy ride.
• Dieter Gass - Chief Race Engineer:
• "Interlagos is a circuit with a medium downforce configuration, with some quick corners, but also some very low speed, tight corners where traction is very important. It's quite easy on brakes but usually you have quite a lot of tyre wear, which will be an influencing factor for the tyre choice."
• "The fact that it is anti-clockwise doesn't make much difference from an engineering point of view, but some of the drivers put some padding on the head rest to support the helmet because of the different stresses it places on the neck."
• "The track surface is not as bumpy as it used to be but what bumps there are can cause problems. If they are on the straight it's not so critical. But if you have them on the corners then you can really upset the car's balance. So you need to set up the car in a way that it does not have any sudden balance changes when it goes over a bump."
• "If you don't, the driver can lose control - and you especially want to avoid snap oversteer over the bumps. The circuit is at high altitude so you can miss out on engine power. But that's the same for everyone."

WILLIAMS-BMW RACE PREVIEW:

• Antonio Pizzonia: "Obviously I am very happy I've been given the opportunity to race again, particularly as Brazil is my home race. It will be very special for me to race in front of a home crowd so I can't wait."
• "Interlagos is a great track, one which I really enjoy driving so I'm hoping to have a good weekend. The bumps make it quite a tricky circuit and a unique one when it comes to set-up of the car."
• "The weather can be unpredictable in Sao Paulo and I wouldn't be surprised if we had some rain this year. It was good for me to be in the car this week at Silverstone, where we tested for two days, so I now feel better prepared for the race."
• Mark Webber: "I always enjoy the Brazilian Grand Prix, the fans are very passionate and knowledgeable. It was also a formative part of growing up, watching great racing there on television, particularly in the Senna/ McLaren era."
• "As with the last race at Spa, Interlagos can throw up a real mixture of weather, particularly heavy rain showers in the late afternoon, which can make the weekend very interesting."
• "The track is, of course, famous for its anti-clockwise direction and also has many undulations and bumps, but I don't mind this as it provides a good challenge for the driver. After our fourth place in Spa, I'm hoping we can continue to push for more points at Interlagos."
• Sam Michael (Technical Director, WilliamsF1): "Interlagos is a great track with many overtaking opportunities, mainly created due to the two straights and the undulating terrain. Dominated by slow to medium corners and straight lines, it is important to have a good car balance in the corners that precede the straights."
• "The long pitlane and low fuel penalty both have a first order affect on strategy decision and indeed what tyre compound level we will use. We have worked with Michelin to choose two tyres that should cover the different track temperatures that are inherent to this circuit."
• "It's great that Antonio has another opportunity to race, especially in Brazil where he will be in front of his home crowd. This, coupled with Mark's solid qualifying position, should enable us maximise the results in Brazil, a track that we won on last year."
• Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director): "The three flyaway races at the end of the season present a real challenge to the team and our logistics. Winning last year's race in São Paulo was the highlight of our season. This year we have had a difficult season so we would like to score good points in the remaining Grands Prix."
• "In Interlagos the main challenge for the BMW P84/5 engine is the start-finish straight. It leads uphill and the cars are flat out for 1,203 metres. Also, the 60 percent full-throttle ratio per lap is more than average. One can not really expect heat in São Paulo at this time of the year, changeable weather conditions are more likely."
• "After the latest and final engine specification proved its strength in Monza and Spa, we are well prepared for Interlagos. According to plan, both drivers will get fresh V10 engines for almost the last time this year."

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