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17th
RACE OF CHAMPIONS
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Kovalainen
wins ROC 2004
Team
France wins Nations Cup |
Stade
de France, Paris,
DEC 4, 2004
- Paris hosts
Race of Champions for the first time; previously
run in Gran Canaria
- 16
driver/riders
- 8
national teams
- 2
drivers per team
INDIVIDUAL
RACE
Heikki Kovalainen
became the youngest competitor to win the Race of Champions. Kovalainen
is the reigning World Series by Nissan champion.
KOVALAINEN:
".... I just can't believe it ... I just tried to
attack a little harder, brake a little later. Unbelievable, I beat
both World Champions! (Schumacher, Loeb) ... I beat rallying's World
Champion in a WRC car. Amazing! And it's not every day you get a
chance to beat Michael Schumacher ... That was a big moment."
FINAL:
- cars
used - Heat 1, Peugeot 307 WRCs ; Heat 2, Ferrari 360
Modena Challenges
- Kovalainen
vs Loeb
LOEB: "... It's been an enjoyable afternoon and I love the
atmosphere"
SEMI
FINAL:
- Kovalainen
vs Schumacher
SCHUMACHER:
"... I can't lie ... Of course I tried to win! But I came
here to enjoy myself, and I succeded in that, at least."
ROUTE
FOR FINALISTS:
- KOVALAINEN
beat: David Coulthard, Jean Alesi, Michael Schumacher, Sebastien
Loeb
- LOEB beat:
Tony Kanaan, Armin Schwarz, Marcus Gronholm
KANAAN: "... I'm just happy to be here. It's really an honor
to be a part of this group. I mean, how many drivers are there
in the world? There were only 16 of us invited to be here. That
says a lot. I've had a lot of fun. I'm here for the sport..."
NATIONS
CUP TEAM RESULT:
- FINAL
TEAM FRANCE (Loeb and Alesi) beat TEAM FINLAND (Kovalainen and Gronholm)
- SEMI FINAL:
FRANCE beats BRAZIL
- RD 1:
BRAZIL beats GERMANY
TEAMS:
TEAM
USA
- Jeff
Gordon
- NASCAR champion *** withdrew due to illness***
Casey Mears - replacement for Gordon
- Jimmy
Johnson
- NASCAR driver
TEAM
GERMANY
- Michael
Schumacher
- F1 champion
"... I'm really looking forward to it, it looks a lot of fun"
- Armin
Schwarz
- rally driver
TEAM
SWEDEN
- Mattias
Ekström - DTM champion
"... It will definitely be great fun, but in view of the strong
competition it will also be a tough contest ... It is a great honour
for me to be able to compete for the first time at the Race of Champions
... I think that owing to my results this year I really have earned
the chance to be in Paris"
- Kenny
Bräck - Indycar driver
TEAM
FRANCE
- TEAM A
- Sebastien
Bourdais - 2004 Champcar champion
- Stephane
Sarrazin
- WRC
- TEAM B
- Sebastien
Loeb
- 2004 World Rally champion
- Jean
Alesi
- DTM
TEAM
UK
- Davod
Coulthard - F1 driver
"... Having watched the event with interest for many years,
I am very much looking forward to competing against the entry of
world-class contenders ... It's nice to bring motorsport to the
crowd. For too long it has been a labour of love, take your umbrella
and packed lunches and all that."
- Colin
McRae - former world rally champion
'... I am hoping to be one of the few drivers to beat Michael Schumacher
this year ...This is going to be a even more competitive year than
usual for the Race of Champions ... The Stade de France should be
amazing. This year will be quite different so that will make it
a more level playing field than before. It is not really racing
and not really rallying. So, unlike previously, the WRC drivers
won't necessarily be at an advantage.There's a lot of high-profile
drivers, the new venue and a new surface. Luckily, being a rally
driver, I am used to adapting to changing conditions"
TEAM
BRAZIL
- Tony
Kanaan - 2004 Indycar champion
- Fellipe
Massa
- F1 driver
"... I think it has to be my aim to beat Michael Schumacher,"
said Massa. "But it is not just about trying to beat him. There
will be some amazing drivers there like Loeb and Jeff Gordon ...
It's going to be very interesting to drive in the middle of the
Stade de France. I say interesting but I have no idea how it is
going to be. To be racing for Brazil will be cool. Tony Kanaan is
a good friend. We have two open wheel guys so I am not sure how
we will do. I hope we can be in the top 3."
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