Spanish Grand Prix – Race
[preamble/updates/schedule] [Saturday qualifying] [Sunday qualifying]
TSN are showing RB ahead of NH, and TM right at the back after an engine change. Ah, so is the official F1 site now.
Formation lap: KR leads the pack away; everyone gets away cleanly.
01/66: Two cars failed to get off the grid – PF and CA – both Minardis!
Safety car (SC) deployed because they can’t move one of the cars
02: KR, FA, RS, MW, JT, GF, MS, JM – still under SC
SC coming in at end of the lap
03: KR gets a good lead on FA at the restart
JM takes MS in T1 for P7
04: KR, FA, RS, MW, JT, GF, JM, MS; DC=09; JV=11; NH=12; RB=14
ITV-F1 report the Minadi problem (on both cars) was a software bug; they’ve rejoined.
06: KR still putting in fastest sectors/lap times – 1:17.196
07: KR f/lap – 1:16.962 – giving him a 4.6s lead over FA
08: JM spun at T7/T8 but stays ahead of MS
10/66: KR f/lap 1:16.780
11: VL off in the gravel at T7
KR f/lap 1:16.592 – FA’s lap time (in P2) 1:17.691
MW closing on RS (P3)
12: KR f/lap 1:16.468
13: KR f/lap 1:16.345
15: KR, FA, RS, MW, JT, GF, JM, MS; DC=09; JV=11; RB=13
KR f/alp 1:16.125
16: PF off in the gravel; he’s out
17: KR f/lap 1:16.104 … when will he pit?
19: MW first to pit (from P4) – 9.9s – almost certainly 2-stopping
20/66: KR f/lap 1:16.059
21: On-board with RS, lapping CA and closing on FA
22: KR lead over FA almost 24s; RS just 0.3s behind FA but is being held up a little, allowing teammate JT to close on him
24: RS pits – that makes sense, to get him out from behind FA – 9.8s
25 KR pits from P1 – 8.6s – blue smoke as he leaves the box … hopefully not a problem
26: JT pits too – leaves a lick of flames behind him!
FA now just 0.4s behind KR … except FA has yet to pit
27: FA pits – rear pressure adjustment
DC & FM pit too
28: With FA out the way (because of his pit stop) GF, JM and MS all set personal best lap times
29: GF pits from P2 – 7.9s – rejoins ahead of teammate FA
JM pits from P4
30: MS (now P2) sets fastest S1; personal fastest S2; f/lap 1:16.019
JM pits again – problem with the fuel rig on the previous stop?
31: MS f/lap 1:15.648
Only MS, JV & RB yet to pit … and with that JV pits
32: MS pits – 8.8s – a late first stop – 1-stopping? Except that’s not enough fuel to go to the end? Rejoins ahead of JT
33/66: KR, GF, FA, MS, JT, RS, MW, RB; DC-=09; JV=13 (Retirements: VL, PF, CA)
KR lead over GF ~25s
35: RB the last to pit
38: FA sets personal f/lap 1:16.643
RB getting blue flags as KR is closing up to lap him
39: KR forced off line to pass RB – that’s not good from Rubens
Another personal f/lap for FA
41: GF pits again (from P2) – replacing his nose cone – it’s taking absolutely ages to let him go – 35.3s! (Will the engine survive “idling” for that long?) Rejoins way down in P11, just ahead of RB & JV
44/66: MW pits from P6 – 9.4s
ITV-F1 interview Ron Dennis – tyre conservation is the big issue
45: Another personal f/lap for FA 1:16.348 (circuit f/lap 1:15.648)
MS pits from P4 – left rear puncture
46: KR laps JM
47: MS has front left puncture too now! runs wide and drags a load of gravel across the track
49: MS eventually makes it to the pits and retires his Ferrari
KR pits from P1 – 7.3s
FA pits from P2 – 6.4s
50/66: RS pushing teammate JT, who appears hesitant to try to pass FA
51: RS has a look in T1 but backs off
52: RS pits – 6.3s – his front left tyre looks really bad
DC pits from P6
53: JV retires his Sauber
JT pits – rejoins still in P3
55/66: KR, FA, JT, RS, JM, MW, NH, GF; DC=09; RB=10 (Retirements: VL, PF, CA, MS, JV)
56: JM sets fastest S1; personal f/lap 1:15.771
NH pits – his tyres are looking tired too
57: JM pits from P5 – 3rd stop because of the refuelling problem
58: ITV-F1 say FA was suffering with blistered tyres but the change in pressure has helped, although he’s still ~25s behind KR
Also report that JV had a water pressure failure
59: GF closing on MW (P5); RS still close to JT (P3)
60/66: KR, FA, JT, RS, MW, GF, JM, DC
(TSN lost the ITV-F1 audio feed briefly)
62: RS still pushing teammate JT – will he be told to back off?
63: KR lead over FA ~23.5s; FA leads JT by ~24s
64: KR laps teammate JM (P7)
JT & RS both set personal f/laps
GF dives past MW for P5 and seems to pull away quite quickly
65: FM has a left rear puncture
GF sets in a fastest S2 – really flying now he’s passed MW
66/66: KR wins with a clear 26.2s lead over FA
GF sets the fastest lap 1:15.641 
Is it ironic that the trophy is in the shape of a steering wheel … given KR threw his wheel in anger at San Marino.
Normally I’d only list the top 8 (i.e. points-paying) positions, but given the recent goings-on with the FIA….
KR really needs help with his technique – he sounds a lot less boring when he answers in Finnish.
FA: “2nd place at home is like a victory for me.” Awww
JT: refuelling problem too
F.Alonso
44
J.Trulli
26
K.Raikkonen
17
G.Fisichella
14
R.Schumacher
14
M.Webber
12
M.Schumacher
10
J.Montoya
10
D.Coulthard
10
N.Heidfeld
9
R.Barrichello
8
A.Wurz
6
J.Villeneuve
5
P.de la Rosa
4
C.Klien
3
F.Massa
2
V.Liuzzi
1
Renault
58
Toyota
40
McLaren Mercedes
37
BMW Williams
21
Ferrari
18
Red Bull
14
Sauber
7
BAR, Jordan, Minardi
0
Next race: Monaco in two weeks. [F1 calendar, 2005]
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