Japanese Grand Prix – Race
Track temperature 35°C; air temp 27°C; humidity 47% – dry and sunny, not like yesterday or the forecast for today, although the track’s quite green after yesterday’s downpour.
Grid: RS, JB, GF, CK, TS, DC, MW, JV, RB, FM, NK, AP, CA, MS, RD, FA, KR, JM, JT, TM.
JT is starting from the pit lane instead of the last row of the grid.
Ralf leads the grid away on the formation lap; everyone’s away OK. He’s taking them round quite slowly.
Smoke from JB on the grid!
01/53: DC gets away well
TS and RB off into the gravel on Turn 1; both rejoin
MS passes JV in the hairpin
FA already up to P10!?!
02: RS, GF, JB, DC, MW, CK, MS, FA
JM into the wall on the final turn (of his 1st lap) and rips both left wheels off
JM is OK but that’s not going to help McLaren’s chances of staying ahead in the Constructors’ Championship
Safety Car deployed
RB pits with a puncture (presumably TS pitted too)
04: replay of the start – TS understeers wide into T1, runs wide, and then RB screams across in front
replay of JM incident – pushed wide by JV after a slow exit from the chicane
05: P9=JV, 10=AP, 11=FM, 12=KR, 13=NK, 14=CA, 15=TM, 16=RD, 17=JT, 18=TS, 19=RB.
07: SC in at end of this lap
RB pits for fuel – that’s a “free” stop because he’ll catch up to the pack before the SC pulls off
RS slows everyone down as they approach the end of the lap
08: MS passes CK (for P6) before T1
FA tries to pass CK into the chicane, runs off track and CK stays ahead
09: RS, GF, JB, DC, MW, MS, CK, FA
FA passes CK before T1
RS fastest lap 1:33.647
10/53: RS, GF, JB, DC, MW, MS, FA, CK; KR=10
RS f/lap 1:32.735
AP off (from P11) into the gravel at Degna-2 – he’s beached
FA closing in, ready to pass MS
11: FA looking slow … and CK passes him for P8 … did he let CK past because of the chicane earlier a couple of laps ago?
JT off at the chicane – the car’s being pushed away
12: FA closing on CK, looking to pass, so obviously he’s not got a problem
replay: TS locks up, smacks JT and takes him out
13: ITV-F1 report that the FIA told Renault to tell FA to let CK through … so he did … and then the FIA said they made a mistake!!
14: RS pits from P1 – that’s an early stop – 6.8s stationary – rejoins ahead of JV for P9 (P8=KR)
15: JB is 3.5secs behind GF
17: FA looks at passing MS in T1
KR f/lap 1:32.064
18: KR, JB, DC, MW, MS, FA, KR, CK; RS=9
retirements so far: JM, AP.
FA still pushing MS, with KR closing in too
19: MS defends into T1
20/53: MS is holding up FA and KR – they’re ~1s off the pace
GF pits from P1, giving JB the lead
FA passes MS around the outside through 130R – MS squeezes him but FA takes him 
21: KR pushing MS now
22: FA f/lap 1:31.599 – about 1.5s faster than anyone else!
23: JB pits from P1 – 11.7s – that’s a long stop!
FA pits too
MS locks up in the hairpin
KR very close to MS coming out of Spoon
24: DC pits from P1, and MW pits from P2, so MS is now P1
MW rejoins ahead of DC
ITV-F1 report JB had a problem with the fuel filler cap not opening!
25: KR has a look down the inside at Spoon … no pass, but he’s still very close
26: MS, KR, GF, RS, JB, MW, DC, JV; FA=9 … but MS and KR have yet to stop
Ferrari mechanics getting ready for MS
27/53: MS and KR both pit … KR 8.4s; MS 7.3s … MS stays ahead
29: GF, JB, MW, MS, KR, FA, DC, RS; 9=CK, 10=TS, 11=RB; 12=FM, 13=JV, 14=TM, 15=NK, 16=CA, 17=RD
30/53: KR passes MS into T1, with FA now closing on MS
GF, JB, MW, KR, MS, FA, DC, RS
32: FA looks at passing into the final chicane but MS holds him off
MS a bit slow out of the chicane, giving FA a chance
33: FA passes MS before T1
GF, JB, MW, KR, FA, MS, DC, RS
KR closing up on MW
36: CA’s Minardi is on fire in the pit box – he’s out OK and the fire is quickly under control
The Minardi box is a mess, so RD can’t pit for a few laps
37: FA pits from P5 – 7.5s
38: GF, JB (~18secs behind), MW, KR, MS, DC, RS, FA
39: JT describes TS as “a dangerous driver” who “keeps doing it”
CA is back on track – the fire can’t have been too bad
GF pits from P1, so JB leads again
40/53: JB, MW, KR, GF, MS, DC, RS, FA
ITV-F1 report the Minardi fire was caused by “fuel flowing from the nozzle before it was connected to the car!!
41: BAR mechanics getting ready … for JB?
42: JB pits from P1 – his fuel flap opens as he hits the pit lane rev limiter … and MW pits from P2 … JB 6.7s, MW 6.2s …MW exits just a couple of feet ahead 
43: MS pits – 9.8s – front right tyre looking a little tired
KR leads GF by ~7.5s
44: KR, GF, DC, RS, MW, JB, FA, MS
FA passes JB for P6
45: (during adverts, KR and DC pit)
46: GF, KR, MW, FA, JB, DC, MS, RS … and no scheduled stops expected now
KR is catching GF
47: KR ~3s behind GF
FA closing on MW for P3
48: FA runs two wheels onto the grass on the main straight to pass MW into T1!
49: GF, KR, FA, MW, JB, DC, MS, RS
GF lead is down to 1.2s
GF is closing on a backmarker (Minardi) … and he’s baulked slightly into 130R
50/53: KR closes right up onto GF
DC is catching JB in P5
GF went defensive into the chicane but KR wasn’t close enough
51: GF defensive again through the chicane, which means he’ll be slow down the straight
52: KR takes GF into T1
53/53: KR takes the chequered flag, having started in P17.
P2=GF, 3=FA, 4=MW, 5=JB, 6=DC, 7=MS, 8=RS
P9=CK, 10=FM, 11=JV, 12=RB, 13=TS (+1 lap), 14=TM, 15=RD, 16=NK, 17=CA
Retirements: JM, JT, AP.
Podium: worst rendition of the national anthems EVER!
KR looks a bit tired; GF not overly happy.
Interviews:
KR: JM touched his rear wheel into T1 on the first lap and so KR ran wide, letting JM through
GF: it wasn’t a tough race – really?
FA: told (by FIA) to slow and let CK re-pass him, even though he was ~7secs behind
Updates:
- Sato, who finished in P13, has been disqualified following the stewards’ review of his collision with Trulli
- Stewards also added 25 seconds to Jacques Villeneuve’s race time after deeming him responsible for Juan Pablo Montoya’s crash, which brought out the safety car at the end of lap one.
[source: official F1 site]
Points:
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Note: 7th & 8th places not awarded at US GP |
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