Head: Montoya's retirement ... that's racing.

By Andrew Hooper
June 11 2002

	That's racing
	Prior to his retirement in last weekends Canadian Grand Prix the general consensus was that Juan Pablo Montoya was in a strong position to win the race. Both WilliamsF1's Patrick Head and and Michelin's Pierre Dupasquier agree with the view that t Juan Pablo had that race well won. As Juan Pablo closed in on Michael Schumacher for the lead of the race Indeed, Juan Pablo continuously made up ground to Michael Schumacher, the winner of the race, the Ferrari driver lost between 0.5 and 1.0 seconds per lap to Montoya, who in addition to that made the fastest lap of the day with 1:15.960 minutes. With fourteen laps left to run Montoya would have caught the Ferrari driver. As for why Michael was losing so much time WilliamsF1 Technical Director Patrick Head is of the view that the Ferrari was running short of fuel. Head said: “I think Michael was very short on fuel, which is why he was going quite slowly towards the end. And there were some problems with blistering tyres [on the Ferrari].” Head is sure: “Juan had that race well won. He was in good shape. But that's the way in sport - sometimes it works your way and sometimes it doesn't.” Pierre Dupasquier, Motorsport Director of Michelin, agreed with Head: “Juan Pablo drove a strong race. If Juan Pablo had still been going at the end I am convinced he would have been able to challenge Michael and I am absolutely certain that he would have passed him, but that's racing.”