Brazilian GP Facts & Figures

By BMW WilliamsF1
October 15 2004

	Facts & Figures
	- São Paulo is the capital of the southern Brazilian state of the same name and is the most highly industrialised state in the country. Population figures vary, the city itself is said to have around 10 million inhabitants with another 6½ million living in the surrounding area. The city was founded in 1554, and is the fastest-growing metropolis in Latin America. - As its name suggests, Interlagos was located between two lakes when the circuit was built in the 1940s. Today, however, the setting is no longer as picturesque, with the sprawling city now extending almost up to the circuit's crash barriers. Before the 2003 Grand Prix, both the track and paddock areas underwent modernisation. - Prior to 1990, the Brazilian Grand Prix was hosted by the Jacarepagua circuit near Rio de Janeiro. Formula One only returned to São Paulo in 1990. - Interlagos, like Imola, runs in an anti-clockwise direction, requiring the drivers to carry out special exercises for their neck muscles. - The 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix, the 700th Formula One race since the World Championship began in 1950, turned out to be one of the most eventful in the sport's history with extreme weather conditions, numerous accidents and five safety car phases. Due to torrential rain, the race was started 15 minutes late behind the safety car and was eventually red-flagged after serious accidents involving Webber and Alonso. After days of deliberation, the race was officially judged to have finished on lap 54, out of a scheduled 71. Giancarlo Fisichella (Jordan) was declared the winner. Ralf Schumacher came seventh, while Juan Pablo Montoya retired from fifth position on lap 25 following a spin caused by aquaplaning in Turn 3. - In 2003, Rubens Barrichello took pole position with a lap time of 1:13.807m. He also posted the fastest lap in his home Grand Prix (1:22.032m). BMW WilliamsF1 Team drivers, Schumacher and Montoya, secured sixth and ninth places respectively. - One lap of the Interlagos track measures 4.309 km, with this year's race running over 71 laps, total race distance will be 305.909km. - The 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix starts at 15:00hrs local time on Sunday 24th October 2004.