Brazilian GP Round up

By Naomi Willemsen
October 23 2006

Disaster struck Toyota when both cars had to retire due rear suspension problems. Felipe Massa was the first Brazilian driver to win his home GP since Ayrton Senna. Fernando Alonso was crowned as the 2006 World Champion and Renault won the battle over the Constructors' Championship against Ferrari.

As the lights went out both Jarno and Ralf made a good start. Although Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica were pushing Ralf into a mistake, he could maintain his 7th place. While the BMW’s we’re busy chasing Ralf, Michael saw a good opportunity to get passed them and took it. Michael was now in 8th place. Not a second goes by and we’re missing a driver. Mark Webber seemed the victim as his team-mate Nico Rosberg accidentally drives into the back of his car. Webber lost his front wing and his race was unfortunately over. Jenson Button who had an unfortunate qualification had a good start and overtook four drivers which put him in 10th place. It wouldn’t be long and we would see Rosberg crashing hard into the barriers coming out of the 13th corner, Junção. This crash would cause a safety car situation. During the six Safety Car laps Rosberg got back to the Williams pit box and debris was cleaned from the circuit. It was time for a re-start. The race continues as race-leader Felipe Massa made a very good start getting Kimi Räikkönen of his tail. Jarno Trulli was able to up with Räikkönen and could even attack him. Fernando Alonso got closer to Jarno and had a few attempts to overtake him. Nevertheless Jarno had no problem keeping Fernando behind him. Michael Schumacher, who had been unfortunate over the weekend, just couldn’t get his luck back as he got a left-rear tyre puncture. After visiting the pits Michael fell back to 18th place. Both Toyota’s were doing extremely well until the 9th and 10th lap. First to retire was Ralf Schumacher with a suspension failure. Followed by Jarno with the exact same problem. This would be the same problem as Jarno had during the qualification at the American GP. From that moment the dreams for a podium and 5th place in constructors’ were gone. Four laps later it was Red Bull’s David Coulthard to retire caused by gearbox problems. With having 20 laps behind the back it was time for the first planned pitstops. Räikkönen, Fisichella and Barrichello were the first ones to make their pitstops. Fisichella and Barichello almost hit each other while driving away from their pitboxes but were able to continue the race. Fernando Alonso was leading the race for a short time as he had to go in for some fuel and new tyres. He rejoins the race in 5th while Felipe Massa got his 1st place back. Michael Schumacher is 7th after 40 laps. He suddenly slows down and get’s his pace back like nothing happened. Because of this weird moment Kubica was able to get back his 9th place although it didn’t take long for Schumacher to overtake the BMW again. It’s Alonso, Räikkönen, Button, Fisichella, Barrichello, Schumacher en Kubica filling the top eighth behind race leader Massa. Honda’s Rubens Barrichello is the first man to start with the second pitstop series from 6th. Button gained one place through good pitstop tactics at Fisichella’s cost and Michael overtakes his former team-mate, Rubens Barrichello. Robert Doornbos gained on place through a mistake that Heidfeld made. Unfortunately he still had to make his last pitstop and lost two places. Takuma Sato did extremely well and became 11th through the pitstops of Doornbos and Scott Speed. Only seven laps to go and Nick Heidfeld was forced to retire after he crashed into the 1st corner due a broken rear-suspension. Schumacher was not done with his race, not by a long shot. Driving with an incredible pace he was able to overtake Fisichella, in 5th, after trying for 2 laps. It did not take too long and Kimi Räikkönen was his next victim. A 4th place from Michael was the best he could do as Button was too far away with only 3 laps to go. Felipe Massa would be crowned as the 1st Brazilian driver to win his home race since Ayrton Senna. Fernando Alonso got 2nd place which means that he is the 2006 World Champion. Ferrari lost the tough battle against Renault in the Constructors’ Championship with only 4 points difference. Michael Schumacher who, now, is officially retired got the 2nd place in the Drivers Championship with Felipe Massa behind him in 3rd. The Toyota drivers Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli ended in disappointing places; 10th and 12th place respectively. Toyota unfortunately was not able to take BMW’s 5th place in the constructors’ Championship, which makes the team even more determined to shine in 2007.