Montoya second in Australian GP
JPM finishes 2nd
By Andrew Hooper
March 9 2003
Juan Pablo MOntoya would finish second in the 2003 Australian GP, with Ralf Schumacher eighth. Both drivers would suffer from making errors, Ralf while exiting the pits and Juan Pablo while leading the race. Regardless it was still a very positive start to the 2003 F1 season.
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| Montoya second in Australian GP | |
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BMW WilliamsF1 team the start of the 2003 Formula One season would see both
drivers score points with Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher finishing
second and eighth respectively.
Thankfully he was able to keep his car going but his twelve second lead was lost and David Coulthard would take the lead and go on to secure victory in the race. In the post race interview Juan Pablo would admit that the spin was his fault. He explained that when he went through the corner he lifted the throttle and the cars just got sideways. Juan Pablo said: "Shit happens" Juan Pablo would also comment on how on two occasions he had a healthy lead only to be "screwed" by the safety car coming out, once for Barrichello and Ralph Firman's crashes and the second for Jaguar's Marc Webber.
One could say that both WilliamsF1 drivers made what were basic driver mistakes but they were not alone with both Ferrari drivers having moments, Rubens crashing out early in the race while Michael Schumacher would run over the kerb and damage the barge boards and underfloor of his car. We had the sight of Michael driving around with one barge board missing and the other flapping against the side bodywork. Kimi Raikkonen would challenge Juan Pablo in the closing laps for second place but the Fin was not able to pass. Michael Schumacher would go on to finish a very lucky fourth. |
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Pos Driver
Team-Engine Tyres Time |
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For the team the race was a very
encouraging start to the season but in someways it was a race where the
result could have been so much better. For Juan Pablo he would be leading
the race in the closing laps only to spin his car while going through the
first corner and gently kissing the wall with the rear left tyre.
As for Ralf his race was also
spoilt by a spin as he came out of the pits after making his first pit stop.
He would have to later on take to the ravel to avoid crashing into a
spinning Nick Heidfeld.
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