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For the BMW
WilliamsF1 team the San Marino Grand Prix result could only be described a
very disappointing with Nick and mark finishing in ninth and tenth. During
the race Mark would make a mistake that would see Villeneuve pass him.
Despite this mistake the FW27 still does not seem to have the pace to
challenge those teams running at the front.
 The
cars would leave the grid with pole sitter Kimi Raikkonen at the front, for
the
sixty two lap race. Kimi would bring his car to a stop and the grid would
form up behind him. The red lights would go off and they were racing. Kimi
would lead with Alonso, Button and Trulli following. Mark Webber was in
fifth but Sato would try to pass but the WilliamsF1 driver was able to get
back past. Jacques Villeneuve was in eighth from eleventh on the grid. Kimi
would set a fastest lap, a 1m:23.927, and was 2.6 seconds ahead of Alonso
after the second lap. Sixth and seventh was Sato and Wurz. Ralf was leading
brother Michael in twelfth and thirteenth positions. Lap three and Kimi
continued to pull away, now 2.7 seconds ahead.
Kimi would set another fastest lap, a 1m:23.347, now 3.0 seconds ahead of
Trulli. Was he running a light fuel load? Mark was 10.2 seconds behind the
leader. Button was still in third but falling back from Alonso. Renault
team-mate Fisichella would crash on lap five, after losing control of his
car. Alonso would continue to push as he chased Kimi.
Kimi was fastest again with a lap of 1m:23.298, now 3.4 seconds ahead after
eight laps. Team-mate Wurz was still in seventh. But it would all go wrong
for the Finn as he would slow allowing Alonso to go past him. Kimi would
crawl back to his pits. Mark was now in fourth while Nick was in ninth.
Button in second was 7.9 seconds behind the Renault after nine laps. Kimi
would make it back to his garage to retire.
 With
ten laps run the top eight was Alonso, Button, Trulli, Webber, Sato, Wurz,
Villeneuve, and Barrichello. Ferrari were not having a good day with Michael
down in eleventh. Alonso would set a fastest lap, a 1m:23.223, as he
extended his lead to 9.1 seconds after twelve laps. Mark was 20.8 seconds
behind the leader. With sixteen laps run Alonso was still 9.0 seconds ahead
of Button.
The first driver to pit would be Felipe Massa on lap seventeen. Massa would
have his front wing replaced after losing part of it in what was believed to
be contact with Coulthard. Rubens would pit from eighth on lap eighteen.
At
the front Button would close the gap to Alonso. One lap after he stopped
Rubens would pit again and retire in his garage. Team-mate Michael was in
tenth so the bad race for Ferrari continued.
Lap twenty and Jenson was pushing hard setting a fastest lap with a time of
1m:23.163. Mark was just 0.4 behind Trulli in a fight for third. But Sato
and Wurz
were right behind the FW27. Another fastest lap for Jenson, a 1m:22.892.
Alonso's lead was down to 7.3 seconds. Sato would pass Mark for fourth while
Jenson, on lap twenty two, would go even faster with a 1m:22.604. Heidfeld,
Ralf, Karthikeyan and Albers would all pit.
Trulli and Webber would both pit. On lap twenty three Alonso would pit
seeing Button in the lead. The next lap and Sato and Villeneuve would also
stop. Button would give up his lead the next lap when he was to pit on lap
twenty five. Michael Schumacher would set the fastest lap of the race, a
1m:22.287 on lap twenty four. Wurz would pit from fourth while Michael would
move into third. Michael was again fastest, a 1m:22.070, on lap twenty six.
 Michael would pit from third. He would return in the same position. Wurz was
in
fourth. Sato, Trulli, Webber, and Villeneuve made up the top eight. Alonso
was
leading with Button in second 10 second behind the Renault. Mark was
challenging Trulli for sixth.
On lap thirty one Mark would make a mistake that would see Villeneuve past
for
seventh. The Canadian was putting in a good performance this race. The
driver on the move was Michael Schumacher closing the gap to Button. On lap
thirty two Michael was two seconds faster than Jenson. At the half way mark
the top ten was Alonso, Button, Michael Schumacher, Wurz, Sato, Trulli,
Villeneuve, Webber, Heidfeld and Ralf Schumacher.
After his error mark would attack Jacques, looking to get back seventh
place. At the front Alonso was maintaining his lead over Button. But of more
concern to Button was the fact that Michael was closing in on him, now only
11.9 seconds behind. Lap thirty five and it was down to 9.3 seconds. Lap
thirty seven and it was now 6.2 seconds. Michael was closing in on Jenson at
a dramatic pace. There was a queue of drivers behind Trulli in sixth.
Villeneuve, Webber, Heidfeld, and Ralf Schumacher were all very close to the
Toyota.
Lap forty and Michael was just 2.8 seconds behind Jenson. The gap to Alonso
was 12.1 seconds. With twenty one laps left to run even Alonso could be
passed by the Ferrari. Michael was now just 1.5 seconds behind the BAR. On
lap forty two Alonso would pit from the lead. Mark would make his second pit
stop. On lap forty four Michael was now right behind Button. Nick and Ralf
would pit on lap forty five.
Button was keeping his lead as the Ferrari mechanics came out into the pit
lane ready for Michael. lap forty six and Trulli would pit from sixth. Sato
and Villeneuve would both pit. On lap forty seven Michael would finally pass
the BAR as they came up behind the WilliamsF1 pair to take the lead. Nick
and Mark were in tenth and eleventh. Lap forty eight and Jenson would pit.
Would Michael be able to pit and return in front of Alonso?
 Michael was 2.9 seconds faster than Alonso on lap forty eight, a fastest lap
of
1m:21.858. On lap forty nine Michael would pit to return just behind the
Renault. Now it was down to the pair to fight it out to the finish. Michael
was 1.3 seconds behind Fernando. Button was in third, Wurz fourth, Sato,
Villeneuve, Trulli, and Ralf Schumacher made up the top eight.
Michael was all over the Renault's gearbox as he challenged for the lead.
With ten laps left to run Fernando was driving very defensively trying to
keep Michael behind. Michael was really putting the pressure on the Spaniard
in his fight for the lead. Lap fifty six and Alonso was still in the lead by
just 0.4 seconds. Michael was not able to find a way past the Renault.
So with five laps left both Fernando and Michael were still locked in their
fight for the lead. Nick and Mark were down in ninth and tenth in what was
turning out to be a very disappointing race for the BMW WilliamsF1 team. The
leaders were coming up on Luizzi to lap him. Would Michael use this as a
time to pass the Renault?
Michael was all over the Renault with just two laps remaining. But the
Renault did have lots of brake dust coming out of the front wheels. On the
final lap and Michael would have a look but Fernando keeps his car ahead.
They go through the final chicane and Michael could not get past and Alonso
would go on to take his third win from Michael. In third was Button,
followed by Wurz, Sato, Villeneuve, Trulli, and Ralf Schumacher. |
