DrPJM1

62nd Grand Prix de Monaco



Will it be Schummacher's 6th win in a row? It's 78 laps in a track that is impossible to pass and he's 4th on pole.



Pole: Trulli-Button-Alonso-Schumi-Kimi-Rubens-Sato-Coulthard-Montoya....



1st start is aborted b/c Panis stopped short of his box: he now goes to last place, mechanics have to cool cars with fans and keep tyres warm (PITA).



Start: OMG Trulli 1st, Alonso jumps over Button, Sato jumps over Rubens, Kimi and Schummi for 4th blocking Schumi and allowing Kimi to pass him! What a start!



But Sato's engine starts to smoke early on & blows fantastically large cloud of blinding billowing white smoke. Kimi goes through fast, Schumi slows a little, Coulthard brakes hard and Fisichella runs over his wing and rear right tyre flipping his own car in the airand landing on its right side. 3 cars out and Safety Car is in.

It's Trulli-Alonso-Button-Kimi-Michael-Montoya-Rubens.



Kimmi is out on lap 28; another failure and only 1 point this season. The guy must be really disapointed. Will Ilmor be fired from their engine contract?



On lap 42 Alonso tries to pass Ralph Schummacher in the tunnel and understeers to the wall -what a stupid move-there goes hopes for a Renault 1-2. Trulli and Button pit undert yellow and safety car, Schumi is in 1st.

Under the tunnel Schummacher is behind the safety car when he brakes, Montoya tries to pass him but bumps him into the wall and bounces off the opposite wall damaging his LFr suspension beyond repair: He's Out! His streak ended; Schumi is upset and a protest will be filed.



Trulli-Button-Barrichello-Montoya in the lead but Rubens can't match their pace (suspension problem). Button tries to pressure Trulli but can not reach to pass.



Trulli wins by 4/10's: his first GP victory after 119 races -from pole to victory lap! Great win for the Renault team. Button 2nd and Rubens holds for 3rd.



Makes it worthwhile to wake up early on Sunday morning!







__________________

Pedro

'93 Rosso Corsa Touring RX-7

Ported & Blueprinted

Open Intake & Exhaust

A-Spec GT35/40

w 550/1600cc injectors

Turbomark7

We could all see Sato's engine about to blow. Why didn't he get black flagged off the track before his engine blew? What is F1 thinking w/ respect to driver safety??!!



Alonzo had a different perspective of the tunnel incident which, to me, is plausible - Ralphie sped up and ran Alonzo off-line.



Mikey is a complete idiot today doing what he did (in true Earnhardt fashion) esp. going to cry to the race control immediately post-incident. What the hell was he doing/thinking? Every time these guys see the safety car, it's like they're seeing the safety car for the first time.



Congrats to Trulli and Renault. It should've been a Renault 1-2. Jensen Button is a contender for a win. Interesting race.

Jims5543

WTF!! Why isnt speed replaying it tonight!! WTF!!!

mazdadrifter

ummmmmm it's on RIGHT NOW!!!!!!

j9fd3s

wow that was an amazing race!

j9fd3s

that makes sense, ralph does drive like that

cymfc3s

Button is really shining this year, and BAR in general is really making its presence known. I think Sato is hard on motors though! haha

Jims5543

So.... are you allowed to pass when the safety car is out. Wow! What was Montoya thinking. I cannot count how many times he has attempted to pass and put someone into a spin. I know if I saw him in my mirror I would just drive off the pavement and save him the trouble.



Rubins pointed out also or pondered along w/ everyone else why that Bar honda was allowed to remain on track for 3 laps with all that smoke and apparent problems. Very unfortunate.



Exciting race I was happy for Trulli and man was he excited. Great race lots of action. Beautiful city.