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  May 12, Race Results |
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Formula One World Championship Round 6
Round 6 : Austria (A1-Ring)
Points Finish for Honda
in Austria
Fisichella Scores Fifth Place and Two Points for Jordan Honda |
Giancarlo Fisichella
and DHL Jordan Honda recorded fifth place in today's Austrian Grand Prix,
and he was the first driver to cross the line after the championship leaders
Ferrari and Williams. Jacques Villeneuve (Lucky Strike B·A·R Honda) was
classified 10th, after coming to a halt on the last lap due to an engine
fault while Takuma Sato (Jordan Honda) was forced out of the action on lap
27 when he was hit by the Sauber of Nick Heidfeld. B·A·R Honda's Olivier
Panis retired from the race on lap 23 with engine failure.
In warm and sunny conditions (22 degrees) the Austrian Grand Prix got underway
at the A1-Ring in Spielberg. Jordan Honda's Giancarlo Fisichella made up
one place at the start and by the second lap he had moved up into 11th place
behind Sauber's Felipe Massa. The Italian driver moved up into ninth place
after the McLaren of Kimi Raikkonen dropped out, but fell back to 10th when
B·A·R Honda's Jacques Villeneuve overtook him on lap nine. The Jordan Honda
driver came in for his first and only scheduled pit stop on lap 28 during
the first safety car period of the race, which was brought out as a result
of Olivier Panis being stranded on the track with engine failure. Fisichella
rejoined in ninth position and, due to the retirement of his team-mate Takuma
Sato and Sauber's Nick Heidfeld on lap 27, he moved up into seventh place
behind David Coulthard (McLaren) by lap 33. With a points scoring finish
in sight, the Italian fought hard and overtook Coulthard for sixth place
on lap 40. Fisichella gained another position when Villeneuve pitted for
the second time, and the Italian went on to finish the race fifth from 15th
on the grid, scoring two valuable points for himself and Jordan Honda.
B·A·R Honda's Jacques Villeneuve made up one position at the start but fell
back to 18th after a coming together with Enrique Bernoldi (Arrows) on the
first lap. Villeneuve didn't waste any time however, and by lap three the
Canadian driver had moved up into 15th position behind his B·A·R Honda team-mate
Olivier Panis. Villeneuve continued to push and after snatching 14th position
from his team-mate, he made up six positions in eight laps, overtaking the
Renault of Jarno Trulli, Toyota's Allan McNish, the Jordan Honda of Giancarlo
Fisichella and the second Renault of Jenson Button to move up to eighth
position by the 14th lap. Villeneuve battled with Toyota's Mika Salo and
overtook him for seventh place on lap 19, before coming in for his first
of two scheduled pit stops on lap 24. The B·A·R Honda driver rejoined in
12th place but had to return to the pits for a drive through penalty on
lap 29 due to the first lap incident with Bernoldi. Villeneuve had gained
a couple of places with the retirement of Sato and Heidfeld, and rejoined
in 10th position just as most of the field were coming into the pits. By
lap 34 Villeneuve had moved up into seventh place and he went on to overtake
Fisichella and then Coulthard, climbing into fifth position on lap 40. He
fought his way up into third place, moving ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya on
lap 51 when the Williams driver pitted, but Villeneuve had to come in two
laps later for his second pit stop, rejoining the race in eighth position
behind the Renault of Jenson Button. The B·A·R Honda driver failed to cross
the line due to an engine fault, although he was classified 10th.
Takuma Sato remained in 18th position off the grid but made good progress
and by lap six the Japanese driver had moved up into 14th position, behind
B·A·R Honda's Panis. Sato came in for his first pit stop on lap 24 during
the first safety car period and rejoined the action in 16th position. Just
three laps later Nick Heidfeld (Sauber) span off the track and hit Sato's
car on the exit of turn two, taking them both out of the race. Professor
Sid Watkins told Eddie Jordan that Sato appeared to have no serious injuries,
but as a precaution he was flown to Graz University Hospital for checks.
B·A·R Honda's Olivier Panis, who was on a one-stop strategy, had fallen
back five places by lap two, having started ninth on the grid. Panis moved
up one place when McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen retired on the sixth lap, but
the Frenchman remained in 13th position until lap 23 when he was forced
out of the action with engine failure.
Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) took the chequered flag, finishing ahead of
team-mate Rubens Barrichello and the Williams of Juan Pablo Montoya. Ralf
Schumacher (Williams) and Jordan Honda's Giancarlo Fisichella finished fourth
and fifth with David Coulthard (McLaren) completing the point scoring positions.
Shuhei Nakamoto --- Race and Test Team Manager, Honda Racing Development
"We have all been through every emotion while watching the race today. From
the fear of seeing Takuma involved in such a big accident and the disappointment
of two of our cars not finishing the race with engine problems, to the joy
of discovering that Takuma is okay and scoring our first points of the season.
I think Giancarlo drove a really great race today and the Jordan Honda team
performed impressively under such difficult conditions."
Giancarlo Fisichella Position: 5th
"It's been a very, very good day for me, as I didn't expect to score points.
But, the most important thing is that Takuma is alright. I had a good start,
although the beginning of the race wasn't easy. When the safety car came
out, we timed our pit stop perfectly and refueled to get to the end of the
race. Afterwards, we had good balance and grip, and I didn't make any mistakes.
When I was behind the McLaren, it was quicker on the straights, but I was
confident on the corners, and then David hit an oily patch on the track
and I had my chance to take fifth place. It felt fantastic when I crossed
the line and I would like to say thank you to the team, especially because
we made the right pit stop decision."
Jacques Villeneuve Position: DNF (classified 10th)
"The car was quick in the race, except towards the end when I had the first
signs of a problem. We took the decision to run a two-stop strategy because
of where I was on the grid and that was really working out for me for the
first half of the race. I was able to pass a lot of people and took advantage
of the first safety car to come in for my first pitstop. What really cost
us today was the penalty. The second safety car stayed out for quite a long
time but it was too early in our strategy to make my second pitstop. Towards
the end of the race we knew there was a problem because we were losing hydraulic
pressure, then the engine let go on the last lap. It's been a better race
for me than the rest of the weekend though. I'd forgotten what racing is
like and today was a little reminder."
Takuma Sato Position: DNF - accident
Statement issued by Jordan Honda at 1830hrs:
DHL Jordan Honda driver Takuma Sato will remain in Graz's University Hospital
for observation overnight following his accident in today's Austrian Grand
Prix. The 25 year old Japanese driver was flown to Graz by air ambulance
following initial checks at the circuit Medical Centre overseen by Professor
Sid Watkins, the FIA's Chief Medical Officer.
Takuma's manager Andrew Gilbert-Scott has contacted the team from Graz to
explain that the initial diagnosis is 'soft tissue' damage to the right
thigh, but there appear to be no broken bones. He remained in the car immediately
following the accident because the rear crash structure of the Sauber had
broken through the side of the Jordan Honda EJ12 monocoque slightly below
Taku's right knee causing extensive damage and making it difficult for him
to move. The side impact crash structures absorbed the impact well. He was
treated at the scene by the FIA's Medical Team and removed to the medical
centre where he was able to sit up and talk.
Eddie Jordan walked to race Control during the race to establish further
information and was informed by Professor Watkins that the fact Takuma had
escaped serious injury was 'a miracle' and that he appeared to be ok. The
team in the pits was quickly informed that Takuma was relatively unhurt.
The decision to keep Takuma in hospital overnight is precautionary in order
to check for any aftereffects of such a serious accident. The team does
not know the full extent of the bruising or other injuries, nor how long
it will take before Takuma is able to drive again. A full update will be
issued tomorrow.
Olivier Panis Position: DNF
"My start was very good but I lost places because I was very heavy on fuel.
I still felt quite confident though because, as we now know, one-stopping
would have been the right strategy. On the 3rd lap I felt something happen
with the car; it suddenly felt a little strange. I kept pushing but in the
end the engine blew as I was coming down the straight to start my 23rd lap.
Sure, I'm a little disappointed, but we have to keep pushing and stay focused
now. I really feel that I got the best out of the car here this weekend.
We made good progress with the set-up and I qualified well so it's just
a question of making it through the race with no problems. We are still
going forward and I'm sure that my luck will change soon. I'm ready for
Monaco!"
Round 7 of the FIA Formula One World Championship is the Monaco Grand Prix
on Sunday 26 May.
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Formula One World Championship Round 6
Round 6 : Austria (A1-Ring)
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| 1 |
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M SCHUMACHER (Ferrari) |
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| 2 |
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R.BARRICHELLO (Ferrari) |
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| 3 |
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J-P.MONTOYA (Williams) |
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| 4 |
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R.SCHUMACHER (Williams) |
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| 5 |
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G.FISICHELLA (Jordan Honda) |
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| 6 |
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D.COULTHARD (McLaren) |
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| 7 |
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J.BUTTON (Renault) |
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| 8 |
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M.SALO (Toyota) |
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| 9 |
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A.Mcnish (Toyota) |
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| 10 |
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J.VILLENEUVE (B·A·R Honda) |
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| 11 |
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H-H.FRENTZEN (Arrows) |
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| 12 |
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M.Webber (Minardi) |
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| DNF |
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T.Sato (DHL Jordan Honda) |
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| DNF |
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O.PANIS (B·A·R Honda) |
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G.FISICHELLA
Jordan Honda
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