Due
to some certain circumstances author of this article didn't see Spanish Grand Prix with his own eyes. So all that remains to me are avaricious videocaptures and analysis of results
Good bye, Michele...
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Seems that period in
the end of April and May becomes black time for motorsport. No one of us
will ever forget May of 1994... And now the God of Speed has
collected taxes once again. On April, 25th Michele Alboreto has
died in a crash during testing session for Audi Racing Team in
Lausitzring. Later, the teams speaker has reported that the reason
of an accident was the tyre's defect. |
Our generation practically don't
remember this driver. The peak of his Formula 1 career was in the middle
of 80s, when he struggled against Alain Prost, Nelson Piquet,
Niki Lauda... Michele won 5 Grand Prix. That's more than most of drivers
for all their careers. But not too much to make everyone remember him,
like we remember Ayrton Senna. But, as Alain Prost said, Alboreto was a
real gentleman on the track and out of it.
Rest in peace, Michele!
Substitutions.
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For a long time we didn't see such a wonder as drivers substitutions during a
season. Last year's incident with Eddie Irvine is not on account - he had problems with health. Who has begun this stir will remain a mystery. But fact remains the fact. Luciano Burti was replaced by Pedro De La Rosa in Jaguar, and Brazilian has found a refuge in Prost, where finally has rid of Gaston Mazzacane. Argentinian didn't satisfy Alain Prost's ambitions for a long time. But he brought the money. His results were just poor. He
was constantly loosing to Fernando Alonso, who's car actually powered with 4 years old
engine. |
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And than, having taken advantage of
Gaston's contract item, that links his results to his appearance in the cockpit, Alain Prost has fired Argentinian. Frenchman was preparing for it for a long time. He offered McLaren's tester Alex Wurz and his Jordan's colleague Riccardo Zonta with race driving in his team. Both has rejected and 4-times World Champion has offered Niki Lauda to lease
him Pedro De La Rosa. But Aussie had his own plans for Spaniard. And one morning the world find out that Burit henceforth acts in Prost, and his place in Jaguar is occupied by De La Rosa. Seems that everyone is happy, Britons that they have received a quite decent pilot, and French - that they
has rid of an Argentinian burden.
Debuts.
Pedro has appeared on a track with showiness in a Jaguar of a family green
color. After De La Rosa and Burti has finished to pose before the photographers in their new clothes, the drivers have started to prove, that their new owners haven't lost
by betting on them. De La Rosa was especially zealous, having crashed his Jaguar into
the wall right on the exit of a pit-lane. Surely, because of excitement Both
"racing cats" have surprised on Friday, having occupied 2nd (Eddie Irvine) and 7th (De La Rosa) places. Burti was looked good too, keeping closely behind his skilled teammate Jean Alesi. But even greater attention was attracted to the debut of electronic traction
and launch control systems, again legalized after 7 years of break. However nothing extraordinary has happened, except of flied up Jaguars. Those who was ahead, have remained in the front rows. Just some drivers have shown a little bit more activity in plowing gravel than usually. And further nobody of the debutants didn't become the hero of
a Spanish race. Only De La Rosa was remembered by the unjustified obstinacy in
a struggle with Heinz Harald Frentzen, and Juan Pablo Montoya, who finished second, has surprised, having said
after finish that right after start he has disabled traction-control and
drove the car manually.
Honda's first podium.
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Finally they did it! For a second year of presence in F1 Honda could win it's first podium. The Japanese come back to F1 last year was arranged with a smaller pomp, rather than BMW. If Williams BMW, sorry - BMW Williams, last season regularly finished on podiums, Honda was compelled to solve problems of a teared up by war of two directors BAR. To my mind it's a question
of choice of a strategic partner. Certainly, Williams is much stronger team then BAR, it's a team with psychology of the winner. Even in the unsuccessful periods of their history they knew what, |
how and when to do all that neccessery to return to the top.
BAR just have this way to go. Jordan is much more perspective partner in
this sight. The Irish already have learnt the taste of victories, their
driver struggled for a title, their chief Eddie Jordan is more purposeful person
than BAR's managers. Craig Pollock surely understand it and this season he have to defeat Jordan in any way. Because
Honda don't forgive the mistakes, as we know from a history of their relations with Williams in 80s.
First from 1998 Jaques Villenueve's podium is just a great event. We didn't see World Champion'97 struggling for
a high places for so long time that have ceased to perceive him as a good driver.
But some years ago Villenueve was a very respected person in a sport. Whether he remained the same, or his talent was buried under BAT's millions
Race, that was won by
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So who has won Spanish Grand Prix?
Undoubtedly Michael Schumacher, you will say, and will be absolutely right. Ferrari, that powerfully begun this season, and then
lost the speed a little, needed victory as an air. Schumacher's win has given the team with a charge of forces and reliance of itself.
Mika Hakkinen? In some sort - yes. Failed beginning of a season has beaten out the ground from Finn's feet. Many
peaple have begun to doubt in Mika's ability to get out of this situation. But Ron Dennis didn't doubt of his ward. And Hakkinen
has proved it. In Spain we saw Flyin' Finn once again. Self-assured, ready for struggle, fast and exact. What about failed clutch That's only detail. Hakkinen has proved himself and us that he continues to remain the winner and it's too early to
say "That's all...".
Jaques Villenueve? Certainly. After two years of oblivion this podium is more
valuable then any victory for
Canadian.
David Coulthard? Scot has lost everything, when he
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stalled on a start of the race and then lost a forward wing in turmoil of the first corner. But he hasn't surrendered and not only finished, but struggled with all his mights and has took two points for 5th
place.
So who has won this boring Spanish Grand Prix?
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