Archive for July, 2003
Barrichello Wins British GP
Barrichello wins British GP
Brazil’s Rubens Barrichello holds up the winner’s trophy after claiming the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday. William’s Colombian driver Juan Pablo Montoya finished second, while Mclaren’s Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen came third. — Reuters
SILVERSTONE
July 20.
Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello won the British Grand Prix on Sunday to and stop the recent dominance of Williams-BMW.
It was the first victory for Barrichello this season and seventh different driver in 11 races this season.
He has six career victories, his last at the U.S. Grand Prix last September when Michael Schumacher gave him the victory by mistake.
“It always very hard to listen to the Brazilian anthem and not cry,” a teary-eyed Barrichello said in accepting victory on the podium. “When I am on the podium in first place I still remember my father.”
Juan Pablo Montoya in a Williams-BMW was 5.4 seconds behind Barrichello. It was the third straight second place finish who trailed team-mate Ralf Schumacher in the previous two races.
Kimi Raikkonen was third in a McLaren-Mercedes followed by five-time World champion Michael Schumacher in fourth.
Michael Schumacher’s lead over Raikkonen for the season is now 69-62 with five races left. Montoya is now third with 55 points.
David Coulthard of McLaren-Mercedes and Jarno Trulli of Renault were fifth and sixth.
Cristiano DaMatta of Toyota, who led the race after a protester went onto the track and caused a shake-up in the standings for a while, was seventh.
Ralf Schumacher, who won the previous two races, was just ninth after Jenson Button of BAR-Honda.
The race was affected by two safety car interventions, the second after the 12th lap when a man wearing a kilt ran onto the track.
With cars speeding by, the man ran for more than 20 seconds in the middle of the track before security guards and police caught him and dragged him off.
That brought the safety car out and brought in nearly the entire field for their first pit stops.
“It was so crowded in the pits, it was difficult to let go,” Barrichello said.
DaMatta didn’t need to pit after pitting the first time and vaulted from 15th to first.
Because of the timing of the safety car, and the amount of time only some cars lost in avoiding the man, the standings were changed radically.
Before the incident, Jarno Trulli was leading with Barrichello second and Raikkonen third. But after the safety car went off, DeMatta claimed first with Barrichello in eighth.
Michael Schumacher was among the losers, dropping from fifth to 14th. He gradually worked his way back up to fourth at the finish.
Barrichello eventually moved back up, passing Raikkone with a daring move on the 42nd lap.
“First I knew I had a car fast enough to pull away,” Barrichello said. ” I took advantage of my car to pass cars.”
“I almost lost my nose,” Barrichello said referring to his car’s front wing that nearly hit Raikkonen.
There was little change in final 10 laps among the top four cars.
The results: 1. Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Ferrari, 1:28.37.554s; 2. Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) Williams-BMW; 3. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes; 4. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari; 5. David Coulthard (GBR) McLaren-Mercedes; 6. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Renault; 7. Cristiano Da Matta (Bra) Toyota; 8. Jenson Button (GBR) BAR-Honda; 9. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Williams-BMW; 10. Jacques Villeneuve (Can) BAR-Honda.
Drivers’ standings (after 11 races): 1. Michael Schumacher (Ger) 69, 2. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) 62, 3. Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) 55, 4. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) 53, 5. Rubens Barrichello (Bra) 49, 6. Fernando Alonso (Esp) 39; 7. David Coulthard (GBR) 33, 8. Jarno Trulli (Ita) 16, 9. Mark Webber (Aus) 12, 10. Jenson Button (GBR) 11, 11. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) 10, 12. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Ger) 7, 13. Cristiano Da Matta (Bra) 5, 14. Jacques Villeneuve (Can) 3, 15. Olivier Panis (Fra) 2, 16. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) 2, 17. Ralph Firman (Ire) 1.
Manufacturers’ standings: 1. Ferrari 118, 2. Williams-BMW 108, 3. McLaren Mercedes 95, 4. Renault 55, 5. BAR-Honda 14, 6. Jaguar 12, 7. Jordan-Ford 11, 8. Sauber-Petronas 9 and 9. Toyota 7.
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Volkswagen To Double Production In China
Volkswagen to double production in China
SHANGHAI: Volkswagen AG will double annual production in China, its largest market after Germany, to 1.6 million vehicles in five years, slightly higher growth than previously forecast, the company said on Wednesday. Executives at Volkswagen’s Chinese joint ventures have earlier said that they planned to bump up capacity to a collective 1.36 million vehicles by 2007 through new plants and expansion at existing facilities.
Reuters
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