12-Sep:
At the Thursday press conference for the Italian Grand Prix, Rubens
Barrichello believes the race will be much closer here and said
"To be honest I think it is going to be a much closer race. I hope
not, but I think it will be because of the nature of the circuit, the way
that Michelin has been running this year in qualifying and the way they
have sorted out their speed and their power. I really think that it is
going to be closer. "
As for how the testing went last week he said "Quite well, testing
all the tyres and testing all the bits that we have for Monza, we're quite
optimistic about it. We know that Williams-BMW can run quite fast here as
they did last year, but we have a good car, that's the most important
thing and it runs well everywhere basically."
When asked about the amazing reliability record Ferrari is enjoying at the
moment, Rubens said "Well, I have got to put that down to the fact
that we have two test drivers and we have two racing tracks, Mugello and
Fiorano, which are a good base for everything. So when we are not running,
they are, and by running and running with the fantastic engineers that we
have, we can make the car reliable. So we get to a point where we can do a
lot of mileage, test the car properly, the first day here for me was
Thursday last week, and I have done myself a total of 430km just in one
day. The race is 300. It is not tiring for the car, it is tiring for the
driver but at the end of the day that is what the reliability is all
about, running and getting to know the problems and trying to fix it as
soon as possible. So the group of people really make it work. Ferrari has
all those people pulling in the right place. It is not one guy trying to
do two things - so one guy is doing one thing, the other is doing the
other. When you are inside you rely on them. Of course we are in a racing
situation where you can have all the glitches, I mean this year I have
been three times stopped on the grid by the electronics so they do happen
but normally the car is so reliable."
Jarno Trulli indicated that he hasn't had a good
experience at his home race in the past and said "Not such a good
feeling. In the last two Grands Prix here in Monza, I didn't manage to go
more than two corners. Last year it was one corner where Jenson hit me up
the back and two years ago, unfortunately, I was involved in an accident
at the second chicane, so not many miles in the race, so I just hope I can
do better."
As an Italian, he was disappointed not to be able put on a good show for
the fans here and said "It's a shame that we come here in Monza and
we find such a long straight where most of it is the car so in fact, in
front of your fans, you will not show a lot better performance. But that's
the way it is and personally I think I just have to work with the team to
try to improve the car and come back here next year and have a more
reliable and quick car."
As for the testing last week, Trulli was happy with the chassis but
concerned with the Renault engine and said "We basically checked our
car on low downforce, we checked brakes, we tried to do some long runs for
the engine, which unfortunately for us did not go very well, and we
basically tried to set the car up on low downforce. I think I am pretty
happy about what we did. We also tried new wet tyres, which performed
pretty well, and we feel that there is a good improvement in this area so
we are not afraid anymore if it is going to rain or we are definitely more
optimistic. Talking about the chassis, I am pretty happy on low downforce,
it is responding very well. The only question mark is again the
reliability on the engine."
When asked if he hopes to qualify as well as he did at Spa, Jarno said
"Regarding seventh position on the grid, I will just say forget it
for the moment, because it will be impossible for us, it would be nice to
be in the top ten, but it will be very, very tough to do that."
Yet again Trulli was reminded of his strong qualifying and poor race
performances and he said "Well, this year I've proved more than once
I can a do a good job in the race but unfortunately I cannot manage to
finish races, for whatever reason. I always miss the last 60 kilometres of
the race. I have always retired between five and ten laps to go. It's a
shame because it's difficult to prove to everybody that you're doing well
in the race if you don't finish but on the other hand I'm just trying to
do my best with the team. I'm not completely unhappy with the way I have
improved through the season."
Giancarlo Fisichella wasn't too happy with the way
things went during testing last week and said "The car is not so good
and at the moment we are not competitive enough. We blew up two engines in
one day so I haven't tested a lot so tomorrow we will concentrate a lot in
the two free practices to do the maximum we can. I hope to do well. It's
not easy because we are not so competitive but you never know. It's
important to be in the top ten in qualifying and then get through to the
end of the race and score some points, that would be our
target."
On his spectacular exit from the Belgian GP, Giancarlo said "It
wasn't exactly an exit, it was a big blow-up. We had lots of problems with
the reliability in the last few weeks and especially at Spa. BAR and
Jordan teams blew up many engines and even last week, unfortunately, in
testing here in Monza we blew up a couple of engines, but they know and
they are very optimistic for this weekend. We will have the new step of
engine, which is a bit better and so that's good news. The question mark
is still the reliability."
Alex Yoong indicated that his forced 2 race break
went well and said "I thought it was quite good. I went on holiday.
Everyone else was working. Well, Hockenheim was a big disappointment for
me and to be honest, I was a bit confused with what happened there, so it
was good to go away. I went back to Malaysia and got my head around what
had happened, just getting my head straight really."
As for the testing at Monza last week, Alex said "The test was good,
it felt really good being in the car and with quite a bit of fuel in the
car the times were pretty good. We had a couple of gearbox problems but
managed to get a bit of dry running towards the end on Friday, so that was
good. "
As for his plans for the rest of the season and beyond, he said
"Well, to improve quite a bit on what happened in the last couple of
races and my options are still... I'm just keeping my options open for
next year, and try and put myself in as good position as I can for doing
something well next year."
12-Sep:
The FIA decided to wait until the financial problems surrounding the Arrows
team are resolved before deciding on any action to take against them. A
statement issued by the FIA read "The FIA has noted the continuing
failure of Orange Arrows to participate in recent Formula One events.
If this failure were due to insolvency, Arrows would lose its rights under the
Concorde Agreement. However, at present the FIA has no hard evidence that
Arrows’ absence is due to insolvency rather than to some other cause.
In the circumstances, the FIA intends to wait until various negotiations and
proceedings relating to Arrows have been concluded before considering any
formal action."
Formula 3000 driver Tomas Enge who drove in Formula 1
for the Prost team last year following Luciano Burti's crash at the Belgian
Grand Prix tested positive to a banned drug and will be appearing before the FIA
on the 1st of October. The FIA issued a statement that read "Following an
anti-doping test at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Tomas Enge, Formula 3000 driver
for the Arden International team, tested positive for a substance prohibited
by the FIA under Appendix L, Chapter II, Article 4 of the International
Sporting Code.
Tomas Enge has been summoned to appear before the World Motor Sport Council at
its next meeting which will be held in Paris on Tuesday, October 1st,
2002.
In conformity with the regulations, a driver may request a re-test of the
original sample within 8 days of being informed of a positive test
result."
Arden International team boss Christian Horner defended his
driver and said "Tomas is insistent that he hasn't knowingly taken any
illegal substance or drug and is completely shocked and surprised to have been
tested positive. Tomas has the complete support of the Arden team in his
effort to win the 2002 drivers' championship this weekend."
12-Sep: Michael Schumacher
has admitted that Ferrari will have a harder race on their hands at Monza
than what they had at Spa. He believes both Williams and McLaren to be
strong but hopes to put on a good show for the tifosi and said "It is
going to be tougher than in Belgium. Our testing went well and we got
through all our programme, but we have seen that everyone is very close in
performance terms.
I reckon the BMW-Williams and the McLaren-Mercedes will be quite strong at
Monza. Just how strong is difficult to say. Whatever, it would be
presumptuous to count on another Ferrari one-two, although we can promise
our fans we will do our very best. Another celebration would always be
welcome, especially if we can please those who have supported us all year.
But in any case, there will be plenty to celebrate, given everything we
have achieved this season."
Team-mate Rubens Barrichello is looking forward to racing at this
special place and said "I am especially looking forward to this
Italian Grand Prix, because unfortunately last year it was a sad weekend
for everyone. Monza is always a fun weekend, combined with some extra
pressure when you are a Ferrari driver, which I feel I handle quite well.
Monza is fantastic in that it is pure tifiosi, tifosi, tifosi! It is a
special place for me and I usually go well here so there is plenty to look
forward to. In Brazil I get a bit more of a boost from the crowd, but
second on the list is definitely Monza. What makes the circuit special is
the fact you can overtake, which usually makes for a good race for us and
for the fans. The nature of the track is a little bit stop-start with the
chicanes, which makes it heavy on brakes. However, Monza has managed to
retain its high speed element, while making the track safer than before,
which can only be a good thing."
Juan Pablo Montoya admitted that realistically the
best they can achieve is 3rd but he still hopes to close the gap to
Barrichello and said "One year ago I had my first Formula One win at
Monza, but it is looking increasingly difficult for us to achieve the same
result this year. At Monza, we probably have one of our best chances to do
well, but I think it's going to prove hard to beat Ferrari. We should be
strong as our engine is powerful, which is a decisive factor here, but
still we must be realistic. It seems at the moment with the equipment we
have got that third place would equate to a win. However, we just finished
a positive test on this circuit and this makes us confident for the race.
One of the most important targets will be to get ahead of Rubens as it
would be really good to take some points away from him." Team-mate Ralf Schumacher didn't want to make any predictions
on how they would go against Ferrari but hopes to be able to finish ahead
of the McLarens. He said "After Ferrari showed their superiority at
Spa, I don't dare make any forecast about the Italian Grand Prix. Normally
the high speed track is good for us, but we believed the same before the
Belgian Grand Prix. Our priority must be to extend the lead ahead of our
direct rivals, McLaren, and to secure second position in the Constructors'
World Championship. We should be able to achieve this even though the
Monza circuit is not among my favourite tracks. To me as a driver it is
simply not demanding enough. It is full throttle on the straights and then
hard on the brakes before the chicanes so there is not enough variety!
During the test we had this week, we have made improvements to the car, so
that we should prove competitive in Monza."
10-Sep:
"Is it all Ferrari now ?"is the title of the 26th issue from the
Diagnosis and Prognosis Series for the 2002 season. In this issue, the Heretic
looks at the aftermath of the Belgian Grand
Prix and the upcoming Italian Grand Prix - Issue
26
10-Sep:
The Quali-flyer's predictions for the 'Real Race' at the Italian GP ... Report
Friday
Practice Session 1
Friday Practice Session 2
Saturday Practice Session 1
Saturday Practice Session 2 Qualifying Session
Warm-up Session Race
11
AM Monza Time / 9 AM GMT
1 PM Monza Time / 11 AM GMT
9:00 AM Monza Time / 7:00 AM GMT
10:15 AM Monza Time / 8:15 AM GMT 1:00 PM Monza Time / 11:00 AM GMT 9:30 AM Monza Time / 7:30 AM GMT 2:00 PM Monza Time / 12 PM GMT
