Michael Schumacher wins his second race of the season ahead of an
impressive Fernando Alonso in the Renault with Rubens Barrichello in 3rd. Juan
Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher, Cristiano da Matta, Mark Webber and Ralph
Firman make the top 8.
Only 12 cars finished the race with 4 retirements due to accidents and the
other 4 due to mechanical failures.
While the new Ferrari managed to win the race on its debut, it was the
Renault of Fernando Alonso that stole the show managing to keep in touch with
the Ferrari of Michael Schumacher throughout the race and beating the second
Ferrari in a fair fight and lapping (yes lapping) the Williams of Ralf
Schumacher and almost a minute clear of the second Williams of Juan Pablo
Montoya.
For the first time this season both McLarens fail to finish (both retired due
to accidents) and it was also the first time that a Renault has failed to
finish and again due to an accident.
Race Start
Fernando Alonso gets a good start and is sandwiched between Michael
Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. At the first corner Barrichello manages to
get around Alonso and takes second. Trulli and Coulthard touch resulting in
Trulli going off and retiring while Coulthard sustains some damage and pits.
At the back Pizzonia fails to start and Kimi Raikkonen who started from the
back of the grid slams into him resulting in a safety car situation.
Order after the 1st lap: Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Fernando
Alonso, Ralf Schumacher, Jenson Button, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jacques
Villeneuve, Cristiano da Matta.
Retirements: Kimi Raikkonen, Antonio Pizzonia and Jarno Trulli.
Coulthard, Firman, Frentzen and Heidfeld pit while the safety car is out.
Safety car heads into the pits on lap 5
Montoya takes Button for 5th in a superb move at the end of the straight
locking up the brakes.
Coulthard gets ahead of Frentzen and Firman for 14th.
Order on lap 7: Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Fernando Alonso,
Ralf Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jenson Button, Jacques Villeneuve and
Cristiano da Matta
Michael Schumacher was 1.5 seconds ahead of Rubens Barrichello with Alonso
2.3 seconds behind Michael.
Michael Schumacher slowly increases the gap over Barrichello and Alonso.
Coulthard moves into 13th ahead of Verstappen.
Order on lap 12: Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Fernando Alonso,
Ralf Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jenson Button, Jacques Villeneuve,
Cristiano da Matta
Villeneuve retires with an engine problem.
Jenson Button pits on lap 15.
Panis pits on lap 16 and so does Wilson.
Alonso pits on lap 17 and rejoins in 5th.
Jenson Button attempts to take Coulthard but Coulthard closes the door,
they touch and Coulthard spins out. Button pits and rejoins in 15th.
Ralf Schumacher pits on lap 18
Michael Schumacher pits on lap 19. Rubens Barrichello pits on lap 20.
Following the first round of stops Alonso took second from Rubens
Barrichello.
Order on lap 21: Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Rubens Barrichello,
Ralf Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, Giancarlo Fisichella, Cristiano da Matta
and Ralph Firman
Michael Schumacher leading Alonso by 2.5 seconds.
Fisichella pits and suffers a problem with the refuelling.
Michael Schumacher increases his lead over Alonso to 4 seconds. Barrichello
2 seconds behind Alonso.
da Matta pits on lap 30
Order on lap 32: Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Rubens Barrichello,
Ralf Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya and Olivier Panis
Michael Schumacher leads Alonso by 6 seconds but was starting to lose
ground to Alonso. He makes his second pit stop on lap 35 and rejoins behind
Ralf Schumacher.
Barrichello pits on lap 36. Meanwhile Michael is stuck behind Ralf
Schumacher for 2 laps but manages to pass him after Ralf makes a mistake
locking up. Alonso pits on lap 37 and rejoins in 3rd behind Ralf Schumacher
who has still to pit for the second time.
Alonso is stuck behind Ralf Schumacher for a couple of laps but again Ralf
makes a mistake and Alonso passes him then Ralf goes wide and then makes his
second pit stop.
Panis retires after making his second pit stop.
Fernando Alonso starts to close the gap to Michael Schumacher
Fisichella retires with an engine failure.
Montoya takes 5th from Ralf Schumacher in a brave overtaking move.
Order on lap 46: Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Rubens Barrichello,
Cristiano da Matta, Juan Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher and Mark Webber
Michael Schumacher makes his 3rd and final stop on lap 49, he rejoins in
3rd.
Alonso pits from the lead on lap 50 and rejoins in second. Barrichello pits
as well and Michael retakes the lead.
Order on lap 53: Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Rubens
Barrichello, Juan Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher, Cristiano da Matta, Mark
Webber and Ralph Firman.
Michael Schumacher increases the gap to Alonso to 7.5 seconds.
Cristiano da Matta in 6th catches Ralf Schumacher but couldn't pass.
Michael Schumacher stays in the lead and wins the race ahead of Fernando
Alonso with Rubens Barrichello in 3rd. Juan Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher,
Cristiano da Matta and Ralph Firman make the top 8. All the drivers up to 4th
were lapped!
With Kimi Raikkonen retiring, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso
have close the gap considerably in the Drivers' Championship. Raikkonen
still leads with 32 points just 4 points ahead of Michael Schumacher with
Fernando Alonso a further 3 points behind. Rubens Barrichello is 4th with
20 points while David Coulthard is in 5th ahead of Ralf Schumacher and
Juan Pablo Montoya.
And with neither McLaren finishing, their lead in the Constructors'
Championship has shrunk to just 3 points ahead of Ferrari with Renault in
3rd with 34 points ahead of Williams with 32.
