By pitpass.com (03/08/2003)
August 3 2003

Well the drivers face a long hard afternoon, 67 laps of the 'new' Hockenheim circuit in absolutely blisteringly hot conditions. Hard to believe but the track temperature is close to fifty-degrees. One man clearly 'moved' by the prospect is Minardi's new boy Nicolas Kiesa who disappears for a last minute pee.

As ever tyres will play a major part of today's race while only a couple of drivers are thought to be running on light fuel loads.

Everyone takes their place on the grid, nobody is starting from the pitlane.

As the pull away from the line Montoya gets away cleans as Ralf moves to his left and forces Barrichello into Raikkonen, mayhem ensues with Ralph Firman also out on the spot. Ralf continues round then drives into his garage to retire. Frentzen, Wilson and Verstappen are all caught up in the melee and return to their garages for repairs.

The safety car is on track but some team bosses clearly want the race stopped, if the race continues Raikkonen's championship hopes are over already. The Finn goes into the barriers sideways and it's a big impact, thankfully he seems OK.

The safety car leads Montoya, Trulli, Alonso, Michael, Webber, Coulthard, Panis, da Matta, Fisichella and Heidfeld. Ralf, Frentzen, Wilson, Barrichello, Raikkonen and Firman are all out of the race.

The safety car pulls off at the end of lap three and the race is underway with only fourteen runners remaining.

At the end of the lap Montoya leads Trulli by 1.5s with Alonso right behind him and Michael a further second down the road.

Amazingly Jaguar sends Justin Wilson back out having replaced his front left suspension, he's already four laps down on the leaders but this is good experience for him.

Montoya is setting a blister pace posting a fastest lap of 1:15.849, he's now 2.3s ahead of Trulli. Coulthard is all over the back of Webber, who's fourth, da Matta and Panis are running noise to tail, further back Heidfeld and Button are climbing all over Fisichella.

Coulthard finally makes his move on Webber at the hairpin, it's a night clean move but the Australian knows he's beaten, as DC sets off after Michael Schumacher.

Good news for Dutch fans is that Jos Verstappen passes Fisichella to take twelfth, as Wilson pulls into his garage to finally retire.

Montoya and Michael are both pushing hard posting fastest times in various sectors, the Colombian posting another fastest lap - 1:15.522.

Trulli trails Montoya by 3.2s with Alonso third 3.1s ahead of Schumacher who leads Coulthard, Webber, Panis, da Matta, Button, Heidfeld, Villeneuve, Verstappen and Kiesa. Could we see a Minardi in the points today?

Fisichella pits at the end of lap 12, the Jordan sounds dreadful.

1:15.288, another fastest lap for Montoya as he extends his lead to four seconds. Next time around the Colombian posts 1:14.917 as Trulli pits, all eyes on Michael Schumacher as the WilliamsF1 drivers appears to be running very, very light.

Webber, Panis and da Matta are enjoying a great scrap for sixth as Button closes in. Panis decided the best option is to stop leaving team-mate da Matta to take on the Aussie.

Following his pit stop Trulli has dropped to fifth behind Coulthard, out front Montoya is 11.1s ahead of Alonso. Da Matta repeats DC's earlier move on Webber, the Brazilian getting by with ease.

Montoya stops at the end of lap 17 as does Michael, the German is stationary for 8s while the WilliamsF1 driver is out in 6.9. Next time around da Matta pits as does Alonso and Coulthard.

With the first round of stop completed Montoya leads from Trulli Alonso, Michael, Coulthard, Button, Webber and Panis, however both Webber and Button have yet to stop.

Button is all over Webber another storming drive from the English youngster. At the end of lap twenty Webber pits but Button stays out.

Alonso is all over his team-mate as Montoya extends his lead to 14.9s, meanwhile Michael is closing on the second Renault. Button pits at the end of lap 21 as Heidfeld takes on Villeneuve for ninth.

Trulli, Alonso and Schumacher are running as if tied together by a piece of string with Coulthard a further 11s down the road, out front Montoya maintains a steady pace.

Jos Verstappen makes his second stop at the end of lap twenty-five but as he leaves the pits the Dutchman appears to have a problem who stops shortly afterwards. Next time around team-mate Kiesa pits, the Dane running in twelfth a lap ahead of Fisichella.

Montoya now leads by 23s and barring a major upset is heading to victory, Trulli leads Alonso by less than as second with Schumacher hot on the Spaniard's heels. Coulthard is 10s behind Michael and leads Panis by 17s, behind the Frenchman it's da Matta, Villeneuve, Heidfeld, Button, Webber, Kiesa and Fisichella. The Australian has really dropped back, does he have a problem.

The Trulli-Alonso-Schumacher battle is now covered by 3.3s with Montoya having extended his lead to over 24s. Coulthard is gradually closing in on Schumacher, the Scot has now narrowed the gap to 8.9s. The only other scrap at this time is the fight for ninth between Heidfeld and Button.

Alonso goes wide at Mobil and Schumacher's quick to take advantage, the German nips through to take third.

At the end of lap thirty-three Montoya makes his second stop, he's stationary for 6.9s then sets off again still leading Trulli and Schumacher who are separated by 2.9s.

The Toyotas stop on consecutive laps, they are having a great day.

Villeneuve, having a relatively quiet afternoon, pits at the end of lap 35 as does Heidfeld. Fisichella, running three laps behind the leaders, also pits.

Montoya leads by 7.8s as Michael is now 1.5s behind Trulli with Coulthard still closing in on Alonso.

The Renault crew gets ready for a stop as does the Ferrari crew. Schumacher and Trulli both stop and clearly refuel for the remainder of the race, the German is stationary for 11.2s while the Italian's stop takes 10s. Next time around it's Alonso that stops, the Spaniard stationary for 11.3s.

Coulthard is now running in second but the Scot needs to make at least one pit stop.

Behind this leading group Panis is running in sixth ahead of da Matta, Button, Webber, Heidfeld, Villeneuve, Kiesa and Fisichella. Button and Webber have yet to make their second stops.

After 41 laps Montoya leads Coulthard, who still has to stop, by 23.8s with Trulli a further 18.1s down the road and Michael 2.8s behind.

DC pits at the end of lap 42 and is stationary for 9.6s, he gets out just ahead of Alonso to sneak a point from Renault.

Button pits on lap 44 as Coulthard closes to within 2.2s of Schumacher who is now 3.2s behind Trulli.

Webber finally makes his second stop at the end of lap 45 as Montoya extends his lead to an amazing 49s. Kiesa, currently running in twelfth (of thirteen) makes his third stop of the afternoon.

Coulthard is now running 1.4s behind Schumacher it's clear that tyre wear is going to be the deciding factor during the final laps.

After 48 laps Montoya leads Trulli by 54s with Michael a further 2.9s behind ahead of DC, Alonso, Panis, da Matta and Button. In ninth it's Webber ahead of Heidfeld, Villeneuve, Kiesa and Fisichella.

At the end of lap fifty Montoya makes his final stop which takes a mere 6.9s. Panis stops as does da Matta on the next lap, the Toyotas continuing to look impressive as they run virtually together.

Montoya's lead - following his pit stop - is now down to 38s, with Trulli 1.7 ahead of Michael with Coulthard a further 0.7s behind. 6.6s behind the Scot is Alonso who leads the Toyotas by almost half-a-minute. Button is the last of the points hopefuls though Webber is closing in.

On consecutive laps Michael, DC and Trulli make minor but nonetheless significant mistakes. Clearly all three are struggling for grip.

The titanic fight for second - the trio is covered by 1.3s - plays into Buttons hands as it holds up Webber, costing the Jaguar driver vital seconds.

Unwittingly Villeneuve causes minor problems as Michael goes wide trying to take Alonso but somehow manages to get ahead of the Italian, un-bloody-believable, great stuff.

A lap later and Coulthard tries the same thing and it almost ends in tears as the Renault and McLaren almost touch. As they race away from the corner the Scot has the better grip and gets ahead of the blue and yellow car.

Montoya still leads but now it's Michael that's 55s down the road ahead of Coulthard, Trulli, Alonso, Panis, da Matta and Button who has Webber all over his rear.

Schumacher is 2.7s clear of Coulthard but the German knows that he needs to extend this, the Scot has other ideas.

Schumacher slows, the German has a puncture and has to get back to the pits. Ross Brawn talk to his driver over the radio, can Ferrari salvage something from this race?

He exits the pits in seventh and sets off after da Matta, who is a mere 21s up the road. Meanwhile Fisichella enters the pits and stops long before his garage, the Italian jumps out clearly worried about something, probably fire.

As Montoya takes the flag Webber's race is over as the Jaguar heads off into the gravel.

A power-house performance from Montoya which puts him a mere six points behind Schumacher in the title fight, while the German's tyre problem works in favour of brother Ralf and Raikkonen.

WilliamsF1 has now narrowed the Constructors' Championship down to two points , while McLaren are still in with a serious shout.

An absolutely superb performance from Montoya while serious kudos to David Coulthard and Jarno Trulli.

We now head off for a three week break and though testing is banned you can bet your bottom dollar that at least one team will be working around the clock in preparation for when battle recommences in Hungary later this month.


This article was written by pitpass.com and is used with permission.