By Huw Alban
April 29 2002

Heinz-Harald Frentzen's superb Imola weekend came to a halt on the grass during the race from a hard fought 9th place. Enrique Bernoldi continued his race in a strong top 10 position before a probable steering or suspension problem ended his race in the gravel trap at the 2nd Rivazza. About half an hour before the start of the formation lap dark clouds loomed over the Imola circuit. It had rained again overnight, and the circuit was now smooth and slippery again. The OrangeArrows showed their race pace again by being quick in the warmup session. Enrique Bernoldi lead Heinz-Harald Frentzen in 10th place, with the more experienced German 3/10ths down in 13th - where he qualified.

As the formation lap got under way, the TV coverage came from a helicopter camera and there were just a few spots of moisture on the camera lens as it tracked the cars around.

Both OrangeArrows cars made it away from the start and the entire grid made it cleanly around the first few corners. Heinz-Harald Frentzen lost a place to 14th and Bernoldi had a storming start to make places up to 16th by the end of the first lap. By the end of lap 2 Frentzen manages to get past the Jordan of Takuma Sato to take back 13th place, and during lap 3 Enrique Bernoldi was all over the back of the Toyota of Mika Salo.

On lap 4 Takuma Sato makes an unscheduled pit stop promoting Bernoldi up one place to 15th, but the Brazilian also makes it past Mika Salo's Toyota on lap 6 at the last chicane to take 14th right behind his team mate.

Nick Hiedfeld's Sauber makes an unscheduled pit stop on lap 15 - the team were not ready for him and it's a long stop dropping him to 17th place. Our two Arrows boys are now 12th and 13th. Felipe Massa also makes a pit stop, but this time it looks more organised, OrangeArrows have benefited again moving up to 11th and 12th, Frentzen about 1.2 seconds behind 10th placed Olivier Panis.

Jarno Trulli makes his first stop on lap 23, as does Enrique Bernoldi pushing the Brazilian back down to 15th. Jenson Button makes his first stop on lap 24 allowing Frentzen to now move up to 10th.

During lap 26 the TV coverage suddenly cut away to pictures of Heinz-Harald Frentzen coasting onto the grass to retire from 9th place, what a bitter shame.

Enrique Bernoldi is still running and is now in 13th position, 1 lap down on the leaders. Mika Salo retires his Toyota outside the pit garage around lap 29 moving Bernoldi up one place to 12th.

Felipe Massa makes his second stop with 24 laps of the race remaining, but it does nothing to help Bernoldi as he comes back out onto the circuit in 11th. Around lap 44 Enrique Bernoldi makes his second stop of the race, and at the same time Kimi Raikonnen retires from the race by driving straight into the McLaren pit garage. Also one of the BAR cars looks to be in trouble as the TV coverage shows it touring around the track - Olivier Panis pulls straight into the BAR garage to retire also.

After that lot, and more pit stops from the leaders, Enrique Bernoldi is left running in 10th place. Nick Heidfeld makes it past the Brazilian around lap 48 demoting Bernoldi to 11th.

Around lap 51 the TV coverage again cuts to an OrangeArrows car, to show Enrique Bernoldi driving intentionally into the gravel trap. A replay showed the car not even attempting the second Rivazza, suggesting some kind of mechanical problem with the car - perhaps the steering system - but that's it from the team this weekend.

The team will now pack up and head to the 3 day test due to take place at Silverstone next week. This will be the first time that the team will have undertaken any development since the season started in Melbourne 6 weeks ago.