By pitpass.com
April 6 2003

Ten minutes before the race is due to start and we're still unsure as to whether there'll even be a Brazilian Grand Prix. The rain has eased off only to start again. The race had been in doubt ever since mid-morning when the heavens opened and virtually turned parts of the track into small rivers. Since then the rain has eased off only to start again.

At this moment in time some believe the race could be delayed, other believe it will start behind the safety car, while others believe it is simply more negative publicity for F1.

Hey, wait a minute.. heavy rain, the race to start behind the safety car.. what website predicted yesterday that this would happen and that consequently some cars would run ultra-light in qualifying and use the safety car start to make that vital first fuel stop at the end of the formation lap?

Ten minutes to go and it's still raining, the main concern being standing water. Ferrari's Ross Brawn is of the opinion that the race shouldn't start, even behind the safety car: "The problem is," he says, "is that at such slow speeds these cars don't generate any downforce, therefore there's no grip, nothing, they're simply aquaplaning everywhere."

Five minutes to go and race control announces that there will be a ten minute delay to see whether conditions improve. So much for new improved F1.

Several drivers appear to be starting from the pitlane including Frentzen, Pizzonia and Verstappen. It's understood the Dutchman experienced a problem as he left the pits for his 'parade' lap. Ralph Firman's Jordan is also pushed into the pitlane. Remember these drivers will be allowed to fill their cars to the very brim with fuel.

Fifteen minutes later than originally scheduled and the silver Mercedes safety car leads the field away on the formation lap.

Off they go and it's hard to see who is who, as the spray forms a curtain covering the track. Panis pulls into the pits at the end of the formation lap, the only driver to do so.

The race is on, well sort of, since they continue to run behind the safety car completing the first lap in 2:16.310. At the back of the field, playing catch up having got away behind everyone else, Firman is lapping in 1:36.955.

One has to say this, but as someone who still regards Pedro Rodriguez' performance in the Porsche 917 at Brands Hatch in 1970 as one of the greatest drives he has ever witnessed, I find this incredibly boring, and not my idea of motor racing.

The rain appears to be easing and both air and track temperatures are rising. Furthermore some drivers are telling their crews that the rivulets across the track are not getting any smaller.

Fisichella comes into the pits at the end of lap seven, as race control announces that the safety car will come in at the end of the next lap, hopefully then we'll have a race on our hands.

You can cut the air with a knife, such is the tension as the silver Mercedes pulls off, Rubens brings the field almost to a standstill trying to bunch it up, but it backfires and Coulthard jumps him as the go into the first corner.

Firman makes a quick stop at the end of the lap as Barrichello comes under pressure from Webber, Nick Heidfeld meanwhile pulls off, his race over.

At the end of lap 9 Raikkonen makes a move on Barrichello at the end of the main straight, Montoya also gets past the hapless Ferrari driver. The two McLarens are running nose-to-tail, Coulthard appears to have a problem, or is he merely over-cautious?

At the end of lap ten Raikkonen makes his move and sails past his team-mate as Montoya wastes no time in passing the startled Scot.

Further back Trulli and Ralf have a difference of opinion but both are able to continue.

It's all going wrong for Rubens as he is passed by Schumacher, the Brazilian's race falling apart.

Raikkonen, Montoya, Coulthard, Webber, Schumacher, Barrichello, Alonso, Trulli, Button and Villeneuve.

Raikkonen leads by 1.2s but Coulthard, Schumacher and Webber are all setting a blistering pace.

Twelve laps completed and Kimi leads Montoya by 2s, Coulthard is a further 0.6s behind with Webber 4.3s behind the Scot.

Pole man Barrichello is now under pressure from Alonso, as Webber is chasing hard after Coulthard. The Scot however makes a great move to pass Montoya and set off after his team-mate.

1:26.024 and Schumacher sets the fastest lap of the race as Montoya is clearly losing grip.

Kimi now leads his team-mate by 5.2s, while Schumacher passes Webber on the long energy-sapping climb up the hill. The German closes on Montoya, remorselessly reeling the Colombian in. There is nothing the WilliamsF1 driver can do, Schumacher's past and off after the McLarens.

1:24.659 and fastest lap for Coulthard as the Scot bites huge chunks out of Raikkonen's lead, as Wilson stops in sector one.

1:24.324 and Schumacher is quickest as he closes the gap to Coulthard to 6.3s. Barrichello meanwhile has found his second-wind and is closing on Webber.

Panis' race is over following a clash with Firman after what appeared to be a suspension failure on the Jordan, wretched luck for the Toyota driver.

A dry line is now appearing but at this point the safety car is brought out as marshals try to clear debris from the Panis/Firman crash away.

All the front runners, with the exception of Raikkonen make use of the safety car period to stop for fuel, it's mayhem in the garages as both WilliamsF1, both Ferraris and both Renaults and both BARs all pit at the same time.

Twenty laps completed and Raikkonen leads from Coulthard, Schumacher, de Matta, Barrichello, Montoya, Pizzonia, Frentzen, Webber and Button.

At this point everyone with the exception of Raikkonen, da Matta, Pizzonia, Frentzen and Verstappen has pitted.

At the end of lap twenty-two the safety car pulls off, the race is back on. Raikkonen puts his foot to the floor with Coulthard and Schumacher in hot pursuit.

Barrichello and Montoya are all over da Matta, the Ferrari star gets by cleanly but the Colombian appears to hit the Toyota, just slightly.

Schumacher is all over Coulthard with Raikkonen a further 0.7s up the road.

Something went very wrong fro Frentzen who has suddenly dropped to last, a minute ago he was eighth!

Lap twenty-four and Raikkonen leads by 2.1s while Coulthard is under close scrutiny from both Ferraris. Meanwhile Pizzonia loses it on the standing water and crashes into Montoya who has also just gone off, two more south Americans are out.

The big question now however is why hasn't Raikkonen stopped? Is this good strategy or dumb? Time will tell.

Twenty six laps gone and Raikkonen leads by 1.034s as Schumacher goes off and hits Pizzonia's car which is still being moved by marshals. It's not raining but this bit of track seems to be very, very wet.

The safety car comes out for the third time today.

Phew!

Raikkonen takes full advantage of the safety car and makes his pit stop, as does da Matta.

Coulthard now leads from Barrichello, Ralf, Webber, Button, Alonso, Verstappen - yes Verstappen - and Fisichella.

End of lap twenty nine and the safety car pulls off, Coulthard leads the field up the hill, the race is on.. again.

At the end of the main straight Ralf makes a great move on Barrichello and almost makes it stick through the Senna 'S', but not , a brilliant move if it had worked.

Webber is still looking great in fourth ahead of Button, Alonso, Raikkonen and Jos.

That said, the Dutchman's race is over, the Minardi driver falling victim to the same 'river' at Turn 3 that caught out Montoya, Pizzonia and Schumacher.

Thirty one laps completed and DC leads by 1.012s second from Barrichello, Ralf, Webber, Button, Alonso, Raikkonen, Fisichella, Villeneuve and Trulli.

A lap later and the Scot's lead is up to 1.654, as he posts a best time in sector one. Button meanwhile has a big accident at Turn 3, bringing out the safety car for a fourth time.

As the safety car comes out, Webber pits, other than Alonso the only driver to stop twice. It's interesting to note that Button's accident wasn't the same as the other four, his accident appeared to come later, but at the same turn.

OK, the safety car is still out and Coulthard leads from Barrichello, Ralf, Alonso, Raikkonen, Fisichella, Trulli, Frentzen, Villeneuve and Webber.

As the safety car prepares to come in - for how long? - da Matta makes his stop.

Once again Coulthard drags the field up the hill, we now have 11 runners remaining with the race still at half-distance.

A lap later and Raikkonen storms past Alonso on the pit straight then seconds later makes a similarly outstanding move on Ralf Schumacher, utter brilliance and bravery.

As the Finn sets off after Barrichello, who is 0.673s behind Coulthard, Alonso is all over the back of Ralf.

Coulthard and Barrichello are both posting blistering times in the various sectors, as the Brazilian fills the Scots mirrors. Webber meanwhile is looking good in eighth, don't forget, he's made two stops.

Alonso gets past Ralf though the German is clearly unwilling to let the Spaniard get away. Raikkonen meanwhile is losing ground to his team-mate and Barrichello.

Coulthard and Barrichello are running nose to tail, as the Brazilian posts fastest lap after fastest lap. Meanwhile Alonso gets a drive-through penalty for naughtiness when the safety car pulled off.

Coulthard is struggling, his Michelins are shot, Rubens is ready to pounce. Raikkonen continues to fall behind in third ahead of Ralf, Fisichella, Trulli, Weber and Frentzen and Alonso, who has served his penalty.

Mark Webber loses it at the notorious Turn 3 but somehow controls it and keeps going as Barrichello gets past Coulthard as the Scot gets it wrong at the end of the main straight, to send the partisan crowd wild.

Clearly Coulthard is struggling, he needs to stop for fresh rubber. With the McLaren out of the way, Rubens sails (almost literally) into the distance.

The Ferrari star continues to maintain a tremendous pace, he can taste the sweetest of victories and nothing's going to stop him.

Suddenly the Brazilian slow, and heart-achingly pulls off on to the grass, the dream is over. This is the worst of luck for the poor man.

Coulthard leads from Raikkonen, followed by Ralf, Fisichella, Trulli, Frentzen, Alonso, Villeneuve, Webber and da Matta.

Lap forty nine and Ralf pits as Giancarlo Fisichella closes on Raikkonen who seems to have lost the sense of urgency he had a few laps back.

Coulthard leads by 21s and if he were still commentating this is the point at which Murray Walker would start putting the 'mockers' on things.

Currently in seventh is Jacques Villeneuve who has had a quiet but steady race, simply keeping his head down, though Mark Webber (eighth) is in hot pursuit. Meanwhile the Canadian is focussing on Trulli just 0.7s ahead.

Fifty one laps completed and DC leads Raikkonen by 18.4s then opts to make his second, and final, stop. He exits the pits behind Alonso and ahead of Frentzen. The big question now is will Kimi have to stop again and even if he doesn't how will the Finn's tyres compare with the Scot's fresh rubber.

Frentzen is a dark horse, the German posts best time of the day in the first sector.

Up front Raikkonen is slow and Giancarlo Fisichella takes the lead, Jordan leads in its two-hundredth Grand Prix. Meanwhile Mark Webber has an enormous crash on the main straight.

The Australian is fine but his car is utterly destroyed, the safety car is pressed into service yet again. However before the Mercedes is even brought out Alonso crashes into the one of Webber's wheel which is abandoned in the middle of the track, the race is red-flagged almost instantly.

The Spaniard is OK but is clearly winded, he is taken to the side of the track.

In the Jordan garage the team is celebrating for it could well be that the race won't be re-started in which case Fisichella has won. Meanwhile, the race winning car is in parc ferme, where it catches fire. This is insane.

Elsewhere Jarno Trulli is pushing his car up the track.

Memo to all readers: This is not a late April fool, nor is it pitpass' answer to Orson Welles' War of the Worlds.

The way we read it, Fisichella wins from Raikkonen, Alonso - who is injured by the side of the track - Coulthard, Frentzen, Villeneuve, Ralf and Trulli.

Ron Dennis is quick to say that in his opinion his driver David Coulthard has won, though he says that he will abide by the decision of the race stewards.

That said, the official timing boards indicate that Kimi Raikkonen has won ahead of Fisichella, Alonso, Coulthard, Frentzen, Villeneuve, Webber and Trulli.

In all honesty who knows?

Eddie Jordan seems convinced that his guy has won, while Ron Dennis thought that Coulthard had got it.

F1 eh, don't you just love it?


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