Kimi Raikkonen Takes Seventh Win Of The Season At Japanes Grand Prix

Posted by www.eMercedesBenz.com  on October 9, 2005 at 10:20 AM CST

The race weekend started dismally for the McLaren-Mercedes F1 Team.   
After being plagued by poor weather in the qualifying rounds at  
Suzuka, followed by a blown piston rod for their star driver Kimi  
Raikkonen, Mercedes' boss Norbert Haug even went as far as  
apologizing to his team.

But that was yesterday, and as any race fan knows, it's only the race  
that counts. In what will be remembered as one of the most exciting  
races of the seasons, Kimi Raikkonen, starting from the 17th position  
on the grid, dominated the Japanes Grand Prix and captured his  
seventh win of the season.

 From the start of the race, drama ensued for the McLaren-Mercedes  
team.  By the end of the first lap, Raikkonen had already moved into  
twelfth postition; his teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya, didn't fare  
nearly as well.  Coming out of the first chicane, Montoya was forced  
off the track, resulting in the safety car being deployed through the  
first seven laps.

By Lap 14, Kimi had steadily worked his way into seventh position,  
directly behind Ferrari's Michael Schumacher. After the first round  
of refueling stops, Kimi continued navigating through the field, and  
by Lap 30, had moved into fourth place.

As the race continued, the three race leaders, Fisichella, Button and  
Weber, all pitted early, while Raikkonen continued racing and set the  
fastest lap time of the day at 1m 31.540s. After finally entering the  
pits on Lap 45, Kimi re-entered the race, now in second position  
behind Fisichella.  Kimi continued trailing Fisichella, slowly  
closing the gap until the final lap.  Going into the first turn on  
Lap 53, Kimi made his move, overtaking Fisichella and moving into  
first position.  Kimi then went on to win the Japanese Grand Prix and  
his seventh race of the season, with a lead time of just under two  
seconds.

Norbert, Norbert, Norbert, I've told you a hundred times.  Relax  
compadre.  So what if your guys blow a piston rod every now and then;  
that just gives them extra incentive to try harder. Haven't you ever  
heard of Seabiscuit?  Sure he was smaller than everybody else, sure  
he was the underdog - but that just made him work harder.  I don't  
know much about managing a F1 team, but after seeing this race, you  
might even want to consider blowing your guy's piston rods more  
often.  Just my two cents.

To view the full Press Release and Photos, click below:

www.eMercedesBenz.com