FORMULA ONE: Teams try to keep perspective at Monza
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
September 14, 2001INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001 - The tragedy of the terrorist attacks in the United States has left the Formula One community in a somber but determined mood during this weekend's Italian Grand Prix. On Friday, F1 teams and fans at the Monza circuit will stop for one minute of silence at midday as a mark of respect for the victims of the attacks. The morning practice session has been adjusted so that no cars are running at noon.
"It is difficult to find the right expression to describe either what happened there or how we feel about it," said newly crowned World Champion Michael Schumacher. "I am sure the feelings about the events on Tuesday are much the same amongst us all. Naturally, our sympathies are with the people over there. We offer them as much support as we can offer.
"Looking forward, we can only expect tough times to come. Let us hope things get better and that we can learn from what has happened to ensure that they don't ever happen again."
The Ferrari team has canceled all celebrations and parties it had planned at Monza to celebrate its 2001 Driver and Constructor Championships.
"Monza will be a sporting event because life must go on," said Ferrari President Luca Montezemolo. "But it will not be a big party, just a day of sport. Our spirit will be to tackle this race like any other, and I would ask our fans to behave accordingly."
The Italian Grand Prix, round 15 of 17, is the final Grand Prix in Europe before the F1 teams head to the United States for the SAP United States Grand Prix on Sept. 30 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the season finale Oct. 14 in Japan. All three races will go ahead as scheduled.
"It should go ahead," Juan Pablo Montoya said of this year's U.S. Grand Prix. "What happened there is crazy, absolutely mental, but the worst thing they could do is try to stop the event. If they did that, it would mean more joy for whoever did it. It's a tough decision, but they should try to keep going. For a weekend, or a few days, it could take the minds of a lot of people off (what happened), and might even give them a bit of joy."
The F1 team owners met Thursday in Monza and agreed that they should race in Indianapolis.
"For the moment, there is no question of not racing in America in two weeks' time, or of not racing in Japan," said Mild Seven Benetton-Renault Director Flavio Briatore.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials also have indicated that the race will continue as scheduled.
"We do not expect any change from the announced schedule," said Tony George, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Built in 1922, the Autodromo Nazionale Di Monza is, along with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that opened in 1909, one of the oldest racing tracks in the world.
Monza is located in a wooded park on the outskirts of Milan. It's a high-speed circuit where the engines are on full throttle for 76 percent of the lap. The sharp chicanes that break up the high-speed sections place high demands on the car's brakes.
Monza is the spiritual home of Ferrari, and a sellout crowd of "tifosi," the ardent Ferrari fans that come to the circuit, will be on hand to support Ferrari drivers Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. "Coming to Monza is always special," Schumacher said. "Racing in front of all the tifosi, experiencing all the emotion they have for us and the feelings we have toward them, is always one of the highlights of the season. This year it promises to be even more exciting than usual: It will be extra special. Coming here as World Champions is above all a wonderful feeling for both the team and I.
"Even though the title is already decided, we still want to give the fans some thing to cheer about and, as at every race, we will be trying to win."
Barrichello said: "Of course we want to win, and Monza is always a high-pressure situation for us. But it is pressure in a good way, as we want to do well for our people. It's a good atmosphere. Last year, we did so well at Monza, and we hope the same happens again. "However, we know Williams were strong in Hockenheim, and they could repeat that here. Like the German circuit, Monza is high speed, but it is more enjoyable, because you have faster corners."
Ralf Schumacher set the fastest lap in his Williams-BMW when the F1 teams tested at the track in July.
"Monza is not too demanding on the drivers," Ralf Schumacher said, "but normally produces interesting races. There are three possibilities to overtake. With a little more luck than in Spa, we should look fairly good in Italy, especially as the Monza is a similar track to Hockenheim, so it should suit our car quite well."
David Coulthard, who won the 1997 Italian Grand Prix, hopes to repeat that feat this year in his West McLaren-Mercedes. He finished second in the Belgian Grand Prix two weeks ago.
"I am aiming to go one better at Monza following the podium position I secured at the Belgian Grand Prix in a bid to strengthen my second position in the Drivers Championship," Coulthard said. "We had a successful test last week at Valencia, and I'm looking forward to the high-speed challenges the circuit offers."
This year marks the 52nd running of the Italian Grand Prix since the modern Formula One World Championship began in 1950. With the exception of the 1980 event at Imola, Monza has played host to every Italian Grand Prix.
FORMULA ONE NOTEBOOK
Where to watch: Qualifying will be shown live at 7 a.m. Sept. 15 (EDT) on Speedvision. The race will be telecast live at 7:30 a.m. (EDT) Sept. 16 on Speedvision.
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Ferrari shares grief with American people: The Ferrari team issued the following statement about the tragedies this week in the United States:
"Ferrari has taken the decision to show that it shares a sense of grief with the American people, with whom it has always felt close ties. Therefore, this weekend, for the Italian Grand Prix, with the full agreement of its sponsors and suppliers, as a mark of respect, its cars will carry no logos relating to its commercial and technical partners. For Ferrari and for it partners, Sunday's race will be a purely sporting event with no commercial implications, nor will it be a joyful event."
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A tremendous disaster: European Minardi owner Paul Stoddart called the terrorist attacks in the United States a tremendous disaster and acknowledged that the F1 teams, like other travelers, now will encounter heightened security at airports.
"I think one has to obviously respect that there's been a tremendous disaster, and it will be some time before anything is back to any kind of normality," Stoddart said. "I'm quite sure that we're all going to have to be a bit patient with delays around airports and security checks that may seem unnecessary and quite annoying at times but are actually necessary if we're ever going to prevent - or even attempt to prevent - what happened. We've all feared the day, and sadly it has happened. All I can say is that things must go on, but there will be a price to pay, and that price will be unprecedented levels of security."
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Alesi to reach milestone at Indianapolis: This year's SAP United States Grand Prix on Sept. 30 will be a milestone race for veteran Jean Alesi. "This year's USGP is very special for me as it will be my 200th Grand Prix race," said Alesi, driver of the Benson & Hedges Jordan Honda. "Indianapolis has made a fantastic circuit out of the space they had available and, what was really impressive to see last year, was the grandstands around the whole of the circuit, as Indy is there only place that Formula One experiences an oval race track.
"The infield is a bit too slow, but at least the circuit provides some good overtaking opportunities, which are becoming more and more rare on circuits. It was an experience to drive on the banking at the last corner, but it doesn't really put any different strains on a driver."
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F1 debut: Two drivers will make their F1 debuts in this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.
Tomas Enge will become the first Czech to drive in a Formula One race. He replaces Luciano Burti in the Prost-Acer while Burti recovers from the concussion he suffered in an accident in the Belgian Grand Prix two weeks ago.
Malaysia's Alex Yoong will take over Tarso Marques' seat at European Minardi for the last three Grand Prix events of the season, including the SAP United States Grand Prix on Sept. 30.
"I've been trying to get into this very seat for such a long time, and it's been a long journey and it's fantastic to be here," Yoong said. "There are a lot of people back home supporting me, and I'm just going to enjoy it the best I can. Minardi has given me a great opportunity here, and I plan to do the best job that I can."
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Gene stays with Williams: Spain's Marc Gene has renewed his test/reserve driver contract with BMW WilliamsF1 and will remain with the team in 2002.
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USGP tickets available: Tickets for the SAP United States Grand Prix on Sept. 30 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are available by calling (800) 822-INDY or by downloading a ticket form at www.usgpindy.com.
Text provided by Paul Kelly
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