2006 Italian Grand Prix - Preview

2006 ITALIAN GRAND PRIX
MONZA
01 SEPTEMBER
PREVIEW

After a successful race in Turkey, where Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello both brought their RA106 race cars home in the points, the Honda Racing F1 Team is now looking forward to the final European race of the season, the Italian Grand Prix, Round 15 of the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship.

Held at one of the most historic venues used in Formula One, the unique Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is set in a leafy royal park north of Milan. All eleven Formula One teams participated in the traditional Monza test this week following the five week summer testing break. The Honda Racing F1 Team conducted an intensive three-day programme with all four of its drivers working on the car set-up and tyre options for what is the fastest circuit on the F1 calendar, where top speeds in the race are likely to reach in excess of 340 kph.

RUBENS BARRICHELLO
"Monza has always been a very special event for me and I still have a lot of Italian fans who write to me with their support, so it's a weekend that I always really enjoy. I have actually won twice at Monza in 2004 and 2002 which are some of my favourite memories in Formula One. It's a unique circuit and easily the fastest in the F1 calendar in terms of speed. You have to get the braking right and obviously the traction and the power of the engine are important too. We had a good test this week in preparation for the race, focusing mainly on tyre choice and car set-up for the lower levels of downforce that you need here, so we look forward to another good race next weekend."

JENSON BUTTON
"I'm really looking forward to the race at Monza. The atmosphere is always great over the race weekend and the circuit has traditionally seen lots of exciting racing, so hopefully it will be another good race for the fans. I had a podium finish here in 2004 and it is a track that I always enjoy. We did a lot of good work with Michelin at the Monza test this week in preparation as most of the track has been resurfaced, so we needed to focus carefully on the tyre choice. We have a relatively good car around here so I think that we should be reasonably competitive in the race."

GIL DE FERRAN
Sporting Director
"For those who love Formula One, going to Monza is a special occasion. The history of the place is evident and the atmosphere is fantastic. The circuit itself is unique with very long straights and the highest top speeds that we will see all year, placing a premium on the aerodynamic efficiency and top-end horsepower. This year, most of the track has been resurfaced, which has slightly changed the requirements on the tyres. Together with the other teams, we spent three days in Monza this week optimising our tyre choice and set-up for the track, including a unique aerodynamic configuration. Both Jenson and Rubens have had good races there in the past, particularly Rubens who has won twice, and our car performed well at the test, all of which bodes well for the weekend."

Autodromo Nazionale di Monza

Race Distance 53 laps
Circuit Length 3.600 miles (5.793 kms)

The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is bursting with motorsport tradition and remains one of the most challenging circuits in the world. Possessing a unique character and ambience, Monza is Formula One's oldest road course and despite being altered from its original layout in the interests of safety, it is still the fastest circuit on the calendar.

Due to the pace of the circuit, cars must be set up with the lowest downforce levels possible without causing stability problems under braking. They must also be able to ride the Monza curbs effectively and remain well balanced without too much understeer at high speed. In addition, good traction is important for exiting the revised Rettifilo and Roggia chicanes effectively and braking must be optimised to cope with the very high temperatures generated when drivers slow from top speed to negotiate these low speed sections.

Overtaking is possible at the first and second chicanes but the fast corners before each passing place make it hard to follow another car closely because of the vagaries of modern aerodynamics and races can become quickly strung out. These days, the slipstreaming manoeuvres of yore tend to take place only when cars on two-stop strategies have a significant performance advantage over heavier one-stoppers.