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Formula One: BMW Williams show new colors; no word on Zanardi's fate

12 January 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Provided by IMS

INDIANAPOLIS-- BMW WilliamsF1 today unveiled the blue-and-white color scheme it will run during the 2000 Formula One season, which will include the inaugural United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis on Sept. 24.

The car, a 1999 model painted in the 2000 livery of white with dark blue accents and striping, was presented at BMWs new F1 engine facility at its headquarters in Munich, Germany.

"The fact that we launched the team here in proximity of the BMW Research and Development Center and the F1 engine facility underlines BMWs philosophy of motor racing," said BMW board member Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart. "Above all for us, the synergy between innovation in F1 and the production of road cars is of the utmost importance."

This season marks BMWs return to F1 after an absence of 12 years. Team owner Frank Williams and BMW motorsport director Gerhard Berger both stressed it will take time to win in the intensely competitive world of F1. "The last two years were not that good for us," Williams said. "The last time we won the World Championship was in 1997. Now we want to win our 10th Constructors title and our eighth Drivers title. I believe that we can make it with BMW, but in F1 there are no shortcuts; we will go through a learning process together."

Berger hopes for victories by 2002.

"We have an incredible amount of difficult work in front of us," Berger said. "That is clear. What is unclear is when our efforts will take us to success.

"We have set ourselves a target: We want to be up among the top teams by the end of the second year, and, in the third year, we will race to win."

Ralf Schumacher attended the official presentation, but Alex Zanardi was not present. The future of two-time CART champion Zanardi with the Williams team has been the subject of intense speculation.

A statement from BMW Williams said that the 2000 car would be unveiled "later this month at Barcelona. At the same time, the team's new principal sponsor and 2000 driver lineup will be confirmed."

F1 fans at the Brickyard will get to see and hear a variety of engines in action: BMW, Ferrari, Honda, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Mugen-Honda, Petronas-Ferrari, Peugeot and Supertec.

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.