Formula One: Season finale quotebook
23 October 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER (Ferrari, winner): "We wanted to win this race, and we
did it. It was a very tough race, too, very tight, (because) DC (David
Coulthard) really pushed from the first lap to the last. So did I, and
that
meant a flat-out race which was very tough physically and car-wise. We did
it! We on the Constructors Championship after all, not just by taking
(the)
three points (we needed) but by wining and being third. That is exactly
the
result the team deserves, in my view."DAVID COULTHARD (West McLaren-Mercedes, second): "We didnt plan on stopping anywhere near as early as Lap 18, but unfortunately when I ran off the circuit coming off Turn 6 I filled the left-hand side of the car with grass, and the temperatures were going up for five laps. They then stabilized, but the team felt it would be better to take the gamble of losing time (with an early stop), which would guarantee the engine would make it to the end. Its disappointing, because it would have been closer. But thats the way the race worked out. I should have kept the car on the circuit."
RUBENS BARRICHELLO (Ferrari, third): "It was (a lonely race), but in a way (I would say) that after Hockenheim this was one of the best showings for me this year because it was quite hot. I didnt feel at all well, and although I didnt feel anything bad during the race I was mentally worried that the hot air might get me at some point. In the end, though, the car was running fine, and although Michael was pulling away and opening a gap of a couple of tenths a lap, sometimes even less, I was happy with the situation as it went. But then at the second pit stop, I lost probably three or four seconds because getting it into first gear was quite tough. After that, I could keep the pace with Mika quite well and Ross (Brawn) told me to back off."
MIKA HAKKINEN (West McLaren-Mercedes, fourth): "My car moved a little bit at the start, but I was stationary before the lights went out. My one-stop strategy would have been correct, and my car was working well, so I believe that I could have won."
JACQUES VILLENEUVE (Lucky Strike British American Racing-Honda, fifth): "We had some good fights toward the end of this season, and the team has done a fantastic job. It has been a positive year."
EDDIE IRVINE (Jaguar-Cosworth, sixth): "Johnny (Herbert) has provided a load of laughs in the short time we have been teammates. F1 will miss him. It is pleasing to end the season with a point, a very hard-earned point at that. Whenever the top four finish, the battle for the crumbs is tight, so we can be proud of our efforts today. We didnt make one change to the car, and our strategy was spot on."
JOHNNY HERBERT (Jaguar-Cosworth, retired Lap 49): "I guess it was inevitable that because I began my career being carried to the car that I would end it being carried out of it. Im pretty disappointed to have a good race ruined by a failure such as that. I was running well until the problem at the pit stop. The engine cut so I had to coast into the box. There is nothing like ending your career with a bang. When the car pitched, I was trying to work out which way I was going to position my legs for the impact, but I lost my sense of direction. Im OK but have a bit of pain from my left knee."
Text Provided By Paul Kelly
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