August 20, 2002
by Erik C. Nielsen
Pictures courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
One of the biggest complaints I’ve always had about NASCAR, is that my viewing strategy usually works. I can watch the start; sleep for a while; then watch some of the pit stops and then back to sleep. So long as I manage to wake up for the finish, I can still be able to discuss the race on Monday with the biggest dyed-in-the-wool fan as if I spent every waking moment of the race with my eyelids propped open with toothpicks so that the mere mundane task of blinking wouldn’t interrupt the show.
It’s a good strategy in that I can usually catch a mid-afternoon, beer induced nap. The problem is I’m not a serious enough drinker to have a Bloody Mary at 6:30 in the morning. I stayed awake for this race, and I wish I would have slept in. If you watched the 30 second highlight clip, you didn’t miss anything.
In a team-order finish, Ferrari captured the constructor’s championship in the 13th round of the season. This ties the previous record that McLaren set in the late 80’s/early 90’s. Rubens was allowed to stay ahead of Michael to capture the top honors and help his chances of gaining a second place in the driver’s championship. Don’t believe for a second that had the Brazilian not had a slew of DNF’s earlier in the year, the finish order would be the same. At least the Italian bankers get both championships in their first year of “ownership”.
BMW-Williams managed to get Ralf up to the best non-Ferrari finisher position, which was all the team was praying for this weekend. The German even said that they were the best of the rest. Surely not a way to win sponsor money, but, hey, there is only so much room on the Ferrari wings and end plates. Juan-Pablo also wished that he had stayed in bed (hopefully with someone who doesn’t know an Irishman named Eddie) and not shown up. This isn’t one of his favorite tracks and his lack luster performance highlighted that statement. The new flying Finn driving the Benz may have had something to do with the Columbian driving off the track. Eleventh was the best he could do.
Raikkonen did have a good race and finished one spot ahead of his team mate. His challenge of Montoya showed that he can and will run with the big boys. He could even compete with Ferrari if he had the car. Don’t expect any more serious development of the McLaren this year. All efforts are focused on trying to get a better package than Ferrari for next year’s championship battle.
Fisichella and Massa rounded out the cars that finished on the lead lap, but only the Jordan driver got a point. Jordan announced that they had signed a brilliant deal with Ford to get motors for three years. Someone want to remind Eddie that those are the same lumps that Jaguar is running?
The French cars didn’t have a great day. Trulli finished a lap down, and poor Jenson Button ended his day in the kitty litter.
Toyota focused on reliability and not speed. Two laps down but ahead of the Minardis is always a good thing.
Anthony Davidson made his F1 debut driving the Minardi in place of “Mr. 107%”. He spun off with 19 laps to go, but actually put in a lap time that was better than Mark Webber. As Didier Theys told me at Road Atlanta last year, “if you don’t spin every now and then, you’re not driving on the limit.”
BAR had Panis finish in 12th, but Villeneuve DNF’d. Again. Rumors out of the garage say that he may be coming back to the states to run CART again. I did hear that they are looking for a driver to replace Jason Priestly. JV should have never made a cameo appearance in “Driven”. Death to the careers of many…
Arrows missed the event due to funding. Proving once again that speed costs money. Also, 2002 was not really the year to have an investment bank as a sponsor. Especially one that wanted to make a return on their investment. These must be some of the same crack heads that drove the world economy into the toilet.
No, I haven’t forgotten Jaguar. Ford executives wish I had, but I saw their wonderful performance yet again. De la Rosa split the Toyotas and finished two laps down. Eddie is a different story. “It was a real shame to retire in that manner, especially since the car felt so improved.” No, it was a shame you showed up when you could have stayed in bed with some 19 year old in the south of France. (ERIK!! Be nice!! Assoc. Editor/Better Half) No brainer in my books (to those following at home, I sleep on the couch; a lot). I hear Jason Priestly needs a replacement…
With this week’s results, most of the history books for this season are being typeset now. Not much is left as an unknown except where the rest of the field will finally end up. Hell, Yoong might get his confidence back and rejoin the field.
The circus returns to Spa in two weeks. Lest you forget, this is Michael Schumacher’s favorite track. Odds are another red steamroller. Wonder if I can sleep through this one?
Race Results
August 20, 2002