Kimi in Japan
Sit down, the Japanese Grand Prix was thrilling. I know, it's not often you hear that about a Formula 1 race, but this one had it all. Fast guys at the back, local countryman making an idiot of himself, a last lap pass
for the win, and a decent wreck thrown in for good measure.
McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen came from 17th on the grid to pass Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella on the last lap for the win.
Before all that could happen, we had to put up with BAR Honda's Takuma Sato making a right mess of his home Grand Prix. Japanese television followed his every move, which, in this case, well most cases that Sato is involved in, isn't a very good idea. He was off on the first turn, damaging his nose cone. Then a poorly executed pass attempt on Toyota's Jarno Trulli ended up with Sato spearing the Toyota in the side pod - just brutal.
Sato has made a career out of hitting things, hitting other cars, putting his car in the gravel trap, and basically aggravating every other driver in Formula 1. Why Honda - his supporter - puts up with this is anybody's guess,
but I think in the land of the rising sun, surely there must be a better bet to put in F1 than Sato.
McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya needed points to help his team in the constructor's championship, but that came to an untimely end on the first lap, when he was squeezed wide by Canadian Jacques Villeneuve in his Sauber. Montoya's heavy impact into the wall brought out the first safety car, and gave Renault the chance to score valuable points, which they did finishing second and third.
Formula 1 translation: Villeneuve on the incident between himself and Montoya. "I never even saw him," said Jacques, "so I really have no idea what he might have been trying to do when he went off."
Translation; "I had already been passed by too many drivers on the first lap, I wasn't letting him by." Oh, and Jacques, what he was 'trying' to do, was get past you, despite doing so on the outside, which shows greater bravery than brains on Montoya's part.
Sit down, the Japanese Grand Prix was thrilling. I know, it's not often you hear that about a Formula 1 race, but this one had it all. Fast guys at the back, local countryman making an idiot of himself, a last lap pass
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| McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen came from 17th on the grid to pass Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella on the last lap for the win. (Photo: McLaren F1) |
McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen came from 17th on the grid to pass Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella on the last lap for the win.
Before all that could happen, we had to put up with BAR Honda's Takuma Sato making a right mess of his home Grand Prix. Japanese television followed his every move, which, in this case, well most cases that Sato is involved in, isn't a very good idea. He was off on the first turn, damaging his nose cone. Then a poorly executed pass attempt on Toyota's Jarno Trulli ended up with Sato spearing the Toyota in the side pod - just brutal.
Sato has made a career out of hitting things, hitting other cars, putting his car in the gravel trap, and basically aggravating every other driver in Formula 1. Why Honda - his supporter - puts up with this is anybody's guess,
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| Sato, who has made a career out of hitting things, hitting other cars, putting his car in the gravel trap, and basically aggravating every other driver in Formula 1, once again runs wide during Suzuka GP. (Photo: Auto Sport Press) |
McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya needed points to help his team in the constructor's championship, but that came to an untimely end on the first lap, when he was squeezed wide by Canadian Jacques Villeneuve in his Sauber. Montoya's heavy impact into the wall brought out the first safety car, and gave Renault the chance to score valuable points, which they did finishing second and third.
Formula 1 translation: Villeneuve on the incident between himself and Montoya. "I never even saw him," said Jacques, "so I really have no idea what he might have been trying to do when he went off."
Translation; "I had already been passed by too many drivers on the first lap, I wasn't letting him by." Oh, and Jacques, what he was 'trying' to do, was get past you, despite doing so on the outside, which shows greater bravery than brains on Montoya's part.