Monza: From Pole to 11th In One Easy Step!
Written by George Katinger · September 3, 2005
Kimi Raikkonen scored his sixth pole of the season, but the luckless Finn will start from 11th. Any idea why Norbert??
speedtv.com: Montoya and Alonso Share Monza Front Row
setanta.com: Montoya aiming for Monza win
planet-f1.com: Kimi: ‘A win will be difficult’
f1-racing.com: Raikkonen can still win says defiant Dennis
f1galaxy.com: Front row start for Fernando Alonso
f1racing.net: BARs strong in Monza qualifying
turkishpress.com: Raikkonen title challenge hit by engine change
Why a failed Mercedes engine, yet again, of course. The team had decided to give Kimi an upgraded power plant, in their all out effort to cut the points lead of Fernando Alonso. Montoya would keep the same engine design used in Turkey. And the “upgrade” turned out to be a “turkey”; resulting in a 10 place penalty when a cylinder/valve problem developed during the last lap of the last practice session on Saturday.
So what’s the poor boy to do? Why he took a new engine (identical to Juan’s) and went out with a maximum fuel load (we think) and beat Juan’s time by almost 1/10. Just amazing!
Starting from 11th, can the Flying Finn possibly snatch a win from the jaws of disaster? I think so. At the fastest track in F1 there will be passing opportunities aplenty, as the cars are set up for low aero down force. He should be able to trail slower cars without losing grip, out brake and pull out for the pass attempt at each chicane entry point. His real danger will be the start. With Jacques Villeneuve alongside, and the much slower Bridgestone shod Ferrari’s in 6th and 7th, Fisi and Ralf directly in front of him, he will have to tiptoe through the first chicane. He may even get passed or taken out by Webber coming from 13th.
What is not in doubt is the first lap will be a replay of Silverstone. With Juan and Fernando in P1 and P2 respectively, Montoya can afford to be more aggressive. Alonso is defending his points lead and Montoya desperately needs the win. Juan will comfortably take the lead and sail off to keep P1, and extend the lead as much as possible. Only three things can prevent his winning. Mechanical failure, driver error (as previously demonstrated) or team orders. If Kimi works his way any where close to P1, can there be any doubt that he will “make a pass” to take the win and the crucial two additional points? Not in my mind any way! Which is why Juan will make an error that will cost him the win, And possibly end in a DNF. Montoya knows the only way he can win is if he opens an insurmountable lead where team orders will not be issued. In the attempt to build or maintain that lead he may make the mistake that ends his race. He’s done it before.
As for Alonso, he is the poster boy for the old saying “slow and steady wins the race”. The race in this case is the championship. Fernando will gladly take 3rd on the podium. With four to go, all he has to do is finish in 3rd the rest of the year and it won’t matter. Look for a steady, risk free race from the Spaniard, and another possible gifted 2nd place finish.
The wild card in the race may be Jenson Button starting from 3rd. I don’t think he has the car or the balls to seize P1 at the start, but racing circumstances may give him yet another podium: Or dare I say it, his first win? Wouldn’t that add a delicious twist to his negotiations with Frank Williams? How many more millions would Frank add to his demand to release Jenson should he win tomorrow? With Anthony Davidson looking more and more like a Midland driver next year, Frank will become more intransigent to give the dear boy up.
And what of Williams? With starting positions of 14th and 16th, crack a cold Bud and hope for the best, because hope is about all they bring to the track these days. Sad, so very sad.
Saturday Qualifying Session 1
POS DRIVER NATIONALITY ENTRANT TIRE TIME
1. Kimi Raikkonen* Finland McLaren-Mercedes 1:20.878
2. Juan Pablo Montoya Colombia McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.054
3. Fernando Alonso Spain Renault 1:21.319
4. Jenson Button Britain BAR-Honda 1:21.369
5. Takuma Sato Japan BAR-Honda 1:21.477
6. Jarno Trulli Italy Toyota 1:21.640
7. Michael Schumacher Germany Ferrari 1:21.721
8. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Ferrari 1:21.962
9. Giancarlo Fisichella Italy Renault 1:22.068
10. Ralf Schumacher Germany Toyota 1:22.266
11. David Coulthard Britain Red Bull-Cosworth 1:22.304
12. Jacques Villeneuve Canada Sauber-Petronas 1:22.356
13. Christian Klien Austria Red Bull-Cosworth 1:22.532
14. Mark Webber Australia Williams-BMW 1:22.560
15. Felipe Massa Brazil Sauber-Petronas 1:23.060
16. Antonio Pizzonia Brazil Williams-BMW 1:23.291
17. Tiago Monteiro Portugal Jordan-Toyota 1:24.666
18. Robert Doornbos Netherlands Minardi-Cosworth 1:24.904
19. Narain Karthikeyan India Jordan-Toyota 1:25.859
20. Christijan Albers Netherlands Minardi-Cosworth 1:26.964
*Kimi Raikkonen will drop 10 positions for an engine change prior to qualifying.
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5 Responses to “Monza: From Pole to 11th In One Easy Step!”
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“You’re faster than Fisi…er, Juan, pass him.”
Oh excuse me I was having a flashback.
I’m with you, I think Kimi will wade his way through and win.
I also believe that Juan and Fernando will have some sort of “get together” in the first few laps.
“I also believe that Juan and Fernando will have some sort of “get together” in the first few laps”.
Marc, you’re raising my conspiracy hackles! Would McLaren ask JPM to take out Fernando, in order to maximize Kimi’s points gain??? I think not, as Juan wants to win, and McLaren covet the manufacturer’s AND driver’s titles both.
…..or will Fisi in the Renault deliberately put the block on Kimi as he tries to get by?
The possibilities are boggling!!!
i agree with both gentlemen 100%. kimi will win (barring unexpected elements), and juan might knock alonso. and george, that fisi move is very possible as well! i’m so excited about this race. hope the racers don’t disappoint. f1 needs some good old dirty moves like the old days :)
Well George… Kimi has more bad luck than can be imagined.
He survives a ten spot demotion. Getting stuck behind a rolling roadblock called Villeneuve for 13 laps.
Executes a perfect one stop strategy and is headed for a possible win… and a left rear gives out just after his stop.
And still finishes FOURTH.
I bet Alonzo is enjoying his vino at the moment.
Marc,
Alonso may be enjoying his vino, but you know where Kimi will seek solace! I just want to watch. It’s one reason why I am a race fan, I like to watch!