Imola Report – Ordinary/Excitement

Imola is a track where you have to hug the kerbs as if they were your best friend, and in the past Toyota had brought a car that wasn’t in anyway keen to show affection. But this new TF105 was friendlier to its surroundings than any of its predecessors, so another bag full of points were on the cards.

Friday was a little more ordinary for Toyota than any of the other Friday’s we saw previously. With Ralf and Jarno looking after their engines by spending time in the pits, Ricardo Zonta was left to do most of the running during both practice sessions. But the Brazilian still managed a second and a fourth, showing Toyota’s TF105 package was still pretty good enough against the rest of the field. Once again it was largely trouble-free day for the Panasonic Toyota Racing team, but the real work would start on Saturday morning.

The first Saturday session wasn’t in anyway stimulating for the Toyota team, as Ralf Schumacher only managed to score their fastest time with 8th, whilst Jarno Trulli still looking after his engine completed limited laps back in 17th. And the second session wasn’t a great improvement with Ralf 11th and Jarno 13th. It wasn’t looking as though the team would continue its run of top three start’s for Sunday’s race, but this is F1, so anything was still possible. Ralf Schumacher was the first of the two Panasonic Toyota Racing cars out for qualifying one, and like in free practice he didn’t wow the crowds, setting only the 12th fastest time. Then one lap wonder Jarno Trulli confirmed Toyota’s struggling pace with his 6th spot provisionally. The ordinary weekend was continuing, so the team began to focus on points finishes instead of their third successive podium for tomorrows all important qualifying two. Elsewhere McLaren bounced back from their less than heroic start to the season, with Kimi Raikkonen taking provisional pole position, 0.2 ahead of championship leader Fernando Alonso. Michael Schumacher also showing Ferrari’s raw pace in was in 3rd.

When Sunday morning broke, so did the rain. But hours before the start of qualifying two the rain stopped leaving a damp yet drying track for the drivers to explore on. Some of the early runners struggled for a decent time, with Minardi’s Christijan Albers getting it all wrong into the chicane where he lost the backend under braking before the corner, slamming into the barriers. Then Michael Schumacher ran wide near the end of his lap, demoting the 7-time champion to 13th. Ralf Schumacher was again the first of the two Toyota’s out and couldn’t better his time, yet gained a position though Michael’s off. Ralf then gained another position though Felipe Massa’s Sauber being given a 10-place drop due to any engine change, Ralf would therefore start 10th. Jarno Trulli also gained though Michael’s off to start 5th. Up at the front Kimi Raikkonen scored his and McLaren’s first pole position of the season with an incredibly fast lap. Renault’s Fernando Alonso would line up alongside him, with Britain’s Jenson Button revitalising B.A.R’s season with 3rd.

The race was always going to be an interesting adventure and we were never short of excitement. Whilst McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen ran off into the distance during the first few laps, Alonso was followed by Button, with Toyota’s Jarno Trulli holding up a queue of cars for four. Then, on lap eight Raikkonen slowed, stopped and retired much to the frustration of the young Finn who was set for a very strong result. Then Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella slipped into the wall in a strange incident, after yet another troubled weekend. Up at the front Alonso was able to build a gap to Button, whilst Trulli’s Toyota was still holding up the chasing pack behind in third. At this stage Michael Schumacher was only 12th.

When the first of the pit stops came Button had closed the gap to the Spaniard as he came in for his pit stop. One lap later Button pitted, and the chase continued. During the stop’s Jarno Trulli lost out to Wurz’s McLaren and Sato’s B.A.R, demoting the Toyota to 5th. During this time Michael Schumacher stayed out longer catching Button’s B.A.R before he made his first stop. In an incredible turn of events the German was able to jump from outside the top ten, to third after his stop, 30 seconds behind the leaders. The next few laps saw him take 2 seconds out of Alonso’s lead per lap and before we knew it had closed to within touching distance of Jenson Button’s B.A.R. As they came up behind some traffic, Michael made his move on the young Englishman at the chicane taking second spot to the applause of the Italian fans. The mind blowing pace of the Ferrari then hunted down Alonso’s Renault and for the remaining 10 laps they diced for the race lead. On the very last lap Michael made a move but Alonso just edged his Renault back in front. At the finish Schumacher was just 0.2 seconds behind Alonso’s winning Renault to what was a spectacular end to the race weekend. Behind, Trulli’s Toyota dropped down to seventh and was chased home by the sister car of Ralf Schumacher for eighth as Toyota’s ordinary weekend came to a close.

But then a few hours later Toyota’s Ralf Schumacher was called to the stewards office and handed a twenty-five second penalty for an unseen error in the pit lane against Williams’ driver Nick Heidfeld. This moved Ralf out of the top 10 but is pending the result of an appeal which should be due out in the next few days.

So the results as of today (25/4/2005):

1. ALONSO
2. M.SCHUMACHER
3. BUTTON
4. WURZ
5. SATO
6. VILLENEUVE
7. TRULLI
8. HEIDFELD
9. WEBBER
10. LIUZZI
11. R.SCHUMACHER*
12. MASSA
13. COULTHARD
14. KARTHIKEYAN
15. MONTEIRO
16. ALBERS
17. BARRICHELLO
18. RAIKKONEN
19. FRIESACHER
20. FISICHELLA

*25 second penalty.

I personally found it a very enjoyable weekend, sadly not because of Toyota. This really wasn’t their strongest circuit but at lest they will come away with some form of championship points. But I think your agree, Ferrari fired a strong warning to its rivals although reliability still question’s them as they did have to retire Barrichello’s car. Next stop is Spain, with the long fast flowing circuit at Barcelona. Toyota as we all know have one of the strongest engines in the pit lane and will be keen to make up for lost ground here at Imola. But it’s now not just Renault who they must fear, Ferrari, McLaren and B.A.R are now gunning for the three podium slots so if Toyota wants to start winning, they better pull their socks up!

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