Jordan have an "Eventful" day in Germany.
By Phil Giles
July 24 2005
Tiago Monteiro's record breaking run of eleven finishes out of eleven rookie races nearly came to a juddering end in today's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.
July 24 2005
Tiago Monteiro's record breaking run of eleven finishes out of eleven rookie races nearly came to a juddering end in today's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.
Coming into the hairpin, the Portuguese driver took a line across the path of Jacques Villeneuve who couldn't break hard enough to avoid the back end of the EJ15. To be fair, it wasn't all JV's fault but a driver of his experience should know better. Tiago has to wait until the stewards decide his fate after the race. Tiago, no doubt a bit shaken however did eventually continue to 17th place and his twelfth finish of the season.
Qualifying for the Grand Prix had been one of those days for the team. Rival minnows Minardi had reason to celebrate, even if it was only getting both of their cars in front of the Jordan duo. Narain made a number of small but costly errors on his qualifying lap. As such, the team decided to bring him in and he failed to set a time. Tiago swore blind that he was having problems with the engine. The team however could see nothing wrong and he set a time finishing in 19th place. He was promoted one place up the grid to start in 18th when Juan Pablo Montoya had a moment in the final corner of his qualifying lap, hitting the barriers and setting no time.
So Sunday's race was more "eventful" even though both of the Jordan boys ended up well out of the points. Narain had a flying start and was running ahead of Tiago but suffered towards the end of the race with a spin and a penalty for infringing the blue flag rule.
Birthday boy Tiago said: “Today’s race was not the kind of gift I was expecting for my birthday. What is important for us is that, again, we managed to finish the race, although it was a tough one. I had a good start but then somebody touched me and pushed me off the track and I lost one or two positions. Therefore I ended up last. I was then able to push very hard, as the balance of the car was much better than we have had the whole weekend. I think our lap times were not too bad as well. I had a very good in and out lap in my first pit stop and that’s why I have managed to pass Narain and Albers. I was very happy with the car until I had a racing incident with Villeneuve. It is a pity but I would like to thank everyone for another finish and look forward to the next one.”
Narain said: “I am happy to finish the race as I have had some technical problems in the last two races. I did not have very good start but I managed to pass Monteiro. The first 15 laps went ok and then I blistered my rear tyres, after which my car was too much on the edge. I also got a drive through penalty but I do not understand as I never saw the blue flag for Heidfeld. I had a quick spin near the end as well so I am quite satisfied I finished the race.”
Adrian Burgess commented: “It was a fairly busy afternoon for everybody up and down the pit lane. Narain was doing a very good job again until he got caught in a blue flag incident; whether he deserves it or not, is open to debate. Tiago had a coming together with Villeneuve, which was considered as a racing incident by the stewards. The positive note is that both drivers managed to bring the cars home, which was 12 out of 12 finishes for Tiago.”