Pizzonia crashes in final Belgian GP practice


Pizzonia

By Andrew Hooper
August 28 2004

The final practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix would see Pizzonia crash in a shortened session. Juan Pablo would finish in 14th while Antonio was 19th. The session would be red flagged as a result of a major crash at Eau Rouge involving Minardi's Bruni.

   
Belgian GP Saturday 4th Practice
 
With the poor weather conditions this session did not commence until well after its scheduled start time. As such the drivers were only given fifteen minutes in which to complete their practice preparations. Given the short length of time for the session plus the poor conditions the times set did not mean a great deal.

MontoyaFor the BMW WilliamsF1 team their session would see both driver way down the times. For Antonio his session would end in the tyre barriers. Now the team faces the task of rebuilding a car for him in the short amount of time prior to qualifying. Juan Pablo would finish the session in fourteenth while Antonio was nineteenth.

With the rain continuing to fall heavily at the Spa circuit the final practice session would see the safety car out on the track. There was a considerable amount of water on the track making the conditions very difficult.

But the drivers would come out in their shortened session. Such were the conditions that several drivers would have moments. Toyota's Olivier Panis would spin off into the gravel but was able to continue, while Antonio would crash his car into the tyre barrier at Rivage. He was to run wide at the corner and went straight on into the tyres.

For Minardi their driver Gianmaria Bruni would have a major accident at Eau Rouge. He would lose control of his car after the crest of Eau Rouge. The car would turn left, crashing into the wall. He would then cross the track coming to a halt on the right.

This accident would see the red flags come out and with only a small amount of time left in the session it was not restarted.

 
Pos Driver Team Time Laps

1. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:57.085 6
2. M. Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:57.906 + 0.821 6
3. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:57.975 + 0.890 6
4. Fisichella Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:58.138 + 1.053 4
5. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:58.434 + 1.349 6
6. Massa Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:58.864 + 1.779 5
7. Button BAR-Honda (M) 1:59.182 + 2.097 6
8. Trulli Renault (M) 1:59.519 + 2.434 6
9. Sato BAR-Honda (M) 2:00.088 + 3.003 6
10. Alonso Renault (M) 2:01.475 + 4.390 5
11. Zonta Toyota (M) 2:02.175 + 5.090 6
12. Klien Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 2:02.411 + 5.326 6
13. Webber Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 2:02.501 + 5.416 6
14. Montoya Williams-BMW (M) 2:02.559 + 5.474 5
15. Panis Toyota (M) 2:02.592 + 5.507 6
16. Heidfeld Jordan-Ford (B) 2:03.556 + 6.471 5
17. Pantano Jordan-Ford (B) 2:04.131 + 7.046 6
18. Bruni Minardi-Cosworth (B) 2:05.485 + 8.400 4
19. Pizzonia Williams-BMW (M) 2:07.337 + 10.252 4
20. Baumgartner Minardi-Cosworth (B) 2:09.428 + 12.343 4 
 
 
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