By Andrew Hooper
July 29 2002
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| Mixed feelings for WilliamsF1 drivers | |
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The German Grand Prix would
see both BMW WilliamsF1 drivers finishing the race in point scoring
positions with Juan Pablo second and Ralf third. But for a problem with
Ralf's car right at the end of the race the positions could have been
reversed.
Juan Pablo was to finally get past Raikkonen in a move that had both cars side by side and it was only through Juan Pablo's determination to maintain track position that he was able to pull in front. As for his feelings about the fight with Raikkonen Juan Pablo enjoyed it but at the same time recognised that his inability to get past Raikkonen cost him his chances in the race. Juan Pablo said: "It was really good. I think that had cost me most of
my race. At the start, we went off the line really well but then the car
just bogged down and Rubens pulled away and Kimi went by me and I think
that really cost me. It took me quite a few laps to go by him and then I
went by him and I was still on the same pace as the guys in front of me.
But it was just way too far back and sometimes it's better to be lucky
than good."
Ralf also had to contend with several drivers who were to lose him considerable amounts of time. There were two incidents that were to frustrate Ralf. The first involved Jarno Trulli and the second Jacques Villeneuve. In respect of Jarno Ralf commented: "I was just about to catch up with my brother and I might have even drawn level with him when Jarno Trulli held me up. Never in my career have I been so mad at a driver-this manoeuvre was absolutely inane, it’s of no help for me that he was fined for it afterwards." As for Jacques Ralf added:
"On the way to the pit, Villeneuve is crawling along through the entrance." Ralf added: "That was a misunderstanding. Simply the lollipop wasn't quick enough so I had to go without the lollipop being up. That's why I stopped again. But anyway, here we are being second and third. It's good for the team. We have had worse weekends, I would say. Despite this Ralf was philosophical about the difficulties he had saying: "I just had a bit of bad luck with the new track and then I had a technical problem. That's the way it is in racing sometimes." |
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