By role
May 25 2004

Fernando Alonso is still upset after the shunt in Monaco with the barriers of the tunnel after trying to lap Ralf Schumacher. The Spaniard talked to the Spanish press on Monday trying to explain what happened. “I am disappointed because it could have been a 1-2 for the team. But we can not be lamenting it always. We have to think in the next race and take the positive. Our cars have great reliability, we have been quite competitive and even if Montecarlo is not a reference, this gives us a confidence boost.” He said.
About the incident with Ralf Schumacher Alonso was still upset:
“Ralf Schumacher went to his right to let me get in at the entrance of the tunnel, he reduced to first gear and when I was passing him he accelerated up to fifth gear and I went off. It can not be accepted that a car that is being lapped takes another car out of the race.” Alonso said.

However, Renault did not make a claim to the FIA though the driver talked to them:
“Renault did not claim but I did. I explained to them what had happened and they told me that they would staudy what had happened seeing the images on TV. They told me when they saw it live they did not see anything….That’s normal, you can see nothing in a tunnel.” Alonso said. “Anyhow, I feel that it will be worthless because the last name weights too much. He has been questioned many times and nothing has happened. That’s why we all have to be sure to put him on his place.”
Alonso wants to leave clear that his lapping move was not a dangerous move:
“I was not anxious to lap him, neither is lack of experience. I did not want to lap him on the tunnel, I do not want to kill myself at 300 km/h. But if someone downshifts to first gear so you can lap him and then speeds up to fifth you can’t avoid something like that from happening.”

Alonso is fully aware that what he said last Sunday after the race was quite strong:
“What I said on Sunday I’ll keep it one hundred years. It’s my way of talking because I am from Asturias and come form a poor family."

Alonso does not want to talk with Ralf as the German was suggesting:
“I have nothing to talk to him. I do not know what he wants to talk about. We are at different levels, we mere mortals are not at his level. He has said I lack experience, so maybe I have to learn from him that it takes him seven turns with blue flags to be lapped.” He added.

He was obviously unhappy for having lost a good opportunity to be again on the podium or to even win though he can not say if he would have been able to overtake Trulli on the pits:

“I can not say if I would have won, but I would have taken my chances. My second pit stop was scheduled for lap 54 and I wanted to be as close as possible to Trulli.” He concluded.