Stuart's SGP Page - News from Interlagos

Brazilian Grand Prix 1999

News from Interlagos

Normal Service Resumed

Mika Hakkinen won the race with Michael Schumacher second as both scored their first points of the year. Despite the win all is still not well at McLaren as David Coulthard stalled at the start, he managed to get going and as he joined the race on lap three Hakkinen suddenly suffered a hydraulics problem which left unable to select gear. Rubens who had been running just behind in second place took the lead and Michael Schumacher also came through to second place. Rubens then lead the race for the next 24 laps, with Schumacher around three seconds behind and Hakkinen right behind him. After joining Coulthard ran behind Hakkinen although in reality three laps down. David also suffered some technical problems which forced him to retire.

In the other Stewart Johnny Herbert was running merrily along. He held tenth place from the start and was up to seventh before his car gave out and he cruised back around to the pits.

Meanwhile at the front Rubens was on a two stopper while virtually everyone else in the field was one stopping. After his first stop on lap 27 he rejoined in fourth place just a couple of seconds behind Eddie Irvine, Rubens was right on Irvines gearbox coming onto the pit straight and pulled past into turn one. This left Rubens in third place with one more stop to do, ahead were Schumacher and Hakkinen about 25 seconds up the track and still to stop and behind were Irvine, Frenzten and Fisichella also all still to stop. This left Rubens an almost certain podium spot. But on lap 42 Rubens engine blew.

Schumacher lost the lead to Hakkinen at the pit stops. Michael pitted first while Mika put in a couple of quick laps and returned to the track following his slightly quicker stop just ahead. Mika's lead hovered around at around six seconds for the remainder.

The excitement was further back as Ferrari pulled Irvine in from third place to clear his radiators fearing overheating problems. Eddie came back out in fifth behind Frentzen and close behind the younger Schumacher, where he stayed for the remainder. Heinz-Harald Frentzen had a close shave at the end when he ran out of fuel on the last lap, fortunately for him he was on the same lap as Hakkinen while Ralf Schumacher had already been lapped, leaving his podium spot secure, although he had to get a lift back around for the podium ceremony.
Race Result

Qualifying

Rubens was the best of the rest as Hakkinen took pole with Coulthard just behind in second place, Rubens beat Michael Schumacher to third place on the grid, with the same top four as in Australia although this time in a slightly different order.

Further back Johnny Herbert had a good day just making it into the top ten. Eddie Irvine, winner of the last race, will start sixth and Damon Hill overcame some early problems to take seventh making it a Jordan fourth row with team-mate Frenzten.

Following a fuel irregularity Jacques Villeneuve had his times disallowed and he will start from the back of the grid. A fuel sample from his BAR taken after qualifying was found not to match the approved sample held by the FiA. He had qualified 16th.
Qualifying Times

Zonta crashes in Saturday Practice

Ricardo Zonta had a major crash which brought an end to saturday morning practice 30 minutes early. He went into the arnco at 120mph smashing the lefthand side off his BAR. Zonta was taken to hospital he has a broken foot and has had surgery to repair tendons in it, he also suffered a gash to his leg and whiplash injuries to his neck.

Friday Practice

The first session was wet and when I checked the times about three-quarters of the way through Rubens was third quickest behind the two McLarens. The times would indicate there was some dry track time and at the end of the two sessions Mika Hakkinen had set the pace half-a-second ahead of David Coulthard, the Ferraris were next seperated by 0.1s and within 1s of Mika. Fisichella was fifth quickest with Rubens Barrichello sixth, 1.5s slower than Hakkinen. Johnny Herbert set the 13th quickest time of the day.
Practice Times

Other News

Luca Badoer broke some bones in his hand in an accident in testing and is not racing. He is replaced by Minardi tester Stephane Sarazin. Badoer is recovering well but decided to rest some more before the next race, his home GP at San Marino.

Last Year

After an encouraging Friday with Rubens eighth quickest and Jan Magnussen 14th, Rubens could only qualify 13th with Jan back in 16th place on the grid. Jan went on to finish last in tenth place two laps down, Rubens retired with gearbox problems 16 laps from the end. Rubens made a good start and was running in seventh position before his single pit-stop which put him back to 12th, where he stayed until his retirement. Johnny Herbert qualified 14th and retired with five laps remaining with a neck injury?

At the front it was another McLaren 1-2, with Hakkinen ahead of Coulthard, Michael Schumacher was third one minute behind Coulthard at the chequered flag. Damon Hill finished just ahead of Jan but was disqualified for having an underweight car after the race.

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