UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Sunday at Imola: Round-Up

News shorts from final day

(GMM) Sauber: Jacques Villeneuve scored points, and made a personal point, at Imola. ''I've had a hell of a time so far this year,'' said the beaming Canadian, ''so this is sweet.'' All weekend, Felipe Massa - who scraped David Coulthard's car on more than one occasion - has had speed, but not luck. ''We've made a bigger step than we expected,'' said Peter Sauber. ''I am particularly happy for Jacques.''

Jordan: ''Now when a car laps us,'' said Tiago Monteiro, ''we can follow it for a while. This is definitely an improvement.''

Toyota: Jarno Trulli ended his podium streak, but dedicated seventh place to new baby Enzo. ''This was always going to be our hardest race of the year,'' said the Italian. ''I didn't have much grip.'' Eighth placed Ralf Schumacher, meanwhile, was penalised 25 seconds for an 'unsafe manoeuvre' against Nick Heidfeld in pitlane, which Toyota will appeal. ''I had to brake hard to avoid hitting him,'' Heidfeld said in a statement.

McLaren: Kimi Raikkonen's steering wheel flew from one end of the McLaren garage to the other after a CV-joint failure on lap-8. He had been leading -- commandingly. ''At least we know the car is fast,'' the Finn said. JPM-sub Alex Wurz finished a solid fourth. ''Sorry, Kimi,'' said Mercedes' Norbert Haug.

Red Bull: ''Just going around in circles.'' That's how David Coulthard described a lonely grand prix -- a 'bump' or two with Massa aside. ''The car didn't have great pace.'' On debut, Tonio Liuzzi finished ahead, eleventh.

BAR: Jenson Button's back on the podium. ''It feels like a different car,'' said the Englishman, although he admitted to 'playing safe' in the failed late-race scrap with Michael Schumacher. Takuma Sato finished fifth.

Minardi: Dutchman Christijan Albers' brand new PS05 was pulled from the race with a fluid leak, while Patrick Friesacher's clutch broke. ''We need to find more downforce,'' the Austrian said.

Ferrari: The race pace of Michael Schumacher's F2005, thirteenth on the grid after a rare qualifying error, was incredible. In the last twelve, he was all over Fernando Alonso and missed out on the win by a mere 0.2s. ''I'm happy but disappointed after this morning,'' said the German. ''It could've been a perfect day.'' Not, though, for Rubens Barrichello -- his car expired with electrical failure.

Renault: Fernando Alonso held up three fingers for the entire slowing down lap -- a hat-trick. ''That was my best win in F1 so far,'' said the championship leading Spaniard. ''Michael was faster than me at the end.'' A baffled Giancarlo Fisichella, meanwhile, smashed into the tyre wall on lap-5. ''I really don't know what happened,'' he commented of the apparent car failure. Pat Symonds called Schumacher's pace 'amazing.'

Williams: Nil-points for the BMW-powered pair. ''We must find more speed,'' said Nick Heidfeld, while Mark Webber endured a messy race in traffic. Sam Michael also vowed to improve the FW27 car off the line.

Written: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 00:04:36