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"I need a win”
said Rubens Barrichello on Thursday. On Saturday he helped his cause by taking
pole and on Sunday he converted it into his first victory of the season.
It was the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro man’s second win at Monza, the eighth of
his career.
Completing a dream result for the Scuderia, Michael Schumacher joined his
team-mate on the Monza podium. This eighth one-two of the season looked very
unlikely in the early stages: Michael dropped down to 15th after being caught
out by the slippery conditions, tipped into an opening lap spin by the BAR-Honda
of Jenson Button, who finished third.
Unlike Schumacher and the majority of the field, Barrichello opted to start on
rain tyres as the track was damp. He immediately built up a seven second lead,
but after being passed by Alonso in the Renault, it was evident that dry tyres
were now needed and he pitted on lap 5, dropping to ninth. However, the team
decided to switch him to an aggressive three stop strategy to exploit the pace
of the F2004, so clearly demonstrated in qualifying.
Thus begun an
amazing climb through the field for both Ferrari men. By lap 7, Schumacher had
moved up to eleventh, while the order at the front was Alonso, Button, Montoya,
Raikkonen, Sato and Klien.
Most of the field was on a two stop strategy (Coulthard having switched from
rain to dry tyres at the end of the formation lap was one stopping.) Alonso
began the first run of refuelling on lap 10 and Schumacher begins to set fastest
race laps, although eventually even this honour went to Barrichello on lap 41.
Raikkonen retired on lap 13.
Schumacher moved up to seventh on lap 20, passing Webber. Button now led from
Alonso, Montoya and Barrichello, the Brazilian making his next visit to the pits
on lap 29, dropping from fourth to sixth. Bruni’s Minardi caught fire in the
pits on lap 31.
Alonso, Montoya and Sato all pitted together on lap 33, holding positions five
to seven. This promoted the Ferraris, Michael ahead of Rubens to second and
third, before they went first and second when Button pitted on lap 34.
Schumacher made his final pit stop on lap 36 so that on lap 37, Barrichello led
Button by 12.1s. But the Brazilian was flying, extending his lead with ever lap
so that when he refuelled for the final time on lap 42 he kept that lead.
Schumacher was third but pulled a great passing move on Button on the run down
to the first chincane on lap 43 to go second and that is how they finished, much
to the delight of the fans and the Ferrari staff in their Parabolica grandstand.
It had been an amazing fightback from the Scuderia.
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