24/10/2004

Grand Prix of Brazil - Race Report

The 2004 Formula 1 season came to a close in Sao Paulo Brazil with a difficult race for Panasonic Toyota Racing. Jarno Trulli and Ricardo Zonta finished the race in 12th and 13th places respectively a lap behind. The team now looks ahead to a winter of test and development work towards building cars to new 2005 regulations.

The Brazilian Grand Prix which started in damp conditions with most drivers on intermediate tyres saw the track rapidly dry out and remain that way for the rest of the race. Trulli made a strong start and had his TF104B up into the top six by the fourth lap. He was then one of the first to change from intermediate to dry tyres on lap 5 but had a difficult time on the damp surface as the tyres came up to temperature.

"It was tough when the track was a bit damp Trulli admitted. I probably need a bit more experience with the TF104B in those conditions but as the track dried I was getting more and more competitive. I wanted to finish the season by scoring some points but at least the performance level was positive in comparison to Suzuka. I've had really positive impressions of the team so far as well as a warm welcome and I am looking forward to helping Toyota make a step forward in 2005."

Zonta who has been afflicted by a cold all weekend said: "The changing conditions made it an interesting race and I was able to overtake a few cars in the damp conditions at the start. I had a new crew working with me this weekend and they did a good job. And it's always a good feeling to race in your home country."

At the front a close battle was fought out between Juan Pablo Montoya's BMW Williams and Kimi Raikkonen's West McLaren Mercedes the pair actually leaving the pit lane side-by-side after the first pit stop. Montoya gained the initiative at the end of the back straight and that is the way the race finished with the pair split by less than a second.

Home hero Rubens Barrichello was hampered by the damp conditions after starting from pole position for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro and had to be content with third position. Fernando Alonso finished fourth for the Mild Seven Renault F1 Team heading a train of four cars across the line also comprising Ralf Schumacher's BMW Williams Takuma Sato's Lucky Strike BAR Honda and Michael Schumacher's Ferrari. The world champion had been forced to start 17th on the grid after going back 10 places following an engine change on Saturday morning after an accident. Felipe Massa claimed the final point for Sauber Petronas.

Team principal Tsutomu Tomita said: "The race is a pretty accurate reflection of the season we have had with a bit of frustration and no points at the end of it. When the track was dry we had strong pace but in mixed conditions it was quite challenging for the drivers."

The result means that Panasonic Toyota Racing finished the season eighth in the constructors championship with nine points. Technical Director Chasis Mike Gascoyne said: "We have to start delivering from the start of next year. There's absolutely no doubt about that and I'm very confident that we are in a position to do that. You can't make the jump to the top in one step. The teams we are racing against are far too good to allow that but I am sure that we can make significant progress."