After convincing third and fourth place finishes at Barcelona, Panasonic
Toyota Racing goes into this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix – the blue
riband event on the F1 calendar – still second in the constructors’
championship. But there could barely be a bigger contrast to the fast sweeps of
the Spanish circuit than the tight confines of the tiny Principality’s streets.
After the first two sessions of free practice, Ralf Schumacher is ninth fastest
(1m16.917s), third driver Ricardo Zonta is tenth (1m17.046s) and Jarno Trulli
(1m17.487s) is thirteenth. Traditionally though, even fewer conclusions can be
reached at Monte Carlo after the first day than at a more typical, closed circuit
venues. The 3.34km track ‘rubbers in’ more significantly than other
circuits as the weekend progresses and by qualifying on Saturday afternoon, its
characteristics can be entirely different.
For Trulli, of course, Monte Carlo has happy memories. Only a year ago he won
his first Grand Prix from pole position in tremendous style. Ever the realist
though, Jarno knows that Monaco is no place for dreamers. It demands precision
and intense concentration from first thing Thursday morning until the chequered
flag falls on Sunday afternoon.
“Today was difficult,” Trulli said. “There were very little
grip, which is typical of the first day here, and it is hard to make progress
with set-up in such conditions. The important things are to get into the rhythm
of the circuit and not to damage the car.”
Both Schumacher and Zonta also mirrored Trulli’s comments.
“I was struggling for grip all day,” Ralf said, “but I’m
actually quite positive about the rest of the weekend.”
Ricardo, however, was more forthright: “I had a horrible day! The lack
of grip made the longer runs more difficult and it was hard to make concrete decisions
about set-up. I could also have set a better time but I came across yellow flags
on my quickest lap and had to back off.”
Four times a winner in 2005 already, Spaniard Fernando Alonso set the pace
for the Mild Seven Renault F1 Team with a lap in 1m15.835s. West McLaren Mercedes
third driver Alexander Wurz was second fastest (1m15.912s), ahead of David Coulthard’s
Red Bull (1m16.184s), Giancarlo Fisichella with the second Renault (1m16.519s)
and then the two McLaren race drivers, Juan Pablo Montoya (1m16.534s) and Barcelona
winner Kimi Raikkonen (1m16.558s).
Panasonic Toyota Racing’s Technical Director Chassis, Mike Gascoyne,
explained: “There were no real issues with any of the cars, it was just
a typical Monaco opening day with very little grip. It’s hard to draw any
firm conclusions and it always makes the tyre choice more difficult in such circumstances.
Many times here we have seen a tyre that has not worked particularly well on Thursday
give a car a front row slot on Saturday. As well as studying the data, therefore,
experience plays its part. McLaren and Renault look very strong again but after
that I think we are competitive.”
Working in the Toyota drivers’ favour is the fact that the third and
fourth places at Barcelona mean that Schumacher and Trulli will run close to the
end of the important first qualifying session on Saturday, when grip levels should
be approaching their best – provided it doesn’t coincide with rain!
Much of Monte Carlo’s history surrounds games of chance, of course. In Monaco
anything can happen, and usually does…
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