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"SR F1 Championship - Italy Preview"

The Italian Grand Prix is well known for it's high speed. It's been recorded that the Italian Grand Prix has got the fastest average speed lap in the history of F1.

This race comes at a pivotal time in the season. Ralf Firman has been consistently finishing high in the points in the last few races and has built up a 12 point lead ahead of Alonso. Firman has been a revelation in his debut season and looks favourite to take the Championship. He could win it in Italy. For Ralf Firman to win the title in Italy, Firman will have to win and hope Alonso finishes lower than 6th.

Let's see how the 8 remaining drivers fighting for the title did last year. Firman and Alonso didn't race last season and nor did Verstappen. Villeneuve, currently sitting in 3rd place, struggled round here as he saw his Championship challenge fall off the rails and he qualified 20th. Trulli did better and got 5th. Button did very well last year and got 2nd behind Webber, who took pole position. De La Rosa also struggled and got 21st while Montoya qualified an interesting 9th.

While the qualifying was dry, the race was wet and turned everything on it's head. Webber went on to win from pole position and Minardi went on to take a 1-2. Out of the Championship challengers, Montoya did the best with a 5th place finish. Villeneuve and De La Rosa had uninspired races and got 12th and 13th. Trulli's and Button's races ended early. Trulli's transmission failed and Button's engine blew.

Lap Records:

Qualifying: Webber 1m22.143s
Race: Webber 1m29.564s

Qualifying top 3 last year:

1st Webber
2nd Button
3rd Yoong

Race top 3 last year:

1st Webber
2nd Yoong
3rd M Schumacher

Drivers standings top 3 last year:

1st Panis 44pts
2nd Frentzen 38pts
3rd Villeneuve 34pts

Constructors standings top 3 last year:

1st B.A.R 78pts
2nd Williams 57pts
3rd Arrows 56pts

This years top 3 (Drivers):

1st Firman 60pts
2nd Alonso 48pts
3rd Villeneuve 40pts

This years top 3 (Constructors):

1st Jordan 84pts
2nd Renault 83pts
3rd B.A.R 73pts

We are in for a cracker of a finale with the Drivers title and Constructors title still up for grabs. 8 drivers and 8 teams remain. We are guaranteed a new drivers Champion and B.A.R can still defend the Constructors. 3 rounds to go and you won't want to miss them!

I'll get a good result this time. Sure I will. Got to eventually.

Oh...and I never really got the chance to say thanks.

Ineedsleep wrote:
> What have people got against DW? I only really saw him in the Sports
> forum and he seemed okay in there.

So, thanks. Appreciate it.

Suuuure... ;c) Everyone wants Firman.

He wouldn't really have given him away (would you?). Can you imagine the scrabble that would go on as people dropped their own drivers to take yours.

Of course - I wouldn't have dropped my driver :)

*Points at Nicky*

*Laughs*

Cheers anyway Matt. Anyone else would have just given him away. :c)

Well, it seems I was right to wait. DW is unbanned and will resume his control of Firman.

If not can I be Firman!? ;-)

My official stance on the banning is DW continues to have Firman until I know that he is not coming back.

Don't give up on this DW.

I bagsie Firman

:D

Hope Button does well in the race and qualifying this year.