Canadian Grand Prix - Preview
2006 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX
MONTRÉAL
16 JUNE
PREVIEW
The Honda Racing F1 Team heads across the Atlantic this week
to the cosmopolitan city of Montréal for the first
of the two long-haul, back-to-back races which mark the mid-point
of the 2006 season. The Canadian Grand Prix is always a firm
favourite on the team's calendar as Honda Canada is a major
sponsor of the race and its associated activities always add
to the carnival atmosphere of downtown Montréal.
Long-haul races always present their own special logistical
challenges for the race team, and their arrival in Montréal
marks the start of an intensive 15-day schedule. Last week,
the team conducted a three-day test in Monza, Italy, in preparation
for the two North American races, covering a total of 707
laps and 4094kms of aerodynamic, chassis set-up and tyre evaluation
work to tailor the RA106 race cars to the demands of the medium
downforce circuits in Montreal and Indianapolis.
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
"The Canadian Grand Prix is really one of my favourite
races on the calendar. First of all, the track is quite challenging
and we have been doing a lot of work in testing to work on
the set-up for this race. We had a positive test last week
in Monza and I think we should be able to have a good weekend.
Secondly, Montreal is a great city and it always provides
a good backdrop to the racing action. I'm looking forward
to it."
JENSON BUTTON
"Montréal is a great circuit and I really enjoy
racing there. Our car seems to be well-suited to the track;
it's a medium downforce circuit which requires much less wing
than we have run in the last few races and the car seems to
work well on that wing level. We've done some good work in
testing and I'm generally pleased with the results, but we'll
have to wait and see how things go at the weekend. The critical
thing is to make sure we get the very best out of what we
have.
"As well as being one of my favourite circuits, there's
always a great atmosphere in Montréal. It's a big weekend
for Honda Canada, so I hope we have an enjoyable weekend on
and off-track."
GIL DE FERRAN
Sporting Director
"The Canadian Grand Prix represents a completely different
challenge to the last few races, as the circuit consists of
a series of slow corners and a very long straight, and so
demands a lower downforce configuration to achieve high top
speeds. In preparation, we were busy testing last week in
Monza to evaluate our latest performance developments in a
configuration appropriate to the Montréal circuit.
Montréal is a great city and we are especially proud
that Honda Canada is a major sponsor of this race and will
have a significant trackside and downtown presence, including
the Crescent Street Festival which is a great opportunity
for the fans to get close to the team and our drivers. All
in all we are looking forward to our two week visit to North
America."
SHUHEI NAKAMOTO
Management Board Member - Honda Racing F1 Team, Engineering
Director - Honda Racing Development
"After a frustrating run of races over the past few weeks
we are looking forward to getting both cars back into the
points in Canada."
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montréal
Race Distance 70 laps
Circuit Length 2.710 miles (4.361 kms)
The Canadian Grand Prix is run on a temporary circuit situated
on Île Notre-Dame which is a man-made island in the
middle of the St Lawrence Seaway, close to central Montréal.
Set among lakes and parkland pavilions used in the Expo 1967,
and alongside the 1976 Olympic Games rowing basin, this unusual
track has frequently been the scene of high drama. The start
of the race is often incident-packed, but generally drivers
enjoy the track, which gives reasonable overtaking opportunities
and requires medium levels of downforce. However, it is unlikely
that the hard-working Formula One teams share their driver's
enthusiasm. With so many fast blasts, slow chicanes and hairpins,
the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has a reputation for being a
real car-breaker.
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