2006 BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX INTERLAGOS
PREVIEW
The final race of the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship,
Round 18 - the Brazilian Grand Prix, takes place next weekend
at the Interlagos circuit in the city of Sao Paulo. A unique
and exciting circuit, infamous for its bumps and occasionally
torrid weather conditions, the race at Interlagos will bring
to a close one of the most exciting Formula One seasons in
recent years.
As well as being the home grand prix for the Honda Racing
F1 Team's Rubens Barrichello, the weekend will also be particularly
poignant for the team as it marks the final race for former
team owner and title sponsor British American Tobacco after
nine years of involvement in Formula One.
The Honda Racing F1 Team hopes to end the season on a high
as it continues to close the gap to 3rd place in the Constructors'
Championship with an impressive run of form that has seen
a points finish in every race since the German Grand Prix.
Not only that, but Jenson Button has scored the most points
of any driver since his first victory in Hungary in August.
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
"My home race in Brazil is very special to me and always
gives me a little bit of extra motivation. I was born very
close to Interlagos and whenever I dream about racing, it's
always around this track. The first race that I saw there
as a spectator was in 1980, when Rene Arnoux beat Elio de
Angelis, and I've wanted to win it ever since. It is frustrating
that I've never won at home, especially as I should have won
in 2003, but there was a problem with the fuel. I had such
a robust car that year, yet it decided to let me down in my
home race!
"The track is physically very tough because it's left-handed
and quite bumpy. Some people say it's easy, but that's not
the case because you need to have a good compromise between
the low and the high-speed corners. You can't concede straight-line
speed for extra grip through the slow corners, otherwise you
will be overtaken.
"Away from the track, there are many advantages to racing
in my home city. I have my family around me and I can go home
every night and sleep in my own bed - all of that is a huge
plus. The race weekend itself always goes by so fast because
it is really hectic but it's one of the most enjoyable weekends
of the year for me."
JENSON BUTTON
"It's great to be heading into the final race of the
season with a run of solid points finishes under our belts.
It really goes to show just how much progress we've made in
the second half of the season. I know no one is thinking too
much about 2007 yet but it's always important to end the season
on a high note as it's a great motivator as the team prepares
for next year's campaign.
"I think we can expect the same level of performance
in Brazil that we have enjoyed in the past few races. The
engine was looking strong in Japan and I think the car will
be well suited to the track. It's a circuit I enjoy, and it
can be tough because of its anti-clockwise layout and notoriously
bumpy surface. It should be a great climax to the season."
GIL DE FERRAN
Sporting Director
"Interlagos is a challenging circuit because it is one
of the few anti-clockwise tracks on the calendar. Furthermore,
the circuit is notoriously bumpy, placing particular emphasis
on mechanical set-up, however we expect that this should suit
our car. Clearly our second half of the season has been much-improved
and we have been competitive in most of the races. Jenson
has delivered a fantastic string of results of late, and for
Rubens, this promises to be an emotionally-charged weekend
in front of his home crowd at a circuit where he has always
performed well. The latest specification of Honda engine showed
good performance last time out in Japan, so there is no reason
why we should not be able to continue our current form next
weekend and end the season on a high note."
Interlagos, Brazil
Race Distance 71 laps
Circuit Length 2.677 miles (4.309 kms)
The anti-clockwise Autodromo José Carlos Pace was
built in a natural bowl that has gradually been absorbed by
the sprawling city of São Paulo. The original track,
first used in 1940, twisted around itself between two lakes
hence the name Interlagos. The new shorter version misses
out much of the old track but maintains the stand-out feature
- a steep start line straight.
Also notable for its difficult corners and tight infield
section, Interlagos is a very bumpy circuit, despite regular
relaying of the racing surface. Chassis set-up therefore needs
to ensure that the car rides well and has high levels of grip
in the corners, with as little drag as possible so that straight-line
speed remains high.
A lap of Interlagos with... Rubens Barrichello
"The Interlagos circuit is used anti-clockwise for the
Brazilian Grand Prix making it physically demanding for the
drivers as it tests muscle groups which are rarely used on
the conventional clockwise circuits.
We aim for a nice clean exit out of the last corner to ensure
maximum speed along the main pit straight. Next, hard braking
down from 300km/h for the left-hand turn one, Descida do Sol,
taken in second gear, being careful not to lock the inside
front wheel on the very bumpy entry. We fall downhill with
a quick change of direction into the right-hand turn two,
the Senna S, which we take flat at 140km/h in third gear,
and then into the long left-hand turn three, the Curva do
Sol, where we build up speed to 290km/h as we exit onto the
only other straight on the circuit, Reta Oposta.
This takes us down to Curva do Lago which is a demanding
and tricky medium-speed left-hander taken in third gear at
150km/h and which leads into the tight infield section. Next,
the double-apex right-hander, Curva do Laranjinha. This is
taken at 200km/h and has been the downfall of many drivers
over the years, so we're careful on braking over the harsh
bumps, then precise to keep the right line for the exit toward
the tight second-gear right-hander at 90km/h.
This next section is a slow, flowing right-left-right combination
through Pinheirinho and Bico de Pato. Leaving this section,
we accelerate hard through a fast left-hander Mergulho - the
lowest point of the circuit - which is on the limit at 200km/h
and made all the more exciting by the various bumps at its
apex. Then we brake hard from 250km/h to 120km/h and down
to second gear for the final corner, Junção,
which leads us onto the long sweeping left-hand drag up the
steep hill toward the finish line."
Honda in Brazil
· Honda currently has 4% automotive market share and
81% motorcycle market share in Brazil · The strongest
selling automotive models in Brazil are the Civic and Jazz,
both of which are produced in Brazil · The Sumare plant
produces 70,000 automotive units per year and the Manuas motorcycle
plant produces 1 million units per year · By the end
of 2007, the Sumare plant will have increased its production
capacity to 100,000 units per year
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