2006 ITALIAN GRAND PRIX
MONZA - PREVIEW
After a successful race in Turkey, where Jenson Button and
Rubens Barrichello both brought their RA106 race cars home
in the points, the Honda Racing F1 Team is now looking forward
to the final European race of the season, the Italian Grand
Prix, Round 15 of the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship.
Held at one of the most historic venues used in Formula One,
the unique Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is set in a leafy
royal park north of Milan. All eleven Formula One teams participated
in the traditional Monza test this week following the five
week summer testing break. The Honda Racing F1 Team conducted
an intensive three-day programme with all four of its drivers
working on the car set-up and tyre options for what is the
fastest circuit on the F1 calendar, where top speeds in the
race are likely to reach in excess of 340 kph.
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
"Monza has always been a very special event for me and
I still have a lot of Italian fans who write to me with their
support, so it's a weekend that I always really enjoy. I have
actually won twice at Monza in 2004 and 2002 which are some
of my favourite memories in Formula One. It's a unique circuit
and easily the fastest in the F1 calendar in terms of speed.
You have to get the braking right and obviously the traction
and the power of the engine are important too. We had a good
test this week in preparation for the race, focusing mainly
on tyre choice and car set-up for the lower levels of downforce
that you need here, so we look forward to another good race
next weekend."
JENSON BUTTON
"I'm really looking forward to the race at Monza. The
atmosphere is always great over the race weekend and the circuit
has traditionally seen lots of exciting racing, so hopefully
it will be another good race for the fans. I had a podium
finish here in 2004 and it is a track that I always enjoy.
We did a lot of good work with Michelin at the Monza test
this week in preparation as most of the track has been resurfaced,
so we needed to focus carefully on the tyre choice. We have
a relatively good car around here so I think that we should
be reasonably competitive in the race."
GIL DE FERRAN
Sporting Director
"For those who love Formula One, going to Monza is a
special occasion. The history of the place is evident and
the atmosphere is fantastic. The circuit itself is unique
with very long straights and the highest top speeds that we
will see all year, placing a premium on the aerodynamic efficiency
and top-end horsepower. This year, most of the track has been
resurfaced, which has slightly changed the requirements on
the tyres. Together with the other teams, we spent three days
in Monza this week optimising our tyre choice and set-up for
the track, including a unique aerodynamic configuration. Both
Jenson and Rubens have had good races there in the past, particularly
Rubens who has won twice, and our car performed well at the
test, all of which bodes well for the weekend."
Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
Race Distance 53 laps
Circuit Length 3.600 miles (5.793 kms)
The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is bursting with motorsport
tradition and remains one of the most challenging circuits
in the world. Possessing a unique character and ambience,
Monza is Formula One's oldest road course and despite being
altered from its original layout in the interests of safety,
it is still the fastest circuit on the calendar.
Due to the pace of the circuit, cars must be set up with
the lowest downforce levels possible without causing stability
problems under braking. They must also be able to ride the
Monza curbs effectively and remain well balanced without too
much understeer at high speed. In addition, good traction
is important for exiting the revised Rettifilo and Roggia
chicanes effectively and braking must be optimised to cope
with the very high temperatures generated when drivers slow
from top speed to negotiate these low speed sections.
Overtaking is possible at the first and second chicanes but
the fast corners before each passing place make it hard to
follow another car closely because of the vagaries of modern
aerodynamics and races can become quickly strung out. These
days, the slipstreaming manoeuvres of yore tend to take place
only when cars on two-stop strategies have a significant performance
advantage over heavier one-stoppers.
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